Pastor Paul's Paragraphs

      It was in February of this year that I wrote about Valentine's Day, love, family and marriage. I reflected on Joyce and my desire for our children as Kristi was getting ready to marry Sean Haugan. That wedding did, in fact, take place and there is finally a son-in-law in this Radobenko household. And this June is the month for round two. Jill and Andrew Hunter will be married on June 17th. It will be Joyce and my privilege to present our second daughter, Jill to Andrew Hunter as they are united into the holy state of matrimony.

      As I wrote some of Kristi's story in February, I did promise to write some of Jill's story in June, so here goes. I do remember Jill's birth...or should I say I remember the ambulance, the hospital and running down the hallway of the hospital as Joyce was wheeled into emergency surgery that resulted in Jill's miraculous birth. This had been a very difficult and complicated pregnancy that resulted in several scares and much bed rest. I remember sleeping in the waiting room and waking up several hours later. Joyce was wondering where I was. No one had come to get me after the emergency surgery. I remember the smile on my wife's face and the relief she experienced after knowing that Jill was okay. I remember the relief I experienced knowing that both baby and mother were okay.

      Andrew Hunter would explode into our lives one Sunday morning as he arrived on the church campus looking for a Sunday School class. I have since discovered that he was not just looking for a Sunday School class...and I thought it was my dynamic teaching. Little did I realize that it was a curly haired young lady and my wife's cooking that kept him coming back and coming back and coming back and, and, and...I have also learned that a certain young lady also noticed his arrival on campus. I think she may have even arranged the seating order around the dinner table that first Sunday Andrew ate with us. Guess who sat by whom!

      It is often amazing to me how resilient kids can be. Sometimes they mature properly because of us, often times they mature into adulthood in spite of us. As I wrote in my February Gracenotes,

      "We were far from perfect parents. Yet our focus never altered. It was our desire to see both Kristi and Jill place their faith and trust in Jesus and then learn to live lives that are pleasing to Him. Praise the Lord, we are so very blessed to have the privilege of 'populating heaven' with our kids. As we anticipated adulthood for Kristi and Jill, our prayers were that they would find guys who love the Lord and love our daughters. God did answer that prayer."

      Joyce and I will have the privilege of being part as Captain Andrew Parks Hunter, USAF, and Jill Marie Radobenko, CinCHouse, are united in marriage on June 17th, 2006, right here at Grace Baptist Church...and you will have to wait for future Gracenotes when I once again write about our expanding family and......the grandkids.

      Pastor Paul

Kids Korner - Pastor Greg

      This month we will be welcoming our new Vacation Bible School program FIESTA, where kids are fired up about Jesus! Get ready for an exciting celebration of Jesus' love filled with lively music, a colorful setting and warm friends!

      FIESTA is overflowing with fun for kids, teenagers and adults. Everyone involved in this VBS will jump into God's Word...and will never be the same again! As kids explore amazing Bible adventures, they'll take part in Daily Challenges that encourage them to apply the Bible truths to everyday life.

      So what happens at VBS? Well, kids start each day by forming small groups called Fiesta Crews. All the Fiesta Crews gather at Sing & Play Ole to sing and do fun motions to upbeat Bible songs that introduce kids to the concepts they'll be learning that day. Then Fiesta Crews visit five different Fiesta Stations.

      They sample tasty treats at Maraca Munchies, go on Hot Bible Adventures, make delightful creations in Cactus Crafts, play Grande Games, and meet Chadder Chipmunk on video! Then everyone comes together for the closing, Fiesta Final (everyone is invited to our closing each day at 12:00 noon). And throughout the week, children will work on a special project called "Blanketing the World with Jesus' Love", preparing blankets that say "Jesus Loves Me" in both English and Spanish. This project will impact needy children around the world!

      It is sure to be a wonderful week of VBS! So help us spread the word to your families and in your neighborhoods! VBS is June 19-23, beginning at 9:00 am each morning and ending at 12:30 in the afternoon. YOU are our best advertising! Then plan to join us on Sunday night, June 25th, as we look back on all of God's blessings!

