Dear Friends,   

The church office is buzzing today with an army of volunteers making final preparations for Sunday. Remember that there will be no Sunday School or Adult Bible Fellowships this Sunday, but there will be fresh Krispy-Kreme doughnuts beginning at 9:30. Our morning worship service will begin a half hour earlier than normal at 10 o'clock. Following the service, we will take a brief break before beginning our presentation, which will have four parts. First, the Session will give a very brief update on buildings, bankers, and budgets. Second, our Future Facility Team will briefly tell you about their work thus far. The major part of the presentation will then speak to the ways that we can begin to better implement our mission and vision in the coming ministry year. Finally, we will take questions as long as time allows, though we are set to eat lunch at noon. Remember there is no cost to you for the lunch. This should be a great day together as we look toward moving together by faith.

Allow me to follow up on something I meant to say last Sunday, but ran out of time. In recent weeks we have considered Jesus' call to radical, life-changing discipleship at several points in Mark 10 (see verses 29-31 and verses 42-44, for example). If you have been challenged by those verses, let me commend John Piper's little book, Don't Waste Your Life.  We have some copies on the book table.  An excerpt to whet your appetite: 

Consider a story from the February 1998 edition of Reader's Digest, which tells about a couple who "took early retirement from their jobs in the Northeast five years ago when he was 59 and she was 51. Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30 foot trawler, play softball and collect shells." At first, when I read it I thought it might be a joke. A spoof on the American Dream. But it wasn't. Tragically, this was the dream: Come to the end of your life-your one and only precious, God-given life-and let the last great work of your life, before you give an account to your Creator, be this: playing softball and collecting shells. Picture them before Christ at the great day of judgment: "Look, Lord. See my shells." That is a tragedy. And people today are spending billions of dollars to persuade you to embrace that tragic dream. Over against that, I put my protest: Don't buy it. Don't waste your life. (Don't Waste Your Life, 45-46)

Speaking of John Piper, the Session recently watched a short conversation between Drs. Piper, Tim Keller, and D. A. Carson on how the Gospel conquers pornography. We discussed how our church can help men (and, increasingly, women) grapple with this tidal wave that so easily invades our homes. In that vein, let me commend to you another book likely to be of great help in the Lord. Tim Challies has recently published

Sexual Detox: A Guide for Guys Who Are Sick of Porn.   

The scourge of easily available pornography is a silent cancer on the men of the church in America today. By any measure, its pervasive and ready availability has overwhelmed both pagan and Christian men in shocking numbers. Now, I know that some of you may be offended by my discussion of this, but it is pastorally indefensible to ignore it. Those who do not struggle in this area owe it to your brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for and walk alongside them. This little book is the best short resource I have found and would commend it to the men (and young men) of our church who face the fiery darts of the enemy on this front.  He usually does that in two principal ways. First, some men are convinced that they are the only ones struggling with this, leading them to sometimes even doubt their salvation. On the other extreme, others grow desensitized to the problem. Tim Challies writes for both, calling each to the Cross of the Lord Jesus.  There are a few copies on the book table, but there are also other copies scattered around the building in places where men are more likely to be able to discretely pick up a copy. It is also available in printed copy or Kindle format at the link above. If you have questions or would like to talk about this, please speak to Bryan or me. We would love to help those in our congregation who struggle in this area.

Speaking of men, I hope you will plan to come out for our first men's campfire and book discussion on Monday night. We will meet around the firepit off the backside of the parking lot beginning at 7:30. Bring a camp chair and a copy of Federal Husband as we discuss the first chapter. Copies are available on the book table, but come join us even if you don't get the reading done before Monday night.

Finally, I did not realize until last Sunday that Paul Lengesty's paintings are not only for display, but also for sale. If you would like to support Paul's painting, they can be purchased for $100.  I know it would be a great encouragement to this young man who greets us all so warmly and faithfully each week. See the information on the table in the entry hall on Sunday.

This Sunday morning we will be in Numbers 13:25-33, the account of the spies sent into Canaan to report to the Israelites on the land God was giving them. The spies return divided, however. The majority's report is driven by their fears, while the faithful minority report the same thing, except with faith in God and His promises. The nation stood at a crossroads, as I believe Christ Community Church does. I would encourage you to read

Numbers 13 - 14 before Sunday morning.  I look forward to seeing you then.

Your friend,