GREENWOOD CEMETERY UPDATE

Mike and Lynda Leamy are members of our congregation. This is a link to a post regarding efforts to repair the damage caused to their cemetery by the December 2007 storm.

http://cemeteryseeker.com/?page_id=251

THE PENDING STORM

Jack Capell, the forecaster who predicted the Columbus Day Storm, died on June 14th at the age of 86. At 5:08 PM on Columbus Day, 1962, Jack made the weather forecast of his life from the US Weather Bureau office in Portland. In that day weather was harder to predict. Forecasters relied on reports from far away weather stations. Ships far off shore had reported record low barometric pressures and strong winds. So, amidst clearing skies and light winds, Jack reported, "The worst storm I have ever seen is approaching Portland and the Willamette Valley right now...This is going to be a storm that causes a lot of damage." The storm arrived just as he predicted.

God has warned us of a coming storm: 1 Peter 4:7, "The end of all things is at hand." The believer in Christ has received reliable reports from far off places of God’s pending judgment. Like Harry Truman, who dismissed the warning of the pending eruption of Mount St. Helens, most look to the skies and dismiss God’s warning: 2 Peter 3:3-4, "Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation." But the storm will come.

Like Christian in John Bunyan’s allegory we are burdened with a message. The City of Destruction is doomed. God’s Word warns us all, "Flee from the wrath to come!" (Matthew 3:7). And to where shall we go? What storm shelter is there that can possibly protect us? Where is the place where God’s wrath can be averted? Is it not the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ! At the cross our Lord Jesus Christ experienced God’s wrath to the uttermost. He died there as a propitiation for our sins. God’s wrath was satisfied there, and only there. In fighting forest fires sometimes forests are deliberately burned to prevent a raging fire from spreading. The fire cannot burn what has already been burned. The believer in Christ stands safely on such soil.

Weather forecasting is risky business. It takes a degree of faith to forecast a pending storm amidst sunny skies. It takes a degree of faith to warn the lost of God’s pending judgment. But warn them we must...As ambassadors for Christ "we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Corinthians 5:20).

Pastor Jerry

THE OLD SIGN

The sign said "Lewis and Clark Bible Church" but it wasn't much to look at. It was old and weatherworn and the letters had faded. The weight of the sign had caused it to tilt away from the hole in the post by which it was supported. Tom Cameron graciously provided the funds to have a new sign made. The signmaker took the old sign and overlaid it with cedar in which were inscribed again those words "Lewis and Clark Bible Church." Another sign "Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus" was made and hung from the church sign itself. Tom even helped to trim back the branches from a big spruce so that the sign could be seen from the road. But again, over time, the sign drooped, the letters faded, and the message on the sign was obscured by the condition of the sign itself.

And so it is with the gospel message. God has ordained that this treasure--the glorious gospel--should be encased in mere earthen vessels. The forces of hell work against it. The message itself is precious and glorious and beautiful, but the earthly bodies which bear it are sometimes weatherworn. The letters are oftentimes hard to read. And the message is obscured by the condition of the human "signs" that bear it.

Some years ago we put up a new sign. The sign displays the name of the church, the service times, and some other important information. The old sign that was at the end of the road was salvaged and put in a flower bed by the church mail box. Most people didn't even know that it was there. It wasn't much too look at anyway. The inner core of the sign had rotted. The cedar which overlaid it was rough with wear. The letters were hard to read.

I asked the men if someone wanted to take the old sign home and try to repair it. Rich Parker volunteered. He removed the inner portion which was rotten. He sanded and repaired the cedar. He caulked the joints and rebuilt the frame. He painted the sign to match the colors of the building. So when we finished the landscaping work in the front of the church, he brought it back so that we could find a place for it. Oh my, what a transformation! It is shiny and new. The letters are readily visible. Its message is clear and unobscured.

Isn't it amazing what God can do! He takes us--weatherworn and ugly in sin--and transforms us by His grace to make out of us something beautiful. Ephesians 2:10 says that "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus." God does all things well and inasmuch as Jesus Himself if beautiful, we are beautiful in Him. The Spirit who indwells us bears in us a beautiful crop of Christlike virtues: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." These supernatural jewels are exclusive to those who are in Christ Jesus. They speak to the glory of God's grace and the saving power of His glorious gospel.

Rich brought the sign back to the church after the church workday. Bob West had stuck around because he wanted to help with the placement of the sign. We had talked earlier of locating it in the front of a particular flowerbed where it would be seen by some in the front parking lot. Bob didn't think that that was the right place for it. He suggested that it needed to be right in the front for all to see. So we moved it around from place to place, resting it on a 5 gallon bucket, to find the best location. In the end we placed it exactly where he thought it should be. Right in front of the front entrance for all to see. It looks beautiful there.

Isn't it amazing how God is able to put us right where we need to be. As lights in the world we all have our corner of the darkness that needs to illuminated. I remember hearing a story about a Bible College student at Multnomah School of the Bible. He worked for UPS and was tired of working amidst the group of unbelievers. They cussed and swore and did other unChristianlike things. He asked John Mitchell to pray for him that he would be able to find another job. John Mitchell refused and said, "I'm going to pray that God will keep you there, that is exactly where you need to be." God has a way of putting us in the place where we are most needed.

