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Billions of people around the world have seen their economic well being plummet over the past year.  Housing prices have plummeted along with the stock market, unemployment has risen to dizzying heights, companies are either going out of business or into bankruptcy.  Virtually no one has emerged unscathed by what is happening.   Sometimes economic downturns are global in their scope.  Other times, a reversal of fortune can be much more personal in nature.  A case in point happens in a Scripture passage in the book of Acts. Some entrepeneurs have benefitted by the special talents of a fortune teller.  Unfortunately, her talents have a rather dark source as she is receiving her info. from an evil spirit.  When the apostle Paul heals her, the owners lose their souce of income and react angrily.  What happens next is both intriguing and inspiring and leads to a family being redeemed.    In preparation for Sunday, I invite you to read this passage (Acts 16:16-34, included below).  As you read this passage, pay particular attention to the theme of freedom.  Who are the people who are free in this story and who are not?  Who ends up being imprisoned and who is liberated?  What does this story tell us about freedom?  In what ways are you needing to be set free?  What hope does the gospel give you about having this need met?   Please be in prayer for our worship gathering that God might work in our lives to experience the deep and abiding freedom offered to us in Christ.   --Bryan   Paul and Silas in Prison  16Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.  19When the owners of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice."  22The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.  25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"  29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"  31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.

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Dear Saints:   Social researchers say it's a consistent trend that in tough economic times, consumers continue to spend money on those products that lift their spirits. Maintaining that trend, sales of comfort foods like chocolate and macaroni and cheese have climbed dramatically over the past several months.   What kinds of things make you feel better when you're struggling?  What foods or activities lift your spirits?  My hope is that worship is one of those times and places where you feel renewed.  Being in God's presence, hearing God's Word, and being with God's people are meant to restore us so that we might continue to live faithfully as followers of Christ.    This Sunday we will focus on a topic that has lifted Christian spirits across the centuries --the promise that God will make all things new, that a glorious future awaits us where we will be with God and with all God's people forever and ever. This promised event is described poetically in the Revelation of John and is mentioned repeatedly in the writings of Paul.   For worship tomorrow, I would encourage you to read Revelation 21:1-8 and Romans 8:22-27.  As you read these passages, you might ask:  How these passages provide hope and encouragement to us today?  Why do we need to be reminded that God has made such a promise?  What is it in the Revelation passage or in the Romans passage that speaks to your heart directly?  The passages are included below.   Please also pray for our service tomorrow that we might all celebrate the goodness and grace of God.   In Christ,   Bryan   Revelation 21:1-7 The New Jerusalem  1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."  5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."  6He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son."   ROMANS 8:22-27    22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.  26In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

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Dear Saints: From what I understand, a vast majority of scientists have concluded that human activity is raising the temperature of our planet, creating profound climate change. Many of these scientists, along with others concerned about the environment have issued dire warnings about what will happen if we don't stem this trend. Floods, famines, and the extinction of many species tops the list of worst case climate change scenarios. While climate change in our biosphere is certainly worthy of our attention and response, the Scriptures make clear that profound changes can and do take place in our spiritual climate as well. The apostle Paul was well acquainted with the nature of spiritual climate change and he addresses this issue near the end of his life. While sitting in a prison cell, Paul wrote a letter of pastoral guidance and encouragement to one of his proteges, a young man named Timothy. Near the end of the letter, Paul tells Timothy to "be prepared in season and out of season." As Paul wrote these words, he was noticing the changing response of the culture to the gospel. A growing cultural antagonism was developing toward the faith and Paul wants Timothy to be aware of this and to take this reality into account as he carries out his work as a spiritual leader. This Sunday we will reflect on what season we find ourselves in as American Christians. Have we sensed a climate change in regards to the attitude of culture to our faith? Do we find ourselves as followers of Jesus living in season or out of season? How does answering that question help us to be prepared to carry out the call we've been given? To prepare for worship I would encourage you to read the following passage from II Timothy 4:1-5 1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Join me in reflecting on the challenge we face as people of faith to carry out the duties of our Christian life and ministry. My hope is that we will be encouraged, renewed, and challenged to embrace the the opportunities we've been given. In Christ, Bryan

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Another week, another global calamity to deal with.  First our economy got sick, now a swine flu might sweep the world!  What challenging times God has placed us in!  It seems just as our country is moving more and more into a post- Christian age, the need for a deep faith in God has never been greater.    This Sunday in worship we will ponder a pandemic of a different sort, one that has been infinitely more devastating than whatever transpires in our current crisis.  In Romans 1:20-2:4, the apostle Paul surveys human history and narrates the calamity caused by humanity's rejection of God.  He lists the symptoms of this spiritual disease and makes it clear that we all have it!  Having taken time to lay out the bad news we face, he then lays out the gracious gift of healing and hope we've been given in Romans 3:22-23.   As we prepare for worship, I would encourage you to read these passages carefully and prayerfully.  You might also ponder these questions:  Where in your own life have you experienced a "futile mind" or "darkened heart"?   Which of the symptoms that Paul lists are ones that get expressed in your life?  Why do you think Paul goes to such lengths to paint such a bleak view of life apart from God?  In what ways is your faith in Christ impacting your heart and mind?   Please pray for our service as we join together to celebrate the great gift we have received through Christ.    In Christ,   Bryan