PASTORS’ PEN 1 Corinthians 7:29 “What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short.” Just yesterday, I held my firstborn son in my arms for the first time…or as I think about it…it seems just like yes- terday! It seemed only a few days after his birth, a second, and then a third, brother would join him in filling our home with laughter, love, and lessons to be learned (both by the boys and also for Brenda and myself to learn). And in what seems like mere minutes…they are grown men living out what Brenda and I together planted into their rich soils of life. “What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short!” I believe that one of the most challenging and noblest of endeavors of this gen- eration is the need to rediscover and then be blessed by the commitment of men to live out the responsibilities of “Godly Fathers”…“Godly Fatherhood.” The newest of the generations are crying out from their cribs, their playgrounds, their school homework, their leisure time, their sporting and academic efforts, and most of all in their knowledge of God and His Son, Jesus Christ…they are cry- ing out for their Fathers to be present with them and to lead them…they are cry- ing out to be fed the spiritual nourishment that will strengthen them and sustain them in all of life’s pursuits. They are crying out for the men, their fathers, to be “Men of Integrity and Spiritual Fervor”—fathers who know God’s Word and most of all, know the Living God proclaimed in the scriptures…personally deep in their souls, and then live their faith openly and purely every day before their children. Here’s the need (whether we are talking Fathers or Grandfathers…for fathering never stops!)…THE TIME IS SHORT! Fathers, seize the moment…today…to be a Godly Father. Stop wait- ing until you or your children are older, because by then the time and opportunities will have passed and it will be too late—they will be grown and gone. Fathers: -When was the last time you told your children you loved them? And showed them? -When was the last time you prayed with your children? Read God’s Scriptures together? -When was the last time you sat in worship together? Had a conversation about spiritual matters? In America today, fathers have way too many times been absent from home…and absent from the eternal and spiritual lives of their children. Many times those reasons that have pulled us away from our children at the moment may have seemed important and necessary (and our rationalization justified our absence), but in hind sight, we missed the mark and our children lost out on “Us.” On this “Father’s Day,” I, Ed Fritz, make a renewed commitment to first be the child of God I ought to be, with all of my fervor and in all the decisions of time placed upon my life. And secondly, I commit to do a better job at committing myself to feed the most important sheep God has place in my pasture…My Children. If you are a man with children (regardless of their age) and of Christian integrity, will you get down and prayerfully with me make this same commitment? If you are willing…let me know of your decision and together we will hold each other up in prayer…God bless you “Men of Faith.” -Pastor Ed June 2012 The Gathering
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
PASTORS’ PEN
1 Corinthians 7:29 “What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short.”
Just yesterday, I held my firstborn son in my arms for the first time…or as I think about it…it seems just like yes-
terday! It seemed only a few days after his birth, a second, and then a third, brother would join him in filling our
home with laughter, love, and lessons to be learned (both by the boys and also for Brenda and myself to learn).
And in what seems like mere minutes…they are grown men living out what Brenda and I together planted into
their rich soils of life. “What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short!”
I believe that one of the most challenging and noblest of endeavors of this gen-
eration is the need to rediscover and then be blessed by the commitment of men
to live out the responsibilities of “Godly Fathers”…“Godly Fatherhood.” The
newest of the generations are crying out from their cribs, their playgrounds, their
school homework, their leisure time, their sporting and academic efforts, and
most of all in their knowledge of God and His Son, Jesus Christ…they are cry-
ing out for their Fathers to be present with them and to lead them…they are cry-
ing out to be fed the spiritual nourishment that will strengthen them and sustain
them in all of life’s pursuits. They are crying out for the men, their fathers, to be
“Men of Integrity and Spiritual Fervor”—fathers who know God’s Word and
most of all, know the Living God proclaimed in the scriptures…personally deep
in their souls, and then live their faith openly and purely every day before their
children.
Here’s the need (whether we are talking Fathers or Grandfathers…for fathering
never stops!)…THE TIME IS SHORT! Fathers, seize the moment…today…to be a Godly Father. Stop wait-
ing until you or your children are older, because by then the time and opportunities will have passed and it will be
too late—they will be grown and gone.
Fathers:
-When was the last time you told your children you loved them? And showed them?
-When was the last time you prayed with your children? Read God’s Scriptures together?