We placed the sign on a Saturday, and on Sunday it was exciting to see the response of people as they saw the new sign. Most didn't know much of its history, but Tom Cameron knew. Tom is now in his eighties. He has faithfully served the Lord for decades. He has a way about him that is such an encouragement. His daughter brings him to church, since he not able to drive anymore (though he does drive his scooter from the assisted living center up and down the hills of Astoria). I told them about the sign so Joanne drove across the parking lot so that Tom could see it. I think I saw a tear in Tom's eye as he looked at the old sign.

Its just a little old sign, but it bears a great truth. Our church building was built in the early 1970s, but it was never finished. The project was weatherworn by church divisions and strife. Great plans and dreams were disrupted as the devil had his way with a divided church. In the 1980s Lewis and Clark Bible Church had four pastors in ten years. Still the building was not completed. The church developed a reputation. "That church 'eats' Pastors" I was warned. But God had a plan.

Man was never able to finish the building project, so God did. He used a big storm to tear a hole in the roof. Water came rushing down and damaged the rooms below. The building itself shifted. The steeple was left leaning to the north. Amidst the ruins of the storm God worked to rebuild our building. It is now not just new, but better than new. It is fair to say that it is finally finished. And if you were to ask--who rebuilt it--the honest answer is that God did. But He didn't just rebuild our building, he left us with enough finances to do the landscaping and pave the east parking lot. The front of the church looks beautiful and inviting. And stuck right in the front is that old sign. Doesn't it look great! Praise the Lord!

Pastor Jerry

MORE EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY BEYOND

The improvements to our church building arising out of the December 2007 storm are still ongoing. I never thought I'd see the day when our parking lots would be paved, but the pavers just finished with the East parking lot yesterday. I never thought I'd see the day when we had anything better than metal folding chairs in the Fellowship Hall, but we picked up some used ones from the Seaside Convention Center last week. I never thought I'd see the day when the front landscaping would be anything more than a big yard and a little sidewalk entrance to the church. But it has been redone and is very nice and makes the front entrance much more accessible. Harvey Packard just finished with a major remodel of the library--it looks great. For the first time since the building was built in the 70s we can almost say that it is finished.

Praise God! This has all been exceeding abundantly beyond anything that anyone would have thought. Its safe to say that the December 2007 storm was the best thing that ever happened to our church building. Church Mutual was great in caring for us. Helligso Construction did a great job on the remodel. The people of the church have worked really hard on these recent yard projects. Numerous workers have put in countless hours for which we are most thankful. But, above all else, thank you Lord Jesus for your provision!

Pastor Jerry

"GOD SENT" MISSIONARIES

There is no denying the fact that we live in a needy day. Just read the news. But the need is not just for a better economy, it is for a better spiritual economy. This depressed spiritual economy has left our world spiritually bankrupt. Jesus ministered in such a day. He looked out at the multitudes and saw that they were "distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:37). And so it goes--things haven't changed much.

The people need a shepherd. They need a shepherd who can provide for them, who can lead them, who can offer them genuine hope--that shepherd is Jesus Christ. He is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep, that they might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10-11). He is the Great Shepherd who sits at the right hand of God and intercedes on our behalf (Hebrews 13:20; 10:19-22). He is the Chief Shepherd who guides and directs the undershepherds (1 Peter 5:1-4).

Seeing the multitudes, Jesus said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into the harvest" (Matt. 9:37-38). God answered Jesus' prayer in sending forth the Apostles to share the good news--and the church was born. The church exists to this day commissioned to proclaim the good news of salvation in Christ.

What is needful today is "God sent" missionaries (Isaiah 6:8; Matthew 28:19; Acts 13:4). "God sent" missionaries are filled with God's compassion for souls (Matthew 9:36). "God sent" missionaries are empowered and emboldened by the Spirit of God to proclaim the gospel (Ephesians 6:19). "God sent" missionaries witness both with their lives and their lips (Colossians 4:5-6). "God sent" missionaries carefully endeavor to make the gospel clear (Colossians 4:4).

There is a great need for "God sent" missionaries in Clatsop County. Let's pray for workers to be sent out. Let's prepare our hearts that we might be sent out (Isaiah 6:8). Let's go (Acts 13:4)!

Pastor Jerry

GOD, GOVERNMENT, AND THE GOSPEL

"God, Government, and the Gospel" is the title of the 11th chapter in John MacArthur's book "Right Thinking in a World Gone Wrong." The chapter argues for a Biblical response to the oftentimes overzealous response of evangelicals with regards to political activism. MacArthur presents five Biblical principles that Christians should consider in thinking rightly about government and political activism:

1. Our commission is the gospel (Matt. 28:19-20). "True Christianity is more concerned with saving souls than it is with gaining votes...Only the gospel, through the power of the Spirit, can affect real change in society--since it transforms sinners from the inside out."

