FPSP: The Messenger - January 13, 2010

First Presbyterian Church of San Pedro

January 13, 2010

The Messenger

Table of Contents

Pastor's Corner
Calendar
Editor's Corner
Related Links

Pastor's Corner

"The Joy of Discipleship"

by Rev. Neal Neuenchwander

During the Christmas break, I read a lovely little book entitled "The Joy of Discipling: Friend with Friend, Heart with Heart." The essence of this book is that Jesus doesn't want to simply use us, he wants to be our friend, and he wants us to befriend one another. Thus, discipleship is not just about learning or serving or making good moral choices (although each of these is important), discipleship is also about spending quality time with mentors, prot=E9g=E9es, and peers.

To those of us who are "task" oriented, this sort of "relational" focus is warm and fuzzy but terribly impractical. We've got places to go, bills to pay, and jobs to do. Stan Ott, the author of this book, is also rather task oriented: long before he was a pastor, he became an engineer. But Stan has learned that most of the journeys that we make and the tasks we undertake are far more pleasurable (and productive) when we take someone else along. And the companionship we cultivate in these simple settings can yield benefits for years.

Each of us can claim to have some friends. But what is the real basis of these friendships? Ott makes an interesting distinction between "friendships of the road" that are built mainly on a common interest (like tennis) and "friendships of the heart" -- that go much deeper than that. Both types of friendships are valuable, but friendships of the road are always fleeting. When one person can't enjoy the common interest or share the common task, the basis for that friendship fades away. But when friendships of the "road" become friendships of the "heart," then deep ties are formed that transcend the circumstances on which a casual friendship is often based. And those ties become very precious over time.

Thus, this book is all about building intimate friendships--not only with church members, but also with co-workers, neighbors, family, and friends. My favorite section involves building friendship (and faith) with your children. This enables you to build the sort of relationship that continues to bring joy long after they have "flown the nest." And my second favorite section involves building friendship with your spouse. Why do so many marriages break up after children have been raised? Because the central purpose of that marriage is complete. But if your marriage is more intimate and less focused on some task, then it can and will endure even when the children have moved on.

This is not a very big book -- you could finish the whole thing easily in 2 hours. But it's packed with ideas for strengthening relationships at home, at work, at church, and everywhere else that good friends meet It's published by Zondervan, and it includes discussion questions that could be used in your small group. You can learn more about it at the following link. Why don't you check it out this week?

Neal

Weekly Calendar
Jan. 14

Thursday	9:30 AM	January Deacon's Meeting
	7:30 PM	Chancel Choir

Friday	7:30 PM	Youth Hang-Out

Sunday	8:30 AM	Adult Sunday School

	9:30 AM	Worship
		Scripture: Genesis 37:12, 17b-28
		Sermon: "How God's Promise is Preserved"
		Preacher: Pastor Neal

	11:00 AM	Outrigger Business Meeting

Monday	All day	Church Office CLOSED
	6:30 PM	Youth Praise Band
	7:00 PM	Women's Bible Study
	7:30 PM	Nar-anon

Tuesday	7:30 PM	Session Meeting

Wednesday	1:00 PM	Women's Bible Study
	4:00 PM	AWANA for Children
	4:30 PM	Cherub Choir
	4:30 PM	Gospel Gang
	5:00 PM	Angel Choir
	5:30 PM	King's Chorus
	6:30 PM	Boy Scouts
	6:30 PM	JR High Fellowship
	6:30 PM	SonLight Singers
	7:00 PM	Chapel Bells
	7:00 PM	Prayer Group

Editor's Corner

"The Son"

This is great, take a moment to read it, it will make your day! The ending will surprise you.

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door.
A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art."
The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture..."'Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."

The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home, he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. The man died a few months later... There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?"

There was silence.

Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one". But the auctioneer persisted. "Will somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"
Another angry voice, "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with the Real bids!"
But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting..." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
"We have $10, who will bid $20?"
"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters."
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once..., twice..., SOLD for $10!"

A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!"
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over."
"What about the paintings?"
"I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!"

God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: "The son, the son, who'll take the son?"
Because, you see -- whoever takes the Son gets everything.

Hallelujah! Amen!

Yesi

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