VALLEY VINE valley presbyterian church
March 2015
Volume 60, Number 2
When the studious Roosevelt died in 1919 at home in New York, and they removed his body from the bed, a book was found under the pillow. What I admire most about T.R. was his capacity to grow and learn.
Dear friends, A kindergartner on the very first day of school was returning home on the bus. His mother was there to greet him with a warm smile and a question, “What did you learn today?” “Not enough,” he said with a frown. “They want me to go back tomorrow!” In the Christian faith, we never know enough, praise be to God! For to live is to learn, and the definition of a disciple is a learner. Teddy Roosevelt has many admirers. He was a cowboy, an explorer, a big game hunter and a cavalry officer in the Spanish-American war. He was a vice-presidential running mate with William McKinley and travelled 20,000 miles by car and train in 1900, giving 673 speeches. T.R. became the unexpected President of the United States when McKinley was shot. Teddy had hobbies like boxing, judo, horseback riding and hiking. If toughness is admirable, consider that he was shot by an assassin in Milwaukee, and the bullet broke his ribs and lodged in his chest. But he insisted on giving his scheduled one-hour speech before going to the hospital! Under his Presidency, our nation emerged as a major power. T.R. created a first-class Navy, built the Panama Canal and negotiated peace between Russia and Japan, winning the Nobel Peace Prize. After his Presidency, he didn’t do a book tour or build a library—instead leading scientific expeditions to Africa and then Brazil, where he helped chart the River of Doubt. He called this trip his last chance to learn and be a boy.
As followers of Christ, we have the world’s best teacher and no limit to what we can learn about our amazing God. During this Lenten time, examine your own life. Where is your growing edge? What aspect of your spiritual life needs to deepen? What questions do you yearn to have answered? God can do marvelous things with a growing community of learners. One of the best ways to learn at VPC is from others, through friendship or in a small group. Classes and seminars bring life to scripture and scripture to life. Retreats and mission trips change our contexts and open up new vistas. Worship helps our hearts and minds connect. May Lent 2015 be a growing time for all of us. Yours faithfully,
Get to know Pastor Joynt!
‘You@VPC’
Conversations with David Joynt sign up: myvalleychurch.org Inquirers’ Class
Sunday, March 1, 12:30-3:30 p.m., Fireside Room Jane Russell: jalaru4@cox.net, 480-694-1186 Open to anyone who wants to join Valley Presbyterian Curch or has questions about faith.
VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
6947 E. McDonald Drive ▪ Paradise Valley, AZ 85253-5342 Phone: 480-991-6424 ▪ Fax: 480-991-6427 Email: church@myvalleychurch.org ▪ Website: myvalleychurch.org
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