Praise:
1. Danelle and Andrew Jensen are doing very well and much enjoying married life.
2. Dickenson First Presbyterian Church continues to have both morning and evening worship. Daniel will soon finish Luke 17. He has found Malachi to be most searching and convicting. You can listen to these sermons here.
3. The Shepherding Committee of Westminster Presbytery has agreed to come alongside Daniel and the elders at Big Ridge (BR) and help to address a number of vital issues.
4. Once again we are seeing the Lord strengthen RE Kerry Belcher’s businesses in recent days.
5. Pioneer Club has resumed with good attendance. The evening together is blessed by the Lord and warm fellowship is occurring.
6. Dorothy and Deborah both had a version of the “bug” but have recovered.
Prayer Request:
1. Pray that the preached Word would be heard and obeyed.
2. Pray for the Shepherding Committee as they engage the elders at BR and Daniel. Pray for a break through in each heart and that long standing heart issues will finally be resolved.
3. Continue to pray for reconciliation of members in the four PCA churches in north Dickenson County.
4. Dickenson First has begun the process of revitalization through the Fanning the Flame ministry of Briarwood PCA. Pray for Pastor Joe Weatherly as he coaches us through the next fourteen months. We have a good team. We are seeing some spiritual warfare erupt already, so please intercede for us.
5. Continue to pray for the Turner Family.
6. Pray for the Lord’s blessing on the children who come to Pioneer Club. Pray that this ministry would open doors into their families.
7. Pray for our eldest elder, Clynard Belcher (86). He suffered a stroke on March 3rd. He has made good progress thus far. He is a rehabilitation hospital undergoing physical therapy. Pray that he would be restored to his home and to the church. He greatly desires to be able to serve. Pray for his dear wife to have strength and that she may be able to get much need rest.

A question asked by one of the wives was simple: How should a wife respond when her pastor-husband is criticized? The question was asked in the context of pastor’s families, but the answer will likely benefit all married couples.

Question: Carolyn, as a pastor’s wife, how do you handle situations where your husband is criticized or there is grumbling in the church about your husband?

Carolyn: Obviously, it certainly isn’t easy to have your husband criticized. But as wives, we must recognize our role as our husband’s helper and make sure we don’t take up an offense, which would not be helpful to our husbands. And that does not take place without a fight. This is the person you love the most in the whole world, and if someone is criticizing him, you can be easily offended and want to defend him. Yet, I must realize that taking an offense would be a disservice to my husband. So it’s important that we as wives guard our hearts, making sure we don’t take up an offense, seeking to serve our husbands as helpers.

C.J.: Your point is an excellent one. There have been many times that I have desired Carolyn to take up an offense—“Join me in my offense against this individual.” I’m not immediately happy that she hasn’t taken an offense, but I have learned that eventually she has served me invaluably when she does not take up an offense. In no way is she defending or justifying what others have said or done, but helping me monitor my heart, and impressing upon me that a sinful reaction from me would be more serious than whatever they are saying or doing, are the most effective ways she can serve me.

Sadly, over the years we have witnessed couples in ministry where wives have taken up an offense.

And this doesn’t just apply to sinful criticism, but also to when a husband is legitimately corrected by a member of the pastoral team or a member of the church. So you need both those categories. It’s difficult when those serving with your husband correct him in a certain area or bring an unfavorable evaluation. A wife might find herself more vulnerable to taking up an offense when her husband has been corrected. I am grateful for the way Carolyn has served me by not taking up an offense. And numerous times she has agreed with the correction, protecting me from arrogantly dismissing the correction and preventing me from sowing discord among those I serve in ministry.

So, whether it’s sinful criticism or legitimate correction of me, how do you guard your heart, Carolyn?

Carolyn: Wives should carefully listen to what’s being said. If there is something legitimate, bring that lovingly and carefully to your husband. I don’t think it serves a husband for a wife to just take the side of the person bringing criticism. But if there is a degree of truth, bring that in a way that serves him.

