What a Great Lord’s Day!

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Yesterday — the Lord’s Day at Curwensville Alliance Church was incredible. It began with a good Sunday School class taught by Matt McCracken. He’s doing a great job detailing the material in The Search for Significance. I enjoyed looking over the book and spending time being part of Matt’s class. Pray for each Sunday School class — that they will be marked by consistent attendance, personal growth, and numeric increase.

The Baptism Service is coming up at the end of the month. This week I have a couple more students who want to go through the material. I love teaching them the meaning of baptism so that their own experience of baptism is significant. Pray for those who are considering baptism — that they will understand the concept and obey.

The Morning Worship Service was a good time of looking at Jesus’ words to the Sadducees concerning their failure to know God’s word and God’s power. To my delight, when I arrived home in the evening, there was a message from someone whose husband said, “Man — Pastor Steve was talking straight to me today! I want to come to the Genesis Bible Study!” We all know it wasn’t “Pastor Steve” talking. It was God, through his Spirit, speaking in the message. It’s amazing to me that God uses this vehicle of preaching to communicate his truth. Pray that he will continue to work in the lives of those who hear God’s word proclaimed.

Many in the church family enjoyed a pleasant luncheon together and afterward, Laurel and I made a quick trip to see my mother in the rehabilitation home. Her arm looks much better, but she’s having trouble finding hope that she will get back to the room she had been in before she fell. While there, we received the prayer-line message concerning Bev being in DRMC. Laurel and I made it to DRMC just moments after Bev had been transferred to Pittsburgh, but I was able to speak to her father. He brought me up to date on Bev and promised to let her know Curwensville Alliance would be praying for her. Please remember Bev in prayer as her liver is not performing the proper function at this time.

The Outreach Committee had a good meeting, finalizing details for the Fishers of Men Tournament Trail. Dave Clark will be speaking at that event. If you can help with anything, speak to Tim Smay. Among other items discussed was the need to help A Day Awaits with the lock-in this weekend. If you can help with that, please contact Brennan Bell as soon as possible. The committee noted there were lots of empty spaces on the sign-up sheets. And please remember to pray concerning the lock-in.

Thanks for praying regarding the ministry of your church, Curwensville Alliance.

~Pastor Steve

The Week at a Glance…

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This has been an unusual week. On Monday I prepared for the Genesis Bible Study in the morning. Then Esther and I cared for some matters concerning my mother. Mom’s doing well, but is impatient with her care, desiring to get back to her regular room. It was good for Esther to see her grandmother. They get along well since they are so similar. The Genesis Bible Study was like a breath of fresh air, lasting from 7 p.m. until after 9 p.m.

Tuesday morning, I left early to go to Greensburg where I spent two days serving the Churches by sitting on the LOCC. Since Dr. Dail had completed his term on the LOCC, there was no one to act as clerk. When asked, I accepted that position. We spent two days interviewing and testing those pursuing ministry in The Christian and Missionary Alliance. It’s exciting to meet men and women, young and older, willing to serve God here and abroad.

When I returned Wednesday evening I arrived just in time to get things ready for the Board of Ministries meeting at our church. We had a good meeting and, thankfully, Perry lead Prayer Meeting. It was nice to relax after two days of meetings — one lasting until 9:30 p.m.

Thursday I worked on some administrative tasks and research for my sermon. Esther and I hopped on the Honda and went to visit Glen. He and Myrtle were outside, enjoying the sunny day. In the evening, I visited Ted and Donna.

Friday morning, I had breakfast with an accountability partner. It was a good meeting. In the afternoon, while I was working on my sermon, Vern called and asked me to go for a boat ride with him. We had a fine time on Curwensville Lake, taking in the scenery.

Tonight, I am watching an video on Muslims with Esther. Tomorrow — Young Men’s Group and concluding my sermon. God is wonderful!

The Play of the Day…

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Last evening’s Baccalaureate Service was excellent. The students did a great job sharing in song and presenting prayers and readings. Rev. Dan Osterhout and I preached the message together, taking a line from The Princess Bride, and applying it biblically to the students’ future.

Some of my personal thoughts about speaking at Baccalaureate are…

  1. The only way to ensure good attendance at a Baccalaureate Service is to involve students. The more of them that participate, the better the turnout will be.
  2. You’re probably not going to change any lives in a Baccalaureate sermon. Can you remember what the speaker at your Baccalaureate sermon said? I can’t even remember who spoke at mine, let alone what they said. Use the service to whet their appetite for what you and other pastors have to say.
  3. Two words of advice: Short. Sweet. No one is coming to hear the preacher(s). Leave them wanting more.

I hope we were able to communicate well to the students and give them a sense that God’s interested in their lives.

One of the funniest things — the play of the day — happened at breakfast this morning.

Some of the guys were talking about times they’ve failed to behave in Christlike ways. One guy spoke about a driving incident where he reacted to another driver poorly. He said, “I am embarrassed to say that I….” When he’d finished his “confession” Bryan looked at him and said, “That was you!?!?!?” implying that it was Bryan he had reacted to. We couldn’t stop laughing! Pray for the guys — that we will all grow to be the men God has for us to be.

After breakfast, I enjoyed wrapping up the Marriage Prep for Jim and Nicole. They’ll be married in July. Please pray for them as they prepare for this important event in their lives.

The rest of the day will be wrapping up details for tomorrow’s service.

Thanks for praying!

~Pastor Steve

Bikers and Baccalaureate

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What do bikers and baccalaureate have in common? They are both part of this important week at Curwensville Alliance.

Wednesday evening we enjoyed a time around the fire at the Tkacik’s home hearing from Matt, Andy, and Morgan about their mission of Riding for Marale. They have already earned enough money to drill the well in Marale, and with the remaining money received will contribute toward a second community well in Uganda. Pray for them as they ride their bicycles — that they would be successful, growing in their faith, and kept safe. Thanks to Tkaciks for providing the location and to the Kims for providing the makings for smores!

Wednesday afternoon I met with Rev. Dan Osterhout and we worked on a Baccalaureate service for Curwensville. Pastor Dan and I will be team preaching. Pray that we are able to communicate the presence of Christ to the students, families, and friends who attend.

Thanks for reading and thanks for praying!

~Pastor Steve

Water in Africa…

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After catching up on some email, I began to work on Wednesday’s Bible Study. It’s adapted from Andrew Murray’s With Christ in the School of Prayer. Murray writes in such a manner as to make his thoughts sometimes seem shallow, but when one investigates his work more closely, you can see a depth of spirit that is rare today. Please pray that those present on Wednesday evenings would have their private prayer lives deepened.

I spent some time preparing the audio files from Sundays services to provide them for some who had asked. Pray that these messages are effective in communicating God’s truth.

Throughout the day, I had several conversations with people from the church.

I also worked with Andy Friedlund to prepare for their visit next week. We’re hoping to welcome them to Curwensville Alliance on June 2 as they ride their bicycles across the US to raise money and awareness of the need to provide water for the people of Marale in Africa. Please pray that we can get the details of this visit down and publicize it well.

I spent some time listening to a sermon as I cut my grass. The message was on John the Baptist — how to respond to unjust criticism.

Late in the afternoon I completed work on Wednesday’s Bible Study.

My counseling appointment for the evening was canceled, so I was able to play a game with Tim and Laurel. We’re enjoying having him around for a week.

Thanks for your continued prayer.

~Pastor Steve