I’ve been fortunate to have made several trips to Europe, and each time, I was amazed by those great houses of worship, such as Notre Dame in Paris, The Basilica of St. Peter in Rome, and the Cathedral of Cologne in Germany.  These are amazing architectural wonders in both structure and adornment.  On my most recent trip to Spain and Portugal, I visited as many churches as possible .  Each was varied in age and style, but they were all built for the glory of God.  After each visit, I often wondered if God was pleased or displeased with these buildings. Yes, the buildings are the meeting places for the followers of Christ and have been for hundreds of years, some for more than a thousand years.  I am sure that in all that time, many have gathered to worship God, and that is a good thing, but I wonder if God intended us to build these opulent structures for Him or if he wanted us to focus our efforts and funds on the people.  Yes, we like having somewhere to worship, but to God, the church   isn’t the building it’s the people.
 
The church is seen in the New Testament as “the body of Christ” and “the Bride of Christ,” both indicating a relationship with Jesus.  First, we are considered “The Body of Christ” because we are in this world to do God’s will, especially in evangelism.  We all have unique gifts, talents, and abilities which God has given us to carry out his will.  When the church works together in service, God can do amazing things to reach people through His Spirit within us.  As Christ’s body, we are all important in carrying out the purpose of the church.  In the second phrase, “The Bride of Christ,” this analogy puts Jesus as the groom and we as his bride.  This means our relationship is one of love, adoration, and completion.  He was sent to us, and we are for Him. 
 
Scriptures also show us how much He loves us and what He did for us.  Throughout Paul’s letters to the first-century church, he stresses how our love for Jesus needs to be expressed in our obedience and service, not out of guilt or obligation, but out of love. 
 
We are the church and more than just bricks and mortar.  The next time we walk into a church building, remember that it isn’t the structure that makes us a church, but Jesus.  He brings us together, united in Him through His blood.  We are HIS! 
 

A couple of weeks ago, I was sent an article about the importance of small-sized churches. The article hit home for me on many levels, especially since the large churches are getting larger and the small churches are getting smaller. I know that there are many reasons for this, but I am not about the excuses, but the benefits. 
 
The article did tout many positive benefits of a small church. One of those is, “Everyone knows your name!”  This fosters the feelings of belonging – as a family. I grew up in a church smaller than Advance in rural Illinois. It was about a mile from a town of about 500 residents. It was indeed in the middle of cornfields along a half gravel-half pavement road. It was a generational church with many families dating back to its founding in 1873, mine included. My great, great, great grandfather was the first minister at that church. I vividly remember that small white building with a bell tower and two outhouses out back. I still remember the people, including those who have gone on to glory. But that sense of belonging still holds me and those people to that place. Even today, when I have the opportunity to visit with one of my long-time friends, it’s like time hasn’t passed at all.
 
I get that sense of belonging here at Advance, too. I know many of you have ties that go back many years. I see a wonderful relationship between the children and youth of our congregation with the adults. This generational relationship is vital to our youth in underscoring the importance of the church in their lives; I can attest to that. I hope you feel the importance of that bond because belonging to Christ’s church is powerful.
 
I am not underestimating that this relationship also exists in the larger churches. The important thing isn’t the size of the church but the power of belonging.
 
I am grateful to serve the Lord with you. We have something that people need that we need to share – the power of belonging to a church family that cares for each other on a deep level of love and commitment. Continue to live out these passages from God’s word:

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing,  with one another in       love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 
Ephesians 4: 1-3
 
4 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24: 
 

​THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! – I have so much to be thankful for and that includes YOU!  I so appreciate the prayers, flowers, cards, words of comfort, and the acts of kindness shown to my family and me during the loss of my mother.  I so appreciated those who came to the visitation and those who provided desserts for the dinner.  I will cherish all that you did.  I have peace of Mom’s eternal reward, but it is still hard.  I would also appreciate your continued prayers as we work through our mourning. 
 
I also want to thank you for your gifts and appreciation during Pastor Appreciation Month in October.  It is hard to believe we just completed our 9th year with you.  You are such a blessing to us.  So, as we continue our journey together, let’s run the race marked out for us and press on toward the prize together!   
 

Reflections on Summer. It sure seemed that summer had only begun, and then it was over. I was told once that time goes faster as you get older, and I am finding this to be true. The school summer break is shorter than it used to be, which condenses activities even more. Our lives are so strictly governed by our calendars, when do we pause, rest, and enjoy?

