February 2005 Email Update
APRIL 9 DEDICATION SERVICE
WITH A NEW/OLD WRINKLE
The official dedication service for Christview Ministries Center will be at 2:00 PM, Saturday, April 9. So keep that on your calendars. For directions to our center and help with finding lodging, click here: http://www.christviewmin.org/contact/index.php
It has been suggested to us that it would be great, good fun to surround the dedication service with an “All Day Singin’ and Dinner on the Grounds.”
Many country churches in the South used to have “singin’” events at least annually. It is one of those lovely customs that is gradually disappearing from our religious culture. Maybe we could dress up the old “singin’” event with the rich musical talent available among Christian people in this region, and also call on gifts from some of our guests. We will send another Email once we have a clearer picture of the timing of such an event.
JUDY BECOMING AN AUTHOR
Judy has been asked to co-author with Gary Straub, pastor of First Christian Church, Frankfort, KY, the book Your Calling as Spirit Leaders to be published this summer by Chalice Press. She is busy writing.
Judy also has an article in the January-February issue of NET Results, “How to Identify and Mentor Spiritual Leaders.” NET Results is a publication offering “New Ideas for Vital Ministries.” You can subscribe to Net Results at www.netresults.org .
CHECK OUT OUR GROWING WEBSITE
Our Website is beginning to develop some content, and this is just a taste of what is to come.
Unlike print publications, Webpages can be works-in-progress. As we gain insight and clarity, we can simply edit the pages. We encourage and welcome your suggestions about our Website content. Even if we do not follow all the suggestions we receive, they will help clarify our thinking. And the Website will become more useful as a result. Email us: John@Christviewmin.org Judy@Christviewmin.org
Below are links to some of the new content.
Christview Ministries Store
Do you ever wonder how to decide which of the many Christian resources available for purchase you really can use? Our Christview Ministries Store can help. You also help support Christview Ministries when you buy Christian resources from Amazon.com through our Website links. We will get a commission on each purchase.
See Judy’s recommendations for books on Christian Spiritual Life: http://www.christviewmin.org/resources/store.books.spiritual.php
See John’s recommendations on books relating to:
Literary Structure: http://www.christviewmin.org/resources/store.literary.structure.php
Ruth: http://www.christviewmin.org/resources/store.commentaries.ruth.php
Mark: http://www.christviewmin.org/resources/store.commentaries.mark.php
Much more is on the way!
John’s Bible Studies
A good place to start on John’s writing is, “Understanding the Bible’s Literary Patterns.”
http://www.christviewmin.org/resources/bible.studies.literary.patterns.php
John presented earlier versions of his “Study of the Book of Ruth” a couple of years ago at Warren Hills Christian Church, Indianapolis, IN, and the Mustard Seed Bible Study of East 91st Street Christian Church, also in Indianapolis. Here is his most recent version: http://www.christviewmin.org/resources/bible.studies.book.ruth.php
“Rest and Renewal with God” was presented at First Christian Church, Sherwood, AR, in October 2004. It is divided into three articles on the Website. http://www.christviewmin.org/resources/bible.studies.rest.renewal.creation.php
http://www.christviewmin.org/resources/bible.studies.rest.renewal.redemption.php
http://www.christviewmin.org/resources/bible.studies.rest.renewal.new.creation.php
“Three Biblical Strands in the Leadership Rope” was presented at a church revitalization conference at First Christian Church, Harrison, OH, November 2004.
Short: http://www.christviewmin.org/resources/bible.studies.three.biblical.strands.summary.php
Full: http://www.christviewmin.org/resources/bible.studies.three.biblical.strands.full.php
The related article, “The Three Biblical Strands in Luke-Acts,” was presented for the leaders of First Christian Church, Rogers, AR, January 2005.
http://www.christviewmin.org/resources/bible.studies.three.strands.luke.acts.php
A Personal Endorsement of John’s Teaching
Susan Morrison-Woodward is Christview Ministries’ first regular Bible student. Here is what she says,
“I came to John with these questions: ‘Who was Jesus Christ really? How do the scriptures reveal this? How do the gifts Christ brought to all humankind enter into my life?’
“John is qualified to answer the questions. He is teaching me the solid biblical content I was seeking.
“But, more importantly, he takes a quiet, gentle, reflective, mentoring approach. He listens to me and adjusts his teaching to my needs. He is interested in my developing my own ability to read and interpret the scriptures. My study each week is an exciting and eye-opening adventure!”
--Susan Morrison-Woodward, Artist
Check out the Susan Morrison Signature Gallery: http://www.estc.net/morrison/index.phtm
Christview Ministries on the Road
Judy, assisted by John, led a seminar, “The Ministry of Elders in the 21st Century,” for lay leaders from a number of congregations across the state of Kansas. Over 100 leaders participated in the seminar. Alice Keith, director of the event, had this to say:
"Judy -- I've been looking for words to express my appreciation and gratitude (and amazement) for the wonderful leadership you gave for the seminar last weekend -- and there aren't any!!!! Thanks to you and John again for all your time, energy and effort placed in making our time together such a blessing. The participant evaluations were OVERWHELMINGINGLY, UNANIMOUSLYpositive. I can say with the Apostle Paul..."I thank my God on every remembrance of you"!! We were blessed beyond measure."
Finances: Remember the Loaves
The tax-deductible donations of supporters are vital to the functioning of this ministry. Many thanks to those of you who have helped us meet our goals through February! We are awed and moved by the gifts that arrive in the mail and at our door almost daily.
It is likely in this ministry that the next step (like the month of March) will always look a little scary. But we serve the One who multiplied the loaves and fishes and whose power is always sufficient to support those whom he calls.
At Christview Ministries, one of our most frequent litanies of faith has become:
“Remember the loaves!”
See Mark 8:14-21.
Christview Ministries Adopted by Sunday School Class
The Cornerstone Believers Sunday School Class, First Christian Church, Harrison, AR, has “adopted” Christview Ministries as a missions project. They intend to supply financial support and physical labor to help enrich the ministries available at the Center.
Subscriptions
All who by March 31, 2005, have subscribed to the Christview Ministries Newsletter and Email updates will have their subscriptions run through March 31, 2006. Beginning April 1, 2005, all subscriptions will run one year from the time we receive them. In the meantime, the March newsletter will be sent free to as many as we suspect may be interested, providing we have their addresses. If you do not want these communications, just don’t send a subscription, and they will stop with the March 2005 newsletter. Strong hint: If you do want these communications, please subscribe. We have set the value of a year’s subscription at $15.00 because this is what we estimate it costs us to produce and distribute.
In order to subscribe, print the form below and mail it to us at:
Christview Ministries,
992 CR 309,
Eureka Springs, AR 72632.
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