BABY ELLA UPDATE - 9/16/09

(From Peggy Helander)

Just wanted to let you know that Ella is doing well. She had an x-ray of her shoulder yesterday. I got to see the before and after x-rays and even my eye can see a big improvement in her bone structure in her shoulder.

I'm not sure why the bone had been thicker and is now back to the thickness of the surrounding bones, but that is what has happened. The blood tests have no sign of infection. So her health is much improved.

She is still tiny, only 8lbs 4 oz, but is now steadily gaining weight (though slower than the doctors like)

She is a sweet little girl. I've had the pleasure of spending time with the family and holding her… (she likes to be held most the time - go figure!!) But, I like that. She is so cute when she stretches while she's sleeping.

Thank you for your prayers… the family feels the Lord's arms around them.

Peggy

Pray for Baby Ella

Baby Ella had an MRI today and they found that the infection has spread to the bone. So she's on her way back to CHOC (Children's Hospital of Orange County) for more intravenous antibiotic treatment.

Please pray for healing.

THE MISSION: A Family of God

Thanks to our own Kelly Tague for these awesome photos of some of our recent Mission gatherings.







See a whole lot more over
HERE

THE CHURCH OF "ONE ANOTHER"

The New Testament is full of letters written to instruct, not men of authority (pastors) but an entire Body of Believers who are called to submit to one another out of love as everyone submits to Christ Himself.

Here are a few of the "one another" passages from the New Testament:

John 13:14
Wash one another's feet.

John 13:34 -
Love one another.

Romans 12:10 -
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 12:16 -
Live in harmony with one another.

Romans 13:8 -
Love one another

Romans 14:13 -
Stop passing judgment on one another.

Romans 15:7 -
Accept one another.

Romans 16:16 -
Greet one another with a holy kiss.

1Cor 1:10 -
Agree with one another

2Cor 13:12 -
Greet one another with a holy kiss.

Galatians 5:13 -
Serve one another in love.

Eph 4:2 -
Be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Eph 4:32 -
Be kind and compassionate to one another
Forgive each other

Eph 5:19 -
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

Eph 5:21 -
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Col 3:13 -
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.

Col 3:16 -
Teach and admonish one another with all wisdom,

1Thes 5:11 -
Encourage one another and build each other up

Heb 3:13 -
Encourage one another daily

Heb 10:24 -
Spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

James 4:11 -
Brothers, do not slander one another.

1Peter 1:22 -
Love one another deeply, from the heart.

1Peter 3:8 -
Live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.

1Peter 4:9 -
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

1Peter 5:5 -
Be submissive to those who are older.
Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another

1Peter 5:14 -
Greet one another with a kiss of love.

1John 1:7 -
Have fellowship with one another

1John 3:11 -
Love one another.

1John 3:23 -
Love one another as he commanded us.

1John 4:7 -
Love one another

1John 4:11 -
Love one another.

1John 4:12 -
Love one another

2John 1:5 -
Love one another.

JON ZENS - SATURDAY, JULY 11TH

Author and theologian Jon Zens will be coming to Orange County to speak to the local Orange County house churches on Saturday, July 11th from 9am to 12pm.
(LOCATION TO BE ANNOUNCED)

Event is Free. Must RSVP to attend. Please send an email to register or to get more info to:
ochousechurch@gmail.com

About Jon Zens
Dr. Zens has a wide-ranging theological background. He holds a B.A. in Biblical studies from Covenant College, a M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, and a D.Min. from the California Graduate School of Theology.

Zens' groundbreaking articles in the late 1970s, "Is There a 'Covenant of Grace'?" and "Crucial Thoughts on 'Law' in the New Covenant," were highly instrumental in developing what came to be called "New Covenant Theology."

For the last thirty years, Jon has been the editor of a magazine entitled Searching Together. He's not only a NT scholar, but he's an expert on church history. Jon also served as a pastor for a number of years, but moved on after concluding that full reformation within the existing institutional church system was unworkable.

Also, for the past thirty years he and his wife, Dotty, have been ministering in small fellowships concerning living under grace and learning to extend grace to others.

If you'd like to read more about Jon Zens I've included a link to an excellent debate between Jon and Ben Worthington on hierarchy in the New Testament church
HERE


More details on this as we get closer to the date.


Blessings,Keith
http://www.missionhousechurch.com/
http://www.ochousechurch.com/

UPDATE: ILLEGAL BIBLE STUDY IN SAN DIEGO

In late May of 2009 county official overturned the warning issued to the Joneses.

In a statement a county CAO Walt Ekard responded saying:

"I have received dozens of e-mails and calls from people concerned about reports that the County is attempting to muzzle religious expression by shutting down a neighborhood Bible study.

"As the Chief Administrative Officer for San Diego County, I want to say in the most direct terms: the County has never tried to stifle religious expression and never will."

FULL STORY
HERE

Relax everyone. The issue is resolved. Our religious freedoms remain intact. This is still America.

BIBLE STUDY ILLEGAL IN SAN DIEGO?

A local pastor and his wife claim a San Diego County official threatened escalating fines if they continued to hold Bible Studies in their home.

FULL VIDEO CLIP VIA ABC NEWS SAN DIEGO
HERE

So, what would I do if it suddenly became illegal to continue hosting house church gatherings in my home?

What if it became illegal to continue passing out free groceries to the poor or the homeless?

Would I continue to obey Jesus and risk being arrested, or thrown into prison, or fined thousands of dollars by the county?

Maybe I'll find out sooner rather than later...?

ROBERT HIGGINS

For the last several weeks I have been doing my best to spend time with Robert Higgins. He's a 77 year old man who lives alone in the motel where we serve each month.

The manager of the motel, Pete, is the one who helped Robert get off the street and into a room there just over a year ago. Pete and I confer together and do our best to make sure that Robert has food, is doing well, and is cared for as much as we possibly can.

Just about a year ago Robert fell and broke his arm very badly. They put a plate in his arm to help it heal but now, after 11 months of agony and endless back and forth visits to UCI for CAT Scans and MRI's, he is still in pain and unsure of what to do next.

Today I took him lunch (he loves Taco Bell burritos) and we sat and talked about his situation. I prayed for him and he finally agreed to go and see an M.D. about his other symptoms - emphysema, vertigo, chronic fatigue.

I've also been trying to help him get back in touch with his son (Robert Anderson Higgins) and his daughter (Cynthia Anne Higgins). So far I've had no luck getting in touch with either.

As I stood up to leave his room this afternoon, Robert hung his head and said, "Thank you so much for keeping up with me, Keith" and I saw him pause and his face contorted and his eyes squeezed shut and I knew he was trying hard not to cry.

I touched his shoulder. "I'm happy to do it, Robert," I said. "God bless you."

Whether or not Robert ever gets in touch with his children again, and whether or not he ever gets his medical situation worked out, I think his greatest need is simply human contact. He needs to know he is loved. He needs to be reminded that God sees him and loves him and has not forgotten this little, fragile, old man.

Pray for Robert today if you would. Pray that God would reveal more of Himself to Robert and bring healing to his heart, and to his soul.

Amen.