Is it really that uncommon to be living our dream? Is what we want always just beyond what we have? Does living our dream mean we no longer have any ambition or goals to reach? Does living our dream mean that we have more expensive cars and houses than anyone else in town? Or might it mean peace and abundance in our lives that cannot be measured financially?
Dan Miller
This week the Fellowship Hall was being “soda blasted”. The workers were using high pressure cleaners which use baking soda like sand, to blast away the soot, black char and deodorize at the same time. They were cleaning every surface of the Fellowship building; floors, walls, ceilings, and every nook and cranny that was smoke or water damaged. I took a peek, (no tours are being given, but being Facilities Chairman and with the accompaniment of the general contractor, I get a peek) once and a while. It really looks promising!
Wednesday there was a meeting with the insurance adjuster representing the insurance company, Church Mutual. We have many questions and some of the answers will be in my next week’s article.
I’ve written it already but must repeat it, this process is extremely complex. There are so many hoops to jump through; so many regulatory bodies to satisfy; like fire safety, earthquake proofing, so many experts to meet with, money issues and so many church user groups (boy scouts, etc) who lost everything and so many items to inventory as salvageable and total loss, depreciation, inflation, and more that presently I can’t even remember. IN THE MEANTIME WE ARE WORSHIPING GOD, WE ARE TOGETHER SINGING, LISTENING, TEACHING, DOING MISSIONS, REACHING OUT, PROVIDING FOR THOSE WHO NEED ASSISSTANCE , PRAYING, LOVING, CARING, SERVING OTHERS AND SAYING “THANK YOU” TO ALL WHO ARE CONTINUING TO HELP US BE THE CHURCH!!!!!!
THIS material is provided for your information, it is as accurate as I can make it but be assured changes happen rapidly and what I share with you today could well be overridden by a week from today!
Love you and pray God will bless you in special ways, Richard Axmann, Building Committee report writer.
The Building Committee made a report and a request at the Monthly Council Meeting, May 14, 2013, 7:00 pm. Concept drawings of the basic floor plans for the main floor and the downstairs were made available to all in attendance. Co-chairman, Bill Storing also made a verbal walk through of the drawings. Questions and comments were received and discussed. The Building Committee ultimately asked the Council for approval of the concept drawings. Next the Building Committee asked for permission to present the concept drawings to the church body on May 19th and May 26th. The drawings will be made available to any member or friend after worship service. Members of the Building Committee will be available to answer questions, explain drawings and receive suggestions which members and friends may want the Building Committee to consider before the architect is instructed to begin formal drawings which will include details from all the engineers and disciplines (electrical, mechanical, structural, etc).
PLEASE MAKE YOURSELF AVAILABLE, BECOME MORE INFORMED, IT IS YOUR CHURCH AND YOU NEED TO KNOW SO THAT YOU CAN KEEP PRAYING THAT THE LORD WILL CONTINUE GUIDING AND LEADING TO BUILD THE WORSHIP AND MISSION OUTREACH CENTER, (the place we affectionately call Clearfield Community Church).
Throughout the midst of change and heartbreak we have been able to see light in our children. They have made the best of the situation and changing children’s church to inside an elementary school hasn’t bothered them one bit! It’s been a pleasure to watch how the kids are helping one another. We have had to combine all our kids together in one room from babies to youth, and every week I’m amazed on how our kids are helping their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Here are some pictures of our kids last week.
Please continue to be in prayer for our re-building committee. The current tasks of itemizing lost inventory and redesigning the floor plan for improved usage take much time and effort. We’re thankful for those who have volunteered to lend their time, knowledge, and wisdom to accomplish these. Do you desire to help the re-building committee? Currently there is a need for data entry. Contact Richard Axmann (801-510-5418) if you are willing and available.
God’s Little House on the Corner
Just a house of wood, brick, and mortar
A house filled with love.
God’s little house on the corner.
The little church stood on the corner
Like a beacon of light
for lost souls to find their way home.
Leading the way to Jesus and His eternal love.
Its walls witnessed many beginnings of love anew
With sacred vows of promises and loving I do’s.
It has seen joyful blessings of newborn babies
And Celebrations of Life,
Praising the memory of our loved ones
Marking their blessed journey home.
He is our rock and our foundation;
Fire cannot dampen our faith.
God’s house can be rebuilt.
His house will be stronger and better than before.
Like a phoenix rising out of the ashes,
the new walls will continue to be a beacon of light.
We will continue singing and praising God
& sharing the Good News of His glory and grace.
