Before I get into how people change I want to say a few things about Wednesday night.  We have had and will continue to have some great things happening on Wednesday night.  The Wednesday night meal continues on, with the energy of new leadership provided by Amy Houston.  We are adding a time of corporate worship immediate following the meal to set our minds on the Lord and enrich our fellowship.  (Just a few minutes of singing together with God’s people can do wonders for your spiritual life in the middle of the week!) 

This year we are launching our Wednesday Night Ministry with a Block Party (Wed. September 7^th, 5:30-8:00PM.)  We will enjoy being together and having a place to welcome our friends and neighbors.  The Elevation Band (i.e., the folks who play in worship) has been hard at work to prepare live music.  In addition to the songs that we sing in corporate worship, the band has prepared some other pieces just for this event. Benjamin Harding tells me quality is superb, so bring your friends out for some serious live music.  We will have tables at the Block Party that present the ministries that will take place on Wednesday night.  We will have food on hand for purchase, but you are welcome to bring your own food as well. (We have asked these vendors to make and sell food.  We are not sharing in their profits, nor have we made guarantees to them.)      

On Wednesday evenings this fall I will be leading a study using the book entitled How People Change, by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp.  Paul Tripp is a second generation pioneer of the biblical counseling movement begun by Jay Adams, and appreciated by so many in our church through the Self-Confrontation courses led by the Evers, Zitlaus and Hilberts over the years.  Tim Lane is a professor of biblical counseling at the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation affiliated with Westminster Seminary.  How People Change is a comprehensive presentation of a gospel centered approach to change.  It is the type of book that is worthy of re-reading, re-studying time and again.  I chose this book because it is rich in application, replete with examples and deep (yet accessible) in theology. 

Rich in Application—How People Change provides an opportunity for extended reflection on topics relevant to us all. We will have ample time—more time than in Sunday school and, in some cases, than in small groups—to have give and take discussion on living the Christian life.  We will be able to grow together.  Folks new to our fellowship will be able to grow with us if they are Christians, or be exposed first hand to the way that we as believers approach the challenges of our lives. 

Replete with Examples—Tripp and Lane have culled many real life examples from their counseling experience. These examples provide points of contact for discussion and application.  I have found the examples to be encouraging and challenging.  One cannot help but see oneself on occasion in the pages of this book.  It is both a comfort and a challenge to see a fellow gospel traveler struggling to live out the good news. 

Deep, Yet Accessible in Theology—Lane and Tripp are well studied in the biblical-theological tradition, especially in its Dutch-Calvinist expression (Vos and Ridderbos).  Each chapter begins with a brief, yet sufficient overview of a facet of the New Testament’s teaching on God’s work in Christ for us past, present and future.  By framing the discussion this way the authors not only help us to think more clearly about our own relationship with Christ, they also help us to think more clearly about the Bible itself.  In other words, your daily bible reading, approach to sermons and other studies will be enriched by our study of How People Change. 

This study is open to men and women of all ages, couples and singles alike.  As I have already shared with the WIC leadership, there is no intention to replace or compete with the current evening WIC study.  That ministry is well grounded and much needed.  As pastor of the whole church I am happy to see people find their place of fellowship and growth, wherever that is.  I am hopeful that this study can become a place of such growth and fellowship for those who have the time Wednesday night but have not had the opportunity or found their place—men, women, singles, parents with children in youth ministry and couples desiring to grow together.  Please pray for this new study and all our Wednesday night ministries. 

See you at the Block Party!

Pastor Harvey

This morning, I received a call from Arklie Hooten, director of our denomination’s disaster relief ministry.  Arklie was calling to confirm that reports of minimal damage were accurate.  He had been getting ready to circle the wagons to assist EP and other churches in the Heritage Presbytery.  It was encouraging to be remembered by Tim and Arklie.  They both remember the leadership of our church in the Katrina relief effort.  They wanted us to know that they and other were ready to come to our aid.  It is nice to be a part of a nationwide family of churches that love one another.

Dave Visser reports that damage to our property was minimal. We had a few leaks which stained some of the ceiling tile. Work on our flat roof was already planned and these leaks confirm the need.  We need to pick up some sticks around the church, so please call Dave if you are available.

This year we are launching our Wednesday Night Ministry with a Block Party (Wed. September 7^th, 5:30-8:00PM.)  We will enjoy being together and having a place to welcome our friends and neighbors.  The Elevation Band (i.e., the folks who play in worship) has been hard at work to prepare live music.  In addition to the songs that we sing in corporate worship, the band has prepared some other pieces just for this event. Benjamin Harding tells me quality is superb, so bring your friends out for some serious live music.  We will have tables at the Block Party that present the ministries that will take place on Wednesday night.  We will have food on hand for purchase, but you are welcome to bring your own food as well. (We have asked these vendors to make and sell food.  We are not sharing in their profits, nor have we made guarantees to them.) 

