BACKYARD BIBLE CLUB 08

What a great time we had sharing the message of Jesus Christ with boys and girls in Brenda's "Backyard". Thanks to all the workers who helped this week. We had 16 workers from our body who helped in the effort, and more than 20 neighborhood kids and a few of our own who were touched by their efforts. A special thanks goes to Brenda Jones for opening her home and getting the area prepared for us to minister to the children. Robin Potter was such a blessing with the guitar, as was all the others who helped with crafts, refreshments, stories, and recreation. We are planning a follow up with these children later this summer so if you missed out on helping this week, you can get another chance later on.

I know a lot of you were disappointed that we did not have a VBS this summer. I hope that next year we can do so, but I believe with God calling us to win our community, we must continue to do BYBC's as well. We met many unchurched people this week, and I trust that we made an impact on their lives that will cause them to desire Jesus.

TBNA Ice Cream Social

Although the morning started out with rain, there was still time to set things up before the Ice Cream Social and enjoy a glorious day with all the groups that were able to attend. In addition to the people from the community, the TBNA had also invited the fire department and a finger printing unit from the police department.

The kids enjoyed chalk drawing, bubble making, ice cream, whiffle ball and ultimate frisbee. Many of the teens and adults played volleyball and the rest of the adults tried to stay out of the sun that eventually beat down on those manning the various booths. Here are some pictures as things were starting off:

Baby Bengal Shower

Baby Shower!

We are filled with joy and happy to say

A new baby boy, Zane Thomas

Is on the way!

You are invited to a baby shower for

Sara Johnson

Sunday June 29th at 3pm

3442 Winthrop Dr.

RSVP to Carol (859) 296-1296

Registered at Babies R Us and Walmart

E-votional

Sha-Whaaat?

Joel 2:28 It will come about

after this that I will pour

out My Spirit on all mankind

Sun down on Monday begins the Feast of Shavuot a.k.a. the feast of weeks or Pentecost. This is the fourth Biblically mandated feast that was literally fulfilled on the day of the feast with the birth of the Church. So happy birthday to you and me! We really should throw a party.

The Great I AM led His chosen people through the Red Sea, and gathered them before Him at the base of Mount Sinai. The awesome presence of the Shekinah Glory caused those freed from Egyptian bondage to stand in fear and wonder. Jewish tradition says it was on Zman Matan Torah (a rabbinic name for Shavuot, meaning the "Season of the Giving of the Law"), that the Law of Moses was given to Israel.

Many centuries later, another multitude was gathered on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem for the Shavuot (Pentecost) feast. The message of the New Covenant, first promised by the Jewish prophets, would now find its voice once again among those whom Messiah called His friends:

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. Acts 2:1-5

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, Peter preached Messiah's Resurrection, and many put their trust in the Lamb slain for their salvation. They were set loose from the chains of their own sin… freed forever, by God’s amazing grace. As prophesied, God's law was written on their hearts and the church was born.

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. Acts 2:41-43

Identifying with Yeshua HaMaschiach (Jesus, the Christ), they were all baptized immediately. In a very special way, these three thousand Jewish believers were the first-fruits fulfillment of the Feast of Pentecost.

Next to the gospel accounts of the Resurrection, I think the story of the birth of Messiah's Bride on Shavuot is my favorite passage of Scripture. Pictures of God’s amazing power flash in my mind as the Church drew her first Holy Spirit breath and proclaimed her birth with boldness. The opening strains of God’s symphony of Good News fell first on the ears of His chosen people. They had come from all over the world to be present in Jerusalem for the harvest celebration.

Returning to their homes among the Nations, these new Jewish believers would testify as to what they had seen and heard in their own language on that day of new beginnings… to the Jew first and also to the Greek. They turned the world right-side up in just a few decades.

Seated by His Father’s side, our anxious Bridegroom is watching and counting down to the appointed day when He will return and take His beloved back to the place He has been preparing for over two thousand years.

