Pastor’s Corner
The God who Redeems Us …
This week, I was contacted by someone from an earlier ministry who asked for a recommendation to enter seminary.
She has been a faithful follower of God her whole life. Of course, like all of us, she has sinned, but her astute mind, and her love of God, and her incredible courage would have led me to suggest ministry a long time ago except for one simple fact. She has Cerebral Palsy and is wheelchair bound. I saw the potential in her, but did not encourage her, because I thought the path was impossible for her to achieve.
After her email, and my recommendation, I apologized to her for not encouraging her earlier. I don’t know if she will succeed, but I suspect that God will make it an incredible journey. And I was reminded again, that God sees us in ways that we do not see ourselves and others.
We started a new heading on August 30, when we moved back to Exodus and found Moses confronted by God. He had been raised as a child by his mother till he was weaned, then brought up in the court of Pharaoh. However, when he was an adult, he found a guard beating a fellow Israelite, he killed him and buried him thinking no one had seen. But, as with all sins, nothing is hidden forever. The word got out and Moses fled, knowing he would be put to death if Pharaoh heard.
So Moses hid from his past. For most people, you would think his story was over. He was a murderer and an exile. Nevertheless, this is the person God chose to use when he rescued the Israelites. In the midst of the wilderness where he was hiding, God saw him and called him into ministry.
As I read the story of Moses, I can’t help but wonder if things would have been easier for him if he hadn’t sinned in the first place. Perhaps his story (like that of Joseph) would have been to save his people as a member of the Royal Household. He could have ascended the throne and set his people free by decree. Another would have led them into the wilderness.
Or, perhaps, without the time in the desert, as a shepherd, he would not have grown into the person God needed him to be. God does use all of our experiences to grow us into the people God calls us to be.
All of us are a lot like Moses. We have pasts that include things that we think would keep God from being able to use us. We have sinned and fallen short of all that God has called us to be. Sometimes we feel unworthy of being called by God. And yet, God redeems our lives and calls us to be used. Most of us follow the path of Moses and ask to be let off the hook. Please God, send someone else.
While God did not let Moses go free of the responsibility, God did agree to send Aaron with him as a partner when he confronted Pharaoh. Which is another important point.
God not only redeems us, but God brings others into our path to do ministry with us. So, like my dear friend, who is now on her own path to Ministry, and who will need helpers along the way, each and every one of us need those in our lives to encourage us and to be the strength to our weakness.
Let’s enjoy a few weeks in Exodus, and see where God takes us and challenges us. Let us encourage one another to be strong in the Lord, since, after all, it is God who not only calls us, but who is in charge of what happens once we say “Yes.”
With love, Pastor Bobbie
Phone: 660-851-0067, Cell Phone: 660-596-3954
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://tricountyministries.weebly.com
Sermon On Line
Worship continues to be available on our Web site under the Communications/Worship Tab
https://tricountyministries.weebly.com/worship-service
LPC Presbyterian Women
“How to write good”
Longwood’s Lord’s Annual Acre Sale
We will still have our annual Lord’s Acre Sale, but it will be different than in years past due to COVID-19. We will NOT be having our usual lunch and auction at the church. Please see enclosed flyer for further information.
Range Line’s Lord’s Acre Sale and Dinner
At its last session meeting, extensive discussion was held regarding the feasibility of holding the annual Lord’s Acre Sale and Dinner. Two major concerns were discussed 1) how to incorporate social distancing and other COVID-19 procedures to protect the health and safety of participants and 2) the serious decline in the number of workers available to successfully prepare and serve a large dinner. Many who have contributed to and worked with the dinner & sale in the past had already informed the session they would not be available this year.
The COVID-19 virus is beyond our control, but hopefully, the current pandemic will soon be more manageable, and events and traditions will be easier to resume as usual. However, our dwindling church membership makes it increasingly difficult to provide the workforce necessary to host large events and does not appear to be a situation that will change any time soon. It is our prayer that those who desire the continuation of events such as the Lord’s Acre Sale and Dinner will volunteer their time and energy (and friends!) to help these traditions to continue.