On Wednesday evenings this fall I will be leading a study using the book entitled How People Change, by Tim Lane and Paul Tripp.  Paul Tripp is a second generation pioneer of the biblical counseling movement begun by Jay Adams, and appreciated by so many in our church through the Self-Confrontation courses led by the Evers, Zitlaus and Hilberts over the years.  Tim Lane is a Professor of Biblical Counseling at the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation affiliated with Westminster Seminary.  How People Change is a comprehensive presentation of a gospel centered approach to change.  It is the type of book that is worthy of re-reading and re-studying time and again.  I chose this book because it is rich in application, replete with examples and deep (yet accessible) in theology. 

Rich in Application—How People Change provides an opportunity for extended reflection on topics relevant to us all. We will have ample time—more time than in Sunday school and, in some cases, than in small groups—to have give and take discussion on living the Christian life.  We will be able to grow together.  Folks new to our fellowship will be able to grow with us if they are Christians, or be exposed first hand to the way that we as believers approach the challenges of our lives. 

Replete with Examples—Tripp and Lane have culled many real life examples from their counseling experience. These examples provide points of contact for discussion and application.  I have found the examples to be encouraging and challenging.  One cannot help but see oneself on occasion in the pages of this book.  It is both a comfort and a challenge to see a fellow gospel traveler struggling to live out the Good News. 

Deep, Yet Accessible, in Theology—Lane and Tripp are well studied in the biblical-theological tradition, especially in its Dutch-Calvinist expression (Vos and Ridderbos). Each chapter begins with a brief, yet sufficient overview of a facet of the New Testament’s teaching on God’s work in Christ for us past, present and future.  By framing the discussion this way the authors not only help us to think more clearly about our own relationship with Christ, they also help us to think more clearly about the Bible itself.  In other words, your daily bible reading, approach to sermons and other studies will be enriched by our study of How People Change. 

This study is open to men and women of all ages, couples and singles alike.  As I have already shared with the WIC leadership, there is no intention to replace or compete with the current evening WIC study.  That ministry is well grounded and much needed.  As pastor of the whole church I am happy to see people find their place of fellowship and growth, wherever that is.  I am hopeful that this study can become a place of such growth and fellowship for those who have the time on Wednesday night but have not had the opportunity or found their place—men, women, singles, parents with children in youth ministry and couples desiring to grow together.  Please pray for this new study and all our Wednesday night ministries. 

See you at the Block Party!

Pastor Jay 

Below are some items for prayer in response to Psalm 84, this past Sunday’s text.  Posting these “prayer pointers” is a practice we’ll continue for the entire summer as we focus on communion with God using the Psalms.  The purpose of the prayers below is to get us in the habit of praying the Psalms and to get us praying for specific things we need God to do in us and through us as a congregation.  While there’s no one way to use these prayers, here are some suggestions: take one of these prayers and make it your own as a response to your Bible reading tomorrow morning.  Take another the next day, another the next.  Notice that each prayer is followed by an ellipsis with the idea that you continue in prayer in your own words.  If you’re the head of household, aim to read a passage of scripture with your family and then begin to pray these prayers as a family at least every other day this week.  For many this will be a supplement to their own regular habits of Bible reading and prayer.  For many others this will be a great beginning to a life long practice of communing with God in prayer.  Whether supplement or a good start, there is no telling what God will do if we will commit ourselves to seeking His face together in prayer not just on Sunday mornings but throughout the week.

Heavenly Father, we delight in your love.  We rejoice that from before time you have desired to be with us.  We long to be with you more than we long to be with anyone or anything.  We love you.  We are humbled, overwhelmed, and overjoyed that you would love us enough to make your home with us forever.  We thank you that our confidence to call you Father, and the assurance that we will always dwell together, does not come from our feelings or from our circumstances but from the truth of Scripture and the cross of Christ.  Father, renew our faith in your Fatherly love and care for your children.  Renew our faith in your goodness and love not only for the sake of our souls, but so that we can be agents of your goodness and love to those around us…

Lord Jesus, we would rather spend one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; we would rather be a doorkeeper outside your dwelling than be comfortably seated with the wicked.  Jesus, please cause our delight in you to eclipse our desire for the world or our envy of the wicked.  Make us to no longer envy the wicked, nor long to be with them in their wickedness.  Make us to flee from wordliness and make us an increasingly holy people, zealous for good works.  Give us hearts that would long for you more than the greatest earthly thing.   Reignite our affections for you, King Jesus, and cause us to walk in your ways…

Heavenly Father, you truly have withheld no good thing from us who cling to you by faith.  Give us eyes to see the reality of this today.  Open our eyes to see that every good and perfect gift comes from you to lead us to adore and worship you.  Open our eyes to see that if you have given your Son, you will certainly, along with Him, graciously give us all things.  Father please forgive our unbelief in this promise.  We are truly blessed to have a God who gives!  You have given us everything in Christ!  Make us to be generous givers.  Please give us opportunities today to share your goodness with someone around us, please tune our hearts to sing your praise, please enable us to see your blessings and be led to bless your name and bless others…