One day the little red hen wanted to make some bread. She picked up some grains of wheat.
"Can you help me plant the wheat?" asked the little red hen. "No" said the pig. "I will do it myself" said the hen.
The hen planted the wheat. The little red hen looked at the sun. It was helping the wheat to grow.
One day the little red hen went down to the garden to pick some wheat. The little red hen asked the pig to help. He grunted "No", while rolling in the mud. No one helped the hen.
The hen went to get the wheat from the mill. "Who will help me?" she asked. "Not I" said the old lazy dog.
The very tired hen climbed the hill to the mill.
"Can you please help me carry the flour?" she asked. The cat said, "No, I'm too busy!".
"Who can help me make the bread?" said the little red hen.
The little red hen asked the cat and duck to help her make the bread. The laZy animals didn't help the hen.
"If you will not help me, I will do everything myself." said the hen.
The little red hen was making the bread. The hen baked the bread from the flour. She cooked the bread in her kitchen. he little red hen baked her bread very quickly.
The lazy cat wanted to eat the yummy bread that the hen had made. But, the little red hen ate the bread all by herself. She ate the bread with jam. The little red hen's bread was eXtra yummy.
"The Little Red Hen", from Fairy Tale/Folk Tale
Like the story above, teamwork-participation is necessary in a local church body, which my local church continues to try encouraging. We can't leave all the work up to the pastor or leaders. As a local committed church member-congregation, we need to "help-out"! In the end, only a few or more would receive the "blessings" of the "hard-work" that participates in the teamwork effort in helping through the process of getting a church building
This page is dedication to the journal timeline of the process of getting a church building for my local church. Below is a timeline that I'll be updating starting from the beginning stages of the church building process:
Timeline
Tuesday, January 20th-"First Church Body Prayer & Fast"
Tuesday, January 27th-"Church Body Prayer & Fast"
Articles
-Miscellaneous
Building Resources
Tips in Building from others
Testimonies: Already Completed Buildings
From: "Patrick
To: >Subject: Announcement on Church Building Situation
Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 10:19:27 -0600
Dear Church
I wanted to give an update on the building situation for MCC. (several have asked where we are at with it)This is a LONG email, but the information is important so please take time to read it when convenient. (Thanks :) )
This is what we know at this point. Here is an outline of the situation.
1. Update on the Elem School Auditorium and the future.
2. Latest information on the Rileys Building. >3. Share from Susie
4. Word on 40 pledges
5. Moving FORWARD (Contingencies - would we build a building?)
6. What about the pledges?
7. Msg at MCC on Feb 29 (notes, some had requested them)
1. We have 2 more years to rent from the Elementary School so >we are operating under that time frame. After 2 years if we don't >purchase a building (or build one) then we will need to find a >facility to rent. We considered trying to get the Elementary School >Auditorium and some classrooms for "a dollar" from the district >and then take on updates and repairs as needed, but the costs >involved (for example - a four story elevator would probably be required to use >the classroom space, the roof needs work, the heating system >needs replacing and separation from the rest of the building) make that option formidable to say the least!
2. The offer made to Rileys on their Utilities building (based upon >research of building costs and assessed value) got no response. >Over the past month the bank has been asking for >information for the financing package potentially requested, and >the old MCC building has had interested parties looking but no >offers to date. This is a season, we feel, to wait on the Lord and >to "rally the troops" at MCC for what lies ahead. We haven't >felt a release to raise the offer on the Rileys building at this point.
3. Susie share (note - we had asked for input that people > might have received in terms of revelation from the Lord) >"Here's my rendition of the McDonalds story/impresson from a few weeks ago: > >The first Tuesday we fasted and prayed as a church for the possible new >building the Lord brought the following story from my childhood to mind, >and seemed to lay it over our present situation: > >No one really remembers how old I was when this story happened, but the >important information was this: I was not tall enough to see over the >counter at McDonalds, and was 'painfully shy' (words borrowed from my >father). > >My family was eating at McDonalds, and I had been promised an ice cream >cone after I finished my meal. When I went to ask for it, my Dad handed me >money and told me I was old enough to order my own. I was not happy about >this, but left to try. I returned to my dad, saying that no one would help >me, and woudn't he just get me one. He informed me that I needed to ASK >for some help. I was supposed to say 'excuse me' and ask for a cone. I >went back up and, in my high whisper-of-a-voice, popped out a few "excuse >me's." This didn't work, so I went back to my dad, thinking he would take >over. He then gave me a short lesson about assertiveness, and said I >needed to make my presence known if I wanted help. He instructed me to >YELL "EXCUSE ME ... CAN I GET AN ICE CREAM CONE?" > >I don't know how many times I went up to the counter - at least three. In >the end, someone noticed this scared little girl and was more than happy to >get me an ice cream cone. I came out of it frazzled, and even a bit >frustrated with my dad, but he was pleased - I had been forced out of my >comfort zone, and had learned a valuable lesson. > >I wasn't sure exactly how this applied at the time. I felt like the part >of my repeatedly wanting my dad to do it for me, and him wanting me to >learn a valuable lesson/life skill was important. The persistence theme >also stood out to me. >It came back to my mind because of common element of being 'ignored' at >first. That's about it. Susie Hanson" > > [possible insights for MCC - take action, don't pull back, what's in > your hand?, and being persistent in prayer]
4. Word on 40 pledges >Neil meets with someone who came up with an idea that fits for the math, >but it felt like a word of wisdom and one to give people faith. This was >the idea to gather 40 pledges of $20 per week from folks to make up >the cost of a building. Several heard that figure and had faith to say >"yes!". This is why we shared the pledge idea in that way. It also >translates in other ways, such as $87 a month or $1040 per year.
