Walking with Jesus

How about sharing some insights to your walk with Jesus? Some testimonies of how God has been revealed in your life. Ways we can encourage others that Jesus is alive and well in your life.

Encouragement

We may not always be what we ought to be - but we are called to be an encouragement to each other.

Hebrews 3:12-13 – 12 See to it, brothers (and sisters), that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.

I know we are not perfect. We are even far from it. But God's grace is sufficient to forgive us. If only others could and we could forgive ourselves. Paul battled with a thorn in his flesh and he proclaimed...

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When someone points out that we are not a perfect church I am encouraged. Because when we fail, when we are weak, that is when I know that the good we do is not of us but of God.

Part of my task as the pastor is to encourage the congregation to be the Body of Christ to make ourselves available for God to work in, through and in spite of, to His glory.

Hebrews 10:25 – Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

I pray that more and more folks at Mt. Oak will see that our task is to contend for the Gospel and to be available to be the hands, feet, and mouth for God as God works His work.

Jude 3 – Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

See you Sunday!

Youth Director Dione Bowlding

I'm going to redo the encouragement post for Dione Bowlding, our Youth Director. The first post was on July 1 but was soon swamped under by all the Street Reach posts. How about a revisit?

Dione grew up at Mt. Oak and is nearing his under grad degree. He has been our Youth Director for several years and was on volunteer staff before that time.

I will begin by saying Dione has a real heart for the youth. He is very creative and is willing to do most anything to reach a young person for Jesus. He loves to worship God and to train others - equipping them for worship.

He is pleasant to work with and is growing in his abilities and his work ethic. I am glad to call him friend and to work with him in ministry at Mt. Oak.

How about you? What can you say as a word of encouragement for Dione? How about something about Street Reach or any ministry Dione has helped direct?

Youth Director Dione Bowlding

Today I want to start an encouragement post for Dione Bowlding, our Youth Director. Dione grew up at Mt. Oak and is nearing his under grad degree. He has been our Youth Director for several years and was on volunteer staff before that time.

I will begin by saying Dione has a real heart for the youth. He is very creative and is willing to do most anything to reach a youth for Jesus. He loves to worship God and to train others - equipping them for worship.

He is pleasant to work with and is growing in his abilities and his work ethic. I am glad to call him friend and to work with him in ministry at Mt. Oak.

How about you? What can you say as a word of encouragement for Dione?

Our Summer Adventure Camp - VBS

Our summer adventure camp - VBS - ends tomorrow, June 26. How about some words of encouragement for those who planned the event, for the workers of the marketplace, for the tribe leaders and more?

I will begin by saying that it was awesome seeing the gym filled with children and parents. I don't know the numbers but it seemed twice as many as last year if not more.

The tribe leaders all did a wonderful job this year and the marketplace has never been better. We have some real creative people at Mt. Oak.

I was blessed to attend and see the smiles on the faces of the children. They loved the skits and the whole experience.

Pastor Charlie

Pastor Charlie recently wrote an article about encouragement. I would like to encourage Pastor Charlie. How about posting some positive comments about Pastor Charlie and his ministry at Mt. Oak.

I will begin by saying that when I ask Pastor Charlie to do something, it is done as soon as possible. I do not have to follow up or ask about it, it is done. If you have had persons on your staff you know how important this trait is and how helpful.

I will also say that Pastor Charlie is a great asset to me and makes my job easier. I haven't always been able to say this in the past.

Thank you Pastor Charlie - I appreciate you!