Bangor Liberty Friends Church

Refueling

By Pastor Manny

            As Friends we hold firmly to the belief that we are all ministers.  The problem begins when we, in the midst of ministry, forget to take care of ourselves.  A conversation with someone last week made this peril even more obvious when this person said, “I can’t even imagine taking a retreat right now.”  The scary part is, this person isn’t alone in their thinking.  Across the board there are so many of us who feel as though if we take a break from our daily ministries (including family life, volunteer work, coaching, career, etc.) that the work would go undone and the world would fall apart around whatever area we were serving in.

          David Williams, one of my professors, did his doctoral work on just such a problem.  He calls this mindset “spiritual heroism” meaning that we put so much emphasis on our own efforts and our role that we feel we are the glue that holds it all together or we feel guilty for taking time away from ministry.  We feel as though we are alone in our efforts, excitement, desire, and ability to serve in areas and ways that we do:

It takes a lot of energy to be a hero. In fact, it is downright exhausting. Human beings are not well suited to play the role of Messiah.  None of us is remotely qualified for the job.  But that doesn’t mean we will not try our best to fake it: The hero fixes others, achieves status in the community, and focuses energies and affect on the problems of others.  The hero works long hours, skips vacations, or if on vacation is bored and restless.  The hero is well trained to run away from the emptiness or loneliness that might be uncovered during “time off”; it is better to keep working.  This culminates in the “Messiah complex,” the hero’s delusion that his or her efforts are both supremely ordained and indispensable for others’ health and salvation.  Spiritual heroism is lethal because it is just one step away from idolatry, the very thing that Elijah was so adamantly opposing throughout his life and ministry.  In reality, it is simply a more subtle form of the satanic whisper that began this whole downward spiral towards death and destruction in our world.  “You will be like God,” the serpent hissed (Gen 3:5).  This must have sounded especially attractive to Elijah at Mt. Carmel.  It had his name written all over it (Williams 19).

I think at this point we can all agree that, at some level, we all engage in this routine of heroism and while there is a lot more that could be said to help us see how this plague can spread throughout our lives and become death to our service and ministry, we might be better served to look at some of the steps out of this life.  Dr. Williams offers three areas in which we can find freedom from the disease of heroism in our lives.  Here they are with references to the scriptures they are drawn from:

Physical refreshment – as a remedy for exhaustion (cf. 1 Ki 19:5-8)

Spiritual renewal – as a remedy for disillusionment (cf. 1 Ki 19:9-14)

Vocational realignment – as a remedy for isolation (cf. 1 Ki 19:15-21)

       Physical refreshment as a remedy for exhaustion, in the most basic of terms, means to do things that are enjoyable but different from your work, call, vocation, or ministry.  Each instance is different depending on your realm of ministry, you can figure out how this would look for your rhythm of life and implement it accordingly.  Another key element to this area is health; eating right, exercise, adequate sleep, and other areas of personal care are important factors for physical refreshment.  If we are not caring for ourselves then we won’t do a very good job of caring for others.

       Spiritual renewal as a remedy for disillusionment means that being deeply “in tune” with God battles the temptation to be disillusioned by ministry.  As humans we are results oriented people, if there isn’t immediate fruit we become restless and impatient, often opting to create results on our own.  God desires us to be relationship focused, focused first on Him, and as a result of His love, focused on others.  This is accomplished with times of personal reflection, regular retreats for prayer and refocusing, and an acute awareness of the reality of the immanent and fully present God.  Jesus often spent times away from his group for personal realignment with the Father; he was modeling the life he knew we would need to live in order to keep our eyes on Him.

       Finally, vocational realignment as a remedy for isolation simply means that we aren’t in this alone.  When we get to the point that we feel solely responsible for the success or failure of a certain ministry then we are in need of this kind of realignment.  In Elijah’s example he was bold enough to tell God, “I’m the only one left.”  Have you ever felt like this?  Vocational realignment means asking God to help you see from a new perspective.  There are others out there with the same passions that you have and the work is being done by the body not by one person.  Find peace in the fact that you can take a day off, refresh your spirit, and that the ministry is not halted or hindered.  Elijah was given Elisha to carry on the work, we are given one another to bear each other’s burdens and to come alongside and support each other in health and growth.

