Blessed Quietness

            It has been a month or so now since my family and I packed up our things and trekked some three hundred plus miles to begin this next chapter of God’s call upon our lives to the ministry.  We wish we could peek ahead at the next few pages, but from the glimpses He has already allowed us, this promises to be a very fulfilling and rewarding chapter as long as we keep His will as the central focus. 

There are, however quite a bit of differences I’ve noticed between the settings of our previous chapter in Milwaukee and this one in Bangor and none stands out more prominently to me than the noise level between the two.  It not just the noise itself, but the things that make the noises; for instance I have yet to hear a car alarm or a siren go off here in Bangor.  The loudest noises here in Bangor consist of the occasional truck or tractor passing by and the sound of the wind rustling the corn stalks.  Well, what am I trying to say?  I am merely trying to point to the fact that I feel I have been able to hear God a lot clearer and am afforded many more opportunities to just be quiet and listen for Him to speak to me.

            Hearing God enables us to discover His will for us and that is the most important discovery any one of us could ever hope to discern.  God’s will is the place every one of us should seek to find and strive to remain within.  It is as we submit to His will that the      in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit will aid in guiding and directing not only the major turns in life, but even what seem to be the most routine and trivial decisions of life.  It is in knowing and understanding this that we then realize the need to devote a portion of every day to listening to God.  How can we listen effectively?  Well, it begins with two things we’ve all heard before: read your Bible and pray.  But before you read the Bible, pray that God would, through the Holy Spirit give you the ability beyond your own understanding to hear what He is saying to you through His Word.  Then do as Jesus said, GO THAT EXTRA MILE!  After you’ve read His Word, pray again and then spend some time just listening to God.  Listen to what the Holy Spirit is trying to tell you about the meaning of the scriptures you just read, the significance of their meaning to you, and how you can put it into practice right now.

            Listen for God to answer your prayers, not necessarily with a cut and dry “yes” or “no,” but listen for what He may be instructing you to do to help answer your own prayers.  Our call as Christians is basically to be Jesus’ “hands and feet”, after all isn’t that what Paul said we were also, “The Body of Christ”.  And Christ isn’t dead. HE’S ALIVE!  And we, as His Body should be active too!  We need to have proper direction though and as we listen to God we will know better where to focus our efforts as individuals and as a church.  I can’t tell you what God wants to say to you individually, but I can say that as a Body He wants to tell us to listen to Him and reach out to our community for His sake and to His Glory – I’m with Him, are you?  

                                    -Pastor Dean Lambdin

Tar Heel Days Float & Parade

           BLFC will have a float in the Tar Heel Days Parade at Union on Saturday, August 13. The parade begins at 11:00 a.m. and participants will be needed to walk along the parade route with the float and hand out pencils.

           To prepare the float for the parade everyone in the church is invited to bring a lunch for their family to eat on Sunday, August 7th following Morning Worship. After lunch everyone will go to Bill Patten’s to work on the float. This is a combined youth group and all-church project. Everyone’s help is needed!

All-Church Picnic & Canoe Outing

           Mark your calendars now for the upcoming All-Church Picnic and Canoe Outing to be held on Sunday, August 21st at Upper Pine Lake Park at Eldora, beginning at 3:00 p.m.

           Each family is asked to bring food and drink for their family, plus lawn chairs and any other picnic items you might want to bring. Canoes will be available to use from Quaker Heights or you may bring your own. The walking/biking path is nearby to use as well.

Save the Date!

          The First Presbyterian Church of Marshalltown is hosting a conference for women entitled Where are the Blueprints for My Life?: God’s Dream for Me. Led by Lynn and Becky of Follow Hard Ministries, the event will take place from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, October 7th and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 8th. The event costs only $30 and includes the noon meal on Saturday. Watch for more details soon! To register now, call 641-753-4723.

Library Ledge

Parenting Pointers

            During August the library will display materials that will aid parents, grandparents and any adult who is associated with children.

