July 22, 2010
 

WCC family,

I am feeling led to encourage you and your family to attend one of our services this weekend.  The message will be called, "If God is good, why do bad things happen?" and we are going to wrestle with the subject of pain and suffering together.  This is a subject that resonates with many people for many different reasons ...and sadly, is a roadblock that keeps many from enjoying a relationship with Jesus.
 
The purpose of this email is simply to say: You need to be at one of the services this weekend.  I really believe that.  Perhaps the subject matter will not apply directly to you today, but the reality is that someday it will...and perhaps someday soon.  Will your faith fold in the face of frustration and hardship, or will it grow as you learn to cling to Jesus through the pain?  I also believe that there is someone else in your life who needs to hear this message as well.  Can you think of someone?  Would you PLEASE consider inviting and bringing the person who God lays on your heart?  That step alone may make a profound difference in their life.

Since I have the great honor of officiating the wedding of Chris Nye (our high school pastor) and his fiancee, Ali, this Saturday evening, Jeff Patterson will step in and speak on Saturday and I will speak on Sunday.  That said, the bulletin outline and key message concepts will be the same for the Saturday service (5pm) as well as for both Sunday services (9 & 11am).

I want you to know that it is our desire to address this difficult and delicate issue with biblical integrity as well as with great compassion.  Please pray for Jeff and I toward that end...and also pray that many would find comfort and healing and joy as we acknowledge the love and the goodness of God...in spite of extremely difficult circumstances that might seem to indicate otherwise.

With love,

Joel