Sense of Wonder

I THINK I UNDERSTAND a little bit -- a tiny bit -- of what Louis Pasteur once said, "The more I study creation, the more I see the Creator." Quite removed from freshman biology class, I am nevertheless amazed all over again at the level of complexity and interconnectivity in the created world. Whether I look into the most powerful electron microscope or the most powerful full-spectrum telescope, God is fully present. I would have to agree with David's rhetorical question, "Where can I flee from Your presence?" (Psalm 139:7). Not only is God everywhere; God is everywhere undiluted. It is not like somehow God is too little butter spread over too much bread (to butcher a line from J.R.R. Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring). With that in mind, there really is no "God-forsaken place;" that is except for the dark moments when Christ hung on Calvary's cross for our sins, crying out, "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?" The contrast between all time and that time is infinite. The comparison between all places and that place is unfathomable. "How precious are Your thoughts toward me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!" (Psalm 139:17).

Reasons to Celebrate

ORGANIZATIONALLY SPEAKING, there are some reasons to celebrate with regard to our three stated and church-wide goals for 2009 (and beyond!)—knowing Christ deeply, loving God and others authentically, and serving the world sacrificially.

Know. We celebrate a successful launch of the “Truth Project.” Each Sunday evening there are 46 participants assembling around living rooms for a DVD-based lecture and discussion series probing into the foundational and transformational dynamics of having and living a Christian worldview. If you missed out on this cycle, we hope to launch another 12-week cycle this summer. See Randy Blackwell for more information.

Love. We celebrate family; not only the idea of family, but also the determination to strengthen real families in real ways. Think and plan ahead toward participating in this year’s Weekend to Remember® with Family Life. In mid-May, this highly acclaimed marriage enrichment conference is coming to Rogers, AR. If enough couples sign up from FBC, we can qualify for a discounted group rate. See Nick DeYoung for more information.

Serve. We celebrate the amplification of our children’s ministry. Two new classes, a new curriculum, and several new volunteers have been added to better help our children to know Christ, love God & others, and serve the world. This has created multiple opportunities for the FBC body to use their gifts and resources to serve the world, starting right here at home … for only God knows to where in the world these children will zoom with the message of Christ. See Shellie Rees for more information.

Warmth from an Ice Storm

AS THE FICKLE WINTER seems unable (or unwilling!) to make up its mind about the weather, I am genuinely warmed on this cold February morning by several instances of healthy “body life” within our church family here at Fellowship Bible Church. In fact, I am so moved by these instances that I am still thinking about them several days after the fact. I hope by the mere exercise of spelling them out in this newsletter that you too will be warmed regardless of winter’s general inhospitality.

On the day after the ice storm, while “professional minister” I was preoccupied with the temperature in my own living room several of our people were preheating their vehicles to go and check on the situation of others in the body. No prodding. No cajoling. No applause-seeking. They just quietly navigated the tree-strewn streets across town, pulled out some tools, spread some salt, fired up once or twice a chain saw and became my teachers. My guess is that these were not merely the first strong acts of quiet fellowship; but were midpoints in a long string of ministry.

That would have been enough to thaw out a dozen Februarys, but I was soon amazed at the number of FBCers who showed up to help clear the Blackwells’ property from heavy tree loss. That too would have been enough to remind me that love given in Christ’s name has long been part of the very fabric of FBC (long before I was called!), but I was floored at the willingness for TJ to preach last Sunday with literally no warning as I weakly waved the white flag of surrender to all of my microscopic “killjoys” having a party at my expense. That too would have been enough to melt my cynicism about the spiritual state of the modern church, but I realize that these examples of authentic community all happened in less than two weeks’ time. If an ice storm can bring out this kind of warmth, I wonder what spiritual crop a gentle spring might conjure.

Kevin Rees, February 2009