Grow In Your Faith

Crucify?

2010-04-01T09:26:00.002-04:00

Mislead and tainted, humanity sought to...

C ripple a threatening ministry,
R uin a dangerous reputation,
U ndermine a blasphemous claim,
C rush the hopes of faithful followers,
I nsult the concept of a personal god,
F urnish themselves with a 'public example' of the consequences of rebellion and,
Y ield to their own rules their own way.

But good and awesome in His nature, God...

C reated an intercessor for sin's price,
R edefined the concept of 'God' from a distand diety to that of Personal Savior,
U nlocked heaven's doors for His trusting children,
C rumbled underfoot Satan's plans for man's demise,
I ntroduced humanity to His ultimate compassion for them,
F reely gave, opening the invitation of His love to...
Y ou. He thought of you as He bled, and rose, and won.

Chaos visits and leaves his mark.

2010-03-24T16:17:00.001-04:00

...and as the magnitude of the situation settled upon me, the lesson for the morning began to form.

Should I teach on the complexities and conflicting theories of prophesy?

Or perhaps repentance in fear of our own personal experiences ending before they've even begun.

These teens of mine are entering a world of conflict. That's nothing new. Each generation has been handed the 'This world is nothing like it was when I was your age' accusation and left with the suffocating realization they are dealing with the unknown. And, as with every other generation, it continues to ring true.

Progress forever lurches us forward in technological advancements, upward in medicinal miracles and downward spiraling away from a mutual moral center. And this turbulent faster paced world is, for our kids, just a backdrop for another day.

I picture the youth of today opening a door and stepping onto a 50 mph moving walkway. But, to be fair, that's not an accurate depiction of their reality. It's a depiction of mine. I'm not growing up in this era; I'm keeping up. The flood of information that bombards my computer screen still amazes me while my 14 year old son taps his foot impatiently at the 5 second 'load time'. This generation is bred and ready for the light speed at which they are expected to ride.
Do I think this is a good thing? Does anyone from an older generation ever think the younger generation is on the right track? But I do understand and respect progress and to reach the short attention spans that I've been handed I know that I, myself, have to adapt to reach them.

Therefore to instill the foundational truths of the Bible into my three bold participants each week, one verse is selected for their growth. Compact, easy to recall mini-lessons are taught over the plastic table littered with cinnamon buns and Hawaiian punch cups. Each verse represents a theme that was learned in last year's Sunday school classes. The verse is given, we have a time of discussion about it's application and practicality in our lives and they slip the slim piece of paper into their Bibles or pockets. Life carries on. (www.quakertownecna.com (Quakertown church news; click the 'Sunday School' tab for the verses we've covered so far :)

So what of this week? This week was the last week for thousands of individuals on the other side of our world. What was their last Sunday School lesson about? What attribute of a Christian life should I magnify to this racing generation of limitless potential with perhaps another week in which to live?

Church Breakfast

2009-05-11T18:02:00.001-04:00

Dippy eggs, bacon and God showed up.
Coffee,
tiny powdered donuts that go great with coffee,
pancakes,
toast,
juice,
tea,
and chocolate milk (the coffee of others)
find their way around
the unfinished basement
that bears broken shuffleboard tiles
beneath fold-out tables
dressed in plastic dollar store cloths
bought by the intimate congregation
that prays for wisdom and guidence
in concern for their friends
and the safety of our ball players
and our kids that have joined us
as well as those that weren't able
to gather together on the last Sunday of every month
alongside dippy eggs, bacon and God.

Come join us for breakfast, the last Sunday morning each month at 8am!

Never say you're sorry...

2009-05-03T00:16:00.005-04:00

Never say you're sorry
when you're not.
A lie to make things better
only makes you have to say it all again.
Never say you're sorry when you're not.

Never give a thank you
without gratitude.
Thankless words breed thankless actions.
Thankless actions make you ungrateful all the more.
Never give a thank you
without gratitude.

Never share a hug
without wholeheartedness.
Hugs are made for healing and closeness;
a giving of your security extended to another.
Remember to never share a hug
without wholeheartedness.

Never say 'I love you'
without sacrifice.
Give these words without condition
and with a wholly surrendered heart.
You can never mean 'I love you'
without sacrifice.

Never spend a day
without apologizing,
thanking, hugging and
sacrificing through Christ.
His life teaches unfaltering sincerity and his presence
continues to offer peace.
Never spend a day without living in Jesus.

Uneven Exchange

2009-04-23T18:12:00.002-04:00

Sitting in the dark
I listen intently
To the voice I'd forgotten
Long ago.

