"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

Do you notice how Paul offers encouragement to the Colossians to further their faith in Christ through their daily lives?  Too often we think of our Christian life as being a destination that we have arrived at.  The divine mystery that is Christ living in us is not completely built in an instance through our baptism but is founded in our immersion into Christ and is built upon for the rest of our lives.  If we are to be rooted in Christ as Paul states than we are to draw our nourishment from him and his Word.  Where do we draw our life’s nourishment from?  We eat and drink as all creatures do but that is not what this passage refers to.  Where do we draw our nourishment for our heart, mind, and soul from?  Is it from TV?  Radio?  Music?  Sports?  Books?  The practices we engage in during our free time often show us where we draw this nourishment from.  To be firmly rooted in Christ we must enter into where God is.  Spending time in personal devotion to God through the reading of scripture and prayer is a necessity for our lives if we are to grow in Christ.  The Lord has called us to be his holy people.  If someone was observing your life this past week what would they think were your central priorities?  From what sources are you drawing your nourishment from?

May God Bless Your Week,
Brad

LTC will not meet Sunday night due to Church Conversation.

Shane has given us a chance to see an example of the baskets that the donated popcorn goes into and given to newcomers of Abilene as an outreach ministry.  This basket is located in the foyer and will be there for a couple of weeks.  Please continue to give popcorn and money donations for this ministry.

Medina Children’s Home will send their truck for our winter collection during the week of March 28.  They have asked us to collect toilet paper.  There will be boxes in the foyer for your donations.

There are February and March calendars for the youth on Brad’s door.  Anyone willing to host a youth devotional, please let Brad know.

Teachers needed!  There is a sign-up list on the nursery if you would like to help.

YOUTH
Attention!  The youth group is putting together an activity room.  They would be happy to accept any donations of televisions, VCRs, DVD players, a pool table, a foosball table, air hockey, cards and board games.

CHILDREN
Karen and Kathy would like everyone to be on the watch for pictures of animals that they could cut out of magazines, post cards, etcetera.  The children will be making an animal collage for a take-home project during VBS.  They hope to have a big turn out and need everyone to help them out with this.

STATISTICS FOR FEBRUARY 20, 2004