In the Law of Moses, specifically in the Ten Commandments, God set aside a weekly Sabbath of rest and worship and set strict guidelines of dos and don’ts that every Jewish man, woman, and child had to observe. You couldn’t work, walk over a set distance, cook, or do any activity except rest and worship. This is still practiced by Jews today across the world. When I was in Israel this past May, I experienced the Sabbath.

We were in the city of Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, staying in a hotel. The Sabbath began on Friday evening just as the second star appeared in the sky, around 6 pm. We noticed a change in the hotel staff as the Jewish employees went home and Arab employees took their place. There was also a considerable decrease in the number of cars on the road. Many Jewish businesses closed, leaving only a few Arab stores open. It was an eerie feeling as the city came to a halt. We did see families heading to the synagogues for worship. There was also a difference in what we had for meals on Saturday - just the basics and no coffee?????

Why do you think that God set aside the Sabbath for us? In the Genesis account of Creation, it took six days for God to create the world, and on the seventh day, He rested. God needs a rest? Or was he demonstrating for us our need for it. For protestants outside the Jewish faith, we still have our day of worship on Sunday following the 1st-century church practice, but do we use it as rest and worship?

Imagine what it would be like if you didn’t have to leave home for one day each week and had nothing to do but rest – no yard work, no laundry, or any chores whatsoever. Doesn’t that sound awesome? Or does it seem unimaginable? Some of us would be bored, but wouldn’t that be better than overworked and exhausted running from one thing to another?

There is a movement calling Christians to set aside a Sabbath for only one day to try it. If it works, then set another day. Maybe after experiencing it a time or two, it might become something that we long for and plan in our schedules.

​I am not asking you to do it, but I am encouraging you to. I’ve set my own goal and hopefully I can keep to it. Maybe we can conclude that God knows exactly what we need.

As we approach VBS, I just wanted to share a few memories from my VBS days.  Vacation Bible School was always a big part of our summer.  I don’t mean just one week at our church; I mean several weeks going to other community churches.   In those days, there wasn’t as much to do during the day, so our mothers would take turns carting us off to whichever church was hosting a VBS – the Baptist Church, the Church of God, and our own church.  Then, VBS was always from 9:00 am to 12 noon each day of the week with a program at the end.  Sometimes, it would be two weeks.  As I got older, there was a switch to evening times because of the number of volunteers needed to pull VBS off.  It was the largest effort of evangelism in our community. Beyond that, I volunteered and even lead VBS for many years before I became a minister. 
 
After becoming a minister, VBS was again a major effort to evangelize our community requiring many volunteers.  Though tiring, I remained excited about VBS.  In all of my years, I don’t think I have missed more than 2 years of VBS in the last 50 plus years!  I am thankful we still have VBS today!
 
Today, we have had to evolve our VBS effort to meet the busyness of our congregation and community, which isn’t a bad thing.  Days, times and even the VBS structure have had to change to remain effective in reaching the children of our congregation and community. 
 
VBS takes effort.  If we put forth the effort in planning, preparing,, decorating, teaching, inviting, transporting and doing whatever needs to be done to make it happen – the Lord will bless our efforts. 
 
The goal of VBS is to share the love and grace of God through His Son, Jesus.  It is the lessons from God’s word, the efforts of God’s people and the work of the Holy Spirit that will reap the harvest in years to come. 
 
VBS is coming and I am excited!  Are you?  Get involved!
 

Half of the winter is behind us, but as you know, a lot of bad weather can still happen even in March.  It is Indiana!   But February does bring us a little hope with more sun than January and slightly warmer temperatures.  We will have to wait until Punxsutawney Phil peeks out of his burrow looking to his shadow to decide how much winter is left.  But be aware, he is only 39% accurate.  Even a weatherman’s 10-day forecasts are only 50% accurate. 
 
Looking to the future, we don’t see much hope and assurance.  The indicators of the economy aren’t very optimistic.  The upcoming Presidential campaign season leaves us dismayed about picking the right candidate.  And as tensions grow between counties worldwide, we wonder what will happen next.  Our present doesn’t give us much hope for tomorrow. 
 