-When was the last time you sat in worship together? Had a conversation about spiritual matters?
In America today, fathers have way too many times been absent from home…and absent from the eternal and
spiritual lives of their children. Many times those reasons that have pulled us away from our children at the
moment may have seemed important and necessary (and our rationalization justified our absence), but in hind
sight, we missed the mark and our children lost out on “Us.”
On this “Father’s Day,” I, Ed Fritz, make a renewed commitment to first be the child of God I ought to be, with
all of my fervor and in all the decisions of time placed upon my life. And secondly, I commit to do a better job at
committing myself to feed the most important sheep God has place in my pasture…My Children. If you are a
man with children (regardless of their age) and of Christian integrity, will you get down and prayerfully with me
make this same commitment? If you are willing…let me know of your decision and together we will hold each
other up in prayer…God bless you “Men of Faith.” -Pastor Ed
June 2012
The Gathering
COMING EVENTS
PIZZA WITH THE
PASTORS We will be having a “Pizza with
the Pastors” lunch on Sunday, June
24, at 12:00 noon at the Life Cen-
ter, after the morning worship ser-
vice. This free meal is for those
who are new to our church and is a
way for them to meet the pastors
and staff and get acquainted with
other new families of the church.
PRIMETIMERS On Tuesday, June 26, the Prime-
timers will visit the 911 Center
and Pedal Power Museum.
In the morning we will go to the
Elkhart County 911 Center to
learn about their operations for
emergency calls for help.
Lunch will be at Dandino’s Res-
taurant in Goshen, ordering from
the menu. Lunch specials start
around $6.00.
After lunch we will go to the
Pedal Power Museum north of
Goshen to see the restored little
antique pedal cars.
The bus will pick up at Green-
croft at 9:30 a.m., and we will
leave the church at 10:00 a.m.
We will return about 4:00 p.m.
If you have questions, please call
Bob Morris at 534-2791.
MINISTRY MENU
FOR VOLUNTEERS You will find a copy of the new
Ministry Menu enclosed in this
issue of the Gathering for the ser-
vice year of September 2012-
August 2013. We hope that you
will take time to prayerfully look
over the many opportunities
available for you to serve in the
ministry of Christ through our
local church. The booklet gives
an explanation of each of the
ministries and the single sheet
form is to fill out and return.
Once you have reviewed the op-
tions, choose the areas where you
would like to serve by circling
the number on the response form.
Then drop it in the offering plate
or return it to the church office.
If you receive your Gathering via
e-mail, you may open the form
attached and print one off to fill
out. Menu forms will also be
available at worship services
during the month of June.
It is our belief that Christ our
Lord calls all who follow Him to
be involved in the ministry of the
church using their spiritual gifts
for the furtherance of the king-
dom and the glory of God. God
bless you as you volunteer and
serve!
BASH OR CHIL-
DREN’S HOME On Monday, June 11, you are in-
vited to the Bashor Children’s
Home annual meeting at 10:00 a.m.
with installation of new officers.
After the meeting, you are invited
to the Bashor Picnic. Bring des-
serts for the youth and staff.
Our church’s pink mission offering
envelopes for the month of June go
toward Bashor Home.
FREE MOVIE We will show a free movie enti-
tled, “Tangled,” on Sunday, June
10, at 4:00 p.m. at the Life Cen-
ter. Everyone is welcome!
WELCOME, KIM SHEETS! Kim Sheets will be assisting Aimee Brinson in the children’s ministry department at both church campuses. She writes the following:
“Hello, my name is Kim Sheets. I have been married to my husband, Jeromy, for 10 years and have two sons, Kaden-9 and Braxten-6. I am employed part-time by Thomas Rykovitch in the orthodontic field. I also am involved in the West Goshen PTO and being a Little League Team Mom. My hobbies include spending time with my two boys, interior decorating, and entertaining friends and family in our home. We have attended the Life Center for eight years. My family and I look forward to serving at both campuses and getting to know many of you.”
CALLING ALL ARTISTS! We are wanting to share different types of art in an upcoming sermon se-
ries entitled, “The Art of Living for Christ.” If you have pieces of folk art,
visual arts, crafts, pottery, painting, photography, etc., that you would let
us display, we need to hear from you. These will be used at both cam-
puses. If you have something to share, please contact Steve Campagna by