| I | §:d i Bi ® Sunday, November 23, 2003 Tue POST 1 Church & Community ' abloody battlefield in a Pennsylvania town named Gettysburg. ', vania Commander Lt. Colonel George F. McFarland was retreat- '. have caught us in a cross fire of discouragement and disappoint- ‘ ments and we're seemingly confronted in a no-win situation. ' answer to my prayers and right now all I can do is run for cover.” . Colonel McFarland. Yet despite the great odds against him, he re- ' if need be...to the last. To fight with whatever was left. ¢ nounced. (Judges 6:12) Gideon likely replied “Right, tell me an- , othér one.” He then complained to the angel asking the question: I to us?” He was saying “we're retreating. We don’t have much to + fight with.” But the bible tells us in Judges 6:14 what he had to ending, we need to know we can rely on His Word to turn any PASTOR'S CORNER By Pastor Stephen M. Kotch River of Life Fellowship Fight with what you have left The American Civil war of the 1860’s was the bloodiest in U. S. history. From the ashes of those dreadful and frightening years a new nation arose resolved never again to pit brother against brother. There are many lessons to be learned from that conflict. One lesson was born from a cry heard in the midst of heavy battle on During day one of the historic three-day battle, 151st Pennsyl- ing with his men to the safety of Lutheran Theological Seminary. They were suffering tremendous losses at McPherson's Ridge af- i= being caught in a Confederate crossfire. Casualties were eavy. In the process of retreating a soldier shouted to McFarland, “What are we going to do?” Over the din of heavy rifle fire and cannons McFarland shouted back “Fight with what you have left.” Despite overwhelming odds, McFarland and his troops con- tinued to engage the enemy. He realized no matter what it looked like he and his men would somehow reach safety. Eventu- ally they did reach safety, but in the process, McFarland suffered significant bullet wounds to his legs. One leg had to be amputat- ed. McFarland’s field order during the height of that battle has significant spiritual overtones. There are times in our walk with Jesus that we find ourselves in a position of retreat because our faith level in believing God’s promises has evaporated like the morning mist. Enemy forces We've prayed for financial break through for our children, but the spirit of poverty continues to flourish. We've prayed for relation- ships to be restored, but anger and pride marches in lock step. We've prayed for relief from physical pain, but the spirit of infir- mity claims victory. “Lord I don’t know how to pray anymore. Lord I've nowhere to go. I'm in retreat because the devil has me in his sights and is squeezing the trigger. There’s no discernable That same question undoubtedly passed through the mind of membered his call to duty and his resolve as a soldier to fight on The bible tells us Gideon was a man who suffered from a lack of courage and was constantly racked by doubt. While Israel was suffering at the hands of the Midianites, the Lord sent an angel to him. “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior,” the angel an- “If the Lord is with us, why have all these bad things happened do to become an over-comer. The Lord said “go in the strength you have.” Fight with what you have left no matter what it looks like. The reality is this: we have the promise of Jesus, the one who never changes and has no shadow of turning. A promise that He would never leave us or forsake us... no matter what. The bible is replete with stories of men and women who, through faith, “escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.” (Heb. 11:34) Lives transformed by the promise of the Rock of Ages. When all seems hopeless, and the attacks of the devil never devil-wrenching setback into mighty spiritual comeback...“to fight on with what we have left....the promise.” ot Dallas post A EE 0 ahi South African youth group visits The Fellowship Evangelical Free Church in Dallas recently hosted a performance by Team I’Themba 2003 from South Africa. The group’s name means “hope” in the Zulu language. Team I’Themba presents a message of hope and reconciliation through vi- brant dance and drama telling the story of struggle and change in their native coun- try. The group is sponsored by Johannesburg, South Africa Youth for Christ and host- ed in the U.S. by the Eastern States YFC program in local communities. Shown, from left, foreground: Carl Bartizek, Bethany Ganick, iamonte, Emily Machovec, Melinda Gordon. Background: Andre, Lehlohonole, Thabang, Amanda. Tim Jackson, Nick Ba- St. Luke’s has new lay minister St.Luke Reformation Lutheran Church of Noxen, annouces that Martin Luther Everhart has been called as their Synodical Authorized Lay Minister. (S.A.L.M.) His First service is Now. 30.. Martin compleated two years of school with the Northeastern Penna. Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and did a 1 year work-study at Faith United Luther- an Church in Nescopeck..Sunday School is 9:30 AM and Church Service at 11:00 AM; All all welcome to attend. Community Prayer for Peace The Back Mountain Senior High Catholic Youth Council invites the community to come together in a community prayer for peace, by lighting luminaries Christmas Eve. Youth council members will be selling the luminary packets (12 luminary bags, 12 votives, sand and pryer for peace) after all Masses this weekend at Gate of Heaven, Our Lady of Vic- tory, St. Francis X. Cabrini, and St. Therese’s. Packets cost $6 each. Christmas Concert For the second event of it’s recently revived Fine Arts Series, Shavertown United Methodist will present a Christmas Concert featuring the Wyoming Valley Barbershop Har- mony Chorus. Shavertown U.M.C. choirs will also perform. The evening of music is sched- uled for Sunday, December 7 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for children. For more information call 675-3616. [ easy to have your church included in Church Notes. Just send us a bulletin or event notice by noon Wednesdays. E-mail is best: thepost@leader.net Fax to 675-3650 Mail: The Post, 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre PA 18711 CHURCH NOTES Dallas United Methodist 4 Parsonage Street, Dallas Poinsettias to be placed on the altar for the Christmas season, Sunday Dec. 21 and 24, are now being taken. Con- tact Cindy Lefko at 333 -4496. Sister Circle Coat Drive going on now. Drop off coats, hats and scarves for adults and children at the church. Idetown Methodist Idetown Rd., Lehman Sunday Worship, 9:30 a.m. Sunday school, 9:45 a.m. Lehman Methodist 1011 Mt. View Drive, Lehman Sunday Worship, 11 a.m. Sunday School, 10 a.m. 2nd and 4th Sundays, Youth group at 7:30 _ Dec. 7, Hanging of the Greens serv- ice Dec. 7, adult classes resume Christmas program, 6 p.m. River of Life Fellowship 194 N. Memorial Highway, Shaver- town Sunday morning worship at 10:30 Thursday night soaking and healing prayer sessions at 7 p.m. For more in- formation call 674-5459. Shavertown Methodist 163 North Pioneer Ave. Shavertown Through November 23, Confirmation Sundays Nov. 30, Community Thanksgiving Service,7 p.m. Dec. 7, Christmas Concert featuring the Wyoming Valley Barbershop Har- mony Chorus . The second event of the new Fine Arts Series. St. Paul’s Lutheran RR 4 Box 627A (off of 118), Dallas Special Saturday Evening Service at 6:30 weekly. Nov. 30, Family Advent Celebration, 5-8 p.m. St. Therese’s 64 Davis Street, Shavertown Back Mountain Youth Council ac- cepting new members for junior high grades 6-8 and high school grades 9-12. For more info. call Denise at 696-1144. Nov. 30, Advent Concert, 6 p.m. Trinity Presbyterian 105 Irem Rd., Dallas Special Saturday evening service weekly at 6:30 p.m. Trucksville U. Methodist 40 Knob Hill Rd., Trucksville Sunday Services are at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday School classes for all ages are held at the Educational Facility on Sundays, 9:45-10:45. 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