Sunday, March 18, 2007

Practical Atheism

Gracious and Forgiving God,

Your abundant grace has been manifested to us every day. Your kindness and mercy have overflowed heaven’s gates and descended upon us. Because of it we have thrived and blossomed like the spring flowers. Not one thing has been withheld from us, but we have received a boundless portion of good things.

We acknowledge that we have been given much, and therefore much is required of us. That is why we bow our heads before you this morning.

We have not sought to glorify you with glad hearts, nor have we given you the thanks that you deserve. We have been forgetful of your many kindnesses and we have not acknowledged your favorable presence in our lives. Much to our shame we have acted like God-deniers. We have mimicked the atheists of the world by our lack of love and homage.

Lord, forgive us for not loving you with all of our heart, mind and strength. Forgive us for not duly recognizing our blessed estate as your covenant people. We know that we have incurred much guilt because of this, more than those you have not covenanted with. And we understand how our unfaithfulness provokes you to wrath. But we pray that you would not hold these wicked sins against us.

Moreover, we ask that you might renew our minds and transform our hearts. Though you are unseen, we ask that you might help us to perceive you with they eyes faith. May your presence be more real to us than our hardened hearts now admit.

Give us the heart of Christ, whose eyes were ever set upon you. And compel our souls to regard your infinite majesty and glory.

For we ask this in the Name of the One who died and rose again. Amen

Friday, March 16, 2007

CRF Missionary Jamie Thornton

CRF is dedicated to the fulfilment of the great commission. Therefore we prayerfully and financially support Jamie and Julia Thornton as they minister in the Ukraine. Below you will find a brief bio. of the Thorntons. You may also follow their work at http://thorntonsinukraine.blogspot.com/index.html.

Jamie became a Christian at a church youth retreat in 1988. He grew through discipleship and the ministry of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) while studying engineering at the University of Toledo.

His call to missions came during his first short-term missions trip to Russia in 1992, where he saw a people without hope and knew the gospel was the only remedy. It was also on this trip that he met Julia. Julia was born and raised in Russia. She became a Christian just prior to the break-up of the former Soviet Union in 1991. They were married in 1996.

In preparation for the mission field, Jamie and Julia went to seminary after they were married. Jamie has a M. Div. and is ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America. Julia has an M.A. in theological studies.

Jamie's vision is to see the church that exists strengthened and growing through church planting. Julia's vision for Ukraine is to see strong Christian families being established and for women to be godly keepers of the home, loving their husbands and their children (Titus 2:4,5). Please pray for the Thorntons as they serve in Ukraine by planting churches, training future leaders, and discipling young families. Also pray for their children, Nadia (9/12/98), Timothy (10/23/01), Anna (7/18/03).

Monday, March 5, 2007

A Prayer Offered at the Annual Senior Citzen's Memorial Service

Compassionate Father,

We look to you in this hour with humility in our hearts. And we acknowledge that you are the author of life, and the one who takes it away. You formed us in our mother’s womb and gave us breath. But you have also ordained the day we breath our last.

As we bow our heads, we wish to thank you for the gift of life. We thank you for the days that you have given us. You are to be praised because we know we do not deserve to experience life at all. Though we have sinned against your infinite goodness, and persistently offended you in grievous ways, you have been merciful to us, and you have granted us many days.

Moreover, you have been good in supplying a way of salvation—a way to eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ. You saw fit to send forth your Son into this world. And you made him to die on the behalf of sinners like us. And to those who believe in him you give victory over the grave.

We rejoice that the grave could not hold him, and through him we have the hope of the Resurrection. From our hearts we unite to thank-you for the Grave Conqueror. And we commend ourselves to your continual care.

Lord, gathered here today are those who mourn the loss of friends and family. And I beseech you on their behalf. May you send forth your Spirit into their hearts to console them. I ask that you might help them to grieve. Give then eyes that look unto Jesus, the one who gives peace to ailing hearts. And may they find consolation in Him and him alone.