Sympathies
We extend our deepest sympathies to J. R. Kenyon and to Debbie Brown and their families, who both lost parents this past month. J. R. lost his father, Robert Kenyon, to illness in August and Debbie lost her mother, Thelma Ficken, in early September. We send our sympathies to Thelma’s grandchildren, Amanda Kenyon and Dustin Brown, and to Kole and Zane Kenyon who were grandchildren of both Robert and Thelma. These folks will be missed by all.
This past week we also lost one of our neighbors. Warren Kearney passed away from cancer. We send our condolences to his wife Sharon, and their family.
Cares and Concerns
Please keep all of our church families in prayer. Remember, those who are in the nursing homes always enjoy greeting cards:
Concerns from Both LPC & RLPC:
Thank you
When someone goes out of their way to help other people, even though it is part of their job, it is a good feeling. This summer following a particularly nasty hurricane in the gulf, large areas of Louisiana lost electric power for many days (and in fact, there may still be areas without power). One of LPC members and a worker for the local electric coop, was part of a team who went to the gulf area to help restore power. We offer a special thanks to J. R. Kenyon for doing his job in a special way. Big Thanks to you, J. R.
It’s a Girl!
Lorraine Rose Kusgen was born August 24th at 6:07 a.m. She was 6 lbs. 16 oz. and 20 inches long. She joins big brother Reid. Proud parents are Shaina and David Kusgen, grandparents Melissa and Jason Chamberlin, and great grandparents J.R. and Faye Chamberlin.
Range Line VBS
I’m sorry that I was not able to provide a virtual VBS this year. I had the ideas, but not the resources or tech savvy to pull it off. However, we WILL have VBS in some form or other in 2021. The new 2021 VBS Themes are already out, so myself and other interested church people will begin planning shortly. Should COVID-19 continue to be a concern, we will at least have the time to get it all arranged so that we can again welcome children to Range Line VBS next summer, either in person or virtually.—Jennifer Alexander
Range Line Scholarships
The scholarship committee is pleased to announce two scholarship recipients for 2020. This year’s recipient of the Range Line Supporting Youth Scholarship is Emily Gregory. Emily is the daughter of Michael and the late Martha Gregory and is a 2020 graduate of Northwest High School. Emily will be attending the University of Missouri-Columbia to major in Hospitality Management with an emphasis in conference and event planning. Her goal is to become an Event/Conference planner in the Agricultural Industry. Congratulations, Emily!
The Range Line Continuing Education Scholarship is for persons in the greater Houstonia area who need additional education or training. This could be a certificate, degree, continuing education units, etc. and is for persons who are NOT current NWHS seniors. This year’s recipient is Ellie Ballenger. Ellie is a special education teacher at Smith-Cotton High School and is working on her Master’s degree. Ellie and her daughters are regular attendees at Range Line Church and VBS. Congratulations, Ellie!
Congratulations
Join me in congratulating Andromeda Broullette on her Girl Scout accomplishments of earning Silver Award (supply drive for Retrieving Freedom) and also bridging from Cadette (6-8 grade) to Senior (9-10 grade). It is always important that we acknowledge the members of our church youth as they grow towards adult-hood. Congratulations Andromeda!—J. R.
From the Internet:
Thanks to the many folks who contributed to the following quotes! --Editors
The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest.
You don’t always have to tell your side of the story. Time will.—Toby Mac
Maturity is when you have power to destroy someone who did you wrong, but you just breathe, walk away and let life take care of them.
Spilled coffee is the adult equivalent of losing your balloon.
Don’t trade your authenticity for approval—Unknown, from the Clergy Coaching Network
Happiness starts with you—not with your relationships, not with your job, not with your money, not with your circumstances, but with you.
CS Lewis said in 1942:
Satan: “I will cause anxiety, fear and panic. I will shut down business, schools, places of worship, and sports events. I will cause economic turmoil.”
