The Dim View by Bob Chapman

That Mordecai! What a guy! I’ve just been reading the story of Esther recently, but her cousin Mordecai really took center stage for me this time. Sure, Esther was a pretty courageous young woman - gotta hand it to her - but that cousin of hers, her adopted father, stole the show for me. You remember the story? The bad guy, Haman, had just manipulated the king to decree that all Jews in the Kingdom from India to Ethiopia should be eliminated. The reason? This man Mordecai blatantly refused to bow down and worship Haman - the eternal God of Heaven alone would he worship. Haman, an Amalekite (Exodus 17:16), saw his chance for revenge on the whole nation of Israel, and so the decree from the king went out. Destroy the Jews! You remember how Mordecai went to his adopted daughter and pled with her to intercede with the king for her people. And he adds (and here's the kicker), "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but our family will perish." (Esther 4:14) Though as a family they may be destroyed, his faith in his God for His people was never shaken. What a guy! Such a man of faith –and hope! The most powerful king in the entire world at that time had just decreed their demise. They were helpless, but he knew God would deliver. He never lost hope, because he believed in the God of hope (Romans 15:13).

In this world it's pretty easy to get discouraged, isn't it? The reason is that its very prince is the enemy of our souls: the horrendous Father of Lies. He loves to say to us, "See, nothing works, it's always the same -- not much reason for hope is there?" "Look what's happening now, this church is about ready to fold!" He gets us to look at circumstances, which distract us from the very truth of God, and we say to one another, "Things aren't going very good, are they!" (Minnesotan for awful.) We've taken his bait! Besides it's kind of fun to grumble. You know who are the most vulnerable to his temptations to hopelessness? Those who are not seeking the Lord with all their hearts! The hymn says, "My Hope is in the Lord!" As long as we follow the enemy's temptation to only look at circumstances, and not to look to the God of all Hope, life will look really hopeless. David says, "Why are you cast down, Oh my soul? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him." We haven't gotten to the end of the story, even though sometimes it seems close. The best is yet to come. We are children of hope. I Corinthians 13 ends with the great triad that characterizes the children of God -- Faith, Hope and Love. Dare we allow our enemy to hoodwink us so blatantly? We need to take our stand alongside that great man of God, David, who says, "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more." (Psalm 71:14) We, each one, need a daily revival in putting our hope in God. And that is done through prayer, laying hold on God, waiting for God. And we need to pray together for our common concern, His church. Our hope is in the Lord! Amen, and Amen!

October Announcements

FCWM Meeting

The FCWM/Guild will meet on October 3^rd for a noon luncheon. Lorna Gilbert will be speaking about her missions work in Japan.

New Directories

New directories will be available for pick-up in the foyer starting October 8^th. Please take only one copy per family. Extra copies are available upon request for $1. If you would like an electronic version of the directory (using an Excel spreadsheet), please contact Michelle Casper in the office. You will need to bring in a diskette or provide an e-mail address.

Have fun with kids

and nurture their Christianity. Steve and Jill Rose are looking for two people to teach 3, 4, & 5-year-olds during children’s church (9:30 –10:40 AM Sundays). This need is immediate - starting October 8^th. Please call if you can help (612-827-4402).

Fall Back

Daylight Saving Time officially ends on Sunday, October 29, 2000 at 2:00 a.m. Don’t forget to turn your clocks back one hour. Find interesting facts and history about Daylight Saving Time at: //www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/.

Prayer Committee News by Bob Chapman

Thanks to all who have signed up for the Prayer Projects for the church. The prayer reminder cards will be handed out at a table in the foyer on Sunday, October 8^th . If you are not there, or forget to pick it up that day, it will be mailed to you. These few Sundays the team from Prayer Transformational Ministries will be ministering to us. Pastor Loopstra, who spoke last Sunday, will speak again October 1^st . Also on the 1^st, and again on the 8^th, the adult classes will meet together to hear presentations not only on prayer, but also on fasting and teaching children to pray. Pray that God would guide and use these servants of His for our growth. Pray for a new understanding for each of us as to our part in the work of the Kingdom through prayer.

Mark November 2 - 4 on your calendars. You'll be hearing a lot more about this in the weeks ahead. We are going to be hosting a satellite site at our church for the Fasting and Prayer 2000 Gathering being held in Orlando, Florida, sponsored by such leaders as Bill Bright, Paul Cedar and Bill McCartney. The meeting is set up so people all over the country can unite together, not just by listening, but also in actually praying together. Others from our area of the city will be invited to join us that evening. This will be the last weekend before the elections, a most critical time for us all to pray together.