Written by Dianne Ingle
“Have you ever noticed that people usually only pay attention to the “heavy question” of life when things go wrong?
“When things in life are going along well, we assume that we must be doing something right. It’s when they go wrong that we begin to wonder. And even then we often try to shut out the questions that bother us.”
“But everyone tends to think that the ideas most people have accepted must therefore be ‘right’ ideas. We forget to think for ourselves.”
“No one can run away from these questions and decisions forever. You already believe in something. Whether you’ve thought about it or not, you have your own philosophy of life. It’s made up of what you believe about right and wrong, life and death, truth and God and man. And your life view affects you. It affects the way you take a test tomorrow as well as what you’ll do in a job or in your love life ten years from now.”
“If something is true…you can look at it hard, and think about it, and compare it with other beliefs, and it will stand. It will be reliable.”
“Take a look at yourself. What are your roots? What is it that you hold onto to keep yourself going, day after day? Do you believe in things your parents told you? Television? Your school? Your friends?”
“Do you know what’s really true?”
“And what will it take to get you to look for answers?”
Excerpted from Chapter One “Don’t ask questions.” of
How to be Your Own Selfish Pig, and Other Ways You’ve Been Brainwashed
by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
Definitions: As I understand it the term Insider is used to represent a person who may be identified as a Christian, born again, evangelical, Christ follower, believer, or one who attends a Christian denomination church. The term Outsider is a person who is not an Insider.
The Outsider Interviews is a commentary on interviews done in four US cities with four panelists in each city. The panelists consisted of two Outsiders and two Insiders in the age range of 16-29 years. The purpose of the interviews was to document how Outsiders and Insiders in this age range perceive the Christian and the Christian Church. The book also comes with a DVD which contains excerpts of the interviews, snippets of which are referenced throughout the text.
Of the four topics explored (Christianity’s Image, Christianity’s Beliefs and Blinders, How Christians deal with Diversity and Difference, Agreements between Insiders and Outsiders) it was noted that there is much agreement between Insiders and Outsiders in the younger age range about Christians, and there is much disagreement between the younger Insiders and the older Insiders.
The consensus seemed to be that Christians need to do more listening and be less judgmental. There was discussion about the need for Christians to explore how to do this and yet not compromise personal, Biblically based, convictions such as views on abortion, politics, and homosexuality.
Shifting one’s paradigm is always a challenge, but the world in which we now live is significantly different from the one many of us older Insider’s grew up in. So it seems imperative that we look around with the intent to see what Jesus sees and prepare to shake off some of our fast held traditions that don’t make much sense any more. While it makes no sense for us to follow the world’s ways instead of the ways of Christ, it does make sense to listen to how the world views Christians, learn why we are turning them away from Christ, and determine how we can better serve our Lord and Master by serving those he loves – both Outsiders and Insiders.
March 26, 2013
Clearfield, Utah
Dear Neighbors and Friends,
Tuesday afternoon, March 19, a fire tore through the meeting place of the Clearfield Community Church in Clearfield. The building is in bad shape but the Christ-followers are doing well. God willing we plan to repair and replace. The church is moving forward into God’s future in the graceful strength God provides.
The Clearfield Community Church family is most grateful to the protective services of our communities who responded so quickly and professionally to assure the safety of people and the care of property. In a matter of seconds Clearfield Police Department and North Davis Fire District were on the scene to take command and take care. We are blessed by all the additional departments who came to our aid.
Faith communities with whom we share the love and care of Almighty God responded quickly to promise prayer support and tangible aid. God’s grace continues to be evident and a wonder to behold in the love of Jesus Christ.
The wider community is offering on-going support and genuine love to our church family in the days following the fire. Our hearts are filled with joyous thanks for the opportunity to meet in the Wasatch Elementary School…a place very dear to our church and our community.
Resurrection Sunday Worship will be held at Wasatch Elementary this Sunday at 10:00 AM and for the immediate future. Persons have asked how they can gift the church family: Clearfield Community Church Rebuilding Fund, Post Office Box 6007, Clearfield, Utah 84089 by check with REBUILDING FUND in the Memo.
It is with thanks to God for the past and a positive view to tomorrow that I paraphrase a great preacher: “It’s Friday; but Sunday’s a-coming!”
Soli Deo Gloria
John C Parsley, Pastor
Clearfield Community Church
Have you visited Answers in Genesis lately?
Do you have questions about creation, dinosaurs, or the global flood? The Answers In Genesis web site, www.answersingenesis.org, is a great resource for these and other topics, just click on “Get Answers” to get started.