While I don’t think the latest finacial/economic crisis is a sign of the end of the end, I am somewhat stunned at how fast things happened.  It took about 8 trading days in the 29 panic to feel like the world was coming to an end.  That was fast for sure.  But the difference today as I look at it is the global feel of things.  Markets are so tied together and goverements are so intertwined when it comes to economic decisions.

There are countries that have little to do with the crisis, but not many.  For most of the world, the breathing world anyhow, this crisis was rapid and universal.

As I read scripture, I see a clear crisis coming which will be both universal and rapid.  Remember, crisis is a time of judgment.  A time of decision.  When will it come?  I don’t know.  But I will not be surprised at how fast it can happen.  Neither should you.

Some Gospel music this weekend for church, see you there.

Check out their style here at their site by checking their myspace page.

This is our basic position on Sinless Perfection before the Lord’s return.  Excellent video message from a pastor on the Waitara church staff in NZ.

I’ve been digging for Gold in the Book of 1 Timothy.  Paul calls Timothy into the ministry and to care for the churches in the area that Paul has helped to start.  It is a great responsibility for Timothy.  It is for us today as well.  In verse 5, Paul tells Timothy that the end of his calling and ministry is Agape love.  This is the reason he is a minister, that things, people, organizations, the church will come to Love.  This is the goal.  This is the target.  Following Christ takes us there.  Getting this goal in our sights is not easy, keeping it there is even tougher.  But it is the only goal that makes any sense in this world that lacks so much of this kind of selfless love.

As I look around my world from day to day, I have no doubt that Christ called us to be great lovers, in the most spiritual sense of the word.  Someone is depending on it.

It melts that fast here.  Get a day around 40 and you can track the progress of months old snow and its demise.  I don’t know that it will ever be an Olympic sport, or have a museum built for it, but watching the piles of snow retreat is especially comforting this year.  They got so tall.  It is like rooting for Spring to just pile on in and take over.  The weather effects us more than we realize.  We sure talk about it enough, don’t we?

I enjoy watching the seasons of a church family too.  I feel as if things are starting to spring up and percolate recently.  The openness at church is growing, the care for one another, the willingness to hear the pain of one another’s lives.  The ladies that have gathered on Sabbath afternoon to make blankets and other items for those who need them.  It is like Spring after the snow melt.  Take part, cheer it on.

I intend to make this year a year of giving.  This is my idea for a resolution.  I want to give time, peace, friendship, hope, fresh ideas, courage, vision and persistence to our lives and our community.  I especially feel like we need to give to our community.  In fact, I feel like that is the simple theme of this new year.  GIVE.  Join me this year in GIVE.

Jan 27 looks like a good date for our next leadership team.  Plan to be there at 4pm.  We’ll look at Spiritual Gifts as promised, our Green Cafe ideas for 2008, and a handful of church items that need attention.  See you there.

Click on Next steps and go to Life Development for a refreshing look at Discipleship.  The site is about finding out where a person is on their journey wtih Christ and then helping them from there.

On the bottom left is the visual link to the North American Division Video site.  Various television style programs are available there and the number and variety should be growing.

Don’t forget to check out the Bible studies that pastor Jack Sequeira wrote over his long ministry career.

We’ve been tinkering around in our website.  Take a look at the front page, it looks sharper.  The feeds on the right side offer plenty of good content for you to use.  And down on the left you will find the addition of Adventist Channel.  This new website is offering videos from well known Adventist sources.  Take a walk in their studio, I think you’ll like it.  They’ll be adding to it so check it often.