Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2.fluke 9/24/84; site cal-asd.fluke.UUCP Path: utzoo!decvax!bellcore!petrus!scherzo!allegra!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!fluke!ptl From: ptl@fluke.UUCP (Mike Andrews) Newsgroups: net.religion.christian Subject: To my Christian Family --- What's God doing for and through you? Message-ID: <2408@cal-asd.fluke.UUCP> Date: Tue, 5-Nov-85 16:06:18 EST Article-I.D.: cal-asd.2408 Posted: Tue Nov 5 16:06:18 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 6-Nov-85 00:54:13 EST Distribution: na Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA Lines: 93 Hi, Thought it'd be fun to hear from my Christian Family as to the works God is Personally doing for each of you and through you. Also, maybe we could share some of what our various denominations are doing - what all our parts are doing for the One Body we are in Christ. What do you think? It would be great to put on this net for everyone to enjoy. You've already heard how God has His Hand in the purchase of our new house, and the purchase of the car. Nice to see that God wants to help in every area of our lives. Also how He kept us safe on our Canadian vacation: like the car starting up again after dieing in front of a logging truck coming at us down the side of a mountain - later found we had a shot fuel pump. Also found we had traveled the 1500+ miles with a bad water pump, not losing any water, though the mechanic says the fan wobbled over an inch when he checked it on our return. [All I know how to do is change the oil and filter, put water in the windshield washer, and air in the tires - *not* your basic car buff.] There are many more things, bigger and smaller that God is teaching my wife and myself about. Growing up is tough stuff. Your prayers are requested and deeply appreciated. You are in mine. As for Church - my wife and I are Roman Catholics. We enjoy working as Eucharistic ministers, and sometimes I get the opportunity to lector. The Roman Catholic church has changed much in the last 20 years, very much for the better. As Eucharistic ministers, people get to help the priest distribute communion during Mass, and take it to the homebound or sick. Since communion during the Mass is now given in most parishes in both forms, bread and wine, the priest needs all the help he can get. As a lector, I get to read two of three Bible passages read during Mass, the priest reads a passage from one of the Gospels. My best friend Bob is on the parish council, and our parish has a very active one. The council makes financial decisions, helps set school and parish policies, and in general works with the priests to keep things running as smoothly as possible. And we all know how smooth that can be at times? Many parishes have activity groups that set up Bible studies [yes, contrary to popular belief, Roman Catholics do know what a Bible looks like :-) ; even the different versions], discussion groups focusing on current topics, joint groups with other denominations to see our similarities and build on our common beliefs (Jesus is our Lord, and He is our salvation; we can't earn Heaven, or buy it; and a living faith will show itself in work for the Lord). Some parishes are even starting up home groups, to increase the family aspect of Church. Kris and I are also involved in the Charismatic Renewal, believing that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is real, and just as much for today as when our Lord first sent His Spirit on the Apostles. There are many parishes with non-denominational prayer groups, Bible study groups, and some with prayer and healing ministries. I also work with a group under the legal title of Catholic Evangelistic Outreach. We put on the Jesus Weekends I've mentioned before. In the past 2-1/2 years God has put on over 54 Jesus Weekends. We'll go anywhere we're invited, for free, where the pastor or minister in charge approves and there is a group committed to do follow up. Everyone on the team is an unpaid volunteer. The fliers, equipment, etc are all paid for by donations. The head of Catholic Evangelistic Outreach is Episcopalean, the music ministry is Episcopalean, Four Square, and Roman Catholic (on occasion --- we don't have many good singers. This is not a result of being Roman Catholic, it's just that this bunch doesn't sing so hot. But the way I figure it, if God wanted to hear us sing with better voices, He'd have given them to us. So He must enjoy it.), and the rest of the team is Roman Catholic. It is GREAT! God has put together a real family here. So there's one input ... how about yours? The intent isn't to show one upsmanship or anything of the kind. Anyone serving God knows God doesn't work through perfect people, He works through sinners like you and me. That shows just how great His Power is, He chooses to do great things through weak and sinful people; and also shows just how deep His unconditional Love is, that He chooses to help a weak and sinful people come to Him to share in His undeserved Blessings. What a God - there is no other! God Bless, Mike Andrews -- ****************************************************************************** God said He would never leave me nor forsake me, and that I am His temple. A man is what he thinks. A body led by the soul is only 2/3 of a person : the soul tries to get rid of the spirit. A body led by the spirit is a whole person : the spirit works to make the soul help the body. And a spirit led by God the Holy Spirit is invincible. ******************************************************************************* ARPA : fluke!ptl@uw-beaver.ARPA UUCP : {uw-beaver, sun, allegra, sb6, lbl-csam}!fluke!ptl