E-note from Pastor Andy 4-13-13

April 13, 2013

Dear Eastridge Family,

On Thursday Stephanie and I attended the funeral for her grandmother in Hutchinson.  Audrey Friesen was Stephanie’s last living grandparent.  She was a faithful Christian so the service was a “ home going” celebration where she went to paradise to be with Jesus.

In her last days the family would gather around her deathbed and share their last goodbyes.  Grandma Friesen was mostly unresponsive but just a few moments before she breathed her last breath in this life they witnessed an interesting occurrence.  Grandma Friesen’s eyes began to flutter and move with excitement soon tears started to flow from her eyes as she breathed her last a happy expression came over her face.

When I heard that story I thought of the passage in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”  ⁵⁶ For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. ⁵⁷ But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor and author John Ortberg, says there are two questions often posed about worthwhile living: Who has the good life?  And who is the good person?  The first question gets addressed in advertisements and the second at funerals.

Our advertisements are filled with promises to give you things no one would list in an obituary: great looks, great money, great sex, great food and great entertainment.  Dallas Willard said obituaries rarely say things like; “She had a fine figure, a thick head of hair and wonderfully white teeth.”  “He drove fast cars and dated fast women.”  “He earned hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

Stephanie’s grandma Friesen may not have experienced the “good life” by the world’s standards but she was a faithful servant of God and has heard the words from Matthew 25:21 (NLT) ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!

Our eternity is determined on how we respond to the grace of God.  Were we faithful to follow and obey God?  At the end of our life that is the only thing that will matter.

·        Church Election

Next Sunday we will have our annual election of church officers and delegates to the District Assembly in June.

·        Board Meeting

Sunday afternoon immediately following the morning worship service we will have our monthly board meeting.

·        Sunday Service

Tomorrow I will be preaching from John 21:1-19 and asking the question, “What Do We Do After Easter?”

·        Favorite Quotes of the Week

“Christian liberty is freedom from sin, not freedom to sin." - A. W.  Tozer

“A spirituality that does not lead to active ministry becomes an indulgent preoccupation with self, and therefore grieves the Holy Spirit and violates the presence of the indwelling Christ.”  - Maxie Dunham

For those who battle addictions: “Even though you get the monkey off your back, the circus never really leaves town.”  - Ann Lamot

I am looking forward to Celebrating the Risen Jesus with you on Sunday,

Pastor Andy