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Weekly Update from the Senior Pastor
June 1, 2006 
Dear Family and Friends,
Jehovah Nissi: Last Sunday Bob took another odd set of old Hebrew words and showed a new slice of God’s character. Our God is the God who covers us in the battle. He is above it all—whatever “it” is! No matter how mighty our adversity we need not fear for we serve under the covering of the Almighty.
This Sunday we explore “Adonai,” the most common name of God in the Old Testament and the most common name for Jesus in the New Testament. Over 6,000 times in the Old Testament Yahweh is called the LORD and over 500 times in the New Testament Jesus is honored as Lord, such as Thomas’ great confession: “My Lord and my God.” John 20:28. This name goes right to the heart of our side of the Christian equation, for a Christian is not someone who simply believes the Gospel that Jesus died on the Cross to save lost sinners, but a Christian is someone, anyone, who believes in that salvation and receives Jesus as Lord:
“For whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” Romans 10:9
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD.” Romans 6:23
UPDATES about FUTURE STUFF:
DAMASCUS HIGH SCHOOL: Our plan is to transition into the Damascus High School on September 24th. The use of the High School auditorium, classrooms, cafeteria, and perhaps some lighting equipment will run around $6,000 per month, versus the roughly $24,000 a month we pay now for our lease excluding office space rent. After some initial start-up and moving expenses, this will allow us to begin saving significantly toward our new facility. This will also allow us to unite in one service during the interim to grow, plan and dream toward our new campus.
A GIFT: Phil and Debbie Catron are not only Honduras junkies who take significant leadership and support of mission teams who take the annual trek to Copan. They are owners of NaturaLawn of America which has offices on the corner of Route 27 and Gue Road just a mile north of our current location. The smaller of their two buildings is around 2,000 square feet and they have agreed to let us use that building to house our offices in the interim—with no rent! This is such a gift and a real answer to prayer, again allowing us to save toward our future once we do the minimal interior redesign needed to pack us in.
IN THE PATH: On May 23 the Frederick County Commissioners approved a plan for 14,000 new homes in the 47,000 acre New Market area on the Western side of our property. As those homes go up and folks move in, our church will go up as a lighthouse on a hill—a place for equipping us to be what Jesus has already declared we are: “You are the light of the world. Let your light shine that others may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” The real Home of Light is our hearts, for we are the temple of God in which the Holy Spirit dwells…so, let it shine!
STAFF PLANS: Working with our ministry leaders, the staff is planning ways to make our new Mission statement tangible by providing tools and opportunities for removing the barriers that hinder our lives from being a life-giving light; barriers such as over-busy, financially overburdened lives, addictions, failing relationships or marriages, inadequate parenting skills, pornography, and the lack of deep purpose and security. Colossians 2:3 says that in Jesus Christ is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, so that those who truly follow Him should be experiencing increasing freedom from life’s illusions and delusions. We want to equip singles and married, young and old, to see the world through the inner illumination of Jesus’ presence: “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness.” Matthew 6:23. Let’s choose to keep growing into a life of Light!
COMING UP SOON FOR THE KIDS: SWIM camp (which is NOT about water, but about discovering your spiritual gifts early) from July 31- Aug. 4; and our Vacation Bible School Fiesta from July 2-7 with the 4th off; and Reptile World on July 16th. You can register for SWIM-camp and Fiesta VBS this Sunday.
Sunday we will embrace the name the angels love: “For unto you is born this day a Savior, who is Christ the LORD.”
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