Brandon@Random

Tim Keller on How Church Impacts Culture

"I Smell Dead People"

On a trip to Cushing yesterday, I met a pastor named John Baumert.  We had a good discussion regarding the ministry.  However, the tidbit from the conversation that I want to share is not really related to church stuff.

Somehow, the conversation veered into the subject of being around dead bodies.  John had helped with a funeral home before and was given this bit of advice regarding the smell.

"How do handle the smell?  I mean...really...it can be bad."

"We rub a little Vicks in each nostril and put an Atomic Fireball candy in our mouth.  You can't smell anything that way."

Now we know.

 

Bad Times are Good Times for God's People

I was reading through Exodus 1 and the following verses jumped out at me.  These words reminded me that it is in the tough times that God's family grows. 

"But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly."  Exodus 1:12-13

 We usually think of the persecution of the early Christians and how that caused the spread of the Good News.  But even 1500 years before that, the same principle applied; Bad times are good times for God's people.

Rather than fearing the tough times ahead, we should embrace them and realize this could be a defining time for the church. 

Don't Show Your Kids

I was looking around the web for some images for my Thanksgiving message when I came across this cartoon.  I had to share it with you. 

Group Ideas

Small groups are the best way I know of to get people into closer relationships with each other.  The closer we are, the more we can enjoy life together.  We gain trust, concern and strength from each other.

Some ways I would like to see groups form in our congregation.

Study groups-10-15 people getting together to pray and discuss/study God's word.

Service groups-people getting together to perform a service for the Kingdom.

Go groups-people getting together for informal gatherings; bowling, craft fairs, parades, football games....lot of potential here.

Church Website Up and Running

I have carved our church a little niche on the world wide web.  You can check us out at www.mystillwaterchurch.com.

The site is primarily for people who do not attend Highland Park yet.  It has some very basic information that will help people find us on Sunday, so they can see who we really are.