16 April 2007

To: Prayer Partners

From: Pastor Lucenay

One would think the journey aware from Easter would find the hearts of believers aflame with the transforming news of the resurrection. Sadly the next sunrise often finds us facing a world that looks much the same as the one we faced two days before. No one needs to point a bony finger and give us a list of things we “should” feel or do at this point. Rather, I suspect we would do well to figure our how to apply the resurrection to the endless array of stuff we must wade through on our way to Christmas.

Eugene Peterson has a skeptic saying “Show me how resurrection works. Give me a diagram; draw me a picture?” (1 Corinthians 15:35, The Message). Sure he is translating the words that refer to the “resurrection body.” But the question could just as easily be asked regarding the life that has been transformed by the resurrection. If Paul could write It stands to reason, doesn’t it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he’ll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bring you alive to himself?... This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave tending life. It’s adventurously expectant… (Romans 8:11. 15, The Message).

Buddy Owens asked a probing question that bears exploring in light of our relationship to the living Lord. “What might God do through me that I will never see?” I cannot answer that for you and you cannot answer that for me. What we can do is pray for one another to find God’s way of turning that question into a personal quest to discover what God wants to do through us…not simply someday, somewhere but in the only time we have to live, today.

Life’s challenges certainly give us plenty of opportunity to pray show me how the resurrection works. Think for a moment. How does the resurrection work on your temper? How does the resurrection work on your relationship with your spouse? How does the resurrection work on your relationship with your children or your parents? How does the resurrection work in the impossible relationships you face in your extended family or at work or even in the church? How does the resurrection affect your attitude and your conversation?

If you are like me you have spent more time thinking about the way the crucifixion calls us to die to self in these type issues and relationships. But on the other side of the crucifixion comes the resurrection. The resurrection spirit breaks free of the resignation that accompanies the crucifixion. It faces life’s darkness with new light and life. Take a few minutes to think about the difference the resurrection brings into the things you face today. Once again I remind you to remember the words the angel said to Mary when He told her she was expecting. Nothing is impossible with the Lord (Luke 1:37). Those words have not changed at all from long before the annunciation through this time long after the resurrection.

This Wednesday night Phil and Irene B go to Bosnia in response to a mission invitation they had before they joined with us. They will return the first Sunday in May. During this time they will be working in some churches and a seminary. Pray for God to speak through them. After their conferences they will meet with their family in Greece for a few days of family time.

We continue to seek to sign up couples to participate in the Marriage Retreat. Pray for our speakers as they prepare and pray for our church couples to get involved in this marriage enrichment opportunity.

We continue to move toward reaching our Home Mission Offering Goal. Pray for the ministries involved and pray about your response to this mission giving effort. Also, pray that God will guide us to “hands on” mission involvement in Hong Kong.

KIBC-space needs, God’s wisdom and guidance in ministry and outreach.

KBCK-seeking a good response for next year’s enrollment

Thank you for your consistent prayer support. Several have asked how Nancy L is doing. She has planned an after Easter trip to check on the grandchildren. Thus, she is really enjoying spending some time with them. She plans to return 24 April. Monday I travel with a local pastor to Okinawa to see some of the mission work there. I will be visiting with a young pastor there, Wes Faulk. Many years ago I baptized Wes when he was a young boy. Now he is serving in his first pastorate. I look forward to encouraging him in this work. My plans have me back in Hong Kong Thursday afternoon.

Sunday we will continue our study of the “Lord’s Prayer.” Pray for God to use this study to touch the hearts of our people.

May God bless and guide you as you carry His name wherever He takes you this week.