       If you haven’t taken time to refocus, refresh, and renew then maybe it’s time.  Spiritual retreats are not just viable options for ministry; they are a necessity for healthy spiritual growth and longevity in any calling.  Remember to major on the majors and minor on the minors and, most of all, to allow God to remain the focus, fuel, and force in your life.

“Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of this faith is to see what we believe.”      Augustine

Young Friends 2012 Camps at QH

Little Fry (K-2) June 8-10

Fry Camp (2-4) June 3-6

Fox Camp (5-6) June 24-28

Jr. High Camp (7-8) June 10-15

Sr. High Camp (9-12) June 15-20

College Weekender June 1-3

Mark Your Calendars!

Concert Under the Stars

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Bangor Liberty Friends Church

Exciting Changes - More details soon!

THANKS for giving diapers, drugs, detergent, dish soap and dollars to the HOC Supply Closet during March.  Your donations will be used and appreciated by the approximately 500 individuals and families who are helped at the Closet each month.

Children’s Church

Children, ages 4 through 5^th grade are encouraged to meet in the fellowship hall after the Children’s Message on April 1^st and 15^th.  Lessons will teach Bible stories and encourage Godly living.  Our service projects will be to make resurrection rolls for the congregation and thank you treats for BCLUW elementary school teachers and assistants.

Bangor USFW

          Ladies will gather at Peggy’s home on April 17 at 10:00 for a workday with lunch provided.  An inspiring lesson and the business meeting will be later in the afternoon.  All women are welcome. Members are reminded to bring their Thank Offering to the April meeting.  It goes toward the support of Turkana and Samburu missions, to Ann Riggs FTC Principal and to subsidize the Advocate.

Liberty USFW

            Ladies will meet at Gladys Lane’s home on Thursday, April 19^th at 7 p.m. for their monthly meeting.  If you missed giving your thank offering last month you can still give it this month. 

CQH Work Day - Saturday, April 7

Camp Quaker Heights will host a Spring Work Day, Saturday, April 7^th beginning at 9 a.m.  A “Delicious Breakfast Goodness on Your Tongue” will be available when you check in for a task at the Lodge.  Lunch will be provided too!  Tasks include:

Inside: Cabins, bathhouse, lodge, chapel, guesthouse, Tall Oaks.

Outside:  RV area, shelter house, grounds (mowing prep), Vespers area.

          Revamping of the Miniature Golf Course will begin on the 7^th with tear out of all but the concrete on Work Day.  There will be several workdays scheduled in the weeks to come to put it all back together.  Bring your favorite cleaning product, rags, shop vacs, rakes, work gloves and shovels. 

Spring Workday at BLFC

          A workday will be held at the church on Saturday, April 21^st beginning at 8:30 a.m.  Come when you can and be prepared to work outside or inside the church building.  A list of jobs needing to be done will be posted before the 21^st so you’ll know what you need to bring for working.  Please mark off the job you complete when finished.  Rain date is April 28^th. 

A Ladies Spring Fling!
         All ladies are invited to attend a day

of fun and fellowship sponsored by United Society of Friends Women held at Marshall- town Friends Church, Saturday, April 14.  Registration begins at 9:30.  Theme: "Music from Around the World" will come together with videos of mission trips and speaker Spencer Thury of Penn Campus Ministry.  $10 covers the expenses including lunch.  Register with Ann Nichols by April 9.  Nursery care will be available.  You do not need to be a member of USFW to attend and enjoy the fellowship!