2. Our confidence is in God. God is sovereign over all. He has already revealed to us how this world will end. "In its discussion of the last days, the Bible is clear that society will continue to get worse until the return of Christ (2 Thess. 2:7-12; 1 Tim. 4:1-5; 2 Tim. 3:1-5; 2 Pet. 3:3). Yet many evangelicals approach politics as if the degradation of society is something they can stop with legislation. The truth is that no society will ever be truly made right until Christ comes..."

3. Our charge is to submit (Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:1). "The sum of our civil duty then, is to submit and to pay taxes.

4. Our commitment is to pray (1 Tim. 2:1-2). "An immediate byproduct of praying for our leaders is that it removes feelings of anger and resistance towards them. It prompts us to seek peace rather than to rebel or overreact--to lead lives that are tranquil, quiet, godly, and dignified." "Second, Christians should pray for the salvation of their leaders (1 Tim. 2:3-6,8).

5. Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20-21)."Our ultimate allegiance is to the Lord. We follow His directions, commandments, and standards as revealed to us in His word and energized by His Holy Spirit. We live for eternal matters, operating with a wholly different set of priorities than those in the world around us. Though we now reside in an earthly kingdom, our resources and efforts are primarily focused on advancing the work of an eternal kingdom (Matt. 6:3).

MacArthur concludes the chapter with these thoughts: "One day Jesus Christ will return. When He does, He will establish His Kingdom, the perfect government in which He will rule with absolute equity and justice. As His servants, we will have the joy of participating in His flawless and incorruptible administration. In fact, we will reign with Him as we worship Him in His resplendent glory. In the meantime, we would do well to remember that our primary mission is to preach the gospel and not to instigate political change."

The chapter is a needful reminder to us of where our priorities lie. Countries come and go, but "the gates of Hades shall not overpower" the church. Leaders are but for a while, but "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever." Political causes ebb and flow, but the gospel remains the "power of God for salvation to every one who believes."

Pastor Jerry

A PHASE 6 PANDEMIC

According to the World Health Organization a Phase 6 pandemic virus exists when a community level outbreak exists in at least one other country in a different WHO region than where it began. Phase 6 designates a global pandemic. Phase 6 is the highest level and demands the most drastic measures and most immediate concern.

Though you will never hear it from worldy sources a phase 6 global pandemic scale--much worse than the swine flue--has infected us all. It has been around for centuries and there is no cure. Its called sin.

Every man, woman and child is infected with it. Romans 5:12, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned." Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

There is no escaping it. It was recently suggested by the Vice President that we avoid confined spaces lest we be exposed to the swine flu. People are rushing to buy medical masks to protect themselves, but there is no escaping sin. Even if we were to enclose ourself in a "bubble house" on a deserted island we could not escape sin, for wherever we go, sin goes with us (Mark 7:20-23).

We fear the consequences of catching the swine flu, the consequences of the sin disease are far worse. T. DeWitt Talmage described its affect on us, "Sin is a leprosy, sin is a consumption, sin is pollution, sin is death. Give it a fair chance and it will swamp you, body, mind and soul for ever. In this world it only gives a faint intimation of its virulence; but after for a thousand quadrillion years it has ransacked your soul--what then? You see a patient in the first stages of typhoid fever. The cheek is somewhat flushed, the hands somewhat hot, preceded by a slight chill. "Why," you say, "typhoid does not seem to be much of a disease." But wait until the patient has been six weeks under it, and all his energies have been wrung out, and he is too weak to life his little finger, and his intellect is gone, then you see the full havoc of the disease. Now sin in this world is an ailment, which is only in its first stages; but after the grave, it is a rending, blasting, all-devouring, all-consuming, eternal typhoid." Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death." 1 Corinthians 15:22, "For as in Adam all die."

Man’s been trying for a long time to find a cure for the sin disease. He has supposed that it could be cured by religious self-effort, better education, humanistic psychology, or a better society. His efforts have proven to be futile. A tragic misdiagnosis is a part of the problem. Instead of recognizing sin for what it is, he has blamed his failures on a myriad of other things. Humanistic cures are like giving a band-aid to a cancer patient. The church growth movement is partly responsible for our present state. One of its chief spokeman has said, "Its a sin to call people sinners." In its misdiagnosis it has supposed that we need only improve ourselves. But there is absolutely nothing that we can do to resolve the sin problem.

The bad news is that there is a pandemic and that every one of us in infected and that our condition is terminal. The good news is that God has provided an answer for the sin disease and His answer is Jesus Christ. He alone walked the earth untouched by the disease. "He was tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin" (Heb. 4:15). "Unblemished and spotless" (1 Pet. 1:19) He offered Himself up as "the lamb of God to take aways the sin of the world" (John 1:29). His victory over sin, and death, and judgment is applied to all who trust in Him and His finished work on the cross (Rom. 6:3-7). In Him we have forgiveness of sin (Eph. 1:7), victory over sin (7:24-25), and the promise of future and ultimate deliverance from every hint of the disease (Phil. 3:20-21).

While the swine flu epidemic is a serious concern, the sin disease is far more destructive. Let us be mindful of its virulence and look to the sole means of deliverance--the Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor Jerry