Light shining in the darkness

Today is Halloween.  It is a day when the world celebrates darkness and evil.  As children of the light, and of our Heavenly Father, of course, we have an opportunity to be light in the darkness today and every other day of the year.

Two days ago, Dale Drury, one of our elders here at College church of Christ, lit a candle in my darkness without even knowing he had done so. 

I was sitting with Peter, our 24-year-old son, in a Fresno County Superior Court room, waiting for the judge to dismiss the case because Peter had fulfilled all the requirements of his sentence.  It was the consequence of foolish and sinful behavior on his part and the part of other people. 

This is not the dream a mother has when she holds her baby for the first time in the hospital or when she stands in front of the church to have his life dedicated to the Lord, or when she teaches him his first Bible verse and prays with him as she tucks him into bed at night.  If she pictures herself in a courtroom with her adult son, she sees him as the well-dressed attorney or the robed judge, not as the defendant.

"This is a lab class for my study of the book of James," I thought to myself as I sat on the hard wooden bench. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  James 1:2-4 (New International Version)

I had brought my Bible and the prior week's church bulletin into the courtroom with me.  While the judge dealt with other cases, I opened the bulletin and read these words from our elder, Dale Drury:

"We, at the College Church of Christ are on a journey which encourages unity in Christ.  We're seeking to be a relational church who is concerned about being Jesus; not only to each other, but to those we come in contact with each day.  As I thought more about this, our 'narrative', which we completed last year came to mind.  It clearly reflects this journey as part of our history.

"We are being Jesus and encouraging unity when we welcome people/Christians who:
...struggle with sin every day, regardless of the sin;
...were cast out by 'Christians' because of life choices they have made;
...are seeking a 'safe' place to experience God;
And this list could go on and on.

"ALL of these actions lead us toward unity in the body of Christ and reflect the love from the Father.  How do the people around us interpret the evidences they experience in our lives?

"May God bless us as the people around us are able to experience Jesus through us!"

Thank you, Dale Drury, and all those at College church of Christ who are a light in the darkness for people like Peter and me, sitting in a Fresno County Superior Court room!
--Posted by Mama O.
"

Being There!

How did the Ocheltree's and the Sue's spend their weekend?  On the road with their kids!   

 

  

Andrew Ocheltree is the drum major on the right
Bullard High School Marching Band and Colorguard
Competition in Pleasanton, CA

 

Julian Sue, front and center, holds the trophy for his team
Las Vegas, NV

Coming home champions!! They played hard and it paid off!

Veronica Sue (Facebook)

 

We go on the road with our kids because we love them.  We want to be there for them and with them. Our love and support are the most precious gifts we can give to our sons and daughters.

If we, as imperfect human parents, can give something so valuable to our children, how much more valuable is God's presence in our lives, wherever we go?

 

"O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.

You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away.

You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.

You know everyting I do.

You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head.

Such knowledge is too wonderful fo rme,

too great for me to understand!"

Psalm 139:1-3,5,6

--Posted by Mama O.

 

Volunteer in the church nursery!

Drake vonBieberstein and Amity Minjarez play while
Christi Dillon loves on them

Noah Mason

Ethan Buchanan

Beckett Allan

Look at the wonderful young people I had the privilege of meeting on Sunday morning when I worked in the church nursery! I met wonderful mommies and daddies and grandpas and grandmas.  I got acquainted with my fellow nursery worker, Chrsti Dillon, and discovered she is a real treasure.  What a great way to spend time on a Sunday morning.  I highly recommend it!
--Posted by Mama O.

Happy birthday Steve Ocheltree!

 

Steve serves 9-Lives to Murray, Tom and Bob, the cats,
on his birthday

"But Jesus called them to Himself, and said, 'You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.  It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.'"

Matthew 20:25-28 (New American Standard Version)

 

I heard a story about President Ronald Reagan, how, when he was in the hospital after being hit by an assassin's bullet, the nurse spilled a glass of water accidentally.  Instinctively, President Reagan got up and began wiping up the spill, before he was scolded for not resting and allowing others to serve him, the greatest leader in the Free World, in the hospital!

 

It reminded me of my husband, Steve, whose wonderful life we celebrate today! Steve is a true servant-leader wherever he goes, making sure that others are comfortable and cared for.  I knew I had to marry him when he described the house he and his father and brother were building with very modest means back in 1977. He explained how they had purchased the very nicest microwave oven they could afford and designed the kitchen with as much possible space as they could, including a roomy center island, so his mother could be free to prepare meals as easily as possible. 

 

And he's still that way to this day.  The other morning, Steve washed his hands and went to dry them.  My bath towel was more conveniently located near his wet hands than his was, but he deliberately inconvenienced himself to use his own towel because he did not want to get my towel wet before I showered. 

 

Happy birthday to a great man!

--Posted by Mama O. 



