Be Transformed… Stories and Principles that Change Our Lives
This month’s devotional comes from my friend Scott Morin, pastor at Salem Friends Meeting in Salem IA. This is such a timely devotional leading up to Iowa Yearly Meeting Sessions as the scripture Scott uses is our theme verse for this year’s sessions. This is part 3 in the series, if you missed any of the other devotions from “Be Transformed” you can view all previous copies of The Bell on our website, www.blfchurch.org. Enjoy! -Pastor Manny
United We Climb By Scott A. Morin “To see the failings of our friends, and think hard of them, without opening that which we ought to open, and still carry a face of friendship, tends to undermine the foundation of true unity.” -John Woolman, The Journal of John Woolman
My youngest daughter has always had an adventurous desire but sometimes fear over-rides her sense of adventure. One such example is that she loves those rock walls that people can climb. Every opportunity that she has to climb on one is an opportunity that she can’t help but take. Unfortunately, due to fear or difficulty, my daughter has never climbed to the top of one of these walls. She has tried and tried but never to succeed. I can remember one instance when we were all cheering her on from below but for some reason she could only get to the mid-way point of the wall. Now I had never tried to climb one of these walls before, but the people around me convinced me to climb alongside of my daughter in order to help her along and also to show that it could be done. So side-by-side we climbed together until she got to the midway point and again stopped. Nothing I did helped her get any further along, but one thing she knew was that daddy was right there with her. Together we faced her fears and even though the fears or difficulty won out again she has not stopped trying. John Woolman was a Quaker man who knew that the keeping of slaves was wrong both in his eyes and God’s. For that reason he could not keep quiet about this evil practice and when faced with people who kept slaves, Woolman would speak about this conviction that God had placed on his heart. Now John never made great strides against slavery all at once, but one step at a time through the power of God and with a heavy heart, he spoke to people, even fellow Quakers, about this practice and did his part to change their circumstance. This took prayer and bravery. His intent was not to stir up problems but to help people see these slaves through God’s eyes rather than their own. It was a slow road, a difficult road, but with the help of God a road that John Woolman knew he had to travel.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” -Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NIV)
Suggested soul-training exercise: As you look at the world around you, wherever you find yourself ask yourself, what am I doing or what is happening around me that is inconsistent with the will of God? Is there something in my life that I need to submit to the Lord? I suggest taking some time for prayer as you examine your heart and along those lines invite someone to walk through this process with you. Like my daughter having me alongside of her didn’t get her any further up the wall, but it helped her to know she was not in it alone.
Remember In Prayer ~Final plans for VBS & Concert Under the Stars ~The possible hiring of a part-time youth pastor for BLFC ~IAYM Annual Sessions, August 1-4, especially one item of new business from Church Extension--a recommendation about a young adult ministry ~Iowa Friends Disaster Services ~Sam & Becky Barber & children in the States, June 9-August 21 - and for their work as Directors of Belize Friends School ~The Mesquakie Friends Center-for new leadership ~The Kaimosi Hospital and staff in Kenya ~Mowa Choctaw Friends Center in Alabama ~House of Compassion, clients, staff ~Our Secret Prayer Partners
Congratulations to…. Kelsey Feltz, daughter of Joe & Kay Feltz of BLFC, and Donnie Box, son of Donald & Tonya Box of the Bethel Grove Christian Church, who were married at Bangor Liberty on Saturday, June 2, 2012! They are making their first home in Liscomb, Iowa, as Donnie works in construction and Kelsey prepares to complete her student teaching in the coming fall semester.
June HOC Meal Report On June 28, 80 guests were served tuna salad or grilled cheese sandwiches, vegetable beef soup, mini carrots, mixed fruit cups, apple parfaits or vanilla pudding and cookies, iced tea, milk, coffee and some leftovers. It was a busy night so we appreciated all our great volunteers. Prior to the meal our guests entertained us by singing some old songs, including “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”. Many stopped at the window before leaving to express their thanks, even for the leftovers we heated when the soup ran out. Join us on July 26 when we will gather again to serve.
Funnies-A little girl had just finished her first week of school. 'I'm just wasting my time,' she said to her mother. 'I can't read, I can't write, and they won't let me talk!' -Asked “How do you decide who to marry?” an 11-year-old girl wrote: “No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry. God decides it all the way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with.”
“Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.” —Benjamin Franklin Poor Richard’s Almanac
OxymoronsWhy do we say something is out of whack? What is a whack? Why does “slow down” and “slow up” mean the same thing? Why does “fat chance” and “slim chance” mean the same thing? Why do “tug” boats push their barges? Why do we sing “Take me out to the ball game when we are already there?
Sunday, July 15th
Come Join Us for a Full Day of Worship!
Concert Under the Sky Praise Bands: 3:00-5:30 p.m. Supper & Band Networking: 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free will offering for concessions goes toward mission trips
Concert Under the Stars 6:30-8:00 p.m. Various musical guests & performances followed by ice cream social
Bangor Liberty Friends Church
Clear your calendar for the afternoon and evening of July 15th for a time of music and fellowship in the great outdoors!
