This Week's Challenge:

The Parable of the Banquet
Matthew 22

This week we looked at the parable Jesus tells in Matthew 22. The great King throws a banquet for son, a wedding banquet none the less. He invites all of his friends and some ignore the invitation and others kill the servants who deliver the request. So, the King sends out his servants again, to invite everyone that they see both good and bad. The banquet is full, packed with people dressed in their wedding garments. The king walks into the banquet and notices one dressed, not in the wedding garments, but in other clothes. "How did you get in?" the King asks. He doesn't know how to respond and the king sends him away.

The Application:
Yesterday, we applied this parable in a few ways:
1. Sometimes people will respond to the invitation of Jesus and the Gospel the same way they responded to the King's request. Some will ignore the invitation and will find better things in life to do. Some may actually respond negative to the Gospel and may even harm or kill those who bring the message of Christ.

2. When the King receives negative responses, he gives another opportunity for his invites to respond. Finally, he opens the invitation to everyone. God, first of all will always give more chances. He is patient and full of mercy, not wanting anyone to perish. Secondly, his invitation is not just for a select few. His invitation is extended to everyone, both good and bad. It's not about who you are, it's about who you know.

3. The King at the banquet, notices that their is someone at the banquet who does not have the proper clothing. These wedding garments are not earned, they are given, based upon your relationship with the King.

The Challenge:
This week, take some time to consider your role as a servant and a messenger of the Gospel. Are you ready for the banquet? Pray for those you know and love, who need to hear this message.

This Week's Challenge:

What's Best for the Gospel

John Whitaker from Boise Bible College was our guest on Sunday. He had some very cool insights on Acts 16 from the life of Paul. The decisions that Paul made, he made with the Gospel in mind. The way he conducted himself and the decisions he had to make.

This week, in the midst of your decisions, consider very carefully the impact that those decisions will have. How are they going to affect the mission of Christ? What are those decisions going to say about your witness? How we carry ourselves makes a BIG difference. Carry yourself well.

aaron

A lot of memories have come flooding back to me lately. I was just recently made aware that a pastor in this beautiful city of Cottage Grove, that I call home has come down with brain cancer. It is a pretty serious sort, all brain cancer is and it's kind of scary. In fact, not too long ago a friend of our church was also diagnosed with the same form of cancer. It seems that both families struggle with this. It is not easy and it doesn't make sense.

The thought that has been returning, is the experience that I had with my best friend Cory that died of stage 4 brain cancer a couple years. The frustration, the anger. Yet, the things that stick out most in my mind are the things that happened, that could not have happened had Cory not had this cancer.

I remember one evening when we were gathered around in our small group. The room was full, and we prayed for long time and everyone in our small group prayed. We were calling out to God, praying for healing and even more than that, we were praying that God would give Cory the strength to fight this thing. At the end of our prayer time, Cory's dad, asked if he could pray. I remember seeing the tears in Cory's eyes as his dad prayed, how powerful.

At the funeral service, Cory's doctor got up. He mentioned how he had been to many of his patients services. He had seen many people die of this cancer, but this was the first time that he got up and spoke at any of his patients services. He said some words that ring in my head even today. "Cory was different than my other patients. He had hope, and love for people that I had not seen before. To give you an example of that, on Father's day this year, after a hard surgery that left Cory weak and in bed, Cory called to wish me Happy Father's Day. Even in the midst of this harsh battle, he was thinking of others."

I know this cancer thing is really lame but I live with hope and encourage you to do the same, that God knows what is going on and he will work to bring good out of every tragedy!

aaron

A Popular Day:
November 15th

November 15th, tomorrow, is a very popular day, at least in my world.

November 15th, Carl Hurd turns 75 years young.

November 15th, AJ turns 4 years old.

November 15th, Howard (my neighbor) turns somewhere between the 4 and 75.

November 15th, is also America Recycles Day. (at least there is one day to recycle huh?)

November 15th also marks my time here at the church in Cottage Grove. It was on this day, 5 years ago that I started as the youth minister. What an awesome experience this last 5 years have been. Lord willing I, Carl, AJ, Howard, and all of those recyclers will have many more November 15th's to celebrate.

aaron