Walking with God

"And Enoch walked with God; and he was not,

for God took him."

Genesis 5:24 (New American Standard Version)

"By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death;

and he was not found because God took him up;

for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God.

And without fiath it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God

must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."

Hebrews 11:5,6 (New American Standard Version)

 

When I lace up my walking shoes and head out through my neighborhood on these pleasant autumn days and evenings, I think about Enoch, who "walked with God".  It is a privilege to live in a Mediterranean climate, where the same crops grow that grow in Israel, where so many of the Bible stories and parables are located.

 

Just around the corner, a neighbor has a fig tree. When I walk under its sprawling branches, trying to avoid the fruit that drops onto the sidewalk, I think of Jesus' encounter with the fruitless fig tree, which bore all the characteristics of a fig tree except the fruit. Jesus cursed the tree and it withered from the roots up. The tree was a symbol of the unbelievers within the nation of Israel, who had been given the truth through Moses and the prophets, yet refused to accept Jesus as Messiah, when he appeared in person among them. They bore all the characteristics of God's people except the saving faith in their Messiah. And, "without faith, it is impossible to please God". (Hebrews 11:6) 

 

Our next-door-neighbor has an olive tree, which makes me think of the illustration of the natural olive tree, being the Jews, and the wild olive branches, being the Gentiles, who are grafted onto the natural trunk.  In Romans 11, Paul instructs us Gentiles not to be arrogant against unbelieving Jews, because the Jewish faith is the foundation of the Christian faith.  We need to be praying for the Jews to accept Jesus as Messiah (Psalm 122:6; Romans 11:30-32).

 

Do these two tree stories seem to contradict one another?  They don't, really.  There are individual Jews who rejected Jesus as Messiah and came under God's curse, because they did not accept salvation through Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:16,17) And, there have been and will continue to be Jews who recognize Jesus, by faith, and accept his salvation. (Acts 6:7; Romans 11:23-28)

 

That's a lot to ponder on a walk with God!

--Posted by Mama O.

 

University of Joy Through Trials

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Perseverance must finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete,

not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God,

who gives generously to all without finding fault,

and it will be given to him."

James 1:2-5 (New International Version)

 

My friends and I are attending the University of Joy Through Trials together on Tuesday morning as we study the book of James.  We talk and laugh together and we pray together for one another.  Pam Caples assembles an e-mail prayer list for us and she always gives some insightful commentary before she lists the prayer requests.  Listen to Pam's thoughts on this week's lesson:

 

"GOT TRIALS? Every one of us has gone through trials some time in our lives. In fact, many of us are going through a trial at this very monent.  Experiencing trials can cause us to doubt God and His love for us, become discouraged, complain about our situation, or even make us blame God for the hardship we are going through.  Instead, James tells us to consider it a great joy whenever we experience various trials.  If you're like me, joy is not what I'm feeling when life is 'chewing me up and trying to spit me out'!  In James 1:2-3, James is asksing us to choose to have a joyful attitude when life has 'thrown you a curveball', because that trial will test the faith in God you claim you have.  And, when you have passed the test with 'flying colors', it will produce the endurance you need to get through the next trial and the next...So, GOT TRIALS...BE JOYFUL!"

 

Our study meets Tuesday mornings from 9:45-11:30 a.m. in Room 405.  We will be offering the same study in James on Wednesday nights, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., beginning Wednesday, November 7, 2012. Both men and women are welcome at the Wednesday night study.  Plan to join us!

--Posted by Mama O.



In loving memory of Laura Reppart

"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering,

and the time of my departure has come.

I have fought the good fight,

I have finished the course,

I have kept the faith;

in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,

which the Lord, the righteous Judge,

will award to me on that day

and not only to me,

but also to all who have loved His appearing."

2 Timothy 4:6-8 (New American Standard Version)

 

Laura Reppart, long-time missionary to Kenya, finished her course of faith on Tuesday, October 23, 2012, in Dallas, Texas.  Laura and her husband, Jim, together founded the Nairobi Great Commission School in Kenya, where Jason Locke, our senior minister, and Robert Chisley, just visited.  The Repparts worked with the school from 1991-1999. 

 

College church of Christ has supported this ministry since its founding.  More than 800 African leaders have been trained at this school and have returned to at least six African nations, many with a large Muslim population, to spread the gospel.  The school is run today by locals.

 

As the song says, Laura, "Thank you for giving to the Lord...I am so glad you came!"

The picture below, from Dr. Jason Locke's Facebook page, shows the ongoing work of the Nairobi Great Commission School today:

A closing picture with most of the folks who came to NGCS for the two-day seminar. These folks are elders, preachers, evangelists from across Kenya (plus one each from Tanzania and Uganda) along with teachers/staff at the school. They richly blessed us as we tried to impart a blessing to them as well. — with Jacob Randiek and 2 others.

--Posted by Mama O.