New blog location

This site will not be used for any new blog posts. All new blog posts will be located on our new website www.bendcitychurch.org - Please visit!

Like Daniel

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were among the many young men taken from their homes in Israel and brought as captives into Babylon.  You may remember some stories about them.  Maybe the story of Daniel and the lion's den comes to mind or the story about the burning furnace that didn't consume Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  These men will forever be known for making big decisions to honor the Lord even when their lives were on the line. But long before these men had to make the big decisions of life and death they... "resolved".

Daniel 1:8
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

Daniel resolved not to defile himself and evidently so did the other three (Daniel 1:11-12).  Don't overlook this event in the lives of these four men.  Although they may have been living in a new country they resolved to be set apart - to be different from the place in which they lived.  Ultimately, their resolution was one that placed the Lord first despite what people around them were doing or popular opinion was communicating.

Not only did they resolve, it appears that they resolved with hope.

Daniel 1:11-13
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”

Why else would they ask to be tested except that they resolved with a hope they would pass the test.

Each of us will be tested in this life.  As Jesus himself said in John 16:33, "In the world you will have tribulation".  The person that will be most equipped to pass the test then will be the person who resolves in their heart now to place the Lord first.  Had these four young men not resolved to place God first the story may have ended differently.  Just as Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we too must resolve in our hearts to place the Lord first.

Daniel 1:14-17
14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.

15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.

17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

You may think that you are too busy to pray or to spend time in the word, but take the time to sit at the table of the Lord to eat from Him and see... just see if you are not stronger than you were and more able to handle the things in this world.

The Heart of Parenting

Bend City Church is hosting a Friday night/Saturday morning parenting seminar November 11th and 12th. The seminar will consist of 5 sessions with 2 being on Friday and 3 on Saturday. Childcare will be provided for those attending.

Who is Invited: Anyone Who Will Benefit

Do you Have to Attend Bend City: No

Location: Bend City Church, 224 Butternut St, West Bend

Date/Time: Friday, November 11 6:30-8:30pm

Saturday, November 12 8:45-12:00am

Topics:

The Parents Heart, Authority & Influence, Discipline, Empowering Parents Through Distinct Biblical Gender Roles, and "Law, Gospel, and Parenting"

For more information, you can read the entire flyer on Google docs at https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B34Ys5zYwA-CNjVkYjhhZjQtMWVjZC00Y2NhLWEzMWItYmM0NzgzMDUwMzE5&hl=en_US

Great Article on Being Missional by Tim Chester

http://www.vergenetwork.org/2011/10/04/tim-chester-10-simple-ways-to-be-missional/

The King that We Serve

Isaiah 11:2-5

English Standard Version (ESV)

²And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
³And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
⁴but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
⁵Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

1 Timothy 2:3-6 (NIV)

³ This is good, and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

I am encouraged that God wants those close to me that don't know Jesus to know Him. We can pray with confidence.

Upcoming events...

Monday, August 22nd 7:00pm Sort/pack the backpacks at Bend City Church

Saturday, August 27th 11:00am-1:00pm Backpack Hand Out at Arbor Trace

Saturday, September 10th Brewers Game with tailgating for the MEN. Meet at Bend City Church at 3:00pm. $22 dollars for ticket and food.  Andy Christophersen will provide the food.  Game is at 6:10pm.

Sunday, September 11th Baby Dedication during service.

Sunday, September 11th City/Church wide 9/11 Memorial 4:00-5:00pm at West Bend High School auditorium.

Saturday, September 17th 1:00-5:00pm Scrap Booking Outreach at Bend City Church. See Lisa Austin with questions. Please bring friends.

Sunday, September 18th  Baptism after church at Yahr Park. Bring your own lunch.


Sunday, September 18th 6:30-8:30pm Calling ALL Women please join us for a Night of Encouragement.