Good morning, Connect Folks! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I hope you are doing well during the smoky days of \u201cfire season.\u201d I believe I have told you guys before that when I was growing up in Atlanta, my family lived very close to the Atlanta airport. Sometimes I would look up at the planes flying just above my house, and imagine where those flights were headed. Was it to some European destination, or was it to a place in exotic Asia? At the time little did I know that I would be called into cross-cultural ministry, which meant that I would take many, many flights to far-away places. This is ironic since though I love experiencing different cultures and languages, I really HATE airports! First you have to arrive 3 hours early, and even then, I at least, feel I am late and need to get through the safety check as quickly as possible! (Probably has something to do with my anxious personality.) THEN you take a 12- or 14-hour flight, THEN to top it off you have to WAIT to get through customs. Sometimes I really wish they would just let you deplane and go directly to your final, FINAL destination. But of course, that\u2019s not how it works. The immigration officials at the customs desk have to scrutinize you first! There, in fact is a wall between you and the freedom to walk through the border. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The truth is, there are many physical and spiritual walls in life. In Ephesians 2: 11\u201322, Paul several times uses the phrase, \u201ca dividing wall of separation.\u201d <\/em><\/strong>In this passage he states that despite a literal and spiritual dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles\u2014centuries of conflict starting with Abraham\u2014 that IN CHRIST, they are reconciled. Even more amazingly, IN CHRIST, God and sinners are reconciled. Christians are reconciled to one another and together are a dwelling place for God. What an important message today in our culture of strife and division! Join us Sunday on our YouTube channel at 11:15 AM<\/u><\/strong> (PST) right here https:\/\/youtu.be\/AknZQUurfwY<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally please be sure to mark your calenders for Thursday night September 17th at 7:30<\/strong> on the Webex platform to attend our Annual Church Meeting<\/strong>. I will be sending out the link next week. We would love to hear your input!<\/p>\n\n\n\n NOTE #1 – Worship will once again begin at 11: 15<\/u>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n NOTE #2 – Mark your calendars for Thursday night September 17th at 7:30 for our Webex Annual Church Meeting. W<\/strong>orship once again premiere at 11: 15\u200b A\u200bM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Blessings! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pastor Eric <\/p>\n\n\n\n