FELLOWSHIP FOOTNOTES
Newsletter of Hamilton Bible Fellowship
April 2005
What does it mean to have a "personal relationship" with God? We Christians talk about this a lot in relation to Jesus Christ; we take it as a given. But what does it mean - and, how does it affect the way we live? First and foremost, this idea affirms a personal God. This is distinct in biblical theology. Other religions present a God who is perhaps sovereign, yet aloof, unapproachable and capricious - impulsive and unpredictable. Such a God is known by dictate and declaration, never in person. But the God of the Bible is not cooly calculating and impenetrable. He is personal, and relational; so much so that he came to live among us, fully demonstrating himself as such. Because he lived and walked and ate and talked as a real person, we can more fully live and enjoy life here and now, as we look forward to complete life free from sin and the curse in resurrection bodies in a new created order:
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but
we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Hebrews 4:15; 2 Corinthians 5:17
Andree Seu, senior writer for World magazine, speaks of his own experience:
When God became a personal God a few things ensued simultaneously, like the call of a lark
as a signal to awaken the whole woodland. It threw open the windows to [all kinds of] music.
Everything was delicious - the [mountains, an old man] bent over his cane, the strength in our
limbs, the dripping of icicles dissolving into spring . . . . World 3/26/05 p.47
Paul frames this new experience in the language of being reconciled to a new relationship with God (2 Cor. 5:18f); the writer of Hebrews calls us to "approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (4:16). In any effective personal relationship, we take initiative to communicate. It necessarily works both ways; so it is with God: we approach him confidently as one who extends grace and mercy. We talk to him in prayer; we listen to him in scripture. It is wonderful and incredible that God has chosen to communicate with us in common language, and in common written forms (narrative, letters, poetry). And he wants us to talk back to him, in our quite normal ways of communicating: in conversation, in writing, in song. We can do it all: regularly, creatively, and personally.
NEWS AND PRAYER UPDATE:
Continue to pray for the Bean family, and for Linda’s recovery from her accident.
Pray for high school seniors who are considering college choices this month: Meghan Pils, Colleen Schindler and Rachael Sorosky. They have all been accepted to more than one, so it’s decision time! Also pray for Kayla Cady, Tim Hayes, Andy Birk and Joe Evans as they finish up their college careers and consider what’s next.
HBF’s website is up and running! Check it out at home.twcny.rr.com/hamiltonbible. Thanks to Chris Henke for putting it together. Any comments, talk to Chris or Putter.
Prayer focus this month: Fund raising efforts for the building project. We need about $ 30,000.00 to get the project through the next phase (completion of the concrete floor) this spring. Remember your day, and pray!
THE QUOTE CORNER
Christianity is the reaching out of one’s whole being - mind, body, spirit, emotions,
intuitions, will - for completion, for inner unity, for true relation with those about
us, for right relation to the universe in which we live. It is life, a certain kind of life,
life as it could and should be, life of harmony within and true adjustment without -
life, therefore, in harmony with the life of God himself.
Henry Van Dusen
COMING EVENTS CALENDAR
Sunday April 3rd is HBF’s Annual Meeting, during the second half of the worship service. We’ll offer praise for the year(s) past and we’ll plan, project and pray for the year ahead. Remember daylight savings!!
Saturday April 16th: the Colgate Christian Fellowship is hosting a picnic for all area church families at 4:00 PM at the Eaton St. Fields Pavilion. Hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks will be provided. Church families are asked to bring picnic munchies, a side dish, or dessert.
A memorial service is planned for Harvey Deiter on Saturday May 7th, 1:00 PM at Park Methodist.
April Birthdays: 4 Kayla Cady; 15 Barb Schindler; 20 Susan Nolen & April Cady; 25 Candy Hayes
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