I am reminded of the song entitled I Don’t Know About Tomorrow written by Ira Stanphill in 1950.  Mr. Stanphill, a minister, wrote this song after a decade of struggles and hardships, which led to the end of his marriage and his falling into a depression. During this time, his former wife lost her life in a tragic car accident. Although Mr. Stanphill’s present was so bleak, that he could not see much hope in the future, he held on in faith.  In time, he would see God’s provision, grow in his faith, and write the beloved words, “I don’t know about tomorrow, but I know who holds my hand.”  Mr. Stanphill found God’s assurance and comfort as he walked hand in hand with God throughout the rest of his life, even through a long battle with cancer.  This song is his testimony of hope in God’s faithful provision. This song shows us that when we are at the bottom of our despair, God is always faithful, which brings us hope.  The hope for tomorrow.   Remember this passage of hope:
 
2 Corinthians 1:10:  10 He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
 
The future isn’t ours to know, but we have hope in the one who knows all about it!  This song is an excellent reminder.  We need to sing it more, especially when our present tries to steal our hope.
 

​As the year end approaches and we look into the new year to come, I pray that we can feel peace in the hope that Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection has brought us.  There is so much uncertainty in our world.  Who knows what will come tomorrow, except the only one who knows – God. 
 
In these past few years, we have endured much with the Covid Pandemic and everything that it has caused. We have experienced volatility in our financial markets, supply chains and even in the weather with many natural disasters.   The problems of today sure can cloud our visions of tomorrow.  But, we need to hold and remember that God will provide.  Remember the words of Paul to the church at Philippi:
 
Philippians 4:19:  And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
 
Though we may not get everything we want, we will have everything we need.  That truth goes well beyond our finances.  When we face tomorrow, we need to hold on and look to the future with peace knowing it will all be okay. As King David wrote:
 
Proverbs 29:25:  Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
 
So, as we face a new year and new uncertainties, may we stand firm and hold on to God’s hope in peace as is written in the book of Hebrews:
 
Hebrews 10:23:  23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
 
As 2023 approaches, let’s remember that God has been faithful in the past.  He is faithful to us now, and He will remain faithful tomorrow.  His faithfulness is for certain!
 

​One morning, as I was taking Spencer to school, we began singing kid’s worship songs from my phone. Evidently, I had gotten lost in my thoughts and quit singing.  I don’t know how long I was silent, but I heard Spencer saying, “Up! Pappy! Up!” I looked in the review mirror and saw him raising his left arm in the air, singing, “What a mighty God we serve!” In a flash, I went from pondering my day to praising in the moment with Spencer in spite of what would come that day.
 
Do you ever get lost in what you have to do next? Or do you ever get so lost in what happened that you can’t see what is going on?  Or, do you get lost in what is going on that you can’t see tomorrow? I do.  In each instance, we can lose our focus that steals our moments of peace, joy, hope, and faith away from us.  
 
Much of what I do involves the future – tomorrow, next Sunday, next month, and beyond. I also spend a lot of time thinking about what happened. So, how can we learn to move on from the past, or forget what is before us, and find a moment of peace?
 
There are two passages of scriptures that help me:  First, 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, “7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”  This says to me, “no matter what has happened or is happening, I am not overcome by this world!” 
 
Second, I thought of Romans 8:37-39, “37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
 
Spencer reminded me and scripture shows me what God has promised me for my here and now, so let’s get our arms up and praise HIM for who we are – HIS and LOVED! AND WHERE HE IS! WITH US

“In the sweet O’ Summertime” After such a long, cool, wet spring, we are all looking forward to the warm, dryer weather of summer, which officially begins on June 21st and ends on September 22nd. Summertime in Indiana is a time of extremes, especially extreme weather. Unfortunately, we only have to wait a few hours for it all to change without warning. But one thing is for sure, summertime means a change in our regular routines, which can be a good thing.

George Gershwin’s “Summertime” song contains the lyrics, “Summertime And the livin' is easy; Fish are jumpin' ”. These words invoke the thought of sitting on the creek bank with a pole in the water, watching the water pass by without the care of catching a fish. But, summer is all about the weather and leisure.

God gave us a season for a reason, and for those of us in the northern climates, we definitely appreciate the change of seasons. Seasonal change is hope, isn’t it? It gives us something for which to look forward with anticipation of better weather and better times.

God wants us to enjoy this world and to have times of leisure. Remember that his plan for us was to have an entire day every week devoted to rest and worship. Though season also signals to work – planting, tending, and harvesting. God knows what we need – rest and enjoyment.

As you go about your activities, praise God that you can do and go this summer. And don’t forget to take him with you! Find a church at your destination and experience God’s family there. Take communion and devotional items for you and your families, especially kids. Have your service of praise on the creek bank or the mountain top and experience what awaits us.

​Enjoy your summer and give God the glory! 