Come and go as you please to enjoy the afternoon/evening. Bring your own beverages and food or purchase concessions (profits will fund future mission trips). Also bring your lawn chairs, some outdoor toys for the kids or let them play on the playground beside the stage. The show will go on even if it rains, on our own “sky” stage set up inside for VBS, which will start the following day. Lots of options, lots of fun! For directions check out our website @ www.blfchurch.org.
David Bible Study: All are welcome to join in a study of “David, Man After God’s Own Heart” at Bob & Jeanette Roe’s in Clemons. In July the group will meet at 7:00 pm on the 5th & 12th. We hope to learn from David’s character and actions how we too can become God’s kindred spirits. Study guides are available.
Bangor USFW On July 17, at 1:30 pm we will gather at Ramona Willits’ home where Peggy Martin will provide the program. All ladies are welcome.
Women of Faith 2012 “Celebrate What Matters” Friday, August 24th, 7-10 pm Saturday, August 25th, 9-5 pm Des Moines - Reserve your tickets now! Please see Breanne Butler if you are interested in going or have questions.
“The place to be happy is here. The time to be happy is now. The way to be happy is to make others so.” -Author unknown
High Flyin’ Summer Fun
It’s almost here! Kids age 3-grade 6, get ready to fly high with God! Sky VBS begins Monday, July 16 at 6:15 and continues each night through Thursday, July 19. Then we will invite families and friends to a closing program and free picnic on Friday beginning at 6:15. The more kids the merrier so invite your friends, neighbors and grandkids to come discover that when we trust God anything is possible. (If you have not registered, please contact Margaret or Jenalee as soon as possible.) Most importantly pray for this vital week of ministry. A prayer guide is available at the church but it is not necessary as God knows our needs. Just keep lifting up the volunteers for daily strength and ask God to open the children to understand the Bible stories about trusting God. If the week is covered in prayer, anything is possible!
Missions News: Our mission emphasis for July focuses on Sam and Becky Barber, Directors of the Friends School in Belize. Many students at the Belize Friends School live in small, one-room houses, often with no running water, plumbing or electricity. It is commonplace for eight or more people to live in one room. While there is public education in Belize, no education is free. At present, there is only space in high school for 60 percent of the students finishing primary school. Hence, no real effort is made in public schools to accommodate slow learners or to encourage students to pursue secondary education. The Barbers and teacher, Ms. Candi Young, are doing an unbelievable job with the students. The Barbers are responsible for raising their own ministry expenses, which includes all of their office, travel/vehicle, living, communication and deputation expenses, plus their salaries. Our 3rd Sunday Mission Offering taken July 15th will go for Sam & Becky’s salary and various expenses. Donations to the Belize Friends School help provide school supplies, uniforms, funds for field trips, snacks, educational resources and publicity materials. If you wish to donate to the school, please note that on your check or envelope. Please pray for the Barbers and the school as FUM considers opportunities to expand this valuable ministry in Belize.
Helping Cuba Friends Linda Garrison is going to Cuba in January and would like to take some items to help the people in the Friends Churches. A basket is in the entryway to collect vitamins for children and pregnant women, small happy meal type toys, and flea collars.
Library Ledge: RetirementDuring July the library will feature books about retirement and aging. We have materials for the adult child with parents reaching retirement age, as well as for those folks already in that category. These will help you look to the future with a positive and humorous attitude. They will also remind you that you never retire from being useful to God! In Numbers 8:24-25 God told the Levites to retire from their regular duties at age 50. But He did not want them to stop helping others. He said that they should ‘minister with their brethren…to attend to needs.” (v26). The mark of a mature soul is one who quietly and humbly goes about doing ordinary tasks, living in joy and leaving behind the fragrance of Jesus’ love. Check out “I Never Found that Rocking Chair”, “Spiritual Grandparenting”, “Middle Age and Other Mixed Blessings” and many others on the library ledge.
-A church put up a huge banner above the front door to celebrate Christianity. The banner read,“ Open wide the doors to Christ.” Directly below, taped to the door, a smaller sign was posted: “Please help us conserve energy. Use other doors.”
2012 IAYM Annual Ministry Conference - August 1-4 The annual IAYM Ministry Conference will be hosted at the MTC building (Musco Technology Center) at William Penn University. This is a fantastic space with ground level access to the atrium, convenient parking with access to the city bike trail, handicap restrooms and easy access elevator to the upper level.
*Keynote Speaker - Dr. Royce Frazier, President of Barclay College *Saturday Banquet Speakers - Dan & Tracey Whitehead, MAF missionaries to Nicaragua *Children’s Yearly Meeting will feature MOBILE CAMP, a ministry of Quakerdale *Workshops - Christian Ed - HANDS-ON Technology Missions - Effective Short Term Missions Church Conflict - led by Adrian Halverstadt of Barclay College
Run for Missions - a 5K Run/Walk to raise funds for missions. This event is tentatively scheduled for Saturday morning! More information about the event will be sent to local monthly meetings.
*Schedules of events & registrations are in the June Iowa Friend or at the church. Registrations received at the Iowa Yearly Meeting office with a postmarked date of July 20th or before can take a 10% discount.
“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:12 |