The MARCH 2013
Celebrate and Anticipate Donnie Scearce, Lead Pastor
...train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God.... (1 Timothy 4:7-10 NLT) Canada rightly celebrated when the women’s rowing team won silver in the London 2012 Olympics. But few knew that they were a “disparate group” just two years prior. They formed as a unit in 2010 and did so with one purpose in mind: the gold. Every Olympic athlete trains hard and with purpose. And that is good. It’s the only way they stand a chance of competing at that level, especially to medal. Paul’s writing to Timothy (and us) gave the instruction to “train for godliness.” All of us recognize that Paul was right. It requires hard work to be a godly person but with the help of the “living God” there is hope. And that training means that we are pulling for one another to accomplish the mission God has given us. A few years ago, our North Park leaders met over a two year period to try and succinctly restate that mission:
To inspire, support and mobilize one another to live like Jesus as a transforming and life-giving presence in our families, communities and the world. What powerful and encouraging words! And the values that would drive us were equally as powerful, all coming right out of the pages of Scripture: transformed lives, gratitude and generosity, practical and relevant faith, grace, missional, and community. Every year our church leaders and members gather to review the previous year and to look forward. Our annual report is good for detail but our annual meeting is a special time to share together in live worship, prayer, and to hear from our leaders. Like the rowing team striving for gold and sometimes hitting silver, it is important for us to be able to say what Janine Hansen said from the Olympic team after the race: “We trusted each other and believed in what we were doing. At the end of the year we didn’t want to have any regrets and today we had no regrets.” I look forward to our annual meeting. While there is necessary and important business to accomplish, our prayer and desire for this brief time is to help us celebrate together as we reflect on God’s faithfulness and anticipate together as we look forward to God’s blessing on the year ahead. We invite you to join us March 3rd at 6:30pm. We will have refreshments following this time in the gym allowing for even more time to enjoy ourselves!