​Steve’s Desk
 
Springtime is an exciting time for me, especially after a long and cold winter.  I can’t wait to hear the first flock of migrating birds fly over or see the first red-bellied robin perched in a tree.  These were all signs of a great memory for me, sucker fishing.
 
Suckers are a species of freshwater fish found across North America.  They spend most of the year in rivers, but in early spring, they, like Salmon, begin an annual run to their places of birth in the smaller creeks and tributaries of the river.  The swollen streams of late winter and early spring make these areas accessible to the fish for a short time each year.  These fish were a vital food source to the native indigenous people.  Fishing for these harbingers of spring was our family’s thing.  For about a month each spring, all three generations of my family would gather on the bank of a local creek, cast lines in the water, and wait for a bite. Of course, you waited in hopes of catching the biggest fish of the day, which could be a species called “Buffalo” that could top the scales at over 50 pounds.  Landing one of those was a workout and gave you bragging rights. 
 
This past week, my brother sent me pictures of he and my father standing on the bank with a few of their catches.  It made me long to be with them and return to my childhood days, even though I never liked to fish.
 
Sucker fishing was a reassurance that winter was over and spring had arrived.  It was the realization of our hopes over the long winter.  Don’t we need these hopes of what is to come to keep us going?  I know I do.
 
The Apostle Paul wrote about this hope in Hebrews 10:
 
22 Let’s approach God with a [a]sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let’s hold firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let’s consider how to [b]encourage one another in love and good deeds, Hebrews 10:22-24
 
Let us hold on to the hope that Jesus’ Resurrection gives us.  The hope of our resurrection!  It is drawing near, have hope!
 

​I recently learned of the passing of a dear friend, Phyllis VanEse.  Lisa and I first met Phyllis in Haiti around 2008 or so. We would share several missionary trips, including the 2010 trip interrupted by a devastating earthquake. Phyllis was one of the 4 of us who could not be immediately evacuated following the quake. We would spend the next 12 or 13 days doing what we could to prepare the medical areas of the mission for use as U.S. Doctors and Nurses were expected as soon as travel resumed to the Island nation.
 
Phyllis had one of those personalities that you enjoyed being around. She was so positive, encouraging, and filled with the Holy Spirit. She kept our spirits up during this time. She was a joy, and she had every reason not to be. Over time, she shared her life struggles with us. Her husband of 30 plus years died suddenly, leaving her to run a business alone. She would soon sell her business and follow the Lord. First, she headed off to the far-east to work in an orphanage in a place she had never been to help people she couldn’t communicate with, but that didn’t stop Phyllis. She and her infectious zeal went where the Lord led. She and her husband could never have children, but she found others to share her love. Then when her parents needed her, she came home to care for them in their final years, she devoted herself to them.
 
After they passed, she journeyed to Haiti, looking for God’s will in her life. This is when we first met her. After several trips to Haiti, she found herself moving there full-time to run a hotel of sorts for missionaries passing in and out of Haiti. Here she found her place for ministry. She not only served and encouraged missionaries, but also reached out to her Haitian community, helping and befriending them. She taught them English and encouraged their relationship with Jesus. She even self-adopted a couple of young men, who she helped attain medical degrees and with their personal and family needs as well. 
 
Lisa and I stayed with her during our last trip to Haiti in 2017. While with her, we were not only encouraged and uplifted by her, we witnessed her love and ministry. God truly had Phyllis where He needed her. God had exceptionally gifted Phyllis, and she let her gifts be used by him, even amid danger. She remained in Haiti during the difficult times following the eruptions of gang violence, the murder of the Haitian President, and with the increased threats of kidnapping. She told us that she was staying as long as possible and lying low.
 
This past December, we learned that Phyllis was diagnosed with cancer. However, she remained optimistic and committed to staying in Haiti as long as possible. Unfortunately, she did return to the USA and died in Hospice care on January 6th, her 70th birthday. 
 
I chose to honor Phyllis in this way because I think that God needs more of us to be like Phyllis – willing and able to follow his lead and let him use our gifts and talents despite the hardships and difficulties in our lives. 
 
Phyllis was and is a marvelous example of Jesus. Well done, Phyllis – Great is your reward!
 

​Thank YOU! Well, it is hard to believe, but Lisa and I have just completed our 7th year serving God at Advance.  Time has sure flown by, and yet so much has happened in that time.  We feel grateful and  feel blessed to be here.  Thank you for your continued love, support, and encouragement. 
 