And just helping to mirror back to him what you are hearing him say. If he is sinning in response to the criticism, where appropriate, lovingly mirror that back to him: “It seems like this is how you are responding. Is this true? Are you offended at this person? Are you bitter?” Asking skillful questions.

It takes a lot of prayer and soul-searching in our own hearts to keep our hearts free from taking up an offense. But we must have a conviction about our role as our husband’s helper and ask, “What will truly help my husband?” It will not help him if I’m adding to the temptation he’s already experiencing. If he is being corrected or criticized, he’s already got a battle he is fighting. And if I come along and agree and participate in that, it makes his battle more difficult.

My husband has gone through seasons of correction, and it’s a temptation and fight. So I find myself having to pray for those who bring criticism or correction and filling my own heart with appropriate Scriptures so I can be a true helper to him during that time.

C.J.: Yes, but where they have been accurate observations—whether critics analyzing or friends correcting—you have courageously transferred that to me. Too often I have not been grateful in the moment. Eventually, I am grateful.

Would you say that one of the biggest challenges these ladies will confront as pastors wives is will be—when they hear the criticism or correction and they find there are aspects they agree with—how to inform their husbands of that without appearing to support any sinful attitude of others?

Carolyn: Yes. And I have through the years seen wives not do that, I’ve seen the effect and the outcome, and it has put the fear of God in me. At the moment it’s not always easy to take a stand and say, “I don’t think you’re responding humbly to this situation right now.” And it takes courage. Yet we’ve seen, because we’ve been in ministry for as many as we have, some very sad situations where I think wives really could have been the difference-maker if they would have challenged or confronted their husbands.

C.J.: So wouldn’t you say that over the years that some wives misunderstood submission and honor (or so it appears)? I think that has played a role. And for some it could be fear of man—fear of husband.

I can tell you this: For any marriage, correction of the husband by the wife would be one category on my short list of most important. If I observed a wife who was reluctant to correct her husband I would be concerned with that marriage. Obviously, I’m not arguing for a contentious marriage, but correction, humbly communicated, must be part of every marriage.

Part of what Carolyn has modeled personally and taught well is what she taught at the last Leadership Conference—“Watch Your Man”—in broadening an understanding and application of “helper” to include appropriate correction. I would argue that correction is not just part of marriage but an aspect of what it means to be fellow heirs of the grace of life.

Carolyn’s encouragement has been of immeasurable benefit to me, but equally so or more, on balance, has been her correction. She has protected me when sin was deceiving me. What a gift this has been to me!

That can be the initial temptation, and it may seem appropriate, but it isn’t. Instead, she can play a different and much more important role, one that can make all the difference in the heart and life of her husband.

Let me explain.
Preserving and Sharing Content

When criticism arrives, the pastor is wise to share the criticism with his wife. But in doing this he must protect his wife from these predictable temptations. He does this in these ways:

First, he should examine his own heart and his motives, humble himself, and review a biblical understanding of criticism’s value in his life.

Second, and as much as possible, he should listen to the criticism and correction with an objective ear, not being preoccupied with the attitude of the one bringing it, nor becoming distracted by details in the criticism that may be inaccurate. Further, the pastor must learn to separate any concern he might have about the person bringing correction from the content of what he is saying. He can then turn to his wife, share those points of criticism, and ask: “Can you confirm this from your experience? Do you see this in my life?”

Third, when he shares the critical observation with his wife, he should avoid letting the conversation deteriorate into criticizing the critic. He must avoid the temptation to merely seek her support, her defense, and her agreement.
My Wife and My Godliness

Nobody knows us better than our wives. And if there is any level of accuracy in the criticism brought to my attention, there is nobody I trust more to help me see it than Carolyn. By protecting her from very common temptations, and by providing her with the content of the criticism, I can allow her to play an invaluable role in helping me discern the legitimacy of the correction.

Countless times Carolyn has made all the difference in how I have received correction and responded to it. Many times over the years I would have simply dismissed the correction of others if not for Carolyn’s helping me to perceive what was accurate in it.

