FELLOWSHIP FOOTNOTES

Newsletter of Hamilton Bible Fellowship
April 2008

     I would like to do some “lateral” thinking this month . . . (pun intended). Some have employed this to help  balance their thinking about spiritual life. Most often cited is the “trilateral” - three equal legs of “faith, reason and tradition.” Others add “experience” - but then you have four legs, which makes balancing more difficult (if you’ve ever tried to level a table). I find both of these problematic at best.
     I prefer the “Puritan quadrilateral.” Perhaps I should give a brief description of the term “Puritan.” Maybe the label triggers in us images of early New England pilgrims who wore funny shoes and hats and established Thanksgiving. This was originally a derisive label, not applied by those so designated themselves, but by opponents who wished to describe them in a concise and unflattering manner - as arrogant and overly zealous. They were viewed much like “Fundamentalists” of 20th century America and “Evangelicals” currently. But they were quite different - the opposite of the condescending arrogance that too often is associated with these more modern labels. Rooted in “old” England of the 17th century, they were indeed devout, but also humble (having a firm grasp of the doctrines of depravity and redemption), thoughtful (thoroughly biblical in orientation) and spiritual (recognizing dependence on the Spirit of God for everything good). This is their “quadrilateral:” the practice of evangelism; the preserving of truth; the promotion of unity, and the pursuit of maturity among believers. Actually, this captures the essence of Paul’s directive to his protege, Timothy:

All Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting,
and training in righteousness, so that the person of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work. In the presence of God and of Jesus Christ,
who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his
kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and
out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful
instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound
doctrine; instead, to suit their own desires they will gather around them a great
number of teachers to say what their own ears want to hear.
2 Timothy 3:16 - 4:3

     This passage speaks for itself. The Puritans gave us a great example of applying its principles in the life of the church - in worship, teaching, ministry and evangelism. These words constitute the “HBF quadrilateral;” I have intentionally repeated them here because we have used them to help define our practice since we began, 23 years ago. This is in line with the Puritans’ version. Would that we also go beyond labels to exemplify humility, thoughtfulness and spirituality. More on this Sunday - as we consider the State of the Church.

NEWS AND PRAYER UPDATE:

Pray for health concerns for Jean Deiter, Linda Cox, John Hubbard, Meghan Schindler, the Towers, the Truppners, the Goodwins and anyone else who is currently struggling.

Pray for Carolyn Hsu and Chris & Lin Henke; Whitney Randolph; and Keiko Yoshino, who are all overseas for the semester -  that they all continue to thrive.

Pray for continued progress on the building. The focus is currently on the kitchen; we will then turn to the adult rooms (study & reception) and the lobby floor. This summer we will concentrate on finishing the few remaining outside items on the building itself and the (bigger) task of finishing and landscaping the site.


THE QUOTE CORNER




Take heed to yourselves, lest you be void of that saving grace of God
which you offer to others. - Richard Baxter, The Reformed Pastor

The Reformers left to the church expositions of what our gracious God
does for us; the Puritan legacy is of what the same God does in us.
- J. I. Packer, The Quest for Godliness







COMING EVENTS CALENDAR:

Reminder of weekly meetings: Women’s Study, 1:00 PM Mondays - locations announced on Sundays; Study in Acts, 7:30-8:45 PM Wednesdays at the church building; Men’s Breakfast 6:15-7:30 Thursdays at Coxes’.

HBF Annual Meeting/State of the Church: Sunday April 6th during the latter half of the morning service.

Sunday, April 27th: Appreciation Party for Jen McGowan, 5:30 at Barb Hipsley’s. Jen is a graduating Hamilton College student who has spent significant time the last four years volunteering with Bob & Erica Merithew in Young Life ministry to HCS kids. It is a surprise, and you can contribute to a gift that will be presented to her. For more details see Barb.

April Birthdays: 4 Kayla Cady; 14 Mike Chang; 15 Barb Schindler; 20 Susan Nolen & April Cady;
                           25 Candy Hayes

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