Recently, I’ve been thinking about all of those who have gone before us here at Advance.  Several have passed on to their eternal reward since I have been here, but you all will remember many more.   The many men and women who served Christ and His Church here at Advance, The North Church, and The East Church have left us with a wonderful facility and a great example to follow. But that is the past.  We need to keep focusing on the here and now with an eye toward the sky, waiting for Christ’s return. 
 
We can spend a lot of time recounting all that has been done, but we also need to look around and see all that there is still to do.  God has,  and will continue to call his people to put their love in action to carry out his will.  It is good to look back and see how far we have come, but we must keep looking around to see what still needs to be done.
 
Jesus to His apostles, “The fields are ripe for the harvest, but my workers are few.  Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest fields.”  Matthew 9:37-38.  This passage is looking around in the moment and calls for action now.
 
We can’t keep looking back; we must keep looking around and doing what God calls us to do.  The fields are ready.  The workers are few.  Let’s follow the workers of the past and reach out now.  God has readied the harvest; we just need to bring it in!
 

These past 18 months seem like a blur. I would never have dreamed that we would experience all that we did when our world stopped. I remember having such an eerie feeling as stores and restaurants closed, non essential workers were sent home, activities stopped, and so much was canceled. The news reports of the sick and dying were unbelievable. We didn’t know what to believe. As the weeks turned into months and then a year, I wondered if we would ever return to normal. Yet, through it all, there was still hope! 

        Hope that our precautionary actions would help slow the spread of the virus.
        Hope that our families and friends would remain healthy.
        Hope that it would soon be all over. Hope that a vaccine would be developed.
        Hope that God would see us through.

Well, even though this ordeal is not over, some of our hopes have been realized. Though we may never agree on policies, procedures, and outcomes, I hope we can all agree that God has seen us through thus far and will see us through what is to come. We still have hope!

God did provide for our congregation. We only had to cancel one Sunday serve because we were able to stay connected via the internet. We returned to in-person services earlier than most because we had our pavilion allowing us to meet outside. We were able to move inside while practicing social distancing and wearing masks.

God continues to provide. Our in-person attendance has fluctuated between 75% and 85% of what we were pre-Covid and our online attendance has been tracking an average of 110 weekly. So, all in all, we are reaching more people now than before Covid.

We have also been able to stay financially stable. Monthly giving remained strong allowing us to meet our expenses and more. Even though we have had to put in new furnaces and are resurfacing the parking lot, we have still been able to meet those increased budget needs. We have also been able to meet our mission’s budget and to give over and above to help meet some of the unexpected needs of our missions, both locally and abroad.

Covid continues to affect us. The threat is not over, but we can still hold on to the hope that God is near and He will see us through it.

Thank you for all that you have done. Keep the hope! The threat of this virus is still very much real, and it is not over. So let’s continue our efforts and follow God’s lead to help those around us.

I reiterate Paul’s sentiments from 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, “We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
​
We have a hope that will endure in a God who is faithful!

I’M BLESSED, SO I BLESS
This year we will be hosting events to reach our community’s needs through our Mission Advance efforts with the theme, “I’m Blessed, so I Bless!” Our challenge is rooted in the last portion of Matthew 10:8, where Jesus said, “Freely you have received, freely give.” In this passage, he talks to his 12 Apostles and prepares them to go out evangelizing without him. He gave them detailed instructions on what to do and what not to do. He also told them what to take and what not to take with them. He told them these things so they could see how God would provide for them. Then he blessed them with the power to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cleanse those with leprosy. Wow! Now that is a gift! But these gifts came with responsibilities – they couldn’t just keep them for themselves – they had to use them for God’s glory and the people’s good.

​I think the word “freely” is important to this passage. They didn’t pay anything for this gift – it was free! So, they could only give it freely. That means they couldn’t charge for the healings or require the people to do anything to get it. It was given free and was to be given free.

I think this passage has much for us to consider. What has God given to you freely. Are you giving it freely to others for His glory and their good?

We have to all agree that we each have been blessed and not all in the same ways. So with what God has blessed us, we need to bless others with it, thus, I’m blessed, so I bless!

Look and see God’s blessings to you and bless someone else in turn! Look for the ways you can bless! They are there! God has put them there. More information will be announced about upcoming projects and activities at a later date...

These past weeks, we have been preparing for Easter. The events and services have been planned; the church has been decorated; and we have journeyed with Jesus these past 40-days to prepare us spiritually. Are we ready for Easter? It’s here!

