Pastor Paul's Paragraphs

     Wow, where has the summer gone? As I write, the new school year is only weeks away. Vacation times are fast approaching or already over. The sun is rising each morning at a later time than it did a few weeks ago. Even though many plants are still growing, blooming and producing, some of the garden flowers and goodies are now past. I find myself thinking in terms of the fall season. So much of life seems to pass like a jet swishing by with a speed that breaks the sound barrier. Is it just me, or do your days seem to be gone like the wind? James 4 speaks of our life being a "vapor" that appears and then is quickly gone. Have you ever removed the lid from a pot of boiling water and experienced the short life span of the vapor? Job 7:6 uses the words "swifter than a weaver's shuttle" and "life is but a breath." King David says in Psalms 39:5, "Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You." Psalm 89:47 records "Remember how short my time is…."

      We could discuss at length those events that cause us to be introspective with life. Maybe it is the state of our nation. Perhaps it is our age which brings a touch of maturity as we learn to walk with the Lord in a more intimate way. Priorities get rearranged, doctor visits come more frequent and routine medical tests become part of life. We find ourselves Googling ways to help maintain health and youthfulness. We spend time watching our kids grow and reflecting on family as we gaze upon pictures and photo albums. The mirror does not lie and what we see is what we get. The Bible speaks of the importance of "Sabbath Rest," and we discover our need for a nap. On a more frequent basis we face the reality of life and death, birth and burial. On a lighter side, our gold is found in our teeth and silver describes a hair color instead of our wealth.

      A few verses from Ecclesiastes stand out with me after a recent in-depth study.

     2:24: "Nothing is better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God."

     3:10: "I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied."

     4:9-10: "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up."

     12:13-14: "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil."

     And one more verse: Psalm 90:12: "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

      May the Lord be a blessing to you today as you seek to both walk with and live for Him. Don't blink: Christmas is less than 150 days away.

      Pastor Paul

Guest Speakers

Sunday, August 2, 2009
Pastor Mel Beals

Sunday, August 9, 2009
Dr. Dave Nicholas

GCA/Preschool Upcoming Special Dates

• August 3 Teachers back to work for 2009-2010 school year
  
  
• August 10 Preschool break for teachers to prepare for 2009-2010 school year
  
  
• August 16 GCA Teacher Dedication during 10:30 AM Sunday service
  
  
• August 17 First Day of School
  
  
• August 27 Back-to-School Night - 6:00 PM

Baptismal Service

A water baptism service is scheduled for Sunday, August 16, 2009. If you would like more information about being baptized, please see Pastor Paul or Bob Schultz.

Fall Kick-off Dinner & Meeting

Wednesday, August 26
Dinner at 6:00 PM, Meeting following Dinner

The leaders of our teen and children’s Wednesday night programs will present the plans and curriculum for the coming school year. For more information, please see Terry Sloan or Trish Sexauer.

Missionary News

A quick note from the Farleys as they prepare to come home.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

As I write this Tim is in Iquitos at an important pastor’s conference with three other ABWE missionaries. Meanwhile I am surrounded by boxes and bins as Hannah and I try to finish up as much of the packing as possible while Tim is gone. We told the landlord that we will be out on Friday, July 31, which means that there is a lot to do in the next three days. Praise the Lord Tim returns tonight to help move everything into storage. We will be staying with our co-workers and then leaving for Lima on Monday, August 3. Our Field Team has meetings during the week and then we fly out of Lima on Sunday, August 9, arriving in Sacramento on Monday, August 10. We will be going directly to our “home for a year” on Daphne Lane. Thank you so much, Claude and Rosie, for renting us your place for our time home. praise the Lord that we had a great week of ministry with the 25 teens and leaders that came to Chiclayo from one of our supporting churches a week ago. We were able to send some suitcases and boxes back with them and I heard yesterday that all have now arrived and appear to be in good condition; it is a long story but some got left behind in Panama when the flight was overbooked.

Please pray: That all will come together over these next few days and that the landLord will return our deposit. For Hannah as she says goodbye to her friends – she will be staying in the U.S. to attend college at the end of our furlough. For all of us as we leave the ministries here and say goodbye. That the Peruvians would step up and do their part. That all the paperwork for leaving the country gets taken care of so that when we return there won’t be any problems. For safety in travels and that the luggage arrives with us.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. We love you all and are looking forward to seeing you all very soon.

Love, Virgie for Tim and Hannah, too

Youth Activity

Saturday, August 15

Swimming from 3-6 PM
Meet at Krista Sloan’s parents’ home located at 575 Camino Cortez, Yuba City.
Bring a snack and 2 liter soda to share. Don’t forget to bring your towels!

Dinner and Movie from 6-9 PM
Meet at the Sloan residence
located at 710 Katherine Court, YC.

Invite a friend!

Escape The Heat

Pilot Lake Work Weekend

August 20-22, 2009

Help get Pilot Lake ready for the fall season. Work duties include: painting, clean-up, and general campground repairs. If you would like to volunteer to work a day or two, please see Russ Rohleder as soon as possible.

If you are interested in riding up to Pilot Lake with Pastor Paul for the day on Friday, August 20, please let him know as soon as possible.

Calling All Bargain Shoppers

     As many of you parents start the daunting task of back to school shopping, keep an eye open for special offers that can also help you fill your Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes.

Pencils, pens, notepads are all great gift ideas.