The Shepherd’s Watch
April 2015 INSIDE
GROWING HEALTHY | GROWING STRONG
True Student Ministries.....4
by Rev. Jim Capps
Children & Family
I recently participated in the third birthday party of my granddaughter, Dulaney. It was a wonderfully child-friendly affair that really appealed to kids her age. I hadn’t seen Dulaney in several weeks, so I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She had grown so much. That very natural growth has taken place because her parents made sure that she eats healthy food, drinks enough liquids, gets the proper amount of sleep and lots of exercise.
Ministries...........................6 Adult Ministry....................8 Connect, Concerns & Calendar........................10 Subscribe to this newsletter online at tinyurl.com/shpc-nl
Staff Guide Jim Capps..........Sr. Pastor (Interim) Mike Killeen.......Assoc Pastor Britta Dukes.......Assoc Pastor Ted Thulin...........Assoc Pastor Sherry Smith......Adult Ministry Chris Gordon......... Children’s Ministry Beth Mueller.......Music Ministry Josh Coulter.......Music Ministry Pattie Lawrence.......Preschool Director Cathy Williams........Office Mgr
I have heard about these basic ingredients crucial for healthy growth as long as I can remember. I have heard, as well as noticed, that Austinites are as physically fit as anyone in the country.
In just as natural a manner, there are basic Business Director ingredients for us if we are to grow in our lives as followers of Jesus Christ. For most of us who have named Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, these ingredients are not new One church, two locations to us. Yet, like physical fitness, it’s not enough to William Cannon Campus: know about the basics 5226 W. William Cannon Dr. of spiritual health and Brodie Campus: growth. It’s crucial that 12420 Hewitt Lane
Mary Aversa...Communication/
Issue 4
these basics are a part of our daily living. These basic ingredients of Christian living can be visualized in what I call a Triangle of Commitment. On one leg of the triangle is worshipping God with the community of faith. We have an opportunity to lay our lives before God as we worship together. We worship our Awesome God as we sing, pray, read, and fellowship together. The giving of our tithes and offerings to God is a crucial part laying our lives before the Giver of all Good Gifts who has bountifully blessed us. When you and are not in worship, not only are we as individuals missing something very important, but we are also cheating the rest of the family of faith who is built up and encouraged through each one of us. Please note, I am not talking about the “Numbers Racket” when our primary concern is for filling the plate and filling the pew. I’m talking about healthy growth. The second leg of the triangle is Bible study. In the Bible we see how God
Shepherd of the Hills Presby Presbyterian Church
has worked in the lives of all kinds of people in the past. Like eating nutritious food and drinking plenty of liquids, there is no substitute for allowing the Bible to become a part of our daily living. The Bible is the Creator’s Handbook for living our lives. The third leg of the triangle is service to others. It’s like exercise. If all I do is take in worship and Bible study and am not involved in compassionate service to others I become spiritually flabby. I’m like a sponge which is always taking in put never being squeezed. I become stagnant. Loving, meaningful service to others should be the outcome or application of worship and study. In the center of this triangle of commitment, influencing all three legs, is prayer. Prayer is sharing our lives, all that we are and do with our Wondrous Creator God. Regular, daily prayer helps us continually adjust our lives to God’s will and purpose for us. In a City which is known for begin physically fit, how spiritually fit are you? 1