Easter is a celebration for the Christian. We celebrate it as a church and as families, but do we celebrate it as an individual?

The earliest recorded celebrations of Easter occurred in the 2nd century A.D. This was within the first one hundred years of Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. By this time, the followers of Jesus had been scattered throughout the Roman world after the destruction of Jerusalem. It wasn’t until the Roman Emperor Constantine was convert to Christianity that the church began to organize and officially celebrate Easter. In 325 A.D., Constantine called the bishops from across church to gather in Nicaea, an ancient city what is now Greece. It was at this convention that the date of Easter was set to be the first full moon after the spring equinox. Thus, the date of Easter fluctuates between March 22 and April 25th under our modern calendar. This also follows the Jewish calendar for Passover. It is believed that Easter has been celebrated on the same date for over 1700 years. Though scholars believed that Jesus’ resurrection happened sometime between the years of 26 A.D and 36 A.D, many hold to the year 33 A.D. The truth will never be known, but the fact that it is still celebrated is remarkable.

If you are like my family, Easter was the day that everyone went to church and gathered for a family dinner afterwards. We also celebrated with new Easter clothing, egg coloring and hunting, and of course, candy! We celebrated Easter both as a holiday and a holy day.

What should Easter be? Well, simply put, a celebration – a time to rejoice in our salvation that Jesus bought with his life. It is time to celebrate as an individual, a family and as His church. It is the single most important day in history and all of eternity. Without Easter, we would have nothing to celebrate.

Easter is much more than a family dinner, but reason for a family to gather and celebrate together. Easter is more than just a special service in the wee hours of the morning. Easter is more than just one day a year, it is a life to live! Let’s live it!

​Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from my crazy crew. Even though 2020 was a challenging year for everyone I can say I have felt truly blessed! As we enter this new year with possible fear and trepidation of the unknown, let us not forget that we are not alone. I have to say there are things that have come up in my little family that cause me to get worked up and stressed. I have a hard time leaving my burdens at the altar. I have a tendency to pray, leave them, then pick them right back up and try and solve the problems on my own. This only causes more stress and anxiety. If this year has taught me anything it is that life is too short and has too much stress and anxiety, so I need to seek help from God, family and friends. Then be willing to accept the help when it is given. I am so thankful and blessed God placed Advance Community Christian Church in our lives to help me remember that I can get through whatever life has with the support and strength of God and those He allows to be in our life to help. May 2021 bring you much Happiness and Many Blessings. Love from the Wagners.

​“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. “ Philippians 4:13

​What a year it has been! It has been a rough one, but God has seen us through and we have to remember that He will continue to see us through. Jesus gives us a hope for the future…a hope in our eternity that gives us strength in our temporary. Thank you for walking with us this year and let’s continue to walk this road into 2021 together. Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve with you here at Advance Community Christian Church. We wish you the merriest of Christmases and a joyous New Year!

2020 is a year that will long be remembered. The Covid 19 Pandemic is still leaving its mark on our lives and will leave a permanent impression. However, how it was handled by our government is small in importance as to how it was handled by our faith.

Yes, we feared for ourselves, our loved ones and even the public. We have seen and taken unbelievable measures to avoid infection. And the reality is, we are still facing it head on. How has your faith endured? Intact? Or shaken?

I pray that our faith has been strengthen. I hope that what we felt in March is different than what we feel today. God has seen us through and is still seeing us through. Yes, our efforts did slow the virus, but as we have returned to a “new” normal, the rate of infection has increased, but successful treatment has also increased. Yes, there is still a danger and we need to be cautious and that may mean more effort, but I hope we can face the future with a stronger faith in God’s presence with us during it all.

I have a hard time thinking that God caused this all to happen, but I understand that He is using it to get our attention and to even grow our faith in him. In I Peter 1:6-8 we read “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even through refined fire-may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy." 

As we approach the holidays, it may not seem as happy considering what we are enduring, but we can find joy in his faithfulness. He will see us through it and will save us. That is what Jesus’ birth began, Easter paid and His return promises. We can find the joy of Christmas – be reminded that is where our salvation began.

Matthew 24:13-but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved

Let us celebrate his birth because of the salvation He brought! We will be saved!

