(From my journal recently…)

“There’s no way to lose in prayer.”

—Dave Zuleger, Pastoral Assistant for Pastor Jason Meyer, in a recent staff meeting

The weekend of Mother's Day I prayed a prayer of blessing on the children being dedicated. I was asked to post the prayer, so here it is.

Join us this summer as we watch and discuss the DVD messages recorded at the National True Woman Conference last fall in Indianapolis.

“To pray well is the better half of study.”

—Martin Luther

Throughout the month of May the Lausanne Movement will be leading a prayer initiative for missions advancement around the world. We're six months away from Bethlehem's annual "global focus" but this month of prayer may be an even more effective way to stoke your vision for God's global glory. See the invitation video from Michael Oh, sign up for the daily emails, and most of all...pray.

One week ago today, members of the Elder Council met for prayer at 6:30am as is their customary monthly practice. Before praying, Pastor Bud Burk led us in reading the following lines from The Valley of Vision:

Bethlehem’s pastors and wives will be away for a couple days at an annual retreat at Ironwood Springs where this year they will dive into the subject of marriage and break into discussion groups with pertinent questions prepared on the subject.

It won’t be all work and no play. There will be times for personal reflection, some combined recreation, some Brad Nelson crowd-breaking mixers, and informal meals in the dining hall.

Ask God to increase, deepen, and sweeten our marital love, and our love for each other as staff couples.

For those using the 7^th edition of Operation World as a prayer guide for the nations, today marks the beginning of a two week stretch where thousands using this resource will be interceding on behalf of the country of China. As a church, we have global partners serving in China and in the surrounding countries of East Asia, so we would do well to remember these members of our faith family during these fourteen days. 

Jason Meyer’s sermon over the weekend has me pondering afresh Mark 11:16,

“And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.”