      I want to thank everyone who has stepped forward to help in this year's VBS! We have a great TEAM of volunteers. Be in prayer for them as we prepare for and participate in each day of VBS. If you would still like to be involved in some way, please let me know. We are in need of more adults and teens to help in our Fiesta Crews. This one week of ministry may change your life and change the eternity of a child! Please pray about it! VIVA!

      Pastor Greg

The Month in Focus with Pastor Ben

      Have you ever had one of those days when you feel totally drained? Do you ever feel physically tired, emotionally strained and spiritually dry? Maybe you feel that way right now. How do you get through it? What is it that keeps you going and prevents you from being stuck in those feelings?

      Whenever I get this way - and yes, even pastors get this way at times - I always try to take some time away from the house and check myself. I like to go for a drive and get out of town for the day. I take time to analyze how my daily walk has been. Have I been in the Word daily? Have I been memorizing Scripture? Have I been praying daily? Sometimes I feel that way because I haven't been doing the things I need to in my personal life. Other times I feel like that because I've been doing so much and giving so much of my time and energy to ministry.

      Jesus and the apostles felt this way. In Mark's recording of the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus tells the disciples to "come aside by yourself to a deserted place and rest a while." (Mark 6:30-44) And a few verses later it says that the people followed them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Did Jesus turn them away? No. It says that He had compassion for them, so He began to teach them. We can also think of Christ's temptations. I know if I hadn't eaten for 40 days I'd be pretty grumpy! But Jesus continues to resist temptation. How does He do it? He relies on Scripture. With every temptation, He quotes the Old Testament to Satan.

      One of the best books I've read is entitled Spiritual Leadership by J. Oswald Sanders. In a chapter entitled, "The Cost of Leadership", he writes "The world is run by tired men...Fatigue is the price of leadership. Mediocrity is the result of never getting tired." Does this mean you ought to run yourself so hard that you get tired? No. Sanders, in a previous chapter, also tells us that we tend to get overly stressed and tired because we take on projects, commitments and appointments that God didn't intend for us. We need to learn to say "no" sometimes or maybe, at the least, "not right now."

      Unfortunately, because of living in a sinful world, we get tired, drained and exhausted, but we can have renewal. 2 Corin-thians 4:16 tells us that although our outward man is perishing, the inward is being renewed daily. It's hard being a human. And it is harder being a Christian. It's even harder if you leave God out of it. As we go on, 2 Corinthians 4, verses 17-18, encourage us to remember that our hard days here are but for a moment. What we are working for is far weightier than our "light affliction." When we get a little ragged, a little tired or spiritually drained, we must continue to seek the One who can renew us. Take time to pray, take time to read God's Word (the book of Psalms is great in these times). Consider your work schedule, consider your ministry schedule and consider praying more.

      Pastor Ben

Vacation Bible School

June 19-23, 2006

9:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Preschool - Sixth Grade **
Pre-Registration will be available

See Pastor Greg if you are interested in helping with this fun-filled and rewarding outreach.

**Preschoolers must have been in Preschool this school year and sixth grade includes those who were in sixth grade this year.

Grace In Action

Join Grace In Action on June 24
as they visit Empire Mines & Biblical Gardens
in Nevada City.

Watch for more information in the church bulletin.

All adults 50 years of age and over are welcome.

Summer Camp is Coming

If your teen is planning to attend camp at Pilot Lake on July 17-22, please turn in your registration no later than June 18th.

Cost for teens is $185.00 if your child is planning to attend junior camp at Lassen Pines and you want to receive a $20 discount, registration and full payment is due by June 18th.

Cost for jr. camp if paid by June 18th is $234.

See Pastor Greg or Pastor Ben if you need scholarship information.

July Events

Fireworks Booth

Grace Christian Academy & Preschool
June 29 - July 4
Raley’s Center Parking Lot
(near Toys R Us)

1. Easy and fun way to raise funds for GCA.
2. Volunteers are needed to staff the booth for two-hour shifts during the hours of operation. See Lori Rohleder for more information.
3. Tell your family & friends to get their fireworks from the friendliest booth in town!

Calendar of Events

Click on the highlighted dates - the events are shown on the right.