Jesus: “I will bring together neighbors, restore the family unit, I will bring dinner back to the kitchen table. I will help people slow down their lives and appreciate what really matters. I will teach my children to rely on me and not the world. I will teach my children to trust me and not their money and material resources.”
I don’t care how much scripture you quote. How do you treat people?
Sometimes God has to work on you before He works on a solution—Rick Warren
Kindness is loaning someone your strength instead of reminding them of their weakness.
Strong people stand up for themselves, but stronger people stand up for others.—Chris Gardner
A dead battery can’t jump another dead battery. Get away from people who can’t charge your spirit when you need a jump.
One minute you’re young and fun. And the next, you’re turning down the stereo in your car to see better.
There is always, always, always something to be grateful for.—Unknown, the Clergy Coaching Network.
When a child gives you a gift, even if it is a rock they just picked up, exude gratitude. I might be the only thing they have to give, and they have chosen to give it to you.
Today will never come again. Be a blessing. Be a friend. Encourage someone. Take time to care. Let your words heal and not wound.
No one makes more observations that a toddler sharing a cubicle with their mother in a public restroom.
When asked how they managed to stay together for 65 years, the woman replied: “We were born in a time where, if something was broken, you fixed it, rather than throwing it away.
To care for those who once cared for us, is one of life’s highest honors.
In March 2020, Friday the 13th, full moon, turned clocks ahead, all in one week. October 31, Halloween on Saturday, full moon, turn clocks back an hour. Maybe this will return us to factory settings?
The God who Redeems Us …
This week, I was contacted by someone from an earlier ministry who asked for a recommendation to enter seminary.
She has been a faithful follower of God her whole life. Of course, like all of us, she has sinned, but her astute mind, and her love of God, and her incredible courage would have led me to suggest ministry a long time ago except for one simple fact. She has Cerebral Palsy and is wheelchair bound. I saw the potential in her, but did not encourage her, because I thought the path was impossible for her to achieve.
After her email, and my recommendation, I apologized to her for not encouraging her earlier. I don’t know if she will succeed, but I suspect that God will make it an incredible journey. And I was reminded again, that God sees us in ways that we do not see ourselves and others.
We started a new heading on August 30, when we moved back to Exodus and found Moses confronted by God. He had been raised as a child by his mother till he was weaned, then brought up in the court of Pharaoh. However, when he was an adult, he found a guard beating a fellow Israelite, he killed him and buried him thinking no one had seen. But, as with all sins, nothing is hidden forever. The word got out and Moses fled, knowing he would be put to death if Pharaoh heard.
So Moses hid from his past. For most people, you would think his story was over. He was a murderer and an exile. Nevertheless, this is the person God chose to use when he rescued the Israelites. In the midst of the wilderness where he was hiding, God saw him and called him into ministry.
As I read the story of Moses, I can’t help but wonder if things would have been easier for him if he hadn’t sinned in the first place. Perhaps his story (like that of Joseph) would have been to save his people as a member of the Royal Household. He could have ascended the throne and set his people free by decree. Another would have led them into the wilderness.
Or, perhaps, without the time in the desert, as a shepherd, he would not have grown into the person God needed him to be. God does use all of our experiences to grow us into the people God calls us to be.
All of us are a lot like Moses. We have pasts that include things that we think would keep God from being able to use us. We have sinned and fallen short of all that God has called us to be. Sometimes we feel unworthy of being called by God. And yet, God redeems our lives and calls us to be used. Most of us follow the path of Moses and ask to be let off the hook. Please God, send someone else.
While God did not let Moses go free of the responsibility, God did agree to send Aaron with him as a partner when he confronted Pharaoh. Which is another important point.
God not only redeems us, but God brings others into our path to do ministry with us. So, like my dear friend, who is now on her own path to Ministry, and who will need helpers along the way, each and every one of us need those in our lives to encourage us and to be the strength to our weakness.
Let’s enjoy a few weeks in Exodus, and see where God takes us and challenges us. Let us encourage one another to be strong in the Lord, since, after all, it is God who not only calls us, but who is in charge of what happens once we say “Yes.”
