Chuck welcomed us and proceeded into the announcements.
Emma Rose's birthday is today.
Youth Group Lock-In is this coming week.
The Youth Group is looking for a used sofa if possible.
Baseball is coming up. New Life Covenant is going to assemble a softball team. Guys and gals mixed league.
The loan request from the covenant has been approved. We currently have received over $250,000 of the $400,000 goal for the building. The aim is to see us begin in May.
Women's Meeting will be next Sunday after church and Secret Sister exchange started.
No council meeting Tuesday.
Chuck shared an email from Brad who said he went 380 miles yesterday and is still feeling good. Many more good words. Chuck, Ken and Darlene led the worship. Chuck first shared from Psalm 32. And then they sang a medley about God's marvelous grace followed by a series of songs from the silver song book. As the offering was taken Ken, Chuck and Darlene sang that old time Gaither favorite, The Lighthouse.
Before beginning his sermon, Joel Osterlund shared briefly about Covenant Park Bible Camp along with a video showing last year's highlights. "We look forward to making a great impact in 2014."
Be Prepared
14 New Life youth were at the Toby Mac concert last night and Joel shared that he also was there with some youth as well.
The message began with the reading of II Timothy 4:1-5, with the key verse being the second verse.
Being prepared involves three facets.
1. Being prepared means having the right equipment.
A story was told about all the gear Joel brings along when he goes ice fishing. There's quite a bit of equipment involved when you want to do it right, and on one of his recent ice fishing trips he somehow failed to have equipment he needed for that day's fishing. It had inadvertently be left behind.
In our case, the building we're undertaking is not the goal. Our ministry is to connect, grow and become, and the building is a tool toward this end.
2. Being prepared also means having the right knowledge.
The story of David and Goliath illustrates this insight. After setting up the story, he shared from I Samuel 17:38-39, equipment that didn't work for David's situation. Instead, David shed the armor and took the equipment he was familiar with, his sling and five smooth stones.
In everyday life, such as in our worship service, we have a keyboard and a piano, but these are of little use without someone who knows how to use them or play them. Applied knowledge is what makes the equipment useful.
3. Being prepared means having the right attitude.
It is necessary for us to be willing to go forth. One example is the story of Moses. In Exodus 3:9 God calls Moses to lead Israel out of Egypt. But Moses protested. "Who am I to do this thing?"
By way of contrast, in Isaiah 6 God calls, and the prophet replies, "Here am I. Send me."
At Covenant Park the goal is to prepare young people for life. To equipment them, to give them knowledge and to help them have the right attitude as they walk toward their futures.
The key piece in our lives is having the right attitude. In Philippians Paul instructs us to have the right attitude, the attitude of Christ, who humbled Himself... even to a death on a cross. The world will be changed, our local communities will be changed when we have the right attitude. This is what will make us light and salt in this community.
When we're not prepared, we will miss out on being part of a great God-moment.
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