Passage to Ponder - Philippians 4:4

 "Rejoice in the Lord Always; again I will say, Rejoice."

(from Transformation Ministry Team 2013 Bible Reading and Reflection)

Rev. Robert Shaw, Christ Presbyterian Church, Winfield    

Recently I heard a strange noise after leaving home to run a few errands. The noise changed as I drove faster, so I stopped and inspected my tires. A bright shiny bolt head protruded from my right rear tire. I dug out the spare tire from the bottom of the trunk and went through the process of changing tires. In my thirty years of driving experience I had replaced a flat tire twice, maybe three times. None-the-less I had quickly had the spare tire mounted and I was ready to drive away. That is until I fully lowered the car's weight on to the spare and I saw that it too was soft. Having only gone a few blocks, I returned home, retrieved the bicycle pump, and inflated the spare tire to its specified pressure. Fortunately the spare held long enough to get the regular tire repaired and re-installed.

Many people go from day to day, thinking they have the resources needed to handle the occasional problems that fall onto the road of life. Most days go fairly well, so checking the status of those rarely needed resources seems silly. Like checking the pressure in my spare tire. The last time I had opened the wheel well (probably to stow my jumper cables) it still looked factory fresh. Some people may think, life is treating them well, and if they ever need God, they know where to look. They may say something like: "We have a Bible around here someplace and my church is around the corner, I can even tell you which Christmas I was there."

As my spare tire needs to be checked, so it is always ready when needed, so too does our spiritual life need to be checked frequently to be fully ready. When my wife calls me on the phone she does not say: "This is Mrs. Shaw. May I please speak with Mr. Shaw?" No! She says, "Hi, it's me," and I know who is on the line just from the sound of her voice. By checking in frequently with God we can similarly recognize God's voice and know that God recognizes our voice as well.

Amazingly regular spiritual exercises such as going to church and reading the Bible, actually makes life more enjoyable and healthier. Worship is more about giving thanks for what God has done, is doing, and will do, than apologizing for what has gone wrong or pleading for God to make everything right again. If daily Bible reading won't fit into your schedule, try listening to a set of CDs. If a Bible study at church would be inconvenient, try talking with a few friends about what you are reading or listening to during lunch. At first your prayers might feel stiff and formal, but after awhile, prayer will seem like talking with a close friend. Having a close friend, especially one in the highest of places, is very good.

If you are already spiritually fit, perhaps you know someone going through life unaware that their connection with God has a slow leak.

Which reminds me, how long has it been since I checked the air in my spare tire?                                                                                                                 

http://christwinfield.org/newsblog/?p=854  

September 2013 Assembly Retreat

 Four segments of YouTube Video
Radical Hospitality with
Dr. Rodger Nishioka

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Presbytery of Wabash Valley preparing to Elect Commissioners to the

 Click Here for Information and Registration Forms

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There's Power in the Patchwork
Unity in Diversity
The SYNOD Committee on Representation Training Event
October 24-26, 2013
Crowne Place Chicago O'Hare Hotel and Conference Center
Click Here for Registration Information

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Resource Center

In Partnership with PWV

Congregational Resource Center 

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Center for Congregations

 Positive Change for Congregations

11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Central time)
November 6 & 20 and

December 4, 2013

in Valparaiso

11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Eastern time)
November 7 & 21 and

December 5, 2013

 in Fort Wayne 

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ALBAN WEEKLY

Methods That Generate Change

by Loren Mead, Billie T. Alban

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Thank you for your ministry and your service... 

• October 10, 2010 - Rev. Jody Noble, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Schererville 
• October 12, 1992 - Rev. Nan Morgan Adams, First Presbyterian Church, Elkhart   
• October 15, 2000 - Rev. Christina Starace Williams, Minister Member at Large 
• October 16, 1981 - Rev. John Gilbert, Honorably Retired 
• October 16, 1981 - Rev. Sally Gilbert, Minister Member at Large     

If you have been omitted or your information is incorrect please accept my apology. Help to update your records by sending your current information to vicki@ourpresbytery.org.   

BOUNDARIES AND ETHICS TRAINING

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2013 

The Presbytery's Commission on Ministry has set Saturday, November 16, 2013 for the next Boundaries and Ethics Training. The Commission on Ministry at its September 30 meeting "approved a policy that all members of presbytery, teaching elders and ruling elders, staff, those on pulpit supply list, and those engaged in work with congregations are required to attend Boundaries and Ethics training every three years. Those who attended the sessions offered in 2011 and 2012 will be due to attend a training in 2014 and thereafter. Staff will develop a plan for varied content and different presenters to cover sexual misconduct, financial process, ethics, and other roles concerning appropriate boundaries. COM will report those not fulfilling the training requirement to the Assembly in November (per COM minutes 2012.)"

Carol L. Hornbeck, LMFT: MA will lead the event. She is a counselor with Center Point Counseling, Indianapolis, and has worked for more than 25 years as a consultant and educator to national and regional secular and religious organizations.  Carol works with congregations to recognize, respond to and reduce the risk of child sexual abuse and clergy sexual misconduct.