DEATH IS SOMETHING PEOPLE PREFER TO NOT TALK ABOUT … but they are definitely talking about it this week. MICHAEL JACKSON – king of pop music - dead at age 50. FARRAH FAWCETT – her battle with cancer over at age 62. ED THOMPSON - football coach at Parkersburg, Iowa – senselessly shot and killed at age 58. And before any of this news, MIKE PETTIGREW – friend of ours from our Michigan pastorate – killed this past Saturday night in a tragic car accident at age 56. Rather short life-times for each of them, and yet they left a lasting legacy in their own way. Two of these people, we know are in the presence of the Lord at this very moment. The other two, we know not where their hearts were at, and it is not up to us to judge them. God will do that. But for our friend, Mike, and the coach, Ed … we have to wonder what it was like to be here on earth one moment, and in the next split-second, they were standing in the presence of their God, their eyes drinking in the sights of Heaven! Like the song says, “we can only imagine!” When deaths like this occur, eternity is brought into view for us, and we begin to review our own lives, asking some tough questions of ourselves. In our grief and loss, we find ourselves being very reflective – wondering if the legacy we leave behind will be what we want it to be. We only get one life to live on earth ~ the only part of it that will remain forever, is what we have done for Christ. Everything else, in time, will fade away! The music notoriety and awards, the television series and movies, the football games won, the hours at work … all of that will pass away. What will remain and live on into eternity … are the lives that were touched and impacted and shaped because of a life in the sports world that was lived for Christ … and the lives that were touched and impacted and shaped because of a husband, dad, and grandpa who loved the Lord and his family. If any of these people mentioned could be given even just one more week, or month, or year on this earth – I have a feeling their focus and time would be invested in the people closest to them – and the things that mattered the most to them! And the thing is, we will all face death someday … and like these people, neither do we know “when”. That’s why it’s crucial that we come to the place of saying “yes” to God with our lives, getting to know Him better than ever before, and giving more focus and time to Him than to anything else! God should be our greatest passion, our deepest longing, our most exuberant joy, and our absolute everything ~ our all in all! Then the legacy we leave behind will be the one that God had planned for us all along, and it will impact every person He wanted us to touch! “Lord, please instill in us a soul that ‘followeth hard after Thee’, one that clings passionately to You.” (Psalm 68:3, KJV)
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- SPECIAL THANKS to everyone who helped and participated in the church float and Straight River Days Parade in Medford last Friday evening; especially to our youth who did such a fantastic job passing out the candy and the invitations to our upcoming patriotic service; to our parents who helped out in many ways; to Brendan for making the signs; and to Tina for making the invitation cards! What a great time we had – and the crowd was so responsive!
- THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 28th … HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Pastor Doug from your church family!
- THIS SUNDAY, special guest speaker, Ron Flack will be with us to share about his ministry, local and global, as he reaches out to those from nations abroad who do not yet know Christ as their personal Savior! Don’t miss this opportunity to hear about what God is doing – and to be a prayer partner for Ron’s ministry!
- TUESDAY, JUNE 30th … Youth, check in with us for schedules for this week!
- SATURDAY, JULY 4TH … Youth Bake Sale at Wal-Mart from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. What can you bake and bring that will help our youth with not only expenses for their group events, but with monies for them to share with missions that they choose to support! Bake LOTS – and come and help – it should be fun!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- A SUMMER EVENT for Fathers/Sons is being planned to take in a Twins Game; details to come!
- SUNDAY, JULY 5th: “I LOVE AMERICA” worship/celebration/picnic at the Park Pavilion in Medford, 10 a.m.
- MONDAY, JULY 6th: RELAY FOR LIFE contributions are due ~ who can you ask for donations?!
- TUESDAY, JULY 7th: JR/SR HI OUTING to VALLEY FAIR; invite some friends and get your tickets soon!
- FRIDAY/SATURDAY, JULY 17-18: RELAY FOR LIFE event at Steele County Fairgrounds
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- For healing for Justin, for Merv, for Chuck, for Ally, for a 22 year old with cancer; for comfort for Paula and family in the loss of Mike (Pastor’s and Debbie’s friends in MI); for blessings on family time for the Seykora’s as they are home in the U.S. for a short time before departing back to their mission work with YWAM in Perth, Australia – and for their needs for a computer, car repairs or replacement, and funds for outreach and conference in South Africa; and for other urgent unspoken requests. Praise God, He is ABLE!!!
- THIS WEEK … FIND SOMEONE you can share a kindness with … or whose day you can brighten … someone you can bless with a smile, a hug, a note, an affirmation … someone who can use a little help … someone who will be so grateful that you cared to make a difference in their life! And most of all, follow hard after Christ this week!!! Bless Him with your BEST!!!
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