Each husband needs the kindness of his wife in this way. But again, this isn’t my preference! Many times I have found myself sharing the criticism I have received, assuming she would join me in dismissing both the criticism and the critic…only to realize that as I am talking, her facial expression suggests there is some legitimacy to the criticism. An ominous feeling sweeps over my soul as I realize she isn’t going to confirm my disagreement and dismissal of this criticism!

But this is an act of kindness on her part. It’s obviously not kindness as I would prefer it. I would prefer to only experience Carolyn’s kindness through her supporting encouragement, her loyalty, her defense of me (and she provides me with all of these). I would prefer that she join me in disagreeing with criticism, not helping to confirm its accuracy!

But I have learned that God’s kindness comes to me in many forms, and one form is through a wife that will not become offended on her husband’s behalf, but will instead come alongside him, help him perceive where his critic is accurate, help him see where sin remains in his heart, and help him seize the redemptive purpose of the criticism.

And even though I don’t desire her help in confirming criticism, by doing this Carolyn has shown herself to be the suitable helper I so desperately need.

by Ken Pierce

“Your answer is now required Marcion, murderer of the truth…you utter scoundrel, who pronounce ‘innocent’ the assassins of God…” Tertullian @ Nicea

“O Praxeus, you heretic who has crucified the Father and driven away the Holy Spirit.” Tertullian, Against Praxeus

A friend tells me that Duke University singled out the PCA for egregious offense in the internet civility department. I wish I could argue with that, but…

I find this article on civility and passion, from the other side of the politico-religious aisle, very interesting.

Here are a few scattered thoughts…

You can read the rest of this article here.

The Session of Midway Presbyterian Church in Powder Springs, Georgia, on Jan. 2, 2011, adopted an overture proposing a simple and voluntary means to fund the General Assembly Administrative Committee. The overture will be presented to the Northwest Georgia Presbytery (NWGP) at its regular, stated meeting on January 29 to be forwarded to the 39th General Assembly, which will be meeting in Virginia Beach, Va., June 7–10, 2011.

TE David Hall, pastor of Powder Springs PCA, commented on the Session’s proposal:

We hope that our Presbytery, which has already voted against the BCO 14 amendments (the AC Funding Plan), and many others will join in offering and embracing this overture as a positive alternative. We sincerely believe that other Sessions and Presbyteries would prefer to have an option comparable to the one presented in the overture, or even with some modifications, instead of feeling coerced either to approve the AC Funding Plan or else to abandon the Administrative Committee (AC) to face catastrophe. In fact, we believe that it would be preferable to try such a modified, voluntary approach prior to amending the BCO in order to institute the mandatory system recommended in the BCO 14 amendments.

The Rules of Assembly Operations (10-10) permit a Session to forward an overture to the GA as long as it presents such first to its own Presbytery. Should our Presbytery not agree with this overture, after having been presented to the January 29 meeting, our Session intends to forward this to the 2011 GA in accord with RAO 10-10. Thus, we now announce our intention and offer to the broader church our best advice on this subject, hoping that many others will join with us to: (a) preserve a voluntary basis of giving; (b) allow fair and continued representation at the highest courts; (c) balance the AC budget; and (d) establish a reserve fund to avoid future shortfalls.

We renew our recommendation that Presbyteries vote against adopting the BCO 14 amendments and seek improved formulations. Moreover, it is hoped that any Presbyteries which have not yet voted on the proposals will at least engage in deliberative study of this overture or other prudent alternatives prior to voting on the AC Funding Plan. We invite all Sessions and Presbyteries to continue these healthy discussions until we find a stronger consensus on better ways to fund our essential ministries.

