February 2009 Newsletter

February Beacon

“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:3

Jim Smith went to church on Sunday morning. He heard the organist miss a note during the prelude, and he winced when He saw a teenager talking when everybody was supposed to “bow in prayer.” He felt like the usher was watching to see what he put in the offering plate, and it made him boil. He caught the preacher making a slip of the tongue five times in the sermon. As he slipped out through the side door during the closing hymn, he muttered to himself, “Never again! What a bunch of clods and hypocrites!”
Ron Jones went to church on Sunday morning. He heard the organist play an arrangement of “A Mighty Fortress,” and he was thrilled by the majesty of it. He heard a young girl take a moment in the service to speak her simple moving message of the difference her faith makes in her life. He was glad to see that his church was sharing in a special offering for the hungry children of Nigeria. He especially appreciated the sermon that Sunday – it answered a question that had bothered him for a long time. He thought, as he walked out the doors of the church, “How can a man come here and not feel the presence of God?”
Both men went to the same church on the same Sunday morning. Each found what he was looking for.
How important is one’s attitude as it relates to unity in a church? There is little doubt that each one of us has a great deal to do with the ‘unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.’
The Apostle Paul had more to say about unity in these verses: I Corinthians 1:10 – “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”; II Corinthians 13:11 – “Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Some of you got to hear Dr. Ron Rand speak at Redeemer on the first Sunday of this year. We are inviting him back to share his ministry with us on the first weekend of April.
I believe that his time with us can be beneficial to our church body. His emphasis on building up everyone in the family of God, and growing a praying congregation can challenge and inspire. This can also be a unifying time for our church body, as we all work together to make the most of this opportunity. Please begin now to pray about this time with Dr. Rand.
Each one’s attitude will have a lot to do with the unifying success of this Upbuilding Weekend!
Pastor Lerud