Further Along the Road to Contentment

By Pastor Dave Hutchens

Someone recently asked me, “Pastor, what do you think is

the biggest problem plaguing the church today?” Talk about

a question that gets your brain firing on all cylinders. My

countenance must have betrayed my overload. I named a

few of the biggies, explaining that their question was one

that only God could answer with any degree of accuracy.

Then…because of the nature of the person with whom I was

conversing, tried to steer the conversation towards a

different question, “What is the greatest blessing the church

is experiencing today?” In my mind I was listening to the old

hymn, “Count Your Many Blessings.”

When, upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed.

When you are discouraged thinking all is lost. Count your many blessings name them one by one,

and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

Continued on page 3...

Walnut Hill Bible Church

February, 2017

2.4 No Regrets Conference

2.12 Elder Board Meeting

2.13 Trustee Meeting

2.17 Youth Retreat

IF Tables

No Everblades

2.19 Business Meeting

2.27 Missions Board Meeting

Mark Your Calendar

Newsletter

Save the Date... Save the date for the next Ladies Night Out-Reach event Friday March 24th. LADIES NIGHT OUT-REACH ~ A place where we can create, connect and be encouraged. Lots of food & fun! Events are free of charge and all supplies for crafts will be provided. Invite your friends, get connected! All are welcome, high school age and up.

Looking for

Photojournalists

The WHBC Newsletter is looking for people who like to take pictures of our events. We would like to begin reporting on the joy and fullness of our church’s life in Christ, and as you know, a picture tells a thousand words. Please forward up to three good photos of church activities to whbcnewsletter@gmail.com. Photos are accepted at any time.

Suitcase Collection Kyle and Katie VonRueden would like 30 large suitcases donated by March. They will be used by the Compass group from Expeditions to transport books, supplies and more when they go to Guinea in March. You may donate or loan (with information taped inside) your suitcases by placing them under the Missions counter in the foyer. No guarantees made for the return of the suitcases.

Launch for High

School Seniors

Launch is an opportunity for high school seniors to discuss factors of this transitional stage of life. We will be covering issues such as decision making, fostering your faith on a college campus, relationships, service, etc. Come join us on the last Sunday of the month from 5pm - 7pm at the Wells home: 820 Birch St. Baraboo. Dinner will be provided!

X-Change will have a Super Bowl party at Paul Quinn’s house on Feb 5 beginning at 5pm. Come for dinner, fellowship and the game!

X-Change Super

Bowl Party

Note that the psalmist’s focus is on the “mighty deeds” and “works of wonder” God has already done. What gives the psalmist solace (comforting relief from distress) is not “remember what God has done for me lately,” but rather, “Remember God!” What He has already done tells us who He is, and should, in our minds and hearts, magnify His infinite power, genius, and love…all of which are ours, for He has given us Himself. This is truth that amazes, for as the psalmist writes (139:6), “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me.” And, although that is true…I’m going to cling to it anyway. I love that about God…he lavishes me with blessings of grace that are too wonderful for me. The Lord knows I don’t deserve Him, but I have Him and I’ll never let Him go. And now, perhaps, we are dancing around the answer to our original question. “What is the biggest problem in the church today?” Perhaps our perspective of God is too small. And as the

old chorus says, “He can do, anything, anything, anything…He can do anything but fail.”

Further Along the Road… (continued)

I offer the “count your blessings” counsel often, and for many, the practice of taking inventory of God’s goodness often helps us gain right perspective so we can exit our blue rooms. However, it’s not always easy to identify God’s blessings when we’re trapped in a mindset that hinders our vision and even causes us to interpret blessings as curses. Discontent is a bitter and relentless enemy. In our minds: Sunny days cloud over. Friends become enemies. Simple seem insurmountable, we become suspicious of others, and our relationship with God becomes strained due to our confident confusion. God is diminished as our problems overtake us. If you track with anything I’ve written so far, either because you suffer from discontent personally, or you are close to someone else who seeks freedom from this kind of destructive mindset, let me offer you another weapon with which you may decapitate some of the dragons of doubt. Psalm 77 is subtitled, “In the Day of Trouble I Seek the Lord,” which, in and of itself is probably all we really need to know. The first 9 verses find the psalmist explaining his suffering. The rest of the Psalm gives birth to the meditations through which God grants comfort. What strikes me is what the Psalmist doesn’t say. He doesn’t say “Count your many blessings.” He doesn’t say, “Take an inventory of the blessings of your past.” He doesn’t even say, “Don’t worry, God will act on your behalf at some time in the future.” All of which, for the believer, are true and may help certain people immensely.

Romans 16:25-27 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

“Is Genesis History?” is a rare opportunity for Christians to see a movie in a theater that presents the Bible as God’s word and provides scientific evidence supporting biblical creation. Hosted by Del Tackett (The Truth Project), the movie features interviews of some board members for the Creation Research Society as well as several other well known and respected creation scientists. http://isgenesishistory.com/_newsletters/eblast1/

Everyone’s a Winner!

This was our first year as Awana leaders putting on this event and we are certain we couldn't have done it without our many, many volunteers! Special thanks to Carol Reasa for feeding the hungry crowd and all those who helped in the kitchen, our numerous design and speed judges, Brenda and Deano David who set up and coordinated down to the last detail, Chip, Angi and Chad Nicholas who worked alongside us and encouraged us, Lequeta Bicknell our registrar and race recorder and all-around right-hand assistant, Erica Meisel for recording this event with professional photos, Jim Vandenlangenberg for starting us off with an awesome devotion, Patti Beach for taking care of all of our administrative needs, and our super awesome mascots - Cubby Bear (Glenn Bicknell) and Sparky (Lucy Suemnicht)!

For Christ Our King, Jim and Ginny Maziarka

WHBC Awana Commanders

Awana Grand Prix Has Over 40 Participants

DESIGN SPARKS: 1st place Erin Orman, 2nd place Paige Orman, 3rd place Jonny Byxbe T & T: 1st place Brianna Silverthron, 2nd place Jayna Mendoza, 3rd place Blake Silverthron OTHER (Non-clubbers and adults):1st place Lucy Suemnicht, 2nd place Alicia Muscanero, 3rd place Mackenzie Nicholas SPEED SPARKS:1st place William Finger, 2nd place Ben Cook, 3rd place Matthew Weidenbenner T & T: 1st place Derek Gehin, 2nd place Jude Suemnicht, 3rd place Aaron Weidenbenner Other:1st place Chad Nicholas, 2nd place Aaron Kamla, 3rd place Mackenzie Nicholas

Final Results:

Saturday, January 28, was race day at WHBC. Awana club-bers arrived with cars in hand, ready to register and weigh in, then anxiously await the start of the races at 1 p.m. Lots of effort and creativity went into the design and workmanship on each car. Excellent sportsmanship was witnessed as the club-bers, their friends and family cheered each other on heat after heat.