An Overture to the 39th PCA General Assembly

A Modest, Simple, and Fair AC Funding Proposal That Retains Our Voluntary Method, Balances the AC Budget, and Establishes a Reserve Fund to Avoid Future Shortfalls

Whereas, the 38th General Assembly (GA) of the PCA recommended1 an Administrative Committee (AC) funding method that may well not be ratified by the presbyteries for several reasons; and

Whereas, even if the requisite presbyteries support the suggested BCO amendments, the church might favor a method like the one below before adopting one with such sweeping changes; and

Whereas, the AC has seldom in its 38 previous years received all the funding it requested; and should that continue the AC, under the guidance of this GA, could address that shortage simply by lowering its total budget before seeking to change to an unproven funding method; and

Whereas, we all affirm our desire to fund vital ministries appropriately, while also remaining sensitive to congregational limitations and support thresholds; and

Whereas, the condition of the national economy and related cutbacks in many churches argues strongly against commencing a system of “pay-to-play” funding at this time; and

Whereas, it might be better to attempt less drastic changes, including reducing budgets as most families and churches have had to do recently, before seeking to enforce a sweeping and somewhat divisive plan which may not have widespread support from the congregations; and

Whereas, the congregations are annually the chief contributors to the AC work, and thus fairly should receive the most reasonable fees to GA — instead of a system that places more burden on faithful contributing units while favoring commissioners who do not generate annual askings; and

Whereas, there are many other ways to fund the work of the AC adequately — and the one suggested below seeks to achieve important stewardship goals as would ordinary families and churches when faced with shortfalls;

Therefore, the Session of Midway Presbyterian Church and the Northwest Georgia Presbytery overtures the 39th GA, other presbyteries, and the AC to join with us in embracing and approving the following numbered actions (notes and Rationale are illustrative or explanatory and not part of the Assembly’s approval), or to improve them, in order to achieve the critical goals of:

1. balancing a reduced AC budget as well as;
2. building an Administrative Reserve Fund (ARF) to protect the AC from downturns or shortfalls in the near future, while;
3. retaining our healthy and clearly voluntary Askings plan from faithful congregations.

Accordingly, we ask this Assembly to act as follows, without needing any BCO or RAO changes:

1. To set an Essential Budget for the AC at $1.5M for the next five years,2 and adjust such by the amounts approved for Cost-of-Living Increases (COLA) annually.3 Every five years beginning in 2016, the Assembly shall evaluate that Essential Budget to see if it should be adjusted in order to provide for desired, essential services and administration.
2. Annual Askings will continue,4 and this Assembly, thus, approves $7.00 per capita as the Askings amount for AC for the coming year.5
3. Churches that contribute Askings will receive a Reduced GA registration fee (not to exceed $100 per capita as set by the AC) based on their giving, beginning in 2012 as below.
   1. All eligible commissioners from congregations that contribute their full annual AC Askings may fully participate in that year’s GA at a registration charge not to exceed $100 per commissioner.6
   2. All delegates from congregations which contribute a percentage of AC Askings may register their eligible commissioners at a discounted amount from the Standard Registration Fee ($500) equal to the percentage of the Askings given by their congregation for that year, plus the registration charge not to exceed $100 per commissioner.7
4. All other eligible commissioners may fully participate in the annual GA by paying a Standard $500 Registration Fee, or one approved by the GA.8
5. All Permanent Committees and Agencies are requested by this General Assembly to make a one-time contribution of 0.33% of their annual budget by June 30, 2012,9 to create an Administrative Reserve Fund (ARF) for essential AC expenses.10

RATIONALE:
According to this Plan, using the 2010 AC projections (cf. pp. 349, 352), if the next budget is set for $1.5M,11 the major sources of Askings income and other revenue are estimated as below:

• $450,000 — Askings and/or GA registrations from churches with under 500k budget.12
• $620,000 — Askings and/or GA registrations from churches with over 500k budget.13
• $360,000 — Registration Fees from TEs or REs, whose churches do not give Askings.14
• $70,000 — GA Exhibitors (estimated on p. 352).
• $1,500,000 — Essential Budget

In favor of this plan are the following strong values:

1. In the present economic downturn, this does not substantially raise the participation-cost-basis for churches, who give consistently and should be encouraged by reduced GA fees.15
2. It clearly retains and strengthens the voluntary giving culture of the PCA since 1973, calling for no amendments either to the BCO nor RAO (which also spares divisive debates and many man hours on such so that we may be more about the mission of the church).
3. It is commonsensical, simple, and accomplishes what we all agree is needed, i.e., to support the AC workers, who are worthy of their hire.
4. It avoids any cumulative contribution basis; and requires no hardship cases or panels to determine relief for such.
5. It does not threaten discipline or stigma for non payment of services, which some believe are non essential.
6. It is a shared pastoral approach, with free market impulses, allowing all to participate and give.

