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Written by Paul Johansson
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Tuesday, 10 August 2010 09:54 |
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Central Family,
We live in an increasingly dangerous world in which there are fewer and fewer places of guaranteed security. As Christ followers we know that God is our Refuge, our hiding place, a strong tower in the midst of danger. Hebrews 6:18 talks about fleeing to the Lord for refuge. The concept of fleeing to the Lord for refuge is birthed in the the cities of refuge that God set up in the land. Joshua 20 begins: "Then the Lord said to Joshua, 'Say to the people of Israel, 'Appoint the cities of Refuge, of which I spoke to you through Moses..." What do we know about the cities of refuge?
- They were strategically located so that there would be easy access to them for anybody seeking refuge.
- The gates of the cities of refuge were never to be locked.
- The city was to be well stocked to provide for any fugitives who came to stay for however long they might need to be there.
- Refuge was only guaranteed as long as they remained in the city.
- The cities were designated for all the people of Israel, including the stranger.
Are there any similarities between the asylum found in these cities and the refuge of our relationship to the Lord Jesus? This is the question we will consider at Central's Sunday morning worship gatherings as we read and reflect on Joshua 20:1-6. In addition to our 3 Sunday morning worship times you are invited to participate in the WHY CHURCH at the YMCA at 9:30 on Sunday morning or THE GATHERING at 6:00pm on Sunday evening in the Sanctuary.
IN ADDITION I hope you will sign up for two very important things in our life together at Central!
24/7 Connections - this fall we are hoping to have over 500 prayer partners who will pray for Central at a specific time each day. It is our hope to have someone praying for Central at each time of the day and night. You can respond to this email me and tell me when you will pray for Central and I will make sure your name gets on the Prayer List or you can sign up this Sunday at worship. As we move forward with our three-year REVEAL VISION we know that we are dependent upon the Spirit of God for everything! Prayer is one of most important and vital things we do. Luther once said, "Just as it is the work of the cobbler to make shoes so it is the work of the Christian to pray!"
Will you be a connecter? Central will be conducting a "get connected" phone blitz from September 7 through September 11. We are looking for 100 people to make 15 phone calls each, inviting people to worship and extending our care. An instruction sheet will be provided to each caller. Once again you can sign up by responding to this email and I will make sure you are on the list or you can sign up this Sunday at worship.
Thanks for your partnership in Making Jesus Known and I look forward to worshipping
In Christ,
Paul Johansson
P.S. This Sunday Andrew Johansson will give a brief report on the children's sponsorship project with our sister congregations in Southern Tanzania. Be praying that God will raise up hundreds of families in our congregation to help with the education of children in our sister congregations.
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