Bible Study Info

Ladies~

Many of you have been wondering what's next for the PWOC bible studies... During the interim between our fall studies and winter studies we are going to have three independent whole group sessions. These will be held at the same time as our normally scheduled studies (6:30pm on Mondays and 9am on Tuesdays). The topics are as follows:

November 29th and 30th - "Biblical Hospitality" - Mary

December 6th and 7th - "Lasting Love and the Excellent Wife: Putting God First in Your Marriage" - Susane

December 13th and 14th - "Delightful Intimacy: Living the Divine Romance" - De'Etta

We will break for the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. That means no PWOC on November 22nd/23rd, December 20th/21st or December 27th/28th. These sessions are independent so if you miss one, you can still jump in at anytime, so please feel free to make as many of them as possible. The speakers will be Wonderful!

The winter sessions will start the week of January 4th.
As for a sneak peak at our winter sessions....
The Inheritance-Beth Moore
A study from the word
Crazy Love-Francis Chan
Every Woman's Marriage-Shannon Ethridge

Intimacy on the Run

By: De'Etta Goecker

The greatest command is to love God wholeheartedly. Intimacy with God is my life’s priority, before serving His bride. The Gospels inform us the second commandment is “like the first,” – “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” This is where acts of service, leadership and volunteering in PWOCI enter into my relationship with Christ. Service and love of others flow from intimacy with Christ. This command is important, it is “like the first,” but it is clearly SECOND.

It is vital that I keep first things first. I am not primarily “Asia Region’s President.” I am foremost a lover of God. The “secret place,” the “garden tryst,” the “tent of meeting,” must be central in my life. I cannot create intimacy on the run. Yes, I can worship while I drive or workout at the gym…but if the totality of my intimacy with God is “on the run,” intimacy will wither. My relationship with Jesus will lack depth.

I once found myself in a season where I consistently treated my garden tryst with Jesus as a visit to the gas station. I filled up when the gauge was on empty. Not because I loved being at the gas station, but so I could get to what I really loved – the adventure of a road trip. I found myself, coming to Him in prayer and worship, to be filled up so I could pursue my first love, the adventure of serving the bride.

Jesus asks, “Am I your first love or is ministry your first love?”

“Am I your lover or your ministry partner?”

“Forgive me. You are the lover of my soul. You are my heart. Forgive me for the times when I try to exist with intimacy on the run. May I always love You more than Your precious bride.”

I am changed. I set the table with the bread and wine of His presence; I slow down, pull away and make a conscious choice to commune with Him. I settle in for private worship, study and simple silence in His presence… Intimacy is love enjoyed….to BE with Jesus, hear His heart and long for Him. The response of the heart of God is lavishly explosive when I set my heart to love Him above all else.

He invites us to a place of intimacy in the midst of our serving. Will you join Him? My prayer is that each of us pursues HIM above all else. He calls us first and foremost to love Him.

Ladies Lunch

Please join us this Thursday, November 4th, for a PWOC Ladies' Lunch.

We will meet at Viking at 11:00am. You can sign up with Susane at Bible study this week or you can just show up. Hope to see you there!

Directions to Viking:

From main gate - turn left at first light.

Continue straight through Lawson's intersection.

Continue past K's Hair Studio and Toyota Techno shop on left.

Soon afterwards, there will be a restaurant on your right with a black and white cat on the sign. Turn right here. Viking is the green building with a sign that says, "All-you-can-eat yaki niku/ korakuken."

Magnificent Collection

By De’Etta Goecker

Shortly after our arrival in Japan we enjoyed a walk on Momoishi Beach. Beachcombing is a new adventure for our family. I soon possessed quite a collection of beach trash. My 4 year old brought me a beautiful piece of “something.” Its smooth, almost transparent blue-green shine caught my eye. On closer inspection, I realized this treasure was yet another piece of trash. I couldn’t resist; I slipped it into my pocket as I let other pieces of twine, shell, and broken sand dollar fall to the sand.

I later learned Stacia had given me my very first piece of sea glass. Sea glass is trash thrown into the ocean, broken and common. Over time, through the pounding of waves, the trash is transformed. It gains a new shape, is polished, washes back on shore and is searched for, found, and saved by eager collectors. Some pieces are thin, some are a bit rough, some still bear the faint imprint of their original use, some shine and some are cloudy. Transformed trash becomes jewelry, key chains, charms… objects of delight to the Collector, all reflecting the colors of the sea.

Simple sea glass speaks to me. I’ve found Satan is pleased to remind me of my insecurities and failures. God lovingly reminds me where I once saw myself as trash, He sees me as part of a magnificent collection – His church. The world may find little value in me, but the Master Collector seeks me, chooses me, and lovingly delights in me.

Waves of trials and intimacy with Him transform me into something of value and worth, a piece of His magnificent collection. I’ve noted Christian women come in as great a variety as sea glass: some smooth and shiny, some a bit rough and bearing the imprint of the past. As you shine, wherever He has given you influence, may you see the varied collection He delights in and joy in our differences. May you rest in the fact you’ve been lovingly collected by the Collector.

My prayer for Asia Region is we realize anew that while “God doesn’t make trash,” He is certainly in the business of transforming what the world calls useless into objects of beauty, value and delight….His daughters. Will we partner with Him even as that transformation is sometimes messy? Will we love Him wholeheartedly and love others deeply (Mark 12:30-31)? May you rest today in the knowledge that the Master Collector is pleased to have you in His magnificent collection. He finds value, usefulness and delight in you.

Chapel Survey

Grace and peace to all!

The chapel is taking a survey. So far no 0800 service folks have replied and only a few of the 1100 worshippers have responded.

Please click on the link to take the survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JL5QJG3

Please be patient!

The blog is undergoing a little bit of renovation. We are trying to make it more useful and user-friendly. Please be patient with us as we figure it out! :)

MONDAY NIGHT STUDY

Monday, 11 Oct is a holiday. Group consensus is that we did not want to miss a week of study.

 Therefore, we will NOT  meet on 11 Oct....but will meet in the chapel on 12 Oct - Tuesday Night -  from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. 

 I've been told there is also a Catholic Parish Council Meeting and so look for me either in the Conference Room or the Fellowship Hall (room across from the kitchen, go past the ladies restroom to the end of that hall and turn left).