We are launching an exciting new Kids Club for children (age 3 – 6^th grade) called Kids4Truth! The “K4T” clubs are divided into four exciting groups:

To be able to do all the exciting things involved in our K4T club, we are expanding our schedule for Wednesday evening.

Starting March 17^th, the K4T club will begin at 6:45 PM & end at 8:15 PM.

For the adults, you can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea, and fellowship upstairs until the start of the Bible Study at 7:00 PM.  This will also give us a little more time for prayer at the end of the Bible Study.

If you have any questions, please see or contact Mike or Jenni Burks or Scott or Rebecca L’Heureux. This is the first step in exciting times ahead for our children’s ministries!

The following is a modified edition of piece of satire that was forwarded to me. We added a note that Brian McMerging wanted us to forward to Christianity Today.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Christianity Today:

In response to Paul D. Apostle’s article about the Galatian church in your January issue, I have to say how appalled I am by the unchristian tone of this hit piece. Why the negativity? Has he been to the Galatian church recently? I happen to know some of the people at that church, and they are the most loving, caring people I’ve ever met. Phyllis Snodgrass; Ann Arbor, MI

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Dear Editor:
How arrogant of Mr. Apostle to think he has the right to judge these people and label them accursed. Isn’t that God’s job? Regardless of this circumcision issue, these Galatians believe in Jesus just as much as he does, and it is very Pharisaical to condemn them just because they differ on such a secondary issue. Can’t we just focus on our common commitment to Christ and furthering His kingdom, instead of tearing down fellow believers over petty doctrinal matters? Ed Bilgeway; Tonganoxie, KS

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Dear CT:
I’ve seen other dubious articles by Paul Apostle in the past, and frankly I’m surprised you felt that his recurrent criticisms of the Church deserved to be printed in your magazine. Mr. Apostle for many years now has had a penchant for thinking he has a right to “mark” certain Christian teachers who don’t agree with his biblical position. Certainly I commend him for desiring to stay faithful to God’s word, but I think he errs in being so dogmatic about his views to the point where he feels free to openly attack his brethren. His attitude makes it difficult to fully unify the Church, and gives credence to the opposition’s view that Christians are judgmental, arrogant people who never show God’s love. Ken Groener; San Diego, CA

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Dear Christianity Today:
The fact that Paul Apostle brags about his public run-in with Peter Cephas, a well-respected leader and brother in Christ, exposes Mr. Apostle for the divisive figure that he has become in the Church today. His diatribe against the Galatian church is just more of the same misguided focus on an antiquated reliance on doctrine instead of love and tolerance. Just look how his hypercritical attitude has cast aspersions on homosexual believers and women elders! The real problem within the Church today is not the lack of doctrinal devotion, as Apostle seems to believe, but in our inability to be transformed by our individual journeys in the Spirit. Evidently, Apostle has failed to detach himself from his legalistic background as a Pharisee, and is unable to let go and experience the genuine love for Christ that is coming from the Galatians who strive to worship God in their own special way. William Zenby; Richmond, VA

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Kind Editors:
I happen to be a member of First Christian Church of Galatia, and I take issue with Mr. Apostle’s article. How can he criticize a ministry that has been so blessed by God? Our church has baptized many new members and has made huge in-roads in the Jewish community with our pragmatic view on circumcision. Such a “seeker-sensitive” approach has given the Jews the respect they deserve for being God’s chosen people for thousands of years. In addition, every Gentile in our midst has felt honored to engage in the many edifying rituals of the Hebrew heritage, including circumcision, without losing their passion for Jesus. My advice to Mr. Apostle is to stick to spreading the gospel message of Christ’s unconditional love, and quit criticizing what God is clearly blessing in other churches. Miriam “Betty” Ben-Hur; Galatia, Turkey

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Dear CT:
Paul needs to be pitied. He is in such a pathetic straight jacket of dogmatism. He should remember the words of Jesus, “Judge not that ye be not judged.” Jesus obviously gives every man the freedom to find his own truth. Paul is also frequently spouting off on that “imminent” Rapture theory of his and warning that time might be short and that Christians need to be busy preaching Christ (I believe he mentioned that in the second of his judgmental epistles to that very exciting church at Corinth). Such an eschatology of pessimism will weaken the hands of those of us who are trying to save the environment and bring a new social justice consciousness to the Roman Empire. These are exciting new times and they call for new thinking.