            S. Craig MacDonald wrote the following for The Fruit of the Vine.  “Three men stood waist deep in a trench, each shoveling dirt.  A passerby asked the first man what he was doing.  ‘I’m digging a ditch.’  The second man responded, ‘I’m digging a foundation.’  The third man replied, ‘I’m building a cathedral.’

            Must of life is perspective. This can be especially true with mundane and routine activities we do every day. Often it is these very activities that play the biggest role in determining the future.

            Nowhere is this truer than in raising children. After the thrill of bringing home a newborn comes the daily routine, much of it unpleasant. The daily grind of parenting may feel like digging a ditch but it is in fact building a cathedral. There is not a more solemn duty for a parent than to be faithful to the responsibility of shaping a life.

            As parents, ands as a church, we are building cathedrals. Let’s be sure we do it with all the care and attention the task deserves.”

            Check out the library for encouragement, help and humor in your parenting life.

A Christian should so live that he would not be afraid to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.               -Anonymous

Attention, Parents!

Children’s Church will begin again for the school year on August 21. All children age 5 through 5th grade are welcome to participate. This program is usually held twice a month. In September we’ll gather on the 11th and 25th.

Children are dismissed to the fellowship hall following the Children’s Message part of the worship service. The program includes Bible stories, crafts, service projects, and activities to encourage the children as they learn to live like Jesus.  The goal is to support children in their Christian walk.

Children’s Books & Videos

            Parents feel free to check out the children’s library in the fellowship hall for great reading materials for your kids. If you wish to take home a book or video, just sign the child’s name and put the date on the card. Leave the card in the box and when you return the book replace the card in the book. There are also several family videos and stories on audio for your family’s enjoyment.

July HOC Report

            Twenty members of BLFC were involved in providing a meal on July 28th to 62 guests at the House of Compassion. Generous helpings of Spanish rice, sweet corn, deviled eggs, cucumbers and onions, mixed fruit, bananas, cookies, pie, tea, milk and coffee were served. All of the food was enjoyed leaving no leftovers for another meal.

            Our menu changed when we found that someone had donated several boxes of sweet corn. This change provided extra funds to purchase toilet paper and dish soap for the supply closet.

            Our monitor for the overnight shelter reported a quiet night with 10 people staying overnight. A friend of Director Jean’s helped to monitor as well. The last care bag of razors, shampoo, etc, was given out that evening. Supplies are always needed. Our next responsibility will be August 25.

Today

Today I begin by doing, and not wasting my time. In one week I will be miles beyond the person I am today.

Today I will not imagine what I would do if things were different. I will make a success with what material I have.

Today I will stop saying, “If I find time,” or “If I had time,” for I never will “find time” for anything, If I want time I must make it.

Today I will act toward other people as though this will be my last day on earth. I will not wait for tomorrow. Tomorrow never comes.            -Contributed

Thank You

Special thanks to Mark and Darlene Bradley for coming to Milwaukee with their truck and moving us to Bangor. Also for making the trip extra special for Emily by taking her to ride in the truck.

            A special thanks to everyone who helped us move in and settle in.

            Thank you to the youth group for planting a wonderful garden from which we are enjoying delicious veggies! Also thank you for the wonderful gift basket and baked goods!

            Thank you to all of you for making us feel at home and a part of the church family. We have been blessed with new friendships, fellowship, food and fun. We look forward to continuing to build and strengthen our relationships with each and every one of you.

        -Pastor Dean, Amy, Emily, Hannah, Wishbone & Cookie

Thank You

Dear Bangor Liberty Friends Church,

            Thank you so much for helping with the money so I could go to camp. I had a very fun time. I played all different games and my favorite game was 4-square and crafts were pretty fun. Well have a fun day.            -Your best pal, Leah Kay Higgins

Thank You

Dear Bangor Liberty Friends Church,

            Thank you so much for your recent donation to the HOC Supply Closet. Our clients really appreciate being able to choose 3 items each month that they would be able to buy with food stamps. For a young mother needing diapers or a family on limited income, it really does make a difference.               -HOC Supply Closet Team