18 Jan Views from the Deer Stand
I spent a few days last week in Texas at the deer ranch, hunting. Yes, I had a great time and yes I was successful in my hunt. But hunting isn’t really what I want to talk about.
At the ranch this time was an interesting, older gentleman. By the way, I am finding out that there are fewer and fewer times when you can talk about someone older…anyway, in the course of our initial conversation, after we had spun all our hunting stories, he asks me, “Say, what do you do?” I told him I was a pastor. His response was classic. “Really,” he said, “I believe in God and Jesus. I even read the Bible. But I don’t go to church.” We chatted a little more about this and he tells me how he was treated poorly in a church, so he believes but just not in the church. We talked about a personal relationship with Jesus and he assured me that he had that. He believed he was a Christian. Well, I don’t know about you, but I have had that conversation with many others.
So, sitting in the deer stand early one morning I began to ponder the conversation I had with him. I began to think theologically about Christ and The Church. Christ is the Head, the Church is His Body. So how could someone say I really believe in The Head but I don’t want anything to do with The Body? There is really a disconnect in that.
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Amber Hirschy, daughter of former bishop Paul Hirschy, has lived in Cambodia since last May, immersing herself in a new culture and impacting her world for Christ. She works for two different organizations. One is an economic development organization, while the other organization works against sex trafficking.
The Huntington University ten-member cheerleading squad (right) will host a cheer clinic on February 3 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Merillat Complex for Physical Education and Recreation. The squad invites girls ages 6-14 to participate. To attend the clinic, participants need to complete a registration form and send it along with a payment of $25 per person. While pre-registration is requested, registrations will be accepted at the door. Parents are welcome to stay and watch during the clinic.
Jennifer Blandin, UB missionary in Macau, sent these news updates on January 7.
Billy and Mamei Simbo continue to prepare for service in Sierra Leone, West Africa, where Billy will lead the conference through the transition needed to minister in an increasingly Islamic land. The Simbos are grateful for the many gifts that have come toward their one-time ministry expenses for getting on the field (vehicle, shipping, office, etc.).