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Progress Continues
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Progress continues on our building project as we are currently demolishing the house and apartment on Wildwood Avenue. Once this demo is completed we will seed the lot with rye grass to prevent any soil runoff as we wait for construction to begin in January.
We also continue to grade the Garrard lot and have installed the new entrance/exit on 21st Street. The large pipes on the lot will be installed underground to handle water retention from rainfall.
We will continue to update you regularly as our project progresses.
First Steps – October 2, 2017
Fred Craddock tells a story of a young female student at Emory who came into his office mystified. She explained that she was not a Christian and had not attended church. Unfortunately, there came a time when she had reached a low point in her life and in fact had intended to commit suicide. She had gone to a high bridge and was going to jump into the river below. What stopped her was that suddenly as she was about to jump a verse of Scripture popped into her mind: “My life is not my own. I have been bought with a price.”
The young woman came and asked Dr. Craddock, the great New Testament scholar, for help and explanation to what happened to her. Craddock asked a number of questions. “Are you sure you never attended church or read the Bible?” She responded, “Yes, very sure.” She then said, “Wait, there was a time, when I was a little girl, that my grandmother took me to Vacation Bible School at her church.” Craddock asked, “Do you remember anything from that experience?” “Only that we were asked to write out these little sentences on strips of paper and memorize them. I guess they were Bible verses.” Craddock smiled and said, “You see, God stored that gospel word in your heart, so that one day it would save you and indeed it had.”
I don’t think any of us will ever fully know how many times God reveals himself to us. I’m convinced we only notice a fraction; and even then, they are filtered through our experiences. The good news is it only takes that small fraction, one simple ray of grace, that can save a life. For that, all honor and glory belongs to God. This week, look for the fragments of grace. Try to see the whole canopy of love God gives to you.
This week’s reading:
Monday – Luke 1
Tuesday – Luke 2
Wednesday – Luke 3
Thursday – Luke 4
Friday – Luke 5
Wednesday – Luke 3
Thursday – Luke 4
Friday – Luke 5
Prayer Requests:
Those affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria
Mexico City and those affected by recent earthquake
Our Country and Our Leaders
First Steps – September 25, 2017
Lately, I’ve been thinking about words—what someone says. In our society, there is a chance for physical danger and violence; but for most of us, the danger comes in spoken form. We say and hear things that destroy and tear down. I’m often reminded of three of my favorite quotes about words:
- A word is dead when it is said, some say. I say it just begins to live that day.—Emily Dickinson
- A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword.—Robert Burton
- A sharp tongue is the only edge tool that grows sharper with constant use.—Washington Irving
The Book of James (Chapter 3) weighs in as well by placing an enormous value on the tongue and words that are spoken. On one side, the tongue can be like a fire that burns the whole building down. Unfortunately, we are all guilty of arson when it comes to our tongue. On the other hand, moral perfection is linked to someone who can control his/her tongue. There lies our goal—control of the tongue. Would you be willing to focus on your words this week? Ask God to reveal the places where we’ve started fires with our tongues. Mastery of the tongue starts with awareness. Focus this week on your words: where you tear down and where you build up.
“Dear Lord,
Show me the places where I tear down and hurt with my words. Teach me a new vocabulary. Change my heart so that my words are different. Where I have hurt others, help me to speak words that heal and build up. Amen.”
This Week’s Reading:
Monday – Revelation 18
Tuesday – Revelation 19
Wednesday – Revelation 20
Thursday – Revelation 21
Friday – Revelation 22
Prayer Requests:
Those affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria
Mexico City and those affected by recent earthquake
Our Confirmation Class and their first retreat this weekend at EBTS
Recap: Filling the Buckets
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The Building Project Has Begun!
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Our building project recently kicked off with the demolition of the house at the corner of Wildwood Avenue and Garrard Street. Crews have also started taking down the trees on this lot and will soon start grading the lot for initial work on the parking area. Once the initial work is completed, we will use this area for staff parking and construction worker parking. Stay tuned for more updates as we begin this exciting new phase in St. Paul’s story.