MIDWEEK MESSAGE #65<\/p>\n
Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #65.\u00a0 I hope you had a wonderful Independence Day weekend. After reading some rather disgusting news reports about the disrespect given to veterans, our country and its flag, I relish even more living in this free country. \u00a0Stay tuned for an article at the end of this MM.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile #1<\/strong>: This Saturday is the Serving Owen County Together event taking place at the OV Middle and High School. There is much going on and we could use your help in making it a good experience for so many who need it in Owen County.<\/p>\n Meanwhile #2<\/strong>: July 17th<\/sup> is a ROOTS RECONNECT event. Pastor Ryan has put together a great outing! He is inviting the whole family to participate in a kayaking, exploring and a picnic at Sugar Creek. Please see Ryan for more information.<\/p>\n Meanwhile #3<\/strong>: Back to School Expo is July 24th<\/sup> at the Fairgrounds from 9:30-12 pm. This is a group effort of the schools and the Owen County Chamber of Commerce.\u00a0 Each child will receive a backpack full of school supplies but children must be present<\/u>. OVCF will be making a financial donation to the Chamber to assist with the purchase of school supplies. So if you have or know of a child who could benefit from the Expo, make sure they or their parents know\u2026or bring them yourself.<\/p>\n Meanwhile #4<\/strong>: Some folks are wondering about what the progress is toward a new building. COVID caused us to put things on pause but thankfully many of you still continued giving to the Building Fund. We have met twice since things have opened back up and we have continued our talks. Monday, July 19th<\/sup> we have our next meeting. We are meeting with someone who has the ability to put together building design options based on what we have relayed to him so far. He will be making a presentation and will listen to our input for making improvements. This project is important to so many of you and we have not forgotten. Please keep one thing in mind though. No matter how eager we are for a new facility where we can worship as one body, we do not plan to go into debt for it. We believe that is God\u2019s way and we intend on that being the way with this new addition.<\/p>\n Finally, no more \u201cmeanwhiles.\u201d \ud83d\ude42 I read this blog from Pastor James Emery White of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC.\u00a0 Here you go:<\/p>\n On the 4th of July, I\u2019m always reminded of times I\u2019ve traveled in countries where freedom is severely curtailed. Or\u00a0where the people have been freshly freed from the chains of injustice, and the joy of their release was palpable.<\/p>\n I was in Johannesburg on the 10th anniversary of the end of apartheid.<\/p>\n I was in Korea when the border between North and South was electric with tension.<\/p>\n My most powerful memory came from Moscow, where I was teaching shortly after the fall of communism.<\/p>\n One night a group of us went to the famed Bolshoi Ballet.\u00a0It was a long, wonderful evening, and after we took the subway back to where we were staying, the students said, \u201cCome and let us celebrate.\u201d The other two professors with me were as tired as I was, but the students were so intent on our joining them, that we went.<\/p>\n And then we found out what celebration meant to them.<\/p>\n They wanted to gather in the dining room and sing hymns and worship God.\u00a0And we did, late into the night, with more passion and sincerity than I have ever experienced.\u00a0It didn\u2019t matter that we didn\u2019t know how to sing in Russian\u2014we worshiped God together.<\/p>\n But I went to bed puzzled.\u00a0I had never seen such passion for spontaneous and heart-filled worship.\u00a0I was curious as to why they were so ready and eager to offer God love and honor. I received my answer the following Sunday when I was invited to speak at a church in North Moscow.\u00a0A former underground church that met in secret (as so many churches had been), they were now meeting openly in a schoolhouse. I had been asked to bring a message that Sunday morning.<\/p>\n I didn\u2019t know that I was in for a bit of a wait.<\/p>\n The service lasted for nearly three hours.\u00a0There were three sermons from three different speakers, with long periods of worship between each message.<\/p>\n I was to go last.<\/p>\n When it was over, I talked a bit with the pastor of the church. I was surprised at not only the length of the service, but the spirit and energy of the people. Throughout the entire three hours, they never let up.\u00a0In spite of the length of time,\u00a0they never seemed to tire.\u00a0Even at the end, they didn\u2019t seem to want to go home.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the States,\u201d I said, \u201cyou\u2019re doing well to go a single hour before every watch in the place starts beeping.\u201d (This was before smart phones.) He didn\u2019t get my weak attempt at humor, but he did say something that I will never forget.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was only a few years ago that we would have been put in prison for doing what we did today.\u00a0We were never allowed to gather together as a community of faith and offer worship to God.\u00a0And we are just so happy, and almost in a state of unbelief, that we can do this now \u2013 publicly, together \u2013 that we don\u2019t want it to end.\u00a0And not knowing what the future might hold for us here, we know that every week might just be our last.\u00a0So we never want to stop.\u00a0So we keep worshiping together, as long as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n As I left, his words never left my mind.\u00a0I thought to myself, \u201cI will never think about worship the same again.\u00a0I\u2019ve been too casual about it, too laid back, taken it too much for granted.\u00a0These people know what it\u2019s about \u2013 really about \u2013 and because of that, they have been willing, and would be willing again, to suffer for it.\u00a0To be imprisoned for it. To die for it.\u00a0Because they\u2019ve discovered that it holds that high of a yield for their life.\u00a0It has that much meaning and payoff and significance. It matters that much.\u201d<\/p>\n And it should matter that much to all of us. (end of article)<\/p>\n Have a great week. Love you all and can\u2019t wait to see you here or in the air.<\/p>\n Pastor Bill<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MIDWEEK MESSAGE #65 Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #65.\u00a0 I hope you had a wonderful Independence Day weekend. After reading some rather disgusting news reports about the disrespect given to veterans, our country and its flag, I relish even more living in this free country. \u00a0Stay tuned for an article at the end of … <\/p>\n