Those rascally rabbits! These past couple of years, my garden was overtaken by rabbits. This spring I counted 4 sets of adult rabbits hanging out in my yard. After planting my garden, they made a quick meal of my broccoli plants and my bean shoots. Frustrated, I ordered fencing, and luckily for me, amazon shipped it within a day or so. I put up the fence and showed those rabbits who was boss. I felt a feeling of victory and replanted my crops. The fence worked for the most part. The adult rabbits didn’t breach the barrier, but one day I noticed movement inside the enclosure and much to my chagrin, a baby rabbit sat there munching on my beans. He sat there with such confidence. Well, just like Farmer MacGregor, I chased that varmint around until finally he got under the fence and quickly ran under the deck. As I discovered, those 8 rabbits had multiplied to a number I have been unable to count. Yet, instead of giving in or giving up, I fortified my fence even more and soon was finally able to reap a harvest. Several of the rabbits have now moved on, but there is still that one, whom I’ve named Peter. He taunts me on a daily basis. I have vowed that next year I will be even more prepared to fight the good fight and win!

The Apostle Paul encourages us to prepare for battle against the schemes of the Devil by taking every precaution to protect and defend ourselves. In Ephesians 6:11 he writes– “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” In order to win the battle and defeat the Devil, we have to be prepared with a power greater than ourselves - HIS Armor. God is offering us victory, however we still have to put on the full armor and fight. We cannot stand and we will not win without HIM! Read the rest of this passage in Ephesians 6 and see how God can prepare us. He’s offering us everything we will need to fight and win.

​ Too bad there are not any passages of scriptures that tell you how to rid your garden of rabbits. 

STEVE’S DESK - BACK TO SCHOOL – WE HOPE?

I remember when I was in elementary school I was always eager to return to school in the fall, but as I grew older, I began dreading going back, especially when school began opening before Labor Day. Summer vacation really did get shorter. When I went to college, I was never ready to go back. It would take several weeks to get back into the routine. Then, after graduation, the long summer breaks became a thing of my past and year-round work became reality. Ugh! Adulthood brings a lot of change.

This Covid 19 pandemic has also brought many changes, especially to our education system. Sadly, things still could change again. I’m confident that the kids will adapt to whatever evolves and teachers will too, but it won’t be without some pains. A new normal is being created and we just have to hold on and have faith that God will see us through it. We have an opportunity to teach some very important lesson to our children. They need to know that though things change around them – God never changes! AND He never breaks his promises!

Hebrews 13:8 says, “ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” We need to remember that He is still there and will always be there. Regardless of how much things change around us, he does not and will not. In this passage, Paul is referencing Deuteronomy 31:6 where God is telling Moses, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” This is the same message and the same words that God uses to encouraged Joshua as he was about to lead the people into the Promised Land in the book of Joshua. Incidentally, God repeats these same words, “Be strong and courageous…” five times in the entire book with four times in the first chapter. It is an important lesson is God repeats it. Both Joshua and Moses were facing big things and we are too. Today, God is encouraging us to keep our faith so others can keep theirs. We need to be mindful that our faith in these uncertain times can help others too.

​Be strong and courageous! Change is inevitable but God is constant and never changes! Let us to look to the future with the certainty of our faith. Regardless of what happens – God will deliver us. Join us 

Who would have ever imagined what we have experienced over these past few months in response to the threat of Covid 19? For a few weeks, the world stood still. Though I do not believe God caused this to happen, I know He is using it to get our attention.

With so much change, it is a wonder if things will ever get back to ‘normal’ or will we find a new normal. It will definitely be a time to remember, but will it be a time to learn?

We have experienced the full gamut of emotions and I hope we have seen a growth in our faith through it all. This time of quarantine has given us time to focus and maybe refocus on the important things around us. We’ve had a break from our hectic schedules. We’ve had more time at home with families. We’ve eaten more at home that we have for years. We’ve saved money on gas for our vehicles. Yes, we have been limited and gone without. Some have suffered financially and were furloughed and even lost their jobs. We have experienced shortages of food and higher prices and probably will for a time to come. Some have even lost their lives and the lives of loved ones. These times have been both good and bad. So, what have we learned?

Have we learned that God is still there? Have we learned that the church is more than just a building to go to for a moment in time to meet? Have we felt the longing to be together as a church family? I hope so, I have.

I pray, as we reopen and transition to a new normal, our lives will be more thankful, grateful, and blessed as we go forward with a renewed faith and peace in God. Maybe what we have learned through this is… He is still there and that we are still His Church beyond our building and beyond any services, we are His people.

Our perseverance through it all is possible because of our faith in God and in His promise to come – Heaven!