_______________________
Footnotes

This speaker goes on to declare that those who oppose the funding plan on the grounds that it is coercive are actually the ones who are coercing others; the AC. I find that to be an interesting statement.

The proposed new AC funding plan reminds me of ObamaCare in that I am being told I must pay, or else. If I don’t spend my money or the church’s money we will now be punished.  It is interesting to me that both of these initiatives showed up the same year.

One of the individuals interviewed stated that the new funding plan is not really any different than the old model. I heard that on the floor of GA this past summer in Nashville and was astonished at such a claim. In the current model, if I go to GA I pay to go that year. If I chose not to go, then I don’t pay. In the new model, if I chose not to go for several years (for any number of reasons), and then  decide to attend and vote, then I must pay-up if I haven’t given throughout those years I stayed home. How is that the same? Really?!

I am all for supporting the AC. I have led one of my churches (I serve two) to support the AC for a couple of years now. I like what the AC does. I love my brothers who serve in various capacities in the AC. All that being true doesn’t change this fact: the proposed plan is not biblical. Therefore I oppose it. If the Cooperative Ministry Committee (CMC) or the AC will present a funding plan that is anchored and defended from the Word of God, then I will get behind it and with zeal. I must!  God alone is Lord of the conscience. If he requires it, then I must do it.

I was perplexed as I listened to the various men speak in these video interviews of how much they loved the PCA; they spoke about how much they appreciate our doctrinal distinctive, they love the confession, etc. They like it that we are a denomination that defends the Word of God as inspired, inerrant, and authoritative. In my view, it would go a long way if these men of standing in our denomination would dig into the Word they love and discover a funding plan that is rooted in the Word of God. Don’t we also believe in the sufficiency of Scripture? We say we do, therefore, we should find the solution to this funding dilemma in the Word. Either the Word is sufficient or it is not. It can’t be both ways.

I have heard is said that we should take a good look at costs and seek to trim where we can. I recall hearing at this past GA that some of this has been done, cuts had been made and that is commendable. What has not been placed on the table is the cost of attending and conducting GA. We have been told that we must go into these expensive markets in order to have the facilities to accommodate the scope of our annual gathering. We should all be aware that part of the cost of GA is paying for much of the AC staff to be present, fed and housed.  Out event is so large so large that we have dozens of denominational Staff on site to carryout a plethora of duties to make the event flow seamlessly. I commend the service of these brothers and sisters that labor quietly in the background. Nevertheless, their expenses must be paid for and we do that through registrations and funds sent to AC, thus driving up the cost and afflicting the budget of AC.

It has been suggested many times that we have GA at a college campus. Some have suggested that we even use our own Covenant College. This has been dismissed as unworkable. But is it really? Surely, we would have to change our expectations. It may mean that we can no longer stay in 4 and 5 star hotels paid for with the tithes of widows, but it can be done. It may be necessary to use shuttle buses. It may mean that we do not bring along our families for a family vacation paid for by our local congregations. But that is okay. GA is about the WORK of the church not LEISURE TIME.

