June 13-17, 2022
April 8, 2022August 17, 2022
August 19, 2022
Pine Glen Church Family,
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! It has been too long since my last letter and I am eager to share some things the Lord has laid on my heart.
As you know, summer is upon us and it is indeed a wonderful time of the year. Over the past month, the kids have been enjoying the pool at our new house. They almost seem to live there lol, and Steph and I don’t mind it either. We are thankful that the Lord has blessed us in this way.
Two week ago, we held our annual Vacation Bible School with the theme “Concrete and Cranes.” It turned out to be a fun and exciting week as we hosted just over 30 kids from our area. I want to take this opportunity to thank Kimbra Weaver for her leadership and the many other volunteers. The team was amazing and we could not have done it without you!
At our closing session on Friday, I mentioned that our goal was not just for the kids to have a fun time, but also to expose them to Scripture and the hope that we have in Christ. By God’s grace, I believe that we were able to do that and I would encourage you to pray for the children and for the families that were represented. Pray that the seeds that were planted last week would take root in little hearts and that parents would be faithful to train up their children in the ways of the Lord (Proverbs 22:6).
Within the last month, our church family was blessed to host the Sandler’s (June 12th) and the Moore’s (June 19th). It was great to get caught up a little with these missionary families that are near and dear to our hearts. I want to take this time to encourage you to pray for the work of missions (and our missionaries) all around the world and to get behind the task of missions any way you can (Romans 10:13-17). The gospel of Christ is the hope of the world, and it is our desire that the peoples of the world would call up on the name of the Lord and find their joy in Him (Philippians 4:4).
I am excited to report that in less than a month I will be traveling to visit my family in Canada. Believe it or not, it has been about 4.5 years since I last saw them. Not seeing them has weighed heavily on my heart and now that many of the pandemic restrictions have been dropped, I can travel and visit my family very soon. The sad thing is that Steph and the kids won’t be able to join me, but please pray for safe travel (dates are July 26-August 4) and for a great visit with family.
Some of you have asked about my dad’s health, and the good news is that he is feeling better. For over 25 years, my dad has had a heart condition, and has done remarkably well, but a couple week ago he was “shocked” by the defibrillator device in his body. For years he has had this device and it works to keep his heart in the right rhythm, but when it does go off, the doctors are understandably concerned. He has recovered nicely but please keep him in your prayers.
Earlier this week, I wrote a blog post in response to Roe v. Wade being overturned. Indeed, this is something we can celebrate and praise God for! The article can be accessed here: https://pastoral-theology.com/2022/06/28/some-thoughts-on-roe-v-wade-being-overturned/
Just a quick reminder about our Kickball and Ice Cream event on July 9th at 6pm at the church. This will be a great opportunity for our church family to hang out and also a chance to invite friends and neighbors. Hope you can make it!
Let me also take this opportunity to wish you a very happy 4th of July! We live in an evil and chaotic world, but God has blessed us in innumerable ways, including living in this great land.
As I close, let me exhort you to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) and to love your brothers and sisters in Christ. The apostle Peter writes, “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22). Please continue to remember Andrea Kauffman in prayer as she battles cancer, and the many others in our church family in need of God’s healing touch upon their lives.
Most importantly, keep on loving and serving Jesus! The greatest thing in all the world is to be a Christian and a servant of the Lord Jesus. And as Martyn Lloyd Jones put it, “the greatest need of the hour is a revived and joyful church.” Amen!
Church family, you are near and dear to my heart, and you are “loved by God” (Romans 1:7). May God richly bless you.
Pastor Dan