Brian McMerging, Emergent Village, on the way to Rome

EDITOR’S NOTE: Christianity Today apologizes for our rash decision in publishing Paul Apostle’s exposé of the Galatian church. Had we known the extent in which our readership and advertisers would withdraw their financial support, we never would have printed such unpopular biblical truth. We regret any damage we may have caused in propagating the doctrines of Christ.

The following example is excerpted from The World That Perished by John Whitcomb:

“Many scientists claim to have nearly infallible methods for determining the age of the earth and its various formations. But all of these methods are built upon two basic and unprovable assumptions: (1) the assumption of starting point or original condition and (2) the assumption of a uniform rate of change from that starting point to the present. Consider a burning candle in an abandoned house. It is now burning at the rate of one inch an hour. Question: How long has it been burning and, thus, how long ago was the house abandoned? Answer: No one can know until it can be shown how high the candle was when it was last lit and how fast it was burning originally! Question: How old is the earth? Answer: No one can know unless it can be shown what it was like when it began and how rapidly it has changed since then!”

10 Indicators of a Spirit-Filled Leader

March 3, 2010 by Paul Chappell

Our 2010 theme for Lancaster Baptist Church is “By His Spirit.” Truly, the Holy Spirit’s filling is a “must have” for every spiritual leader. Without His ministry in and through our lives, we will not properly fill the leadership roles in which God has placed us. But through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can see Him to the impossible!

Sometimes, however, we become a little fuzzy on what a Spirit-filled life looks like. Here are ten indicators that reveal the Holy Spirit’s filling in your life:

1. A Spirit-filled leader is personally yielded. The key to effective public leadership is a genuine private walk with God.
2. A Spirit-filled leader models godliness. The lifestyle of a spiritual leader is to be an open book—a living testimony—easily seen, clearly examined, and able to be emulated.
3. A Spirit-filled leader leads others in sanctification. When God’s Spirit is in control of our lives and leadership, there will be a noticeable direction away from sin—both privately and publicly, at home and at church.
4. A Spirit-filled leader maintains spiritual priorities. Right priorities are the product of God’s leading. Without the Holy Spirit’s guidance, you’ll never truly zero in on God’s priorities for your life.
5. A Spirit-filled leader leads others to Christ. Acts 1:8 instructs us to be “witnesses.” Simply put, the product of the Spirit at work in your life will be a soulwinner’s heart.
6. A Spirit-filled leader maintains oversight. Spirit-led oversight will make you both observant and obedient. In other words, you will notice things you never noticed, and then the Holy Spirit will lead you to take action and to obey His impulses.
7. A Spirit-filled leader encourages orderliness. When His Holy Spirit is active and working, order will be the natural result. This “order” might be as simple as picking up a piece of trash or as complicated as restructuring your adult Sunday school.
8. A Spirit-filled leader remains impartial. The Holy Spirit will lead you to serve every member of your church with the same concern and intensity. He will give patience, understanding, and caution where you might otherwise be reactionary or emotionally charged.
9. A Spirit-filled leader is gracious in trials. Hebrews 4:16 teaches us that we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” A peaceful, gracious, and strong spirit through the most difficult of times is supernatural. Apart from the Holy Spirit, we tend to “fall apart”!
10. A Spirit-filled leader exercises spiritual authority. Holy Spirit-led authority will lead authoritatively but kindly, and it will always seek to resolve discord rather than stir it up. This kind of authority responds kindly to those who disagree and still loves and gives from a deep heart of compassion and grace.