Card

__________________________________________________
We received a card in the mail yesterday that perplexed us. Maybe you can help us figure out what it means.

The outside:
A Prayer for Overcoming An Addiction

The inside:
Dear God,
I really need your strength
in overcoming my addiction
This craving has become
a dominant force in my life.
I need your love
to unchain me from
this prison I've created.
Please surround me
with Your love and guidance
to help me fight
this great temptation.
Give me strength so that
I can win this battle.
I know with you
everything is possible.
I so need Your love and support.
Amen

The signature:
Friends who care (in a child's handwriting)
__________________________________________________

Volunteer Coordinator

__________________________________________________
Cameron and I met the new Volunteer Cooordinator at NCCF tonite. He seems like a sensible, likeable person. It sounds like we may have an opportunity at another service or two per month, which is something we've been thinking (and informally praying) about.
__________________________________________________

Recording

__________________________________________________
For those of you who are interested, here is the recording from yesterday's sermon at Greenville Fellowship.
__________________________________________________

Flattered or Offended?

__________________________________________________
I'm not sure whether to be flattered or offended.

Custom at Greenville Fellowship is to allow 20-30 minutes for feedback/testimony relating to the sermon at the end of the service. My experience has always been that at least one or two people have something to add or amplify. Today, however, not one single soul had anything to say.

I'm not sure whether to be flattered that there were no contradictions or offended that there were no accolades; flattered that there was no dissension or offended that there was no complimentation.
__________________________________________________

Dead in Sin to the Glory of God

__________________________________________________

The following outline is what I plan to be preaching from on Sunday at Greenville Fellowship (and also NCCF in the afternoon). If you plan to be there please feel free (and encouraged) to print this out for reference.

Dead in Sin to the Glory of God
Ephesians 2:1-7

1) Dead IN sin
a. Dead – nekros – a corpse
i. John 12:1 Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead (nekros)
ii. Revelation 3:1b To the angel of the church in Sardis write: …‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. (nekros)
b. In trespasses (and sin) – paraptoma - (unintentional) error or (wilful) transgression

2) Remember slavery
a. Romans 6:16-22
i. free will / power of choice

3) Remember depravity
a. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11a
b. Colossians 3:5-7
c. Titus 3:3
d. Romans 11:30-33

4) God’s mercy
a. But God…
i. …seeing our inherent value?
ii. …recognizing our general moral goodness?
iii. …taking pity on our condition?
iv. …being lonely without us?
v. …BEING RICH IN MERCY!!

5) God’s favor
a. Justification
b. Even when we were
i. …dead in sin [He] animated us in Messiah
c. Grace – charis – graciousness, divine influence on the heart, favor
i. Grace exemplified

6) Our position
a. Sanctification
b. Glorification
c. Past tense – made alive, raised, seated

7) God’s glory
a. Why?
i. In order that or with the intent that…..
b. Titus 3:3-7

__________________________________________________

Job Opening

__________________________________________________
The position of Volunteer Coordinator has opened (read: been created) at New Castle Correctional Facility. This position would be one of recruiting volunteers and coordinating all volunteer services (religious or otherwise). The current chaplain has recommended that I pursue it. It doesn't quite offer the salary that Renita and I feel is necessary to facilitate our standard of living. Also, I'd need to purchase an economical vehicle for the 90 mile round trip daily.

Please pray that I'd be hearing the Father's will in this matter.
__________________________________________________

Fact

__________________________________________________
For I know that nothing good dwells in me
__________________________________________________