Supporting the denominational ministries is something that should be encouraged in all our churches. In principle it is a good idea. However, there are numerous small churches that cannot even pay their pastors much of a salary. Meanwhile we pay denominational leaders salaries that would have made the Apostles blush. What would the Apostle Paul say about ministers of the Gospel receiving salary packages that are well into six figures? I commend the CA for putting a freeze on salaries increases and even reducing some. I ask, should more of this be done? Many churches love missions, so they scrape and sacrifice to send missionaries to the field where they sacrifice all for the sake of the Gospel. We have many small congregations that struggle to come up with creative ways to keep old buildings from leaking of even from falling down. They go into debt in the winter to pay extraordinary heating bills on old, drafting, inefficient buildings.  Are these churches to send money to help pay the salary for one coordinator that is twice their church’s annual budget? Is this rational? Is this moral? Perhaps a better theologian than I can demonstrate from the Scripture that it is “okay” to the satisfaction of the widows in my church. I shall not try. Rather, I am reminded of the words of God through the prophet Jeremiah.

Add to this the cost of sending elders to GA each year. The Idea of spending $1,000 – $1,400 to send one elder to GA is unthinkable. Even mid-sized churches find it irksome to fork over five to seven thousand dollars to send their full contingent of elders. Then, they arrive only to find an assembly that feels more like a business convention than a meeting of the highest court in the church. I have been attending GA since 2000 and can mark the decline of true presbyter-unique-work in those years. We no longer do the work of a church court. We have pushed out the debate and the perfecting of overtures. A super-committee handles that for us. We receive their recommendation and either vote it up or down. One of my fellow presbyters has measured the actual time spent at GA functioning like General Assembly of a Presbyterian denomination and found the average per year is only a few brief hours out of four days. Why would elders want to come? Where is the work of the elder that they are called to do? Why should they expect their congregations to pick up the tab for attending GA? Why should a ruling elder take vacation time and time away from his family for that?

If it is the desire of some to avoid debating, modifying, and improving overtures on the floor of the assembly, then let us go to a delegated assembly. Send those who will debate, who are not troubled by Robert’s Rules, and let the others stay home. Separate the work of GA from an annual church convention with its exhibitors, speakers, seminars, guided tours of the neighborhood, service projects for the young people, etc. Determine what those functions costs and let those who want to attend such an event pay for all of it – at another time, in another place.  If we have an assembly that focuses only on that which is necessary for the life of the church, then the cost will be significantly reduced. The size will shrink. The venues that would be open for hosting GA would be more numerous and competitive.  Elders could come, work, and go home with a sense that they accomplished something for which they are not ashamed. There will still be responsibilities in the AC, but the staffing levels would be reduced if we pursue such a paradigm shift. Denominational staff would still need to be housed, fed, and transported, however the cost would be much more manageable. If anyone is interested to further consider the matter of a delegated assembly, there is a host of information located here: http://www.pcahistory.org/bco/articles/delegated.html

Another paradigm shift that we could embrace would be to add another layer courts, i.e. synods. Four to six presbyteries would be grouped into regional synods that would meet once a year. They would handle judicial matters from the lower courts. Only extraordinary cases would ever be sent up to the SJC. Missions work would be handled at the synod level. The majority of administrative work would be handled by the synod’s stated clerk and a staff member.  CC, CTS, RBI PCAF, etc.  would be over seen by a board of elders representing each synod; one RE and one TE appointed by the synod for a term. Theological examination would be done by the synod for those who they appoint. The Comm. on Constitutional Business would be also be filled through appointments by the synods. GA would only meet every three to five years. Such a GA would be a delegated assembly with four elders from every synod, 2 REs plus 2 TEs. The location of GA would alternate between CTS and CC. The synod in whose bounds CC and CTS lie would be responsible for planning and hosting the GA along with one TE and one RE from each synod.

This model is much more in keeping with biblical polity and historical Presbyterianism. At this point I would even raise the question as to whether we even need to have a GA that is exclusively PCA. If we were to really embrace a biblical polity (Acts 15), then we would join with the NAPARC churches for a GA that would occur every five years.

Now back to the main issue; I have argued against the new funding plan as not being biblical. Let me demonstrate: If this model is biblically sound and honors the King, then let us employ it at the presbytery level.  Every presbytery that I have been in (four now) has a number of churches that are never represented at meetings. They never give to presbytery, and often do not submit their minutes. Should we say they cannot play? If they call up and ask to have a man examined and approved to fill their pulpit, should we tell them “No, you must pay-to-play. If you want the services of the presbytery then you must support the presbytery. Sorry, catch up on your giving that is in arrears, then we can help you out.”

