[Bslc-dist] Pastorgram

[Pete Luedemann]

Dear Family,

 

It is with much excitement that we look ahead to this Sunday's joint
Celebration Worship Service.  Remember that we only have one service this
Sunday and it will begin at 9:30 a.m.  Please try to carpool and if you know
of anyone who hasn't been at church in the last few weeks try to give them a
call to remind them of the schedule change, as we celebrate our 40 Day
Journey in discovering God's purposes and God's faithful presence with us
over the past 50 years.

 

Although there is still no DTS this week because of the small groups and no
Bible classes for kids or adults on Sunday.  Both of these discipleship
opportunities will begin again in the next week.  DTS will begin on February
23rd from 7-8 p.m.  Remember the DTS meal from 6:00-6:30 and the Lenten
service from 6:30-7:00.  

 

(Today's Lenten service has no meal and will be an hour (from 6:30-7:30)
because there are no other classes tonight.  Come tonight and learn how
threatening Jesus can be.)

 

The DTS line up for the 4 week session from Feb 23- March 16 includes:

Parables of Holy Week:- Pastor Pete

Digging Into the Word: Sermon Follow-up: Fred Venzke

Parenting Class:  Jim Velez

Believing God:  Mary Holscher  (This is a women's study and will continue
from March 30-May 18)

 

The Sunday morning Adult classes run from: February 27 - March 20, (March
27th is off for Easter!) April 3 - April 17

Believing: Pastor Pete (This class covers the basics of faith in Jesus and
is also one of the required classes for those seeking membership.)

Building Bridges - Planting Seeds: Dan Critchett

Philippians: Phil DiGregorio

Making Marriage Work: Dan & Mary Dettmer

Secrets of the Vine:  Mike Sheets

 

Reminders

*	This is the last week to make donations (which will be matched 7
times) for the Senior High 30 Hour Famine.
*	Baby bottles of change are due to be returned to the church on
February 27th.

 

My Walk 

As I read through Hebrews 11 (The Heroes of Faith) this last week I was
struck by the sudden transition in verse 35.  Verses 33-35a lists the
victorious life of the heroes of faith, kingdoms are conquered, lions mouths
are shut, weakness becomes strength, foreign armies are routed, the dead are
raised.  Then without warning, 35b continues with a list of what seems to be
a very un-victorious life, jeers, flogging, torture, destitute, persecuted,
mistreated, wandering.  How can these both be describing the same thing?
How can they both describe Christian life?  And if they do, how can I make
sure that I get to be a part of 33-35a rather than 35b-37?  

 

I am not sure "how" it can be, but I know from experience that the whole
chapter accurately describes the life of the church.  At times we are
amazingly victorious, at times we seem defeated on every side.  Faith is not
more present in either option.  Nor is it really our choice which aspect of
faith we experience in our personal lives.  

 

The hope Hebrews raises is that neither of these is really the fulfillment
of faith.  Suffering is not the true meaning of faith and even the victories
are too small or slight.  No, we wait, with all those who have gone before,
with the millions who will come after, we wait for something much better.
As I think over the last 50 years of BSLC I see both sides of faith and I
see God's reminder to wait together with all the others for something even
better.

 

Pastor Pete

 

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