Blessings to you, family and friends.  Here’s your update for the week.

There was a lot happening last Sunday.  We had a new visitor from Brentwood who couldn’t wait to tell us all how much the Lord has done for him.  I think the Lord may have led him to speak out at that moment, even though it might have seemed out of place.  Priscilla taught us about God’s mercy and grace and the necessity of our obedience.  Pastor David challenged us to consider what it would mean if we did get the same proof that Thomas got after doubting his resurrection without seeing the evidence for himself.  Are we ready for the responsibility that caries?

At the end of the service we took a moment to pray for Tim with Mary and the children.  Cindy has been keeping us updated on his progress.  He is improving but if things follow their natural course it will take some time for him to recover.  However we believe in a supernatural God!  We put our trust in Him whatever the answer, but we’re asking for a miraculous recovery.  I know we’ll hear Tim giving God the glory!  Pray for the rest of the family too.

I was somewhat conflicted about what the message this Sunday should be.  We’ve seen so much trouble, I wanted to offer something encouraging and uplifting.  What I feel I need to talk about doesn’t exactly seem to fit that description, but the more I consider it, the more I see that mercy is as much a part of this message as the severity.  In that we may take much comfort.  I knwo I do.

We often get the question, “what does repent mean?”  Whether it is asked with sencerity I will not judge, but I think it’s time the question was answered with completeness.  It is one of those words you’ll rarely hear outside the walls of a church.  Even in church, I don’t think we hear it enough.  When you study the scriptures, you find it everywhere.  When somebody’s preaching, they’re almost always preaching repentance.  It’s obviously pretty important.  So what is it really?  Is it the prayer you say when you come forward to “get saved?”  Is it saying you’re sorry?  That’s part of it, but you can do those things and never really repent.  Lets start from Luke 13:1-9 and try to really answer that question.