FELLOWSHIP FOOTNOTES
Newsletter of Hamilton Bible Fellowship June 2009

Remember the three foundational principles of the gospel? They serve as a summary of biblical teaching:

There is a lot imbedded in these three statements, but they are easy to remember as a concise summary of God’s purposes amidst human sinfulness. Even more succinct: God is good; humans are bad; God intervenes! Pondering the greater depths of these, we see answers to many objections people raise, particularly about the problems of evil and God’s goodness (He is good, we are not); those who haven’t yet heard (He is still intervening); hypocrites (we are still messing up). To help flesh it out more, we can remember three words that represent what I’ll call “the three spiritual ideas:” Love; Grace; Faith.

These ideas need to be biblically defined. God’s love is his only motive toward us - neither romanticized or sentimental, it is demonstrated in that he gave us his son (himself, in human form) to die for us. Based on this is God’s grace (the demonstration!), giving us what we don’t deserve (in any way or capacity). Faith is our response of simply receiving what God gives. This is captured best in this text from Ephesians 2:

Now God who is rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he has loved us,
even while we were dead in transgressions, has made us alive together with Christ.
For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith; and this is not from yourselves,
but the gift of God.
vs. 4-5, 8

It is crucial to remind ourselves that no one is saved (delivered from the consequences of sin) apart from divine intervention. It is not from ourselves. A rich and influential person asked Jesus what he should do to inherit eternal life, and though this individual had a good track record, he was unwilling to let go of his wealth. Peter then commented that the disciples had done that, but the question remained: “Who can be saved?” Jesus’ answer: “What is impossible with people is possible with God.” (See Luke 18:18-30). The way we engage in the dynamic of God’s intervention is through prayer. We can never manipulate, but we are always invited to be a part of, what God is doing. Prayer is how we connect. So - for whom are you praying, specifically? God can and will open up opportunities, and people’s hearts. He will surprise us! Nearly 36 years ago I was the object of someone’s specific prayers; God intervened through that person to draw me to himself. God wants to so use us.

NEWS AND PRAYER UPDATE:

I have included with this newsletter the text (minus the dialogue) from Sunday’s “Woman at the Barge.” Thanks to Keslie Nolen for lending her thespian skills.

Pray for: Buttons transition to Massachusetts; Jordan Cox (job); Alex (successful heart transplant); Martha Fisher (potential lung transplant); parents with (increasing) needs; Young Life in Hamilton; folks facing job reductions or loss; Babcock’s friends Brian & Colleen (cancer); Tony Martinez; the Leos; the Thiagarajans.

The opening concert of the Chenango Music Fest scheduled at HBF this month has fallen victim to financial restraints. We will try to schedule the Colgate Chamber Players for the Fall.

June Birthdays: 1 Jim Fister; 9 Sophie Fister; 10 Michael Hayes; 11 Chris Henke; 20 Jack Geertsema, John Hubbard; 29 Amber Nelson

THE QUOTE CORNER

The gospel does not consist of what we can do for ourselves,
but what God stands ready to do for us.


COMING EVENTS CALENDAR

Men’s Breakfast. Saturday June 6th, 8:00 - 9:30 at the Church. Sunday School and Tuesday Adult Bible Study will continue through June.

First two Syracuse Chiefs church bulletin nights are Mondays, June 15th & 22nd. Watch Sunday for sign-up.

HBF Church Picnic will be this month (date & place TBA). Let’s think of ways to make it outreach oriented!

We have tentatively scheduled a visit from missionary Lucy Nacionales for Saturday, August 1st. It will include a pot-luck dinner followed by a presentation of her ministry.

THE WOMAN AT THE BARGE

We are so programmed these days, with so many things to do - especially you teenagers, right? But the basic idea of prayer, is to stop doing. Look at the postures people assume when they pray: closing the eyes, bowing the head, clasping the hands, even getting on the knees - You can’t do anything else when you’re doing these things! So first - prayer is about stopping. Why? Because it shows that we are dependent, we can’t do everything, we can’t figure everything out, we can’t control everything. We all need and depend on people and things outside of ourselves. You depend on your parents a lot, now. But even when you’re out of college (wherever you choose to go), not living with your parents anymore, you’ll still be dependent. We are all much more dependent than we think, just in changing ways as we go through life. Some day your parents might be dependent on you! Prayer is how we can recognize this, our dependence on something, someone much greater than ourselves. Ultimately, God is that something, that someone. It’s a comfort, an encouragement to know that we don’t have to do it all, to hold it all together - ourselves! In prayer, we recognize that God is in control . . . yet, we still make real decisions! . . . Like, where to go to college. God accomplishes his purposes, through the decisions we make.

This is what praying is about. Basically, it’s talking to God. We don’t have to be in a church, we don’t have to talk a funny way, we don’t even have to assume one of those postures (sometimes those aren’t bad!). It’s like having a cell phone on God’s network - we can talk to him anytime, anywhere. Unlimited minutes! You’ll never get his voice mail. That’s part of a relationship with him - like with your friends, wherever they are, wherever you are. It’s also important that we listen, like in any relationship. God has chosen to communicate with us in a way that is easy to hear - it takes no special insight or religious training or anything like that. He has written down what he wants to say to us; we call it the Bible. Many people think the Bible is a book of myths and fanciful stories. It does contain a lot of stories, but they aren’t mythological. They’re about real people living with real struggles, like us - all as they relate to God. There’s also some poetry, some proverbial wisdom . . . and in the newer part, the stories and sayings from Jesus life, an account of the beginnings of the early church, and letters written to help some of the original local churches, in real places. All of this God preserved over thousands of years, for us - because the principles we find there are indispensable and necessary for us as we struggle in our lives, today.

You live in a university town. What people see as important here is learning. And, it is! What kinds of things is it important for us to learn? Well, different people have different personalities, preferences, and aptitudes; some are science and math oriented, some gravitate more toward the social sciences, some are artistic and creative, others resonate with languages and literature. A good school like Colgate has it all, and a lot of extra-curriculars too. We alums like the sports!

Now it’s all about looking for truth - what is real, and what is really important. I’m reminded of something every time I look at the Colgate seal. It says, “God and truth.” This reminds me that God is truth, and all truth is God’s truth. And, you could accurately use the word, “reality,” here. Truth is not just complex, abstract, philosophical ideas - it is about the realities of our lives. So, God is neither just a complex, abstract, philosophical idea - and he is not mythological! He is profound, and in ways incomprehensible. But he is also personable. He came to us, as a real human person - Jesus Christ. He wants to have a relationship with us!

And it’s all because he loves us, not because of anything we have done for him. He wants to give us real life, not because we deserve it, but because he loves us so much. Yes, we make real decisions and choices - but ultimately, God is in control. He accomplishes his purposes through the things we do as we pursue a relationship with him. And, it all can begin with receiving him, believing in Jesus Christ, the one God sent - and the Bible says, we become children of God! Now what’s more dependent than a child? Yet, good parents want their children to grow up, to live productive lives. God calls this eternal life - and that’s about quality, as well as quantity! It is free, for the asking.