With love, Pastor Bobbie
Phone: 660-851-0067, Cell Phone: 660-596-3954
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: http://tricountyministries.weebly.com
Sermon On Line
Worship continues to be available on our Web site under the Communications/Worship Tab
https://tricountyministries.weebly.com/worship-service
LPC Presbyterian Women
“How to write good”
- Avoid Alliteration. Always.
- Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
- Avoid clichés like the plague. They’re old hat.
- Comparisons are as bad as clichés.
- Be more or less specific.
- Writers should never generalize.
- Don’t be redundant; don’t use more words than necessary; it’s highly superfluous.
- Who needs rhetorical questions?
- Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
Longwood’s Lord’s Annual Acre Sale
We will still have our annual Lord’s Acre Sale, but it will be different than in years past due to COVID-19. We will NOT be having our usual lunch and auction at the church. Please see enclosed flyer for further information.
Range Line’s Lord’s Acre Sale and Dinner
At its last session meeting, extensive discussion was held regarding the feasibility of holding the annual Lord’s Acre Sale and Dinner. Two major concerns were discussed 1) how to incorporate social distancing and other COVID-19 procedures to protect the health and safety of participants and 2) the serious decline in the number of workers available to successfully prepare and serve a large dinner. Many who have contributed to and worked with the dinner & sale in the past had already informed the session they would not be available this year.
The COVID-19 virus is beyond our control, but hopefully, the current pandemic will soon be more manageable, and events and traditions will be easier to resume as usual. However, our dwindling church membership makes it increasingly difficult to provide the workforce necessary to host large events and does not appear to be a situation that will change any time soon. It is our prayer that those who desire the continuation of events such as the Lord’s Acre Sale and Dinner will volunteer their time and energy (and friends!) to help these traditions to continue.
Sympathies
We extend our deepest sympathies to J. R. Kenyon and to Debbie Brown and their families, who both lost parents this past month. J. R. lost his father, Robert Kenyon, to illness in August and Debbie lost her mother, Thelma Ficken, in early September. We send our sympathies to Thelma’s grandchildren, Amanda Kenyon and Dustin Brown, and to Kole and Zane Kenyon who were grandchildren of both Robert and Thelma. These folks will be missed by all.
This past week we also lost one of our neighbors. Warren Kearney passed away from cancer. We send our condolences to his wife Sharon, and their family.
Cares and Concerns
Please keep all of our church families in prayer. Remember, those who are in the nursing homes always enjoy greeting cards:
Concerns from Both LPC & RLPC:
- Esther Brown, at Pilot Grove
- Bill & Margaret Schlomer at Golden Oaks
- Helen Coffelt—at Sylvia Thompson
- Georgia Reid, at Cedarhurst, Sedalia
- Elijah Johnson (Delbert & Amy’s son)
- Debbie Brown, loss of her mother Thelma
- J. R. Kenyon, loss of his father Robert
- Calvin (and Mary) Kirchhoff at Golden Oaks
- Patricia Broullette, recovering from a fall
- Renee Moore
- Raelynn Moore (has the virus)
- Scott Moore
- Aaron Reno, Army in Louisanna
- Lee Ann (Paxson), chemo & possible radiation
- Kenny Reid
Thank you
When someone goes out of their way to help other people, even though it is part of their job, it is a good feeling. This summer following a particularly nasty hurricane in the gulf, large areas of Louisiana lost electric power for many days (and in fact, there may still be areas without power). One of LPC members and a worker for the local electric coop, was part of a team who went to the gulf area to help restore power. We offer a special thanks to J. R. Kenyon for doing his job in a special way. Big Thanks to you, J. R.
It’s a Girl!
Lorraine Rose Kusgen was born August 24th at 6:07 a.m. She was 6 lbs. 16 oz. and 20 inches long. She joins big brother Reid. Proud parents are Shaina and David Kusgen, grandparents Melissa and Jason Chamberlin, and great grandparents J.R. and Faye Chamberlin.