For a more in depth study of the fulfillment of the Feast of Pentecost click here and download for free, Dr. Fruchtenbaum's Messianic Bible Study on The Feast of Shavuot (Weeks or Pentecost).

Provided in part by Arlie Francis, Dr. Fruchtenbaum, and Ariel Ministries

WALKING OUT THE CALLING

Greetings! I want to introduce my family to you. I am Mike, the husband of Lisa (far right) and the father of Emily, Jennifer, and Amanda (between mom and dad). All three of our girls are married and have children themselves, blessing Lisa and I with seven grandchildren. I am also the pastor (sheepdog) of the most wonderful and free people on the planet, The Church at Tatesbrook. This is my first time sharing on the blog, so bear with me.

I want to encourage you concerning your calling. Please set aside your preconceived notions about church and its structure. I have pastored for over thirty years, and one thing I have learned is, " I DON'T TELL STRANGERS THAT I AM A PASTOR!" I am not ashamed of my specific calling, but I know that today's church has established a pecking order within its ranks that is unbiblical and confusing. So, for this writing, I want you to lay aside your knowledge of "church" and let Holy Spirit bless you with His encouragement.

When you received Jesus into your life as Savior and Lord, a marvelous transition took place. Actually it was a creation that took place. You became a part of a brand new species called the children of God. That is why the word states that you are a "joint-heir" with Jesus. He is your elder brother. As He entered your life, he birthed His Spirit in your dead spirit and you become one with Him. It was an eternal act that cannot be undone. No one can separate you from such a love (Romans 8). Not only did He save you from sin, but He also saved you from the law, yourself, the world, and Satan. You are free as free can be! Now you can sit in the clouds, flap your angel wings and play your harp on the front porch of your pimped out mansion for eternity!!!! Sounds kind of boring doesn't it? Well, that is not how it goes except in the minds of American Christians who believe that the primary reason they are saved is to go to heaven and miss hell.

You have been set free for the purpose of knowing the Father as the Son knows the Father. You have been called to know Him intimately. Sounds boring? scary? impossible? Not if you understand the purpose of this calling. Let me give you an earthly example of how your calling is to be lived out. The one person on this earth that I know better than anyone else is my wife Lisa. The reason I know her or want to know her is because she is my wife. I am "called" her husband. She is "called" my wife. We chose each other, because we desired to know each other. When I first met her, I had known about her because she was the sister of one of my high school buddies. (at the time Lisa was 10 years old and playing with dolls) Later, when we began to date, I fell for her. I courted her and not long after that we were at the altar getting married. I had seen her with my eyes, but now I began to see her with my heart. I became committed to her by a vow that we made to each other and to the Father to become husband and wife. We became one with each other, and our love and admiration for each other has grown over the 32 years we have been married. We know each other! My calling as her husband is developed and fulfilled by me resting in the love that I have for her and she has for me. I would not think twice to lay my life down for her, nor her for me. I rest in the fact that I am her priest, provider and protector. It comes natural. I work, and I return to her. I have a place with her. We discuss our lives, our hopes, our dreams. We are in agreement on those things that our pertinent to our existence as husband and wife. We will remain that way until death parts us. That is our calling as a husband and wife.

Now, how about our calling as a believer. Same principle as above. (God actually gave us marriage so we could understand His heart and desire for us and ours for Him) You knew about Him, but one day you fell for Him. You saw Jesus with your heart and knew that you needed Him. He is called your husband, and He has chosen you and called you His bride. Your calling from Him is not based upon your performance of duty of good deeds, but is is based upon you resting in the love He has for you and you have for Him. Your calling? Don't make it an "it" but live it through "Him".

If we all will see Him as He is, love Him as He desires to be loved, then our purpose in life will produce His fullness through our body.

Quotables

An excerpt from Sit, Walk, Stand

by Watchman Nee

"Our deliverance from sin is based, not on what we can do, nor even on what God is going to do for us, but on what he has already done for us in Christ. When that fact dawns upon us and we rest back upon it (Rom. 6:11), then we have found the secret of a holy life.... The secret of deliverance from sin is not to do something but to rest on what God has done.