Marriage is hard. It is hard to find someone to marry and it is even harder to stay married. But marriage is good too. After all, we did not invent it. Marriage was given to us as a gift from God. (Genesis 1-2)
Archives for April 2009
Flamingos and Firstfruits
Flamingo flocking has been a huge success so far!! We have raised nearly $800 and the offers of open lawns that need some lovin’ are still rolling in. It has actually been a great time to get the students one-one-one as well. We’ve been moving birds almost everyday and so I’ve been grabbing different students to join me so I can have some deeper conversations about their lives. It has been awesome and difficult all at once-the students seem to all have spring fever-they’re tired of school, teachers, parents, life, etc…
Living and Dying
Lesson from April 26, 2009
Philippians 1:19-26
In this passage, Paul describes being what we commonly refer to as “between a rock and a hard place.” The word, sunexo, was commonly used of a place where a traveler had to go through a narrow passage, unable to turn to the left or to the right, they could only go straight ahead. Perhaps we can imagine going through a cave or a narrow passage down at Turkey Run or ShadesState Park. Both sides are pressing close against us, in this case, the sides are positive, he desires them both: “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (v. 21). Paul’s attitude in this passage can seem a bit out of reach for us. After all, if we imagine being chained to a Roman guard all the waking hours of our day, under house arrest awaiting trial, we might imagine the top concern on our mind might be getting out! In fact, we might be tempted to describe Paul here as something of a fanatic, out there, and beyond us. His chief goal is that Christ “be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death” (. 20).
Summer Bible Study
This summer, RCC Women’s ministries will be offering a refresher on Believing God Bible Study, by Beth Moore. (the link is for information purposes only, we are not doing the online course-well you can if you want to, but we are not as a goup).
A note from Terry and Teresa
Many of you might remember Terry and Teresa Allen. They came to Riverside in the fall to talk about their work as the pastors of a Covenant Church in Elim, Alaska. We are currently working with them on Operation Elim. You can click here to read their newlsetter. One particular highlight was that the Iditarod came through Elim this year. The Allen’s compared the struggle of the racers with that of the Christian. Talk about endurance.