This Week's Missionary Greeting

This Sunday evening, our missionary greeting will come from someone local.

Lisa Weidman, a Tenth member and missionary, is Director of Mobilization for CrossWorld, located in Bala Cynwyd, PA. She oversees the staff in the mission who are responsible for recruiting and training new missionaries that will be serving in CrossWorld's ministries around the world, whether in a short term 2 weeks to 2 months, an internship 3 months to 2 years, or for a longer period of time.

Her specific responsibility is to know what is happening in the various ministries by visiting the locations and/or working with the International Director in that particular region and then casting the vision and being a type of match maker for the person and the ministry.

CCA Recruiting

Just receive an encouraging report from CCA. The school is having record numbers of students testing for enrollment - over 30. Owen Davis reports daily call-ins to take tests. The school is having an open house next Thursday and have over 20 families scheduled to attend (typically the number is under 10). Pray for the trend to continue and the school year to start off with a strong enrollment.

By the way, according to the agreement with Tenth, CCA is to explore the merits of merging with Spruce Hill Christian School. Committees from the two boards are in the midst of a series of meetings now getting to know each other and examine the subject together. Please pray for those meetings. The next one is also next Thursday.

Summer Reading

Kids and teens: you have just three [two] more weeks to redeem basic prizes for the Tenth Library Summer Reading Contest. The contest ends Aug. 20. Please submit all book sheets, even partially completed ones, by 8/20 so they can be counted toward the grand prizes. For more information, go to www.tenthlibrary.org.

Kneebone Service

Proclamation Church sent the following notice:

Jeff Kneebone went home to be with the Lord yesterday. The Memorial Service will be at Proclamation Presbyterian Church next Wednesday, August 9. The Viewing will be at 10:00 a.m., the Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m., and a reception will follow. At 4:00 p.m. there will be a graveside service at Evangelical Lutheran Church of Durham, PA

Contributions in memory of Jeffrey Kneebone can be made out to Proclamation Presbyterian Church for the “Jeffrey Kneebone Children’s Fund.” (278 Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, PA 19010)

Please keep the family in your prayers at this difficult time.

Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are needed to help out with the Angel Tree Back to School party on August 12 from 2:30 to 4:30. Our Angel Tree children have one or more parents who are incarcerated and we make an effort every fall to help them with their necessary school supplies. Volunteers at the party will help with carnival style games and should arrive early to become familiar with the games. Families are welcome to help. Anyone interested should contact Erin Millar at 215-540-9925 or thelorax321@aol.com.

The Jesus Gospel

Phil asked me to plug Liam Goligher's recent book, The Jesus Gospel. I'll post the quotes of Sinclair Ferguson and J. I. Packer.

"Dr. Liam Goligher's enviable gifts as a communicator and his astute theological mind here combine in his new book... Its exposition of the Bible's basic plot-line help us to answer a fundamental question on which Christians today are often confused - What is the Gospel of Jesus?" Ferguson

"Accurate, wide-ranging canonical exposition of Scripture at a nontechnical level here displays salvation through penal substitutionary atonement as central to the message of the Bible as a whole and to Christ's own understanding of his Father's plan. Goligher covers this familiar ground in a gloriously head-clear, heart-warming way." (Packer)

Travels with Phil

I lifted Phil's upcoming talks from his South Africa trip. He and Josh leave tonight. All I can say is that the message, "One Among Many Gods," had better be a good one.

Rosebank Union Church,
Seminar for Pastors, Leaders and Christian Workers
“Recovering the Biblical Pattern for the Church”
“Is Jesus the only way?”

Honeyridge Baptist Church
“One Among Many Gods” (Acts 17:22-34)

John Wycliffe Theological College
“The Deformation of the Church”
Followed by brief forum and interaction with pastors & students

Christ Church, Blairgowrie
“All God’s Children” (2 Samuel 9:1-13)

Brackenhurst Baptist Church
When You Pray: Making the Lord’s Prayer Your Own
Session 1: “How to pray like an orphan”
Session 2: “How to pray like God’s own child”

Central Baptist Church, Pretoria
“To God be the Glory” (Exodus 33:7-23)

Baptist Theological College, Randburg
“Preaching that Reforms”

Edenvale Baptist Church (combined with Wynchwood Baptist)
“To God be the Glory” (Exodus 33:7-23)

Christ Church, Horizon (breakfast meeting)
“Art for God’s Sake”

Durban North Baptist Church
“Making the Lord’s Prayer your own: How to pray like a hypocrite” (Matthew 6:5-6)

Christ Church, Pinetown
“One among many gods”

Devotions and discussion with Africa Enterprise (Michael Cassidy) followed by team seminar

Azalea Road Baptist Church
“When you pray: Making the Lord’s Prayer your own”

Jubilee Christian Church Leadership Training Forum
“Key themes of your book ‘Message of Salvation’ followed by discussion time”

19:00 St Paul’s CESA, Stellenbosch
“One Among Many gods”

Bible Institute of Kalk Bay
“Holy, holy, holy”
“Heart of the Cross”

Pastor’s lunch at Goodwood Baptist Church
“The Elder and His Work”

Monte Vista Presbyterian & Reformed Church (combined with Goodwood Baptist Church)
‘One Among Many gods’

International School of Cape Town
“Talk to high school children on how to write a book”

George Whitfield College
“Preaching that reforms”
Any sermon which applies what you teach in the above topic

Living Stone Christian Church
‘One Among Many Gods’

Bible Institute of Kalk Bay
Christian Leadership Seminar
Ten Commandments and Today’s Moral Crisis:
“Written in Stone”
“A Multi-use item”
“Interpreting God’s law”

St Matthew’s CESA, Tableview
“Heart of the Cross” (Galatians 6:11-18)

Tokai Community Church CESA
“One among many gods”

CT Baptist Seminary
“When you pray: Making the Lord’s Prayer your own”

Car Needed

Nick Lamelza knows of a family in Parish 2 in need of a car. If you are willing to donate an old car, contact Nick at nikofonik@msn.com. Thanks!