He's unraveling
The tangled mess of me:
Working to displace my voice
With His own.

He picks me back up
And turns my face around
Showing me the avenue
To follow.

He needs me to go
And try again at life
Without leaving Him behind
Unheeded
Forgotten
In the dark
And outgrown.

Pain of Empathy

2009-04-10T11:43:00.009-04:00

Songs.... .are

co.mpos...ed

Words...writt

en....Artwork

is...displayed

We...try to convey His torment as a tribute.

Have you ever...tried to convey..your own?

It...falls short....Incomplete...unable..to be

a c cu ra te l y

related......to

another..soul

Unique...pain

to carry...pon

der...entrust.

We..work..to

im mortal ize

Him..for.. we

know.....pain

Fear, loss, helplessness, frailty.

He amazes us with His choice to suffer.

We love Him because we understand suffering.

More written words that fall short of their purpose.

Rebirth

2009-04-08T07:21:00.002-04:00

I knew it to be darkness

when it knocked.

Still, I opened

and was surprised

when I could

longer

see.

Bombarded,

I close my eyes

and am haunted:

Drowning

in the

images of the day.

Father, take them from me!

I beg you.

Replace them with lovely things;

Clean,

Redeeming,

Uplifing

and full of light.

Forgive my stupidity.

Cleanse my mind.

Renew me

with images

of Spring.

2009-03-13T00:30:00.002-04:00

My recall has had its blanks filled in by photographs. You know them. The ones that people can’t resist taking of the little girls in matching dresses heading into the church. Accurately I can state that I was that hand-clinging, picture bible toting, dress wearing girl since before I can even remember. We both were. She went her own way for her own reasons so this story does not involve her. My love goes out to my sister. But this story does involve me, and the dresses play a huge role.

So now I wear jeans to church. It strikes some people as disrespectful and others as sloppy. But they are clean jeans. There are no holes in my knees or paint on the pockets, although I wouldn’t look down on them if they were less than perfect. They deserve more respect than that. My jeans have changed style and size and color in the past 34 years. But I still love them and identify with them and they still accept me and parade me around proudly. And they sit in the pew with me as I praise my Lord and they stand with me as I lead my Sunday school teens against the perilous world of stapled on smiles and heads full of verses but no sense of their value.

My jeans sat in my living room with me on Sunday when my husband started putting the pieces together. His wife was only with him 6 days out of the 7. Who was this woman he woke up next to on Sundays? Why was the other woman driven from his company to be replaced by this beautifully dressed imposter? Compassion, patience and joy were erased from the face that pointed at the clock, straightened her stockings and barked orders to the family she used to treasure. Who was this woman in the dress?

And my jeans were there with us as we sat at the kitchen table as young ladies and took in the decision of the household. Two homes now, instead of the one; but it wasn’t our fault. Two sides of the church to sit on, and we could choose his or hers. But we weren’t in any way to blame. And the awkward smiles of those around us, not knowing how to react. And then the worried, clumsy attempts of the youth leaders trying to reach out to the young ladies that were quickly slipping away. They didn’t know what to do. No one knew what to do.

And my jeans caught my tears when I reached the places my mind hated visiting because it was confused by them. They were good places with people I cared for that I no longer had. They were comfortable places with pretty dresses and loved ones all around me and the woman I was training myself to become. And her dress was always lovely. Her hands perfectly placed in the lap next to mine with her round toed shoes crossing over each other. She sang and she praised and she smiled. And jeans had no place in an environment such as this.

So my jeans sat in the closet as I donned my uncomfortable skin. My lips drew color as my practiced smile awoke. And I was her. I was lovely and I was appropriate and I had my bible at my side. And I smiled at those who needed to see me smile and I scowled at those who got in the way. I had a family of my own now so there was a responsibility. An example of who we should be when we are wearing our dresses. A model of church attending normality that required a skin so thick, doubts would be raised as to any concern for her well being. But I wasn’t her. My 6 days out of 7 were spent wearing jeans. And they redefined me for those days and kept out any shell that began to shape around me. And he took notice.

And I was wearing my jeans after he made me get out of my dress and stay home from church that Sunday. And he made me talk until I cried. And he waited patiently for weeks until he made me talk again. And I still cried. And we put the dresses away and my jeans took me to church after that. And my 7 days out of 7 were spent with the same person, and her smile was no longer practiced but genuine. And her bible was still by her side but not as an accessory anymore.

