I did some doodling last week which is quite thought provoking in regards to our future. We each have 2 parents; 4 grandparents; 8 grandparents; 16 great grandparents; 32 great-great grandparents, etc. If you go back 19 generations, roughly 500 years, the count goes over 1 million people who had a part in your coming to this life. Just imagine if only 10 per cent of them were believers, you will be greeted by over 100,000 relatives who will be glad you made it to your homecoming. It should be a delight to compare notes with them. How long do you think it will take to get acquainted with them all? Sort of gives me a nice warm feeling.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Quote from Dad
My dad, Glenn Janssen, who attends New Hope when he and Mom are in town, wrote me an interesting thought he had. Maybe you'll think it's interesting, too...
I did some doodling last week which is quite thought provoking in regards to our future. We each have 2 parents; 4 grandparents; 8 grandparents; 16 great grandparents; 32 great-great grandparents, etc. If you go back 19 generations, roughly 500 years, the count goes over 1 million people who had a part in your coming to this life. Just imagine if only 10 per cent of them were believers, you will be greeted by over 100,000 relatives who will be glad you made it to your homecoming. It should be a delight to compare notes with them. How long do you think it will take to get acquainted with them all? Sort of gives me a nice warm feeling.
I did some doodling last week which is quite thought provoking in regards to our future. We each have 2 parents; 4 grandparents; 8 grandparents; 16 great grandparents; 32 great-great grandparents, etc. If you go back 19 generations, roughly 500 years, the count goes over 1 million people who had a part in your coming to this life. Just imagine if only 10 per cent of them were believers, you will be greeted by over 100,000 relatives who will be glad you made it to your homecoming. It should be a delight to compare notes with them. How long do you think it will take to get acquainted with them all? Sort of gives me a nice warm feeling.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Friday, July 27, 2007
Youth Water Skiing Day
We had a fun day on the mighty Willamette River yesterday! Eleven youth and five adults enjoyed some perfect weather and wonderful skiing conditions. Thanks to Rick Myers for driving his boat for us all day--we had a blast! 
Here are some pictures, and you can see more in the photo galleries of our website.
Rick Myers water skiing bare foot
The guys
The girls (plus Rich)
Here are some pictures, and you can see more in the photo galleries of our website.Rick Myers water skiing bare foot
The guysThe girls (plus Rich)
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
A churchless Christian?
I found this paragraph in an article by Richard A. Kauffman entitled "Don't Give Up on the Church". The author states as his theme, "Though often embattled and dysfunctional, the church is still where God chooses to meet us."
One of the besetting sins of American Christianity is its failure to take the church seriously, to see its essential role in the mission of God.
There is in the United States a growing phenomenon of Christians unconnected to any church, a gap between what George Gallup calls "believers and belongers." A simple comparison of the number of people who say they believe Jesus Christ is God or Son of God (84 percent) with the number who attend church regularly (43 percent) illustrates this gap. And, church-growth specialists tell us, younger believers have little sense of belonging to any church tradition.
The "Jesus and me" spirituality of parachurch Christianity has triumphed over the corporate consciousness of the historic churches. Is this not a contradiction of terms: a churchless Christian? A freelance disciple? To become a Christian disciple means not just deciding to follow Jesus, but also joining with a community of disciples bound together by their common commitment to their Lord.
I agree with Kauffman that we as believers really do need to be part of a community of others who love the Lord, even with all its imperfections and faults. We'll be hearing more of this theme on Sunday morning when Dewey preaches on 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. Stay tuned!
One of the besetting sins of American Christianity is its failure to take the church seriously, to see its essential role in the mission of God.
There is in the United States a growing phenomenon of Christians unconnected to any church, a gap between what George Gallup calls "believers and belongers." A simple comparison of the number of people who say they believe Jesus Christ is God or Son of God (84 percent) with the number who attend church regularly (43 percent) illustrates this gap. And, church-growth specialists tell us, younger believers have little sense of belonging to any church tradition. The "Jesus and me" spirituality of parachurch Christianity has triumphed over the corporate consciousness of the historic churches. Is this not a contradiction of terms: a churchless Christian? A freelance disciple? To become a Christian disciple means not just deciding to follow Jesus, but also joining with a community of disciples bound together by their common commitment to their Lord.
I agree with Kauffman that we as believers really do need to be part of a community of others who love the Lord, even with all its imperfections and faults. We'll be hearing more of this theme on Sunday morning when Dewey preaches on 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. Stay tuned!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
"Young at Heart" at Chan's
Our new seniors group met for lunch after church last Sunday. People of all ages were invited, and I counted 27 folks there enjoying good food and fellowship!Here are a few photos...
Softball Pictures!
As we were playing softball on Sunday I noticed a guy with a really nice camera and video camera taking shots for the opposing team. I tracked down his name and number from their coach, and Ky Azlein was kind enough to send me what pictures he had that included our players. I've posted a few here, but you can see the rest in our web site's photo galleries.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Sunday Morning at New Hope
What a great morning we had in church yesterday! If you missed it, I'm really sorry you couldn't be with us. I think it was a terrific time of worship for all of us, and I'm hopeful that God used my preaching in spite of me!
If you weren't there, I not only have the sermon online at our web site, but Steve Myers got a pretty decent recording of some of our music which is also uploaded on the site. You can find all of our downloads by clicking on the "Sermons, etc." button on the menu bar at our site, http://www.newhopeconnection.com/.
Our softball team didn't fare so well, losing to Creekside Community Church in a close contest (9-6?). At least we looked good in our new green shirts! And honestly, it was fun just to play. I think the good spirits on both teams was a pleasant testimony of the love and joy we share in the Lord. (I saw a guy from Creekside with a really expensive camera, so maybe I can get some pics from him to show!)
Dewey will be back next Sunday, and if you're in town this week I sure hope you'll come worship with us!
If you weren't there, I not only have the sermon online at our web site, but Steve Myers got a pretty decent recording of some of our music which is also uploaded on the site. You can find all of our downloads by clicking on the "Sermons, etc." button on the menu bar at our site, http://www.newhopeconnection.com/.
Our softball team didn't fare so well, losing to Creekside Community Church in a close contest (9-6?). At least we looked good in our new green shirts! And honestly, it was fun just to play. I think the good spirits on both teams was a pleasant testimony of the love and joy we share in the Lord. (I saw a guy from Creekside with a really expensive camera, so maybe I can get some pics from him to show!)
Dewey will be back next Sunday, and if you're in town this week I sure hope you'll come worship with us!
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