Take it a step further; if the AC funding plan is a good model, should we also apply it in the local church? Here is what it might look like: As a pastor, I am asked to perform a wedding or funeral, come and meet with a wayward teen, visit someone in the hospital, help a couple that is thinking about divorce… Should I say, “So very sorry. I can’t help you. You haven’t given the minimum tithe for this year so you get no services until you pay-up.”  Should I tell them that, “You have been stealing services by coming to worship and never paying”? Should I say, “You are coercing me to fail to do my duty since you have not paid your tithes in over six months”?

“Blessed are the merciful.” The message of Christ is a message of mercy and grace, not penalty and punishment. Freely God has given to us, therefore we freely give. “Blessed are the meek.” People are at various levels of maturity and means. This is also true for churches. We show them mercy. We teach them.  As God blesses his Word to be effectual, people come along and give until they must be restrained  because they brought too much (Exodus 36:6-7).

God has a funding plan for the work of his church. It is not new but it is biblical.

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering” (Exodus 25:1-2). And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, “This is the thing which the LORD commanded, saying: `Take from among you an offering to the LORD. Whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as an offering to the LORD…” (Exodus 35:4-5).

Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. They came, both men and women, as many as had a willing heart, and brought earrings and nose rings, rings and necklaces, all jewelry of gold, that is, every man who made an offering of gold to the LORD. And every man, with whom was found blue, purple, and scarlet thread, fine linen, and goats’ hair, red skins of rams, and badger skins, brought them. Everyone who offered an offering of silver or bronze brought the LORD’S offering. And everyone with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it. All the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands, and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. And all the women whose heart stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats’ hair. The rulers brought onyx stones, and the stones to be set in the ephod and in the breastplate, and spices and oil for the light, for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. The children of Israel brought a freewill offering to the LORD, all the men and women whose hearts were willing to bring material for all kinds of work which the LORD, by the hand of Moses, had commanded to be done. (Exodus 35:21-29 – emphasis added)

I’ll grant that some of what I have written is a bit of a tangent from the AC funding plan, but one must acknowledge that there are other alternatives than raising more money. If the Lord is not providing the money to do it the way that we’ve always done it, then He may be leading us to reconsider how we are doing it.  In my house when there is not enough money to do something, then we must rethink what we are doing. Perhaps the AC should present to the next GA a list of services that it recommends be dropped from the burden that is placed on the AC in order to further reduce its expenses.

I am writing boldly and with candor because I believe that the PCA is already a “safe place.” I hope that others will write up their thoughts for consideration and publish them on the internet. Together we might even hammer out a solution to our quandary.

I am thankful that many men have been invited by the AC to share their thoughts on the AC website. (If you missed these you will find them here)  Since the PCA is a “safe place” maybe the AC will “provide more seats at the table” and post interviews with men who do not support the proposed new funding plan that the presbyteries are currently voting on.  After all, we are not a partisan denomination. Right?

It has been a long time since I sent out an up-date. Thank you again for remembering us and the work of the Lord in Haysi, VA.

Praise:
1. For the preaching of the Word of God. Pastor Daniel has been continuing his series on Marriage & The Family. The preaching thus far has focused on what God says about the relationship and responsibilities of husband & wives.
2. Donna has enjoyed nearly a full year without a flair-up from UC.
3. Dorothy’s orthodontic treatment is nearly completed. She has had her braces off for months and is very faithful to wear her retainer.
4. Dickenson First completed the process of officer examinations and elections. We ordained and installed a ruling elder this past January.