I can’t wait until we can all be together again at the same time and place, but until then, let’s continue to join in His Spirit and His work. Reach out to someone you haven’t seen for a while – a card – a call – a random act of kindness. Be the church we are: HIS!

Uncertainty!
​We are not sure what will happen in the days to come. We have made many plans and activities for the next two months in this newsletter, but we understand that some of our plans may not be possible. We will let you know of any changes or cancelations. God will lead us!

Have you ever been on a boat in the midst of a storm? Many years ago, I was taking a large car ferry from Maine to Nova Scotia, Canada. It was a cloudy, raining September morning when we drove into the belly of the ship with all of the other cars, buses, and trucks. At that time, it was the biggest ship that I had ever been on before. The crossing was to take 3-4 hours and we were told to expect stormy seas. We found our way to the seating areas on the ship and took seats near the window. Well, as the ship departed and we got out to sea, the storm’s intensity grew and the wind and the waves beat against the ship. The ship began to move a little more than I liked, which made walking difficult and comical. I did manage to make my way outside to the deck just to see what it was like, but I didn’t stay long. It was a little scary. I was fortunate that I did not get sick as others were, but that was quite a storm we endured in making that crossing. I was glad when we arrived at our destination.

Since that time, I have been on other ships and seas and I’m happy to say….I haven’t experienced another storm like that one, at least on a ship.

These past few days, we may feel like we are on a ship being tossed by the sea; The waves of the Coronavirus; the waves of the stock market; the waves of childcare with school shut down; the waves of shortages of food and supplies; and the waves of fear are beating against our boat. It doesn’t take very long before we feel our faith being tossed and turned as well.

I am reminded of the story of another boat being tossed by the waves as found in Mark 4:35-41. Jesus and the apostles boarded a small boat and “a furious squall came up and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.” Can you just imagine it? Wouldn’t you be more than just a little concerned for your life? Sure, you would and so were they. In the midst of their worry and fear they looked to Jesus who was fast asleep. Really, Jesus was asleep!

In their fear, they woke Jesus and asked… “Don’t you care if we drown?”

Of course, you know that Jesus gets up – rebukes the storm and it stops! He then turns to his apostles and says… “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? Some translations record Jesus’ words as “You of little faith.”

​Today, as we sit at home and ponder all that is going on in our world that we don’t comprehend, we are all feeling the effects of the turbulent waters beating against our boats. Do we have enough faith? I hope so, because we know that we are not alone. The all powerful Jesus is right by our side. Find the peace to hold on in the midst of this storm by calling out to the one who will either to stop it or deliver us through it! Hold on! He is near!

From Steve’s Desk
2020!  It seems so odd to write, doesn’t it?  I read a FACEBOOK post on January 1st that indicated that the first mistake we would make in the new year would be writing the wrong year. It does take time to get used to.  I am not sure it was my first mistake of the year.
 
This new year has led me to think about 20/20 vision.  20/20, indicates perfect vision, or that’s what we may think.  I did some research and found that 20/20 is not perfect vision, but it is the average vision.  This measurement was developed by Dutch eye doctor named Herman Snelling in 1834.  It is a comparison of a measurement.   It measures your sight to what the average person sees at a distance of 20 feet.  At 20/10, you see things at 20 feet that the average person can only see at 10 feet. So, you have better vision than the average.  20/40 then means that you must be twice as close to see what the average person sees at 20 feet. Thus, you have poorer vision.   Confused?  Well, let’s just say that nobody has perfect vision. 
 
This has set me thinking about what God sees.  We know that God is ALL-SEEING!  On the back of the US dollar bill is the image of a pyramid that is crowned by an eye, the All-seeing Eye of God’s Providence.  Can we understand all that God sees?  Is God’s eyesight 20/20?  Well, I don’t think so, because He cannot be compared to the “average” person because He is above mankind.  He can’t be measured by our vision, we need to be measured by His.
 
Should we be concerned about what He is seeing?  I hope so.  I remember a song I was taught as toddler entitled; “O’ Be Careful Little Eyes What You See.”  There were several verses that each includes a different part of our body but gives the same caution: we need to be careful because God is looking down from above.   It is an important message for us to learn and not just at young ages.  We need to be reminded that He can see all that we do and all that we are, in our hearts and minds as well.   
 
I mentioned earlier that God cannot be measured by us, but we by Him.  Our actions and our thoughts need to be corrected to the way He sees things.  He will show us and correct our vison.  Let’s focus on our vision becoming like what God’s sees!
 
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people…”Eph. 1:18
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