Growing Together Blog

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Friday, 29 January 2010 15:22

In the providence of God, this was one of my devotional readings on Monday morning following our Annual Meeting.  It comes from the pen of Philip Yancey in his book, Grace Notes (p. 45).  The piece is called, appropriately, “God’s Gamble.”

“‘There are two things we cannot do alone,’ said Paul Tournier: ‘one is to be married and the other is to be a Christian.’  In my pilgrimage with the church, I have learned that the church plays a vital, even necessary role.  We are God’s ‘new community’ on earth.

“I am aware, painfully aware, that the ideal church is a mirage.  Many churches offer more entertainment than worship, more uniformity than diversity, more exclusivity than outreach, more law than grace.  Nothing troubles my faith more than my disappointment with the visible church.

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Friday, 22 January 2010 16:18

What are you looking for in Jesus?  In John 6 we see people looking for someone with political clout and deep pockets to provide for what we want in the here and now.  But when they found Him, Jesus offered so much more.

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Friday, 15 January 2010 13:12

During the Christmas season John Corcoran, the Chaplain at the Chesterfield County Jail, asked us to bake cookies for the inmates he serves.  Many of you had volunteered to be involved.  Then came the snow … on the very weekend that the project was to be done!  With church closings and side roads treacherous, it appeared that the inmates would not enjoy the Christmas treats.  But that didn’t stop you and other Christians who were determined to share in John and Naomi’s ministry.  People started networking … phoning each other … figuring out what to do.  Some chose a central location where cookies could be conveniently brought so that John could pick up dozens in a single trip.  Cookies were popping up everywhere!

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Written by Sparky Pritchard Friday, 08 January 2010 13:02

The apostle Paul was blessed with many friends – people who loved God and encouraged him in the ministry.  In so many of his letters his heart overflows with gratitude for them.

• “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you” (Romans 1:8)
• “I give thanks to my God always for you” (1 Corinthians 1:4)
• “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:16)
• “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you … because of your partnership in the gospel” (Philippians 1:3, 5)
• “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you” (Colossians 1:3)
• “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers” (1 Thessalonians 1:2)
• “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing” (2 Thessalonians 1:3)