BROKENNESS

Joel 2:12 The LORD said: It isn't too late. You can still return to me with all your heart. Start crying and mourning! Go without eating.
Joel 2:13 Don't rip your clothes to show your sorrow. Instead, turn back to me with broken hearts. I am merciful, kind, and caring. I don't easily lose my temper, and I don't like to punish.

Here's to the Crown

Here’s to the Crown

There is a biblical and life principle that can be simply stated as, “Cross before Crown.” This principle is played out everywhere from education, athletics, business, and most especially in our accomplishing God’s will. We must endure hardship to get there. And usually, the greater the goal, the tougher the test. But keeping the goal in mind enables us to get through the test.

There are two recent events in our family which have reinforced this principle in my mind: recently our granddaughter completed her high school education with honors and received a large college scholarship. Also recently, our youngest son baptized a “Hell’s Angel” who accepted Christ. Both were the crowning results of endurance. What a joy to see!

The book of Hebrews focuses on endurance. It says of Abraham, “and so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise” (see Hebrews 6:15). It says of Jesus, “Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls” (see Hebrews 12:2-3).

This letter is not primarily about Jesus’ Cross, though we are told to consider it as we face our own. Looking at His Cross helps us to endure ours. He endured His for the joy of pleasing the Father and providing salvation for us. He kept that goal before him, and we must continually consider the possibility that is set before us.

Charles Simpson, Pastoral Letter, June 2008
www.csmpublishing.org

CCF Men's Buffalo Canoe Trip 2008

This may seem a little disorienting to you, but from the bottom of the 209' Hemmed-in-Hollow Falls, this is how it looks from many vantage points.

Sixteen men joined us this year for our annual float trip down the Buffalo River. Most of us arrived at Pinecrest Camp on Friday afternoon and evening. We were surprised and delighted with the new accommodations, Pinecrest's new Conference Center compete with semi private rooms, private bathrooms, and fairly comfortable beds. Melissa, the camp cook, did a fantastic job feeding the crew baked chicken and all the fixin's. Alan and Austin Brents built an awesome campfire for the evening. We had a great time sharing around the firelight what the Lord was doing in our lives, some great books we had read recently and even talked a little about Creationism and Intelligent Design. Seems like we always have some good discussions about God's wonderful creation when we are out in it!

We had two Christian brothers, Steven & Dave, down from Kansas City this year. They were a great addition to the group and shared quite a bit around the campfire. Dennis Padilla also had his friend Louis join us from Fort Smith. We all slept well and ate another great breakfast at Pinecrest. We then hit the river at Steel Creek and floated to Kyle's Landing which is our normal take out spot. This is a very nice day’s float. The river was at a very floatable level with a "bluebird sky" day, and there were a lot of people putting in at Steel Creek. Every canoe was booked by the 4 or 5 authorized canoe rental companies and it’s estimated over 400 canoes put in at Steel Creek that day. That made it little crowded at first, but it spread out as we went down river and people stopped for lunch along the gravel bars. We stopped at Hemmed in Hollow and ate lunch. A bunch of us went up to the water fall. From there it is a fairly short float on down to Kyle's where we loaded up and drove to Clarksville for the traditional Wendy's feast.

God blessed us with an absolutely wonderful time. We thank Him for it.

Bill (Stuckey)

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The Men's Leadership Team thanks Bill Stuckey for stepping up to the plate and leading the adventure this year! Good Job!!
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"O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? "
(Psalms 8:1-4)