Dear DBC family,
This week has once again seemed to throw many things in our way that the enemy is trying to use to avert our eyes from Jesus. Way more riots and protests, angst and frustration, loss and sadness. It seems that the world around is in pain. And Satan would like to bring us to our knees too - not in prayer to God, but asking for him to stop. It’s just a tactic because he is not in control. Only the Creator, the One Who controlled the winds and the rains and the ones that calms the storms in our hearts is in charge. As we keep our eyes on Jesus, He was the greatest example because throughout His earthly life, He kept His eyes on the Father. I’m praying for you. Ivan Hello DBC Family,
I hope that you will be able to worship together with us, whether it’s in person, in parking lot, or in home. We will be meeting at the Chapel for worship at 10:30 for those that want to worship in person. If you would like to come and worship, but would prefer distance, we will be broadcasting the service on FM 105.3 so that you can listen from your car. If you do this, we would be glad to bring Communion elements out to you so you can partake with us (please let one of us elders know). For those that are at home, I have uploaded a Communion message from Jared and a message from me. These are on Vimeo, our website and also RightNow Media. On RightNow Media, there is a link to a video from the Sea of Galilee, as well as a video for the kids of Jesus walking on the water. Lord-willing see you soon! Ivan Order of Service at the Chapel: Welcome and Prayer: Ivan Song: The Name of the Lord Song: I Stand in Awe Communion: Jared Song: Great is the Lord Song: Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) Song: God is So Good Message: Eyes on Jesus Song: The Blessing To those that call DBC their local church home,
Yesterday, I let you know about this Sunday’s upcoming worship plans. Today, I would like to let you know how this will operationally look. There are 3 distinct viewpoints regarding masks in our church body. One side feels that the coronavirus has been blown out of proportion and is being used to take away freedoms. On the opposite side are those that feel that the coronavirus is one of the most widespread epidemics of their time and absolutely unpredictable. In the middle are those that are unsure what to even think, let alone know how to respond. One thing that is the same about all of us - we bleed red blood. We are all the same in Christ: Fairbanksans/North Poleans, Wealthy/Not-Wealthy, Happy/Sad, Worried/Carefree, Mask-Wearers/No-Mask-Wearers. And Christ has brought us all together. Sadly, as more time has passed during this strange period, it appears that the Coronavirus and all of its ilk is being used to divide us as the Body of believers. We cannot allow Satan to have the upper hand. That would be either given up or giving into fear, and neither of those are Godly reactions. These truth remain, God wants us to be 1) known because of our love and 2) to live united together. I’m saying all of this because there will be many different opinions on how we will operationally run in-person church. We have those that must stay healthy for their jobs, others that must stay healthy to ward off cancer, and others that are in the higher risk group and want to heed medical advice. We realize that decisions are most-likely not built on fear, but on being well-informed, and we all will respect that. That being said, the elders will open the chapel up for those that want to wear masks and those that do not want to wear masks. In order to accommodate both groups, we are asking for everyone that comes to worship in-person to wear masks into the Chapel and then all the way to their seats. Those that want to wear masks for the service will sit on the Right side of the Sanctuary. Those that would like to not wear masks during the service will sit on the Left side of the Sanctuary. There will be a 5m (15ft) area in between the 2 sides, as that is the distance droplets can fly in a light breeze. When you need to leave your seat, we ask that you put on your mask and wear it until you are either seated again or leave the Chapel. Mask-wearing does not apply to children 5 and under, as they are the least vulnerable and least able to keep masks on, nor does it apply to those that have medical issues. Please understand that we are not forcing you to go against your conscience or even feelings. We are providing what we believe is an acceptable balance between optional mask wearing and providing a safe place for those that need to be safe from potential infection. For those that choose not to worship in-person, we are still offering the parking lot service on radio station FM 105.3 and will be uploading Communion and the message online to our Vimeo account and website. Our earnest desire is for you to have the tools to worship God wherever you are and with whatever you are wearing and to do it with all your might. Lord-willing see you Sunday, Ivan Dear DBC family,
