1734
The Bridge
St. John's Parish
Johns Island, South Carolina
2009
January 2010
THE RECTOR'SHEART
ByFr.GregSnyder
UpcomingEvents
January8,2010 AnnualReportsDue January9,2010 Men'sBreakfast Januaryl4,21&28, 2010 ALPHAbegins January17,2010 AnnualParishMeeting &CoveredDish Luncheon February19,2010 Men&Boys'Night Out —StingrayHockey Game April8 11,2010 NewWineskinsfor GlobalMission Conference April22 25 Men'sSpringHike
December15,2009 300men.Now,withthissmallbandof300 men,theIsraeliteshadtofightinadifferent, DearSaintsofSt.John's, nonconventionalway,thatrequiredsome cunningandaheavydoseoffaith.Theyhad "Aswordforthe LORD andforGideon!" Byanystandard,thisyearhasbeenan tolistencarefullytotheLord'sinstructionand amazingoneforSt.John'sParish.Asthe followittotheletter.Asthissmallbandof countryslippedintoadeeperandlonger Israelitestriumphedoverthefarsuperiorforce lastingrecession,asjobshavebecomeincreas ofMidianites,theywereheardtosay,"A ingdifficulttocomeby,andasfamilieshave swordfortheLordandforGideon!"Remem beenforcedtolivewithless,stillthepeopleof ber,theswordwasfirstandforemostthe GodatSt.John'shavecontinuedtogivefaith Lord's.AsDavidhimselfsaidtoGoliath,"The fully.Throughoutthisyearwehavecontinued battleistheLord's."Itis,intruth,notour toworshipinspiritandtruthandtotraindis resources,notourwisdom,notourvision,not ciplesofJesusChrist;theWordofGodhas ourbattle,notevenourChurch...itisthe beenpreachedfromthepulpit;anddozensof Lord's. BiblestudyleadershavetaughttheScripture Ifwerelytoomuchonourownresources untainted.Astheyeardrawstoaclose,our orourownabilitiesandnotupontheprovi financialsituationisactuallybetterthanlast denceofGod,thenourvictorieswilllackthe yearandourprospectsforthefutureareexcel sortofpowerthatwouldleadthosefromthe lent.ThemembersofyourVestryhavebeen outsidetomarvelatthemightyworksofGod goodstewardsofallthatwehaveatSt.John's andbedrawntoHim.Putanotherway,ifwe andaretobecommendedfortheirleadership donotdreamdreamsandseekGodlyvisions in2009. thatarebeyondourownabilities,thenwewill Havingsaidthat,andhavingseenthe neverseethefullnessofHimdwellinginHis faithfulnessofyourleaders,thereisatempta Body,theChurch.Tobefair,thisisanarrow tiontostarttomanageourresourcessoclosely path,betweengoodstewardshipandfollowing thatweforgettoallowroomfortheLordto intentlyGod'swillforus(nomatterhow work.ItremindsmeofthestoryofGideon's "crazy"itmightseem),thatonlytheLord's armyfromJudgesChapter7.Youremember leadingwillallowustodiscern.Still,itisa thestory:Gideon'sarmyof32,000strongis pathofdiscernmentthatwe,asdisciplesof amassedneartheMidianitearmy."TheLORD JesusChrist,arecalledtowalk.ToGodbe saidtoGideon,"Thepeoplewithyouaretoo ALLtheglory!"AswordfortheLordandfor manyformetogivetheMidianitesintotheir Gideon!"Amen. hand,lestIsraelboastoverme,saying,'My InChrist, ownhandhassavedme.'"(Judges7:2)Bya seriesofsometimeshumorousmeasures,the LordwhittleddownGideon'sarmytoamere

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