MIDWEEK MESSAGE 163
Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #163. We have hit the longest-day-of-the-summer point (June 21) and if the previous month has been a harbinger of things to come, we are in for a doozy the next two months. But I’m not complaining. I enjoy the heat much more than I do the snow. Did I just say that nasty word? Forgive me and I hope you will still keep reading.
Remember to pray for Le’Von and Ashley Griffin. Ashley is Dawn Murphy’s daughter. She is an inspector for the University of Texas and Le’Von is a police officer for the city of Austin, TX. They have 4 children: Quinlan, Sterling, Jacyn, and Ilam.
This past Saturday was the Serving Owen County Together event. One word describes the day: H-O-T! But it was also very fulfilling. Aaron LaGrange, the organizer of the event, sent out an email Saturday evening. All told there were 112 volunteers. We served 1054 people- 577 adults and 477 children. That is not including the food given to the Lions Club for their free lunch program; Backpack Buddies, which serves our S-OCS students with food to take home on the weekends; and the Spencer Food Bank (Mark Mission). I know others received the same comments Jo and I received of how grateful they were and thankful for the food and clothing they received. (Everything was provided free of charge). I truly feel we offered some hope and help to people who needed it.
“A pox upon me for a clumsy lout.” Those words by George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life to Mary were strange to my ears. Still are. I think he meant “I really messed up.” Well, I have to say that as well if that is the meaning. When I was mentioning in last week’s MM the young people who were campers last week and this week, I left out some names. (Insert forehead slap here). Anyway, I failed to mention that Sophia Kropack was a camper at Day Camp II on the 22nd, and then Sophia and her friend, Loran Lewis, and Amelia Borders were campers on the 23rd at Wilderness Day Camp II. I also failed to mention that Alli Anderson is a camper this week at the Sr High Wilderness Camp. Abby and Anna Bales are also campers. You know what is even more sad (or possibly scarier) is that I had their names written down with check marks (I wrote them a note) right in front of me! ☺
So…here are the campers at Hilltop this week: (Dorm side-Jr. Girls) Charli Wood and Bella Madorin. (Wilderness) Mackenzie Adams, Alli Anderson, Abby and Anna Bales, Anna East, Caleb East, Meilynn Hess, Nolan Miller, and Hannah Pendleton. Faculty: Pastor Ryan & Hope East (Deans), Macy Carlson, Brandon Chandler, Anna Katz, Westin & Cassie Linville, Linda St John, and Mollie Wainscott.
Your campers to pray for next week (HS week at the dorm side): Kathryn Anderson, Maddie Miller, Noah Pendleton, Evie Willen, and Keely Wills.
I missed all the action Sunday afternoon! Not that I’m complaining after getting back into town. I was visiting someone in Hendricks County Hospital (Danville) when on my way home I started getting phone calls and texts from Jo and also having my music interrupted by a voice telling me a thunderstorm warning or tornado warning was so many miles from my current location. As I drove home the sky looked really ominous. I had maybe 5 minutes of rain the whole trip. I kept looking at the sky and looking for places to possibly pull over if necessary but I didn’t have to. However, I saw some of the damage hail can cause when I got back into town. I hope you were and are safe from this latest round of “weather events.” It sure has been a weird weather season hasn’t it?
This coming Sunday is my last in the series of Faith Over Fear. Confession time: this has been an interesting series to study for and to preach. I have never done one like this before so, in total transparency, it was sort of daunting to start with. I realize I am not an expert and did feel somewhat inadequate, but just hope and pray it gave some help and some perspective to some folks. Sunday, July 9th, I will be back in Revelation, starting at chapter 6 with “Here Come the Horses!” I’ll fill you in more as it gets closer but at this point I do plan to go to the end of August with this series. That will by no means be the end of it, but I may take another break to focus on something else. I’m praying about that right now. Like I said, I will keep you updated.
This Sunday is considered to be a part of the Fourth of July celebration. While I won’t be preaching on politics (never), I do want to encourage you to celebrate the birth of our nation and the sacrifices that were made when those early colonists and their ragtag army took on the British army and secured our freedom. The price many of those early signers of the Declaration of Independence paid can never be minimized. I could list what kind of sacrifices the signers of the DoI made, but here is a complete listing for you: https://www.nhccs.org/Destiny.html It is worth your while to check it out.
With that being said, it leads me to this next thought: With July 4th being on Tuesday and the office closed, there will not be a MM next week. I know you will miss me but try not to cry too much. ☺ Since there will not be a MM, please add Logan Cain to your prayer list. Logan will be our military person to pray for next week. Logan is a Lance Corporal in the USMC, working as a military police officer at Quantico, VA.
Remember to celebrate our nation’s freedom next week, but always keep in mind the greatest freedom of all was purchased on a cross over 2000 years ago by the perfect Son of God. I love you all, but He loves you more and deeper. Have a great rest of the week.
Pastor Bill
