New
Life News – September 2008
(A
monthly publication of the New Life Emmaus Community)
FOOD FOR THOUGHT : Please forward items that you feel might be appropriate for this section to Rakbuck@flash.net . This month’s Food for Thought was sent in by Bill Bennett and is entitled “WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING”
A message every adult should read because children are watching you and doing as you do, not as you say.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew that there is a God I could always talk to, and I learned to trust in Him.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing, and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good, and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and wanted to say, Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.'
NEXT
GATHERING: The September gathering will take place this
coming Tuesday at 7:00 pm, September 18th at New Hope UMC. Directions:
Take 1604 and exit in Universal City at Kitty Hawk. Proceed west on
Kitty Hawk and turn left at Kitty Hawk Middle School. The church will be about one mile down on the
right. Join us as we consecrate the team for Men’s
Walk 1468.
2008 GATHERING SCHEDULE :
September 16 New Hope UMC, 10155 Old Cimarron Tr, Converse, TX 78109 210-658-1220
October 21 Bethany
UMC, 4102 Eisenhauer, SA, TX 78218 210-655-5473
November 18 St Andrew's UMC, 7222
Robinhood, S.A., TX 78209 210-824-2465
December (no gathering scheduled)
January 20 Rolling
Oaks Christian, 7150 Stahl Rd, SA, TX 78247 210-654-1744
If your
church/community is interested in joining the New Life Emmaus community for
Northeast San Antonio, please contact the Lay Leaders to be added to the 2008
listing.
LOCAL
CHURCH GATHERINGS :
We are posting the day & date of local church gatherings
in the newsletter to invite others to come.
Please update this information by replying to this newsletter if your
church changes/cancels your meeting.
Local Gatherings scheduled:
Alamo UMC: 2nd Sunday of every month, 12:15 pm, pot luck.
First UMC New Braunfels: 4th Tuesday of every month, 7 pm.
Northern Hills UMC: Last Monday of every month, 7 pm.
Schertz UMC: 1st Tuesday of every month, 7 pm.
St Andrew's UMC: Fridays, quarterly.
Universal City UMC: 1st Sunday, every even month 7 pm – Next
Gathering will be in October.
2008
WALK SCHEDULE :
Walk# Dates Lay
Director Site
1468M Oct 16 –
19 Rick Bernhardt Mt Wesley
WALK 1468 UPDATE: We have had our
second team meeting and I can see the Holy Spirit is working through the team
as we prepare for the Walk. The Agape Board still has a few openings that
need to be filled and most important we need pilgrims. At this time, we
have 8 men signed up and confirmed for the Walk. We need 12 more to sign
up before the end of September to make the Walk. The team will be
consecrated at this month’s Gathering which will be held at New Hope UMC this
coming Tuesday. Please keep the team and the pilgrims of Walk 1468 in
your prayers.
Thank you
Rick Bernhardt
PUN OF THE MONTHJJJ :
Courtesy of Neil Bys
A man walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt under his arm and says:
"A beer please, and one for the road."
MEN OF LIGHT CONFERENCE:
I want to share with
you some information about Men of Light and ask for your support and help in
getting the information out and signing up men from your churches to attend
their upcoming event on September 19th and 20th 2008.
Purpose: The primary purpose of Men of Light is to
enliven men in the Christian faith to walk according to the Gospel of Jesus
Christ and live into the calling of a Christian man.
Mission Statement: The mission of Men of Light is to empower men
to accept their calling to be the leaders God intended them to be in their
homes, the community and the world.
Goals:
Upcoming Conference Information:
“Taking Hold”
South Texas Men’s Conference
September 19th-20th, 2008
Community Bible Church
2477 N Loop 1604 East
San Antonio, Texas
Friday, Sept 19th – Check –In
begins at 5:30. Conference time is 6:00 P.M.-10:00 P.M.
Saturday, Sept. 20th – Conference
time is 8:30 A.M. – Noon.
Topics Include:
The Reality Men Face
Moving Beyond the Past
Taking Hold of Your Purpose
Staking Claim to What’s Right
Speakers Include:
Pastor Steve Coker
Ken Freeman
Pastor Robert Emmitt
Pastor Rander Draper
Coach Jim Rackley
Jon Sheptock
Cost:
Tickets on-line are $30.
Discounts available for groups of 25 or more.
$39 at the door. I have a sign-up sheet.
I appreciate your help and
support in getting this information the widest possible dissemination.
Please let me know if you have any questions. The Men of
Light website is at: http://www.menoflight.org/ . I also have a 5 minute DVD with
excerpts from their conference in May. In addition, Pastor Steve Coker is
available to speak with groups concerning Men of Light.
Charlie Farrell
210-215-9378
sweetspot@earthlink.net
PRAYER REQUESTS :
In order to provide
timely response in this area, we request that you forward any prayer requests
that you have by “reply” to this letter.
Those requests will be sent out VIA immediate distribution to all
members of the New Life e-mail chain. The Greater New Braunfels Emmaus Community
extends heartfelt sympathy to Hub and Colleen Greenlees on the deaths of their
son and daughter-in-law. There are 3
young children in the family and we ask that you pray for Hub and Colleen as
they care for and minister to these children during this difficult time. FUMC, New Braunfels
PRAYER
VIGILS
: If you are a Prayer Vigil
coordinator for your local church, don’t hesitate to reply to this email if you
are having trouble filling your requests.
We’ll put out an e-mail alert and get them filled ASAP. If you have questions contact Joanne Lawrence
at Granny9001@hotmail.com .
NEW
LIFE WEB SITE : Check it out at http://www.gbgm-umc.org/newlife-sanantonio
.
CLOSING THOUGHTS : “92 YEAR OLD PREACHER” anonymous sent in by Phill Swinney
While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a Church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age. After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait, to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak...
'When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me... the only thing that would comfort was this verse.........
'Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
We are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me...
The Bible tells me so.'
When he finished, the church was quiet. You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it. A pastor once stated, 'I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best.'
'Senior version of Jesus Loves Me'
Here is a new version just for us who have white hair or no hair at all. For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you others check out this newest version of Jesus Loves Me.
JESUS LOVES ME
Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS)
YES, JESUS LOVES ME.. YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.
(CHORUS)
When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song.
Telling me in words so clear,
'Have no fear, for I am near.'
(CHORUS)
When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love
(CHORUS)
I love Jesus, does He know?
Have I ever told Him so?
Jesus loves to hear me say,
That I love Him every day.
(CHORUS)