Prayer Request:
1. For further reconciliation of members in the four PCA churches in north Dickenson County. There has been little progress made regarding joining the four PCA congregations. There is resistance since each church has adopted and long held forms of worship. Two of the churches follow the Regulative Principle of Worship.
2. Pray for Ruling Elder Kerry Belcher. He has many demand placed on him in addition to his work in the church.
3. Pray that the preached Word would be heard and obeyed. We have a number of couples that often struggle to maintain biblical conduct in the relations.
4. Pray for a situation in the smaller congregation. One of the elders wants to fire Daniel. We are requesting Presbytery to become involved.
5. Pray for Daniel as he continues counseling two couples where one spouse is a Christian and the other is not.
6. Pray for a young couple that has placed themselves in dire financial straits. Daniel has been counseling them for several months now and progress is being made.
7. Pray for a young lady who lives with this same couple (a niece). She is a new believer and Daniel is discipling her.

Horn Blower

http://www.markinc.org/client/index.cfm/2009/4/15/Are-You-Beautiful

1. Dorothy has her braces of and her teeth look great.

2. Worship attendance is slightly improved over last year.

3. We continue to have regular visitors.

4. The preaching of the Word from the book of Luke is going well. People are grateful for the instruction and challenge from God’s Word.

5. Ruling Elder Kerry Belcher is taking his new responsibilities seriously and is doing the work of an elder.

6. God is providing financially for the church and for the families. The men are employed.

Prayer Request:

1. Continue to pray for reconciliation of members in the four PCA churches in north Dickenson County.

2. Pray that the elders from the four PCA congregations would work together more and more.

3. Pray for good communication and cooperation as the four PCA churches prepare to host our presbytery in July.

4. Continue to pray for ruling elder Kerry Belcher would be effective in leadership and pastoral care of the people of God.

5. Pray for Kerry and Daniel as they work together pursuing families and individuals who have drifted out of the church.

6. Pray that the current sermon series in the Gospel According to Luke would bear fruit in all of our lives.

7. We will do a Fireproof event at the end of April. We desire to connect with many couples in the community who are unchurched.

We read about this ancient ruler of long ago and disassociate ourselves from him. We quickly count him the foolish man. We think him so unlike us. Who would be so foolish as to harden their heart against the living God of creation? And yet, we are like him! The sinner hardens his heart to God and his Word daily. When we choose to sin, every time we choose to sin, we act as if God is not there…as if he does not see…as thought he has not spoken in the law. Too often we live as practical atheists.

God systematically broke down every idol that Pharaoh clung to. He purposefully sent each plague to strike one of the Egyptian gods a fatal blow. Each blow exposed the impotency of the gods of men. Do we see it when God strikes at the idols of our own making? Or do we pretend as if nothing has happened? Or worse, we see and refuse to repent and keep clinging to what God would have us cast aside? Sometimes the mercy of God is a severe mercy. Sometimes it is necessary because we harden our hearts. I remember reading that Stonewall Jackson wrote his dear wife after her sister and brother-in-law lost a young child to death. Jackson commented that he feared that God had taken the little one away because they had loved the child too much. It was an inordinate affection.

It is quite apparent that God is still in the business of striking down the false gods of nations. These times of economic collapse clearly expose where Americans put their hope; in the wealth, their ability to make wealth, in the government, in men – especially powerful men. And yet, men are being exposed as flawed, deceitful, plotting, and scheming. The ability of this country to keep picking up Dagon and setting him on his pedestal is over. There he lies on the threshold with his head and both the palms of his hands broken off.  And yet, the power brokers in “Ashdod” refuse to acknowledge what any sensible person can see. How long before the tumors errupt? These political wolves want to “put people to work and put more moneyin their pockets.” They are lying by refusing to tell those same people that they will first steal the money from their other pocket, the pockets of their children, and their children’s children – perhaps even to the 4th and 5th generation. 

God will have his glory and position acknowledged. It cost Egypt all before they let God’s people go and serve him. It cost the first born across the land. Would that the church quickly see these things and forsake the delis and fleshpots of human understanding. If the church does not place their hope, faith and confidence in the Passover Lamb, then it will be swept away in the flood of God’s wrath. Would that we learn the lesson from the Exodus and once again come under the Banner of the Blood that takes away sin.