Back from Israel

Israel is an amazing place to see!

I am sure you know that when we read the Bible we draw scenes in our minds to help understand what we are reading. For me, many of the scenes I draw are influenced by the flannel graph pictures my Sunday school teacher put up on the felt board. Having the opportunity to see several locations in the land of the Bible are helping me to remap and understand how the stories and truths of the Bible all fit together.

Our hearts are full from what we saw and learned while in Israel.

Of course, like any trip, we get to go home. Amy Sue and I are resetting from jetlag, and we look forward to sharing these scenes with you over the coming days and weeks ahead--beginning tomorrow!

In January, we are focusing on being good stewards.

Ponder for a moment, how could we hear the truth of Jesus' death and crucifixion which happened in Israel some 6,900 miles away from here? The short answer is that people were faithful stewards of the truth by bringing it here and sharing it with us.

Our salvation is the product of someone's good stewardship--really, many peoples' good stewardship. We could not respond to God's love unless we learned about its truth.

As stewards of God's things, we are also entrusted with His truth, and we must be faithful to share it with others, too. All we have is a part of that mission.

Collectively as a church family, we are stewards pointing people to Jesus Christ, the Open Door of salvation, strength, and service.

This is exactly what the mission of the first church in Jerusalem Israel was 2,000 years ago, and we know it makes a difference because it changed our lives and the lives of others who have trusted it.

What kind of difference do you think the truth of the Gospel can make through you this year? That all depends on what kind of steward we will be.

Are you all in?

Let's see what God will do. You and me and our church family, serving together with God's truth.

We are glad to have seen things in Israel because of their rich history. We are even more glad to be home and to see the wonderful things God is doing and is about to do!

Shalom,
Pastor Dennis Schaffer