So I wear my jeans to church as I lead worship at the front with him. And I get looks from those who don’t know me. When they scowl, I don’t mind. And I have friends who don’t own dresses who bring their jeans to church, too. They didn’t know they could do that before, and they worship without restraint. And we’re happy being the same people 7 out of 7. And we’re friends with some dress wearers who don’t compromise 7 out of 7 and they’re special to us because they don’t mind the jeans. They know our hearts and worship with us and sit at dinners with us laughing over the trials of our weeks.

Hanging beside my jeans, I have some dresses. I’ve stifled their voices and have taught them how to behave. They are still pretty and I wear them on occasion but my jeans keep them in line as they are the favorites and one misstep from the dress gets it back on the hanger to wait even longer for admiration. They’re learning their place.

March Evangelical

2009-02-28T15:32:00.008-05:00

Bye -Bye Winter!

After trekking through to the other side of the frosty months we’re peeking around the corner for what we know will arrive; flowers, warmth and growth. March could justifiably be named ‘the month of optimism’ for although we wake up to all-day showers we’re satisfied.

It’s not snow.

Spring is on it’s way.

When I was going through a particularly difficult time, our own Pastor Jim walked by me and quietly said the four most comforting words I’ve ever been offered;

“This too will pass.”

Such a simple truth that sometimes seems so difficult to remember!

'This too will pass.'

March is a month of cold rain and messy mud puddles. It’s a transition month, taking us from the inconveniences of ice and snow to the pleasures of fragrant breezes and budding trees.

And although ‘this too shall pass’ is not a direct quote from our Bibles, it is certainly a biblical theme. When Christ was being mocked and beaten He looked to the greater purpose and knew,

‘these trials will pass’.

When He sat at Gethsemane praying for strength Jesus was visited by an angel. I think it’s safe to assume the angel didn’t highlight the details of the anguish Jesus was going to face but

the triumph after the pain;

and Christ was strengthened.

March is here! Winter is almost behind us and Spring is on it’s way! If you’re not a natural optimist get some practice this month. Look past the rain to the fresh breeze that follows.

Skip over the puddles and be glad the ice is gone. Allow the truth behind ‘this too will pass’ to get you to the other side of your trials and more greatly appreciate the triumphs that inevitably follow.

The Evangelical is a monthly publication of Quakertown Evangelical Church http://www.quakertownecna.com/

To contribute to this blog...

2009-02-25T10:52:00.003-05:00

If you are part of the fellowship at Quakertown Evangelical church

and would like to contribute your

or words of encouragement

testimony,

poetry

please send your contribution to Crystal Waring at crystalqec@yahoo.com.

February Evangelical

2009-02-05T01:16:00.001-05:00

How odd we are as a nation!

We choose February, the shortest month of the year, to be our time to honor some of the most important events of our country and lives! Alright, Groundhog day may not be that monumental but look at the strides Black History Month has taken. We’ve grown so aware, accepting, and unified as a nation, our first black president and first family have just been ushered into the White House. Black History month can take a lot of the credit for that! And what about President’s Day? The day most of us just look forward to because of the long weekend is set as a reminder of the men who have led this country to its historic placement today! Kudos to them gets crammed into this tiny little month. And of course, as the Wal-Marts and drug stores of the country will let no one forget, Valentine’s Day all but defines the month of February. The holiday of love and romance marks the middle of the fleeting collection of days we shuffle around to fill.
So what’s my point? Where is the lesson we can learn from February? Don’t underestimate the value of small packages, maybe? Or how about, “Each day has it’s value unto itself”. Yeah, that’s all true, but let’s keep it tangible. Jesus wasn’t confined by months, days or years; His short life acknowledged each moment that passed as an opportunity to serve, praise or worship his God.
Let this month remind you of moments.
Live in them for they are as fleeting as February itself.

The Evangelical is a monthly publication of Quakertown Evangelical Church www.quakertownecna.com

Welcome to our blog...

2009-02-04T12:39:00.001-05:00

We are Quakertown Evangelical Church!

In the physical world you can find us at 317 Juniper St. in Quakertown Pennsylvania.

If you are a local, drop by and join in on a service or event. If you are not from the area however, we hope you will participate in our online ministry.

This blog is our source to you for;

*sermon summaries

*words of encouragement from our monthly newsletter

*poetry contributions from our congregation

* testimonies from our congregation

At our homepage http://www.quakertownecna.com/ you can find;
*A link to Devotionals to fuel you for each day
*Our Captain Page: for the past 10 years the Captain and his wife have been offering biblical answers to individuals with this online discussion forum.

Search the archives or post your own question.
*Prayer Requests: post a request of your own or pray for others.
*Church News: this will link you to our sister site to keep you informed

This is our ministry and whether you choose to take part from home or in person on Juniper St., we're happy to meet and grow together with you.