This Sunday is our annual Missions Festival of Praise. Keith Anderson and Henry Happ will be speaking in our services, and we are excited to have the entire Happ family with us for the day. It's hard to believe that it's been 4 1/2 years since they left our church to begin missionary life.
The focus of their presentation and our annual Missions Festival offering is the Latin America Training Network. Learn more about this ministry at the official LATN website.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Free Song - "My Soul Finds Rest"
This past Sunday, we introduced a new song in our worship service, with lyrics based on Psalm 62. Later that same day, I received an email from a worship website that was offering a free download of the song. If you are building a music collection for your computer or MP3 player, here's a great addition.
"My Soul Finds Rest (Psalm 62)"
One thing that drew me to the song was this part that seems most appropriate these days:
Though riches come and riches go,
Don't set your heart upon them;
The fields of hope in which I sow
Are harvested in heaven.
[Note: We are singing the chorus all throughout the song in the way he sings it at the conclusion of this recording-- going up on the second syllable of "re-ward."]
"My Soul Finds Rest (Psalm 62)"
One thing that drew me to the song was this part that seems most appropriate these days:
Though riches come and riches go,
Don't set your heart upon them;
The fields of hope in which I sow
Are harvested in heaven.
[Note: We are singing the chorus all throughout the song in the way he sings it at the conclusion of this recording-- going up on the second syllable of "re-ward."]
A Comment about Comments
I have wondered whether or not it is wise to allow for readers to leave comments on this blog. Sometimes, people allow themselves to say things on the web that they would never say to a person face to face. Things can get pretty ugly pretty quickly on a blog.
But I am hopeful. I believe that most of the traffic here will be people from our church, and I believe that we can and must speak to each other in a careful, edifying way. That may mean that, at times, we will have to edit/remove comments that are careless, unwise, or worse. If it becomes too difficult or time-consuming to moderate the comments, I may have to remove that option.
Let's remember to speak "the truth in love." This is not a forum for debate, but an opportunity to spark interesting and fruitful discussion. Rather than just stirring things up, we want to "stir up one another to love and good works."
But I am hopeful. I believe that most of the traffic here will be people from our church, and I believe that we can and must speak to each other in a careful, edifying way. That may mean that, at times, we will have to edit/remove comments that are careless, unwise, or worse. If it becomes too difficult or time-consuming to moderate the comments, I may have to remove that option.
Let's remember to speak "the truth in love." This is not a forum for debate, but an opportunity to spark interesting and fruitful discussion. Rather than just stirring things up, we want to "stir up one another to love and good works."
Ideas for Blog Content
Here are some of the things I've been thinking about putting up on Think About These Things:
What else? Tell me your ideas by leaving a comment.
- Occasional devotional thoughts - a portion of Scripture and my reflections on it, from my own time in the Word
- Links to helpful websites
- Recommended reading - articles, books, periodicals, etc.
- Recommended listening - sermons, lectures, conference audio, music, etc.
- Explaining why we do what we do (or don't) at EFCMM
- Next week’s sermon text - encouraging you to read it ahead of time and asking for your questions/comments on the passage
- Bonus materials (the good stuff that didn't quite make it into the sermon-- kind of like the "Making Of" or "Deleted Scenes" on your DVD movies)
- Free music downloads (especially if they are songs we may sing at EFCMM)
- Community information and outreach ideas
- Ministry updates and coming events at EFCMM
What else? Tell me your ideas by leaving a comment.
Why blog?
Why have I started a blog?
Blogging is a simple way to communicate and interact with a lot of people.
My goal is to extend and enhance my ministry as a pastor through sharing some of my own thoughts that might not make it into a sermon or lesson, as well as passing along some of the best resources of others. I come across plenty of good stuff on the web-- articles, music, tools, etc.-- and I'd love to share these things if they can be informative and particularly spiritually formative.
Of course, there is plenty of nonsense and noise out there as well, and I don't want to add any more. But, if I can help you avoid the triviality and trash by serving you as a shepherd who leads, feeds, guards, and guides, then you may be better able to follow these instructions:
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9
Of course, you've noticed already that the name of this blog is taken from the end of verse 8: Thing About These Things. Keep coming back and see what shows up here.
Blogging is a simple way to communicate and interact with a lot of people.
My goal is to extend and enhance my ministry as a pastor through sharing some of my own thoughts that might not make it into a sermon or lesson, as well as passing along some of the best resources of others. I come across plenty of good stuff on the web-- articles, music, tools, etc.-- and I'd love to share these things if they can be informative and particularly spiritually formative.
Of course, there is plenty of nonsense and noise out there as well, and I don't want to add any more. But, if I can help you avoid the triviality and trash by serving you as a shepherd who leads, feeds, guards, and guides, then you may be better able to follow these instructions:
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9
Of course, you've noticed already that the name of this blog is taken from the end of verse 8: Thing About These Things. Keep coming back and see what shows up here.
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