A TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Ecclesiastes 3:1 declares, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.” If that statement is true anywhere, it is certainly true in Branson, Missouri. If you’ve been there, you know whereof I speak. The Western Regional Conference held its pastors’ retreat there from October 26 through 28 and Linda and I participated. What a time we shared together! We fested and we feasted; we wept and rejoiced in worship and we laughed so hard we had tears in our eyes and our sides ached. We all enjoyed a great time of Christian fellowship and fun, as well as times of deep communion with one another and the Lord.
Friday night we ate out as a group at the Grand Country Buffet and afterwards went to see SIX, a group of brothers who not only sang together but produced their own accompaniment via their own voices—quite impressive. Saturday a.m. we shared a time of worship and learning about the missional church. Jim Muse led the service and three of Pastor Randal Wallen’s daughters (Debbie, Denise and Krystal) provided special music. Unfortunately their sister, Angie Barton, hurt her back and had to return home. Justin Meier provided the instruction time. He and his wife, Laura Beth, are planting a church in Lawrence, Kansas. He talked about every Christian being a missionary and that we must realize we’re serving God in an alien country (Hebrews 11:8-10).
We were on our own for lunch and the afternoon. Linda and I went down to Branson’s Landing with Phil and Linda Wilson and Justin and Laura Beth to do some sightseeing and shopping. The group gathered again for a dinner show at the Golden Corral and about 7:30 p.m. headed over to The Pierce Arrow Theater for the evening show. It consisted of a musical review of popular tunes and a stand-up comic routine by Jarret Daughtery. He was absolutely rib splitting. Ask me sometime to tell you his Baptist jokes. Sunday morning we worshipped together with the Wallen sisters leading our singing and me preaching. I spoke from Genesis 1-3 and talked about the fact that Satan has pastoral couples in his sights and that we must not fall prey to his deceptions or our own desires. Rather we must remain focused upon our relationship with God and keep the tree of life (e.g. the cross) at the center of our marriages, not the tree of temptation and death.
All told it was a terrific week-end with twenty-eight people present. Steve Stillman, the Western Regional Director, and his wife, Debbie, were unable to attend due to her recovery from post-surgical complications. Do keep her in your prayers as the doctors seek to clear-up an infection from her knee operation. The group decided to try to schedule the 2008 retreat a little later as the Christmas decorations will be up then. Also, a new Sight and Sound theater will be opening soon with the production of NOAH, which could be an attraction for next year.
On the way back to the airport, Linda and I connected with some wonderful Christian friends in Kansas City from our ministry days in Plainfield, PA—Dave & Betsy Homer. The visit was like icing on a cake after such a wonderful retreat. Anyway, Dave wanted to know when the CGGC expects to plant a Church of God in KC. He and Betsy are ready to help. It’s a very good question, I think; so, I’m asking you all. When will it be my friends? We can start today to pray for it to happen. There is a time for everything!
Ed
Those Attending the Retreat
Front (l to r): Phil Wilson, Linda Wilson, Justin Meier, Laura Beth Meier,
Connie Muse, Jim Muse
Middle: Linda Rosenberry, Susan Parmley, Debbie Guggenberger, Denise Murdick,
Krystal Moses, Donna Carter, Ed Carter
Back: Ed Rosenberry, David Parmley, Jim Gilbow, Gwen Gilbow, Cleo Counts, Barb Counts, Jean Laramore, Myron Laramore, Edgar Green, Judy Green, Kelly Gammel, Tony Gammel
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Meet Your Administrative Council
Keith Raderstorf is a retired pastor having previously served for ten years in Michigan and eight years in Illinois. For four years he also held the position of joint Director of Renewal for the General Conference and the Western Regional Director.
Keith and his wife, Jacqueline (Jackie), have five adult children, Doug, Phil, Debbie, Pat and Jan.
He enjoys golf, gardening and lawn work, fishing and traveling.
Free Computer Monitors Available
The Churches of God office has computer monitors available FREE to CGGC churches. We have a dozen or so CRT monitors in varying sizes and case colors for distribution. Most are the Dell brand, black with 17" screens. Several 19" monitors are also available. These are FOR PICK UP ONLY (we cannot ship them to you). If you, or someone you know, will be coming to Findlay before the end of the year and you would like us to set one or more aside for you, please contact Mike Martin, comptech@cggc.org.