Garrison Memorial Scramble

4 Person Best Position Tournament

9:00 a.m. Start

April 28, 2012

Westwood Municipal Golf Course

3387 Hwy F48 W. Newton, Iowa

$200 per team

Includes 18 holes of golf, cart rental, lunch & prizes

Registration forms and hole sponsorship forms available from Pastor Manny

Missions News

The Martin’s

          As our year of support for Kaimosi Hospital has ended we will continue collecting our 3rd Sunday mission offerings but in April begin supporting a different work each month.  This will allow us to promote more projects in various areas throughout the year. 

On April 15^th our mission offering will go to Nathan and Brianna Martin in Cambodia.  When they passed another round of Khmer language exams the end of December they moved from Phnom Penh to Snoul for their first assignment.  After a few weeks of orientation the team leaders left for a year in the US.  Nathan and Brianna now have little Christian support among the 15 rural schoolteachers, 8 library projects and 38 villages in this area.

They ask we pray for new believers in Snoul to give them support.  Also for improved language skills and that God’s Spirit will be in their conversations and relationships with the native people.  Also pray for their physical health and that of their year old son Caleb, who brings smiles and laughter wherever he goes.  Your financial and prayer support of this couple who grew up in Iowa Yearly Meeting will greatly encourage them as they serve our Lord so far away from home.

Additional Note:

From the Barbers in Belize:  “We are thrilled that we are already being asked for applications for next year.  The first section of the PSE (Primary School Exam) is finished. We are also excited to report that God has answered our prayers about getting renters in our Iowa house and they will be moving in May 1st.  Please pray that everyone has a safe Easter season, which in Belize means the next 2 weeks.  Lift our students in the Light that they will be ready for the second section of PSE on May 6th and pray as we wait for results that will be available in June. Please continue to pray as we work through the process of obtaining visas for our 3 Belizean children.”

SKY VBS
 At SKY VBS kids will connect with God and grow stronger in their faith as they discover that everything is possible when you “trust God”!  From the games, grins, and science-fun gizmos, to the amazing music – everyone flies high at Sky!
         Remember to help us collect toy airplanes, hot air balloons, colorful kites or anything you might find in the sky for decorations.  You don’t want to miss the fun during the evenings of July 16-20.  Kids, age 3-grade 6, get ready to explore the boundless blue sky.  Adults and teens, pray as to how you can share your God-given gifts with this vital ministry to children and families.  Pass along this news to friends and family and get ready to fly high with God this summer!  

Library Ledge - Prayer Power!

            During April the books on the library ledge will remind you of the power of prayer.  The Incredible Power of Prayer tells us we should never rush off to do God’s work before we have adequate prayer support.

          The Power of a Praying Parent instructs us to place every detail of our child’s life in God’s loving hands.  Whatever your child’s age it is not too late to discover the joy of being a part of God’s work in their life through prayer.

          Miracles Happen When You Pray.  The true stories in this book illustrate the power of prayer and the power of our great miracle-working God.  “To pray is to work in concert with God, not to use Him as we wish.”  A visit to the library this

month will challenge and encourage your prayer life.

Remember In Prayer   

~Those who are caretakers for family members.

~Sam & Becky Barber & Family, for their

    students over the Easter season which in

    Belize means the next 2 weeks.

~Morgan Martinez & InterVarsity work in Atlanta

~Nathan, Brianna & Jacob Martin serving in Cambodia

~The Mesquakie Friends Center, specifically pray for new leadership.

~The Kaimosi Hospital and staff in Kenya

~Mowa Choctaw Friends Center in Alabama

~House of Compassion, clients, staff

HOC Meal Report

62 guests were served bratwurst patties w/bun and cheese, ham and potato casserole, green beans w/bacon, mixed fruit cups, peach dump cake w/whipped topping, decorated Easter cookies, milk and coffee.

Thanks to all of our volunteers. If you ask Vi how many people it takes to drain a coffee pot or Johnie how to replace a metal drawer, or Betty about the tasty ‘grass’, you’re bound to hear interesting stories of the fun we have together. Join us next on April 26.