Our nation is hurting. We hurt because of injustice. We hurt because of poor decisions. We hurt because of pent-up emotions. We hurt because of a lack of patience. We hurt because Jesus is the only answer and people don’t see it. And God is relying on you and me to show the world HOW He is the answer. We are not citizens of this world, and yet God has us as His missionaries for just such a time as this to THIS world. How is He wanting to use you to reach the people that He has brought into your path? Even if you can’t get out of the house or are limited in what you do, you can still do much for God. One thing I know that we can do to help the world heal is to respond with grace and mercy to anger and hurt. For the past few days, I have been thinking about a Gentle Answer that turns away anger and I recorded a thought. It is extremely hard to return good for something that is meant for harm, but God calls us to it. And God calls us to not live in fear either. Over the past 2 weeks, and even longer, God has been having us talk about fear and about how we can rely on Him. Sometimes when we are in the heat of a problem or a pandemic or a sickness or anything, we tend to take our eyes off of Christ and start sinking back under the water of worries. I read an excellent book by John Piper called Christ and the Coronavirus. It really gives some concrete answers about the solid foundation that is our Savior and how He helps us to conquer fear. It is free, not only in ebook format, but also audiobook and can be found here. This past Sunday our in-person worship seemed to go well, even though it was a little different with masks and spaced rows. Still, we were worshiping our Lord and Savior together. There were over 40 in-person and there were several others that were able to listen from the parking lot. The elders have been reevaluating the service, just as we said that we would, and we would like to make a change regarding masks. After much prayer and seeking God and godly counsel, and finding out that the Fairbanks Northstar Borough has not had any new cases for almost a month (article), we as elders are making masks optional for in-person worship at DBC. We realize that this might cause some who would attend if masks were worn, to not come. And there will be some who feel that they now can come because masks will not be worn, who will attend. Regardless of what your brother and sister in Christ decide, we must - and I mean MUST - treat them with love and respect and not look down on their decision. This means not looking at those without masks as reckless and not looking at those with masks as fearful. What God wants is for us to be united before Him, loving to each other, and have our eyes firmly planted on Him. Ivan Hello DBC Family,
I wanted to send an email out for the whole congregation so that we can all worship together, whether it is in person or in our homes. We will be meeting at the Chapel for worship at 10:30 for those that want to worship in person. If you would like to come and worship, but would prefer distance, I was able to get the FM transmitter to work and it will be set at 105.3 so that you can listen from your car. If you do this, we would be glad to bring Communion elements out to you so you can partake with us. For those that are at home, I have uploaded a Communion message from Jared, a lesson from Mr. Chuck, and a message from me. These are on Vimeo, our website and also RightNow Media (and there is an extra good video for the kid from Theo). The awesome thing about our God is that we can worship Him wherever we are! Ivan Order of Service at the Chapel: Welcome and Prayer Song: Better Is One Day Song: In Christ Alone Communion Song: We've Come to Glorify Song: This Is the Day Song: Here I Am to Worship Message: Citizens of on High Song: Great is Thy Faithfulness DBC Church Family,
One of my children struggles with perseverance. If they can not grasp, accomplish, master something quickly then they get frustrated and want to quit. It does not matter if it is a concept in school, a choir, a project. It is hard to reinforce or instill in them the importance of striving for, working for, struggling with something until it is accomplished. I remember in high school when I was taking Geometry and we got to learning proofs. I did not do well. It was not because I did not get the right answer, but that I would not show all my work. Well as you can imagine I got graded down. It was hard for me to understand that it was not about the right answer, but the processes that I went through to get the answer. Well, now you know where my child gets it from! Many times I feel that we as Christians, myself included are the same way. I want to have that deep relationship, I want that prayer answered, but yet we do not take the time to struggle through the process. We want to jump to the end, but we forget that the most important part is the process or the journey. Just recently Ivan talked about the leap of Faith. We all want faith that can move mountains, but faith is built or grown. The best explanation that I have heard is that faith is a muscle and you have to exercise it to make it stronger. Sometimes that is a big jump other times it is a series of small jumps to warm up for the big jump. It is persevering through, and asking God to help us understand why the process is important. The process is not always rational or logical. Sometimes it is trusting God to do what you cannot do. Other times is understanding that God has the end goal in sight and we have to do what seems counterintuitive because that is what He is saying to do. Sometimes He says jump and we do not know how far or how high, but it is our willingness and obedience that He wants. No matter the struggle, trial, process or the goal we can exercise our faith by persevering and trusting God. And through that God will move mountains in our lives. Jared |
AuthorWe take turns writing when God gives us an idea. The author will be noted. Archives
April 2021
Categories |