5. Msg at MCC by Neil "What's in your hand?" >Neil had shared this word with me earlier and it really had a ring to >it, not just a biblical ring (it is scripture) but something that gives one >faith to look around and see what is available in our lives to offer up. >This is a time for us to rally as a body of believers together, and to >see what God does through us and our collective faith!
6. The future - MOVING FORWARD! >One thing I know at this point, there is no going back. I definitely feel >that we are not to look back or to go back, but to move ahead and >see what doors God opens up. Transition has begun, faith is welling >up in people's hearts, and it would be disheartening to pull back to >where we were 6 months ago. One thing that means is, I think we need to >sell the old building and use it for a downpayment on equity. What if the >Riley's Bldg doesn't work out? Would we buy land and build? That is a >possibility - please pray with and for the leadership, we need to be led of >the Lord!
7. What about the PLEDGES? >We have started a special account for the building fund. Starting in April, >we are asking everyone who pledged to start giving as God enables them. >Please label them "Bldg Fund" on the check or put them in an envelope so >the guys counting can distinguish them from tithe checks. We will start >growing the fund in anticipation of what is ahead for us in terms of a >building. > >NOTE - >If anyone has ANY questions, please feel free to contact Pat at the >numbers and email listed below! Thanks.
8. Notes from "What's in your hand?" by Neil T. Feb 29 at MCC > >What is in your hand? > >Intro- The offer we put on the building is held up > >The commitments- well, God is waiting to see how we respond > > > >Two situations where God waited for men to see what was in their hand first before moving in their behalf:
1) Moses > >Exodus 3:2-4:17 > > There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up.
[3] So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight--why the bush does not burn up."
[4] When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" > > And Moses said, "Here I am."
[5] "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground."
[6] Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
[7] The Lord said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering.
[8] So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey--the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.
[9] And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.
[10] So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."
[11] But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"
[12] And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain."
[16] "Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers--the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob--appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. [17] And I have promised to bring you up out of your misery in Egypt into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites--a land flowing with milk and honey.' > > [18] "The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, 'The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God.' [19] But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. [20] So I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will let you go. > > [4:1] Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The Lord did not appear to you'?"
[2] Then the Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" > > "A staff," he replied. > > [3] The Lord said, "Throw it on the ground." > > Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. [4] Then the Lord said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. [5] "This," said the Lord, "is so that they may believe that the Lord, the God of their fathers--the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob--has appeared to you." > > [6] Then the Lord said, "Put your hand inside your cloak." So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was leprous, like snow. > > [7] "Now put it back into your cloak," he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh. > > [8] Then the Lord said, "If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first miraculous sign, they may believe the second. [9] But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground." > > [10] Moses said to the Lord, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue." > > [11] The Lord said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? [12] Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say." > > [13] But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it." > > [14] Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses and he said, "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and his heart will be glad when he sees you. [15] You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. [16] He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. [17] But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it." > > > > -God is not asking someone else to do it and would be unpleased if we mentioned it to him > > -"What is in our hand?" was the question > > > >2) The feeding of the 5000 > >Matthew 14:12-21 > > John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. > > [13] When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. [14] When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. > > [15] As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food." > > [16] Jesus replied, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." > > [17] "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. > > [18] "Bring them here to me," he said. [19] And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. [20] They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. [21] The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. > > > > - the task was beyond their normal ability to accomplish > > -Jesus assigned the task to the Disciples > > -they had to find what belongs to the crowd before Jesus came through with his end > > > >Two verses that illustrate this principle: > > a) 1 Cor. 15:44-47 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. > > If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. [45] So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. [46] The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. [47] The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. > > b) Luke 16:9-12 I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. > > [10] "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. [11] So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? [12] And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?
Two examples from the past:
a) Our church building at 211 E 6th > > - $12000 required from 3 families > > - God gave a word through Jim- covenant to one another that unexpected money is committed to the church > > >
b) Mark at the Christian camp > > -the horses and the sleigh rides provided the finances > > > >Conclusion: > >- God is asking us today, "What is in your hand?" As a group we have already offered up the building on 211 E 6th st. What is he saying to us as families and individuals? > > - Visitors, tasters, are exempt- and, there is no "spectator" classification in our church > > -"what is in our hand at MCC?" has everything to do with "what is in your hand as a committed party to MCC." > > -Our wrestling is not merely a physical one but has significance to our city: Ephesians. 6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. > > -this lesson of "What is in your hand?" can be applied to our situation here at MCC but it is also relevant to the mega-challenges in our lives > > -when we are being required to move as a group there is always issues that God has to work out in our hearts about our relationship to a church body as opposed to our individual faith walk. > > >
Morris Community Church
Patrick , Pastor
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