Going Home

We have received word that Jeff Kneebone died this morning from cancer. Please uphold his family in your prayers. When we learn about funeral arrangements, we will post them on this site.

The River Walk

Ginger and I have been biking daily along the river walk of the Schuykill. The restaurant at the Water Works is now open (click here for website) and new landscaping near it seems to be in the final stages. We pass a boat along the river which gives tours. To find out more about it and the river, click here.

MercyNet Director Begins

Today is August 1. It marks the first day of David Apple's new position as Director of MercyNet. Tenth Church has loaned David to MercyNet for a one year period to develop this new ministry and the director position. He will continue to work out of his office here, though he will be out more often visiting other churches and assisting them in developing mercy ministry throughout Philadelphia. For more information on MercyNet and David's work, click here or click the CityNet link on the righthand column.

Moving Help

Bryan and Judy Glass are moving Saturday, August 5, from their apartment in Elkins Park to a house in Sharon Hill. If anyone is interested in performing in this particular production, please contact the Glass's via mereBreath@aol.com

House for Sale

Jim and Emily Angehr are selling their house. See below. You can contact them at Jcangehr@aol.com. Jim is a PCA minister.

The address is 811 S. St. Bernard St., between 49th and 50th St. and Warrington St. and Florence Ave., one block south of Baltimore. It's a big, three story Victorian twin that was redone close to ten years ago. The third story is a three room (one kitchen/living area plus two other rooms) apartment with a separate entrance and separate utilities. Friends of ours are living there now (a young married couple with a baby); we've been charging them $650 per month, but I think that is below market value. We have lived on the bottom two stories, with three rooms on the second floor. A full bath on the second is on the second floor (and third, obviously) with a half bathroom in the basement. The house is in good shape and is "move in ready," although the kitchen, while functional, could use remodeling at some point in the future. The house connected to ours is owned by a young couple with a three year-old. They live on the third floor and are actively renovating the bottom two for themselves to live in and plan to eventually rent the third. (Right now, though, there are a lot of scaffolding and building materials around!)

St. Bernard St. is a one-way street that is cute, friendly, and a lot quieter than most West Philly blocks. Since it isn't a through street, it is small and has a good, neighborly feel. It is in transition, like a lot of blocks in West Philly right now, and probably half of the people living here are young professionals or have university ties. Many of the houses on the block are being remodeled right now.

Children and Youth Ministry Position Available in DE

We received the following from Simon Jeynes, 302 762 1001, www.immanuel-highlands.org:

I have a job opening which might suit a student/grad applicant quite well. It is at an Episcopal church in Wilmington, Delaware (Immanuel Highlands), is a Children and Youth Ministry position, 3 days a week - generally at weekends and evenings, and is well compensated. If you think this is worth passing around, I would be happy to supply more information.

Westminster Housing Need for 2 Weeks in August

We received the following from Steven Vander Valk on behalf of the Elders of the Heritage Reformed Congregation of NJ:

We are a small Reformed congregation located in northern New Jersey. The reason we are sending this email is because our Pastor, David Lipsy, is currently in his final studies toward a doctorate at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia and he recently received notice that accommodations are no longer available for his classes this August. We were wondering if anyone in your congregation would be willing to house him from August 14-17 and 21-24. This would really be helpful to him and us as we seek to cover his educational expenses and could also help provide valuable contact between our churches. We feel as brothers and sisters in Christ we need each each other more and more as we see the Great Day approaching.

David Lipsy has been our pastor since he graduated from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids in 1998. The Lord has greatly blessed his labors in the congregation and we feel that his studies in biblical counseling will be of much use in the kingdom of God.

You may contact David Lipsy directly at davidlipsy@hrcnj.org.

SPI Previews

The strategic planning committee is scheduling summer previews of the new vision and mission statement for Tenth (official roll-out date is October) so that members can begin to talk and pray about it. A member of the strategic planning committee would be willing to come to any interested bible study to do a 15-20 minute presentation. To schedule a preview, contact Tobias Klauder, tobiasklauder@hotmail.com or 267-784-6372.

The Call

In reviewing this coming Sunday's bulletin, I see that Sheryl Olson is singing George Herbert's "The Call," put to music by Ralph Vaugn Williams. Ginger and I chose the song for our wedding which will be 27 years ago this coming Friday. What a nice anniversary gift. Here is the text:

THE CALL.

Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:
Such a Way, as gives us breath:
Such a Truth, as ends all strife:
And such a Life, as killeth death.

Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength:
Such a Light, as shows a feast:
Such a Feast, as mends in length:
Such a Strength, as makes his guest.

Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:
Such a Joy, as none can move:
Such a Love, as none can part:
Such a Heart, as joyes in love.

If you are not familiar with Herbert, you can read his poetry and information about him by clicking here.

Ryken Sighting

It was a pleasant surprise during the commissioning of David Apple and Bryan Stoudt to have Phil come up beside me and be able to pray over the two men. (I won't comment that he was not wearing a suit jacket.) He and Josh take off Wednesday for South Africa where he will be teaching. I don't have details.