St. Paul's October, 2002 Newsletter, Page One

October, 2002

Greetings

“My power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9

What is the significance of the green flag at a NASCAR race? The racing fan sees it as the beginning of the race. The racecar driver hopes that it signals the start of a victorious trip across the finish line.   The non-racing fan sees it as the start of a bunch of cars driving around in circles for hours.

The truth is a lot does happen between the green flag and the checkered flag.   Pit stops, engine failure, accidents, driver error, and fatigue are a part of every race.   Each 400 or 500 mile race requires the full attention of each driver and each member of every pit crew.    Unlike me, the race driver can’t sightsee as he makes his way around the oval. Driving at 140 miles per hour requires instantaneous reactions.   It is critical that the driver stay sharp.

You can make an analogy with car racing and the Christian life.   Unfortunately some people think the Christian life, like a car race does have a finish line. It doesn’t end with the baptism of our child, or when we are confirmed, or after we leave the wedding altar, or after our children are done with Sunday School.   The Christian life is a lifetime race.

As Dan Deal points out in his devotional The Power To Win, the dangers of the Christian life are far more than an afternoon spent at the racetrack. What is required of every Christian, you and me included is a constant vigilance to the Will and Word of God. The Christian life has to be fueled by God’s grace and power because life has it’s obstacles, it’s accidents, it’s out of control moments. God’s grace and power helps us to overcome them.

Your confirmation was the dropping of the green flag in your Christian life. Where are you RIGHT NOW in your Christian walk and life? Spinning out of control? In the pits? Back in the garage? Heading for the embankment? Making your way through traffic? Wherever you are, remember God’s promise,

“My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

His Servant,

October's Prayer Page

A Prayer of Radical Repentance

We press into Your heart this day, glorious God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We celebrate all that Your precious Son is - who He is to us and for us, over us and within us, through us and before us and upon us.

Before all heaven we proclaim:

Christ is supreme! - He is sovereign, sufficient, and totally satisfying!
Christ is our hope! - He is the summation of all Your promises, the source of all Your riches, more and more and more, for now and forever!
Christ is our glory! - He is Alpha and Omega, the consummation of all Your purposes, for all creation, for all the ages to come! In Him our life is hidden with You, until the hour He returns in the final triumphs of grace and truth.
Christ is among us! - He is accessible to us, in all of His fullness, here and now. He stands with us, willing and able and ready to act for us, and in us, and through us!

SELAH: Pause for silent reflection

Therefore, we REPENT - individually and on behalf of all Your people:

We repent…for how we have diminished Christ, regarding Him as our mascot rather than our Monarch.

We repent…for how we have manipulated Christ, coming to Him to use Him, as far as we think we need Him, that far and no more.

We repent…for how we have hoarded Christ, seeking His blessings for ourselves, with little thought about bringing those blessings to others. We’ve assumed that he was there only for us. We’ve forgotten that He is Lord of neighbors and nations.

We repent…for how we have avoided Christ, withholding our affections from Him because we were afraid of what it would cost us. By our lifestyles, we’ve denied that He’s truly supreme and sufficient. In His place we’ve substituted creeds, and programs, and organizations, and causes-as well as our own feeble attempts to look spiritual. In doing so, we’ve abandoned the consuming passion for Him He deserves, as the center of everything.

SELAH: Pause for silent reflection

Forgive us! Cleanse us! Purify us! Resurrect us! Reconvert us! Restore us! Refill us!

Recommission us! By the blood. Through Your mercy. O Lamb of God! O Lamb of God!

We are ready - Ready…to revolutionize mind and action. Ready…to embrace the full extent of Christ’s supremacy. Ready…to walk with Him for all he really is. Ready…to wrap our lives around Him, and the mighty advances of His kingdom. Ready…for this and for nothing less.

So together, in brokenness and hope, here and now - O God of our salvation - we cry out for all to hear: “Lord Jesus, Come and conquer us! Lord Jesus, Come and conquer us! Lord Jesus, Come and conquer us!”

SELAH: Pause for silent reflection

Wonderful Father: Standing at this crossroads moment, we pledge to Your Son the words of Saint Augustine:

You called, You cried, You shattered my deafness.

You sparkled, You burned, You drove away my blindness.

You shed your fragrance, and I drew in my breath.

Therefore, from now on, I will pant for YOU alone.

To that end, Father, visit afresh with Your Spirit every one of us. May He turn this prayer of radical repentance into a radical way of life, for all your people, everywhere.

Hallelujah! AMEN! Let it be done!

The Sr. Youth Group will be having a
Rummage Sale on Friday, November 1st
and Saturday, November 2nd.
If you have any attic treasures or other items you would like to donate, you can bring them to the church office after October 12th. Contact the Church Office 828-0020 if you have large items that
need to be picked up.
Rummage Sale The Sr. Youth Group will be having a Rummage Sale on Friday, November 1st and Saturday, November 2nd. If you have any attic treasures or other items you would like to donate, you can bring them to the church office after October 12th. Contact the Church Office 828-0020 if you have large items that need to be picked up.