Recent sermons will be online soon!

We’ve started recording the sermons directly through the sound system recently.  It took us a bit to figure out the best way to them get them compressed and optimized for the web … but, we think we’ve figured it out.  In the next week or two, we hope to get all the last few months caught up and online for you to listen and share.

We apologize for the delay.

Her last two coins…made the Lord dance with joy.

The Dance of Deuteronomy in the Spirit of Stewardship

Moses left an interesting “Last Will & Testament.” It’s found in Deuteronomy. He was concerned about how the people would guard their hearts and not forget the Lord when they arrived in the Promised Land and lived in plenty. He knew that prosperity could ruin them. In Deuteronomy 14:22 – 16:17 he explains what they must do to maintain a spirit of joyful obedience to the Lord Who had brought them out of bondage into freedom. Let’s call it a 3-step dance:

1. Chapter 14:22-29 – give back to the Lord from the material gain He has provided. Give generously; give first.
2. Chapter 15 – give back to the Lord from the time He has afforded you. Sabbath is a gift that applies to more than just the 7th day of the week. It is to become a pattern of living and stewarding the land.
3. Chapter 16 – give back to the Lord by keeping festivals for His honor. Passover, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Booths, when observed with thanksgiving and generosity, would serve to keep the community of faith prospering in humble adoration of the Lord. Moses uses terms like “rejoice” and “altogether joyful.” In Israel, those terms suggested generous giving, abundant feasting, and music and dancing. Old friendships would be renewed and new friendships would be born.

News & Announcements

• PRAYER GATHERING THIS WEDNESDAY @ 7:00
• Partners in Prayer for February > Two Operating Rooms @ Eureka Hospital
• Summer in the USA – Impact Basque > We have an amazing and rare opportunity to be missionaries to an unreached people group right in our homes in the rhythm of our own routines. The ball is rolling! Need leaders, “adoptive” families, interns, much prayer.
• Men’s Study Group, Mondays > 6:00-7:00 p.m. Gospel of John.
• Women’s Study Group, Thursdays > 6:00-7:00 p.m. Book of Esther. Ask Mia B. Women’s retreat with the theme, “Who am I?” at Miracle Camp!  April 29-May 1.  $120-$135, depending on lodging.  Contact Sara Stickling for more details.

Dinner for Two!
The men of The Jake will be honoring our ladies with a formal night of dinner and dancing at Broadview Mansion.  5:30-9:30 Tickets on sale next week. $40 suggested donation. Limit 25 couples. Ask Bob V. for details. Guys interested in helping, we will be meeting Monday night at Dave Park’s to plan.

Interested in Dancing Underwater (baptism)?
Several in our midst have recently asked about being baptized.  Good for them! Good for The Jake! Great for the Fame of the Lord! We will be having a baptismal service soon. If you are interested or have questions, please talk to Pastor Dave.

This story gives “Homecoming Dance” a whole new meaning.

 Dancing with the Star, Indeed!

And, can it be, that because of Himself the Lord of the Dance dances with joy over us and with us, as do the angels?

We should all get emotional and giddy when we read the story of the prodigal son and his papa, for if we are true believers we know that this story is truly our own. I love how the King James Version portrays the joy of the father at his son’s repentance and redemption:

Luke 15:22-24 – But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Did you catch that tag line? “They began to be merry.” What do merry people do when they get together? They celebrate! They feast! They dance!

Do you believe that God the Father celebrates over you? He does. He absolutely sings and dances over you. How can He, you ask, for He is perfect in every way and you are… well, “imperfect” is a polite term for broken beyond self-repair? He can, and He does, because His Son cleaned your sin card, gave you a dance card, and asked you to join Him in the dance.

News & Announcements:

• PRAYER GATHERING THIS WEDNESDAY @ 7:00
• Partners in Prayer for February > Two Operating Rooms @ Eureka Hospital
• Summer in the USA – Impact Basque > We have an amazing and rare opportunity to be missionaries to an unreached people group right in our homes in the rhythm of our own routines. The ball is rolling! Need leaders, “adoptive” families, interns, much prayer.
• Men’s Study Group, Mondays > 6:00-7:00 p.m. Gospel of John. Ask Bob V.
• Women’s Study Group, Thursdays > 6:00-7:00 p.m. Book of Esther. Ask Mia B.
• Women’s retreat with the theme, “Who am I?” at Miracle Camp!  April 29-May 1.  > $120-$135, depending on lodgiing.  Contact Sara Stickling for more details.

Dinner for Two!
With apologies to some peas with black eyes, Sat., February 12 is “gonna be a good-good night!” The men of The Jake will be honoring our ladies with a formal night of dinner and dancing at Broadview Mansion.  5:30-9:30 Tickets on sale next week. $40 suggested donation. Limit 25 couples. Ask Bob V. for details.

Interested in Dancing Underwater (baptism)?
Several in our midst have recently asked about being baptized.  Good for them! Good for The Jake! Great for the Fame of the Lord! We will be having a baptismal service soon. If you are interested or have questions, please talk to Pastor Dave.