Thursday, February 3, 2011

E-Flash From Dan, February 3, 2011

Dear E-Flash Friends;

Are you dug out from the snow, yet?  I had to dig through a 4 foot snow drift to get into the church this morning.  I think our snow removal guys may have collapsed before they were able to get to it.  It’s been quite a week, huh?

Here’s a picture of our church courtyard, looking beautiful in the sunshine and snow…

Well, at any rate, the church is accessible—and you don’t even need a snow mobile—and this Sunday I’m planning to be here.  I hope you are, too.  We will be concluding our series from the book of Colossians, “To Defeat A Lie, We Lift Him High”.  I’m looking forward to talking about “Living Wisely Among Unbelievers” (Col. 4:5&6).  I am excited about this topic because I love thinking about, and talking about, the important interaction of believers and unbelievers.

(I know there is some type of sporting event happening later in the day—I think it might be a NASCAR race, or something—but we’ll be done with the services in plenty of time.)

And then, coming up on Sunday, Feb. 13th, we will begin a new 11-week series which will take us into Easter.  This new series is titled…

“Do You Know What Christians Believe?”

Several recent surveys that have been done in our country suggest that many people who identify themselves as Christians, do not have a good understanding of some of the basic beliefs of the Christian faith.  Even rudimentary Bible facts are unknown to many believers.  For example the following survey question, “name at least two or three of Jesus’ twelve disciples” is frequently answered with this response:  “Grumpy, Doc, Sneezy, Dopey, Matthew…”

Sadly, only one of the names in that response is correct.

So in our new series, we’ll be dealing with questions of fundamental Christian beliefs.  Questions like these:

What do Christians believe about “truth”?
What is the nature of man?
Why do we pray?
What is the church?
Does God really send people to hell?

…And others, as well.

I believe this series will be good, helpful, interesting and inspiring to new believers… and long-time followers of Christ, too!

We’re moving toward Easter—which is later in the calendar, this year, April 24th—and I’m hoping that as we move in the direction of this important time, we will all think and pray about the possibility of inviting someone to church.  The Holy Spirit is at work in our services.  I know many of us sense this reality!  Easter, and these weeks leading up to Easter, are a great time to invite people to church.  Let’s pray that the people we know and love would come to a true, life-transforming relationship with the King of Kings!

Love and blessings,

Dan


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