Vancouver Today - e.Update, August 30, 2011

A U G U S T  3 0 ,  2 0 1 1 

From Pastor Roger ...

Marshal Shelley, editor of Leadership Journal talks about the idea of Beta software and Beta sites and how we've come to incorporate them into daily life. When we find a problem, we say, "Oh yeah, this is a beta site, it's not fully ready for public consumption. There may be problems, but that's to be expected, therefore, it's all good. That's why it's in Beta and not full production."

We need to apply this idea to the Christian life. None of us are full production yet - that comes with Jesus takes us home. We're not perfect yet, so we should have that kind of Beta patience with our fellow Christians. Like us, they are all a work in progress. We should go through every day expecting we will need to give grace to others, all day long. They, like us are only Beta Christians. 

What's happening: 

• Sunday, Sept. 18, 1pm Burton Boundey funeral

• SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, Oct. 6, 7:30pm Triumphant Quartet, an evening of gospel music. Ticketed event.

THIS WEEK
		TODAY 8/30	WEDNESDAY 8/31	THURSDAY 9/1	FRIDAY 9/2	SABBATH 9/3
				3:00pm Robert Decker Funeral (Cindy Allen's Father) at Vancouver Barracks	6pm Shabbat Service	9, 11am Pastor Roger Walter
				6:30pm CHIP Alumni
NEXT WEEK
SUNDAY 9/4	MONDAY 9/5	TUESDAY 9/6	WEDNESDAY 9/7	THURSDAY 9/8	FRIDAY 9/10	SABBATH 9/11
			4:10 Adventurers	6:30pm CHIP Alumni	6pm Shabbat Service	9, 11am Pastor Danny Kim
			7pm Pathfinders			1:30pm Community Group Facilitators

Vancouver Today - e.Update, August 24, 2011

A U G U S T  2 4 ,  2 0 1 1

Pastor Roger ... How are the young adults in our church faring? Are we nurturing them to our fullest capacity? Do they see Jesus when they come to church, or only friends? The next questions is, what are we going to do about it? I know that Pastor Jeff is looking for someone to lead a collegiate group, but more than that, it's got to be more than a once-a-week observance with all of us!     According to a 2007 study conducted by LifeWay Research and reported by USA Today , 70 percent of young adults drop out of Protestant churches, and 34 percent do not attend even sporadically after age 30. The young adults polled cited the following reasons for leaving church (those polled could offer more than one reason): • Wanted a break from church: 27 percent • Found church members judgmental or hypocritical: 26 percent • Moved away to college: 25 percent • Tied up with work: 23 percent • Moved too far away from home church: 22 percent • Too busy: 22 percent • Felt disconnected to people at church: 20 percent • Disagreed with church's stance on political/social issues: 18 percent • Spent more time with friends outside church: 17 percent • Only went before to please others: 17 percent Talk to Pastor Jeff to learn how God can use you to work with the younger members of our church family.  Condensed from an article on "Our of Ur," a Leadership journal blog © 2007 Christianity Today International. For more articles like this, visit Out of Ur

What's happening:  Sabbath Dr. Calvin Taylor, pianist and recording artist  9 and 11 am: Sermon in Songs: Holy Scripture with Sounds of Music 6:30 pm: A concert that brings new meaning to the word "concert." With an unusually large hand span of over 1 1/2 octaves, Calvin Taylor presents sounds and colors which would normally require four hands. Beloved hymns, well-known spirituals, classics, and patriotic music take on new significance through the artistry of Calvin's improvisations.  Invite your friends and neighbors.

THIS WEEK
			TODAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SABBATH
			4pm Discovery and Adventurer Clubs	6:30pm CHIP Graduation		9, 11am Calvin Taylor Sermon in Songs
			5pm Debt Reduction 7pm Church Board	7pm CAA Board		6:30pm Calvin Taylor Concert
NEXT WEEK
SUNDAY	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SABBATH
				6:30pm CHIP Alumni	6pm Shabbat Service	9, 11am Pastor Roger Walter

Vancouver Today - e.Update, August 9, 2011

A U G U S T  9,  2 0 1 1

From Pastor Roger ...

"Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." – Winston Churchill

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV: "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

The summer is speeding by and it is easy to get tired and relax and let your values slide. Never give in - do everything to God's glory - whether watching TV, listening to music, or driving your car. When shopping, when being yelled at, when no one else is around - do it everything to God's glory. Take the time today to evaluate yourself and see what is going on in your own life…. 

What's happening: Calvin Taylor will present the 9 and 11 am services on August 27.

THIS WEEK
		TODAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SABBATH
		6:30pm CHIP	4pm Adventurer's Staff	6:30pm CHIP	6pm Shabbat Service	9, 11am Pastor Roger Walter
		6:45pm Walking Among the Lampstands	7pm Elders		6:45pm Walking Among the Lampstands	1:30pm Community Group Facilitators
NEXT WEEK
SUNDAY	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SABBATH
4pm CHIP	7pm Pathfinder Registration	6:30pm CHIP	4:00pm Adventurer/ Discovery Parent Orientation and Registration	6:30pm CHIP 6:30pm Talk to Your Kid	6pm Shabbat Service	9, 11 am Pastor Roger Walter
		7pm Adventurer/ Discovery Parent Orientation and Registration	7pm Finance Committee	7pm Parenting Class

Vancouver Today - e.Update, August 2, 2011

* * * * * D A T E * * * *

From Pastor Roger ...

Thump-Thud, Thump-Thud
from Shaped by God, by Max Lucado

"When a potter bakes a pot, he checks its solidity by pulling it out of the oven and thumping it. If it 'sings,' it's ready. If it 'thuds,' it's placed back in the oven.

The character of a person is also checked by thumping. Been thumped lately?

Late-night phone calls. Grouchy teacher. Grumpy moms. Burnt meals. Flat tires. You've-got-to-be-kidding deadlines. Those are thumps. Thumps are those irritating inconveniences that trigger the worst in us. They catch us off guard. Flat-footed. They aren't big enough to be crises, but if you get enough of them, watch out! Traffic jams. Long lines. Empty mailboxes. Dirty clothes on the floor. Even as I write this, I'm being thumped. Because of interruptions, it has taken me almost two hours to write these two paragraphs. Thump. Thump. Thump.

How do I respond? Do I sing? Or do I thud?

Jesus said that out of the nature of the heart a man speaks (Luke 6:45). There's nothing like a good thump to reveal the nature of a heart. The true character of a person is seen not in momentary heroics but in the thump-packed humdrum of day-to-day living.

If you have a tendency to thud more than you sing, take heart.

The true character of a person is seen not in momentary heroics but in the thump-packed humdrum of day-to day living.

There is hope for us "thudders":

1. Begin by thanking God for thumps. I don't mean a half-hearted thank-you. I mean a rejoicing, jumping-for-joy thank-you from the bottom of your heart (James 1:2). Chances are that God is doing the thumping. And he's doing it for your own good. So every thump is a reminder that God is molding you (Heb. 12:5–8).
    
   
2. Learn from each thump. Face up to the fact that you are not "thump-proof." You are going to be tested from now on. You might as well learn from the thumps—you can't avoid them. Look upon each inconvenience as an opportunity to develop patience and persistence. Each thump will help you or hurt you, depending on how you use it. 
    
   
3. Be aware of "thump-slump" times. Know your pressure periods. For me Mondays are infamous for causing thump-slumps. Fridays can be just as bad. For all of us, there are times during the week when we can anticipate an unusual amount of thumping. The best way to handle thump-slump times? Head on. Bolster yourself with extra prayer, and don't give up. Shaped by God
   

Remember, no thump is disastrous. All thumps work for good if we are loving and obeying God.

From Shaped by God (original title: On the Anvil). Copyright (Tyndale House, 1985, 2002) Max Lucado

What's happening: 

THIS WEEK
		TODAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SABBATH
			8:30am FLAG Camp	8:30am FLAG Camp	8:30am FLAG Camp	9, 11am Pastor Jeff Richards
				6:30pm CHIP	6:00pm Shabbat Service 6:45pm Walking Among The Lampstands
NEXT WEEK
SUNDAY	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY	SABBATH
4pm CHIP		6:30pm CHIP	4pm Adventurer's Staff Meeting	6:30pm CHIP	6:00pm Shabbat Service	9, 11am Pastor Roger Walter
		6:45pm Walking Among the Lampstands	7pm Elder's Meeting		6:45pm Walking Among The Lampstands