Range Line VBS
I’m sorry that I was not able to provide a virtual VBS this year. I had the ideas, but not the resources or tech savvy to pull it off. However, we WILL have VBS in some form or other in 2021. The new 2021 VBS Themes are already out, so myself and other interested church people will begin planning shortly. Should COVID-19 continue to be a concern, we will at least have the time to get it all arranged so that we can again welcome children to Range Line VBS next summer, either in person or virtually.—Jennifer Alexander
Range Line Scholarships
The scholarship committee is pleased to announce two scholarship recipients for 2020. This year’s recipient of the Range Line Supporting Youth Scholarship is Emily Gregory. Emily is the daughter of Michael and the late Martha Gregory and is a 2020 graduate of Northwest High School. Emily will be attending the University of Missouri-Columbia to major in Hospitality Management with an emphasis in conference and event planning. Her goal is to become an Event/Conference planner in the Agricultural Industry. Congratulations, Emily!
The Range Line Continuing Education Scholarship is for persons in the greater Houstonia area who need additional education or training. This could be a certificate, degree, continuing education units, etc. and is for persons who are NOT current NWHS seniors. This year’s recipient is Ellie Ballenger. Ellie is a special education teacher at Smith-Cotton High School and is working on her Master’s degree. Ellie and her daughters are regular attendees at Range Line Church and VBS. Congratulations, Ellie!
Congratulations
Join me in congratulating Andromeda Broullette on her Girl Scout accomplishments of earning Silver Award (supply drive for Retrieving Freedom) and also bridging from Cadette (6-8 grade) to Senior (9-10 grade). It is always important that we acknowledge the members of our church youth as they grow towards adult-hood. Congratulations Andromeda!—J. R.
From the Internet:
Thanks to the many folks who contributed to the following quotes! --Editors
The first to apologize is the bravest. The first to forgive is the strongest. The first to forget is the happiest.
You don’t always have to tell your side of the story. Time will.—Toby Mac
Maturity is when you have power to destroy someone who did you wrong, but you just breathe, walk away and let life take care of them.
Spilled coffee is the adult equivalent of losing your balloon.
Don’t trade your authenticity for approval—Unknown, from the Clergy Coaching Network
Happiness starts with you—not with your relationships, not with your job, not with your money, not with your circumstances, but with you.
CS Lewis said in 1942:
Satan: “I will cause anxiety, fear and panic. I will shut down business, schools, places of worship, and sports events. I will cause economic turmoil.”
Jesus: “I will bring together neighbors, restore the family unit, I will bring dinner back to the kitchen table. I will help people slow down their lives and appreciate what really matters. I will teach my children to rely on me and not the world. I will teach my children to trust me and not their money and material resources.”
I don’t care how much scripture you quote. How do you treat people?
Sometimes God has to work on you before He works on a solution—Rick Warren
Kindness is loaning someone your strength instead of reminding them of their weakness.
Strong people stand up for themselves, but stronger people stand up for others.—Chris Gardner
A dead battery can’t jump another dead battery. Get away from people who can’t charge your spirit when you need a jump.
One minute you’re young and fun. And the next, you’re turning down the stereo in your car to see better.
There is always, always, always something to be grateful for.—Unknown, the Clergy Coaching Network.
When a child gives you a gift, even if it is a rock they just picked up, exude gratitude. I might be the only thing they have to give, and they have chosen to give it to you.
Today will never come again. Be a blessing. Be a friend. Encourage someone. Take time to care. Let your words heal and not wound.
No one makes more observations that a toddler sharing a cubicle with their mother in a public restroom.
When asked how they managed to stay together for 65 years, the woman replied: “We were born in a time where, if something was broken, you fixed it, rather than throwing it away.
To care for those who once cared for us, is one of life’s highest honors.
In March 2020, Friday the 13th, full moon, turned clocks ahead, all in one week. October 31, Halloween on Saturday, full moon, turn clocks back an hour. Maybe this will return us to factory settings?