Springfield Today
February 9, 2009
Good Moanin’ Springfieldians,
I’ve told some this story already.
It happened last week. Thursday evening my phone rang about 11:30 p.m. Now you need to understand that on most nights by 11:30 I’ve already been asleep for two hours. And that particular night was no different. So I was sound asleep, dead to the world. Even Teri’s snoring had not awakened me. (Now I’m in trouble…and it’s Valentine week.) But my subconscious became aware of the ringing of a phone. When I finally realized it wasn’t a dream but my phone, I bolted to the counter in the bathroom where my phone was plugged into the charger. Well, bolted is not exactly the right word… stumbled would be a closer description. I stumbled into the room, found the phone, picked it up to answer and was greeted by silence.
It was then I realized I hadn’t made it in time and the caller had hung up. I looked at the caller ID and realized it was my daughter Lauren who was calling. I instantly thought something must be terribly wrong for Lauren, who is well aware of my sleeping habits, to call me at 11:30 at night.
You see, just a couple days earlier Lauren had called in tears because she had discovered a “tumor” on her beloved Dunkin’s (her puppy) chest, and after an exhaustive search on the Internet, Dr. Lauren determined that Dunkin had cancer and was near death. Now, she hadn’t see a vet yet, but how could what she read on the Internet be wrong, and so she was calling me broken hearted stating that never again would she have a pet, she can’t stand the heartbreak.
It took quite a bit of consoling to calm her down, and after many minutes of trying to convince her that her Internet Veterinarian Degree was not good enough to make such a diagnosis, she needed to take her dog to the vet. She did calm down.
But when the phone rang at 11:30 and I saw it was Lauren, and I knew she hadn’t been to the vet yet, I thought surely her dog had died and I knew she would be inconsolable. I immediately called her back. She answered but was not in tears I expected her to be in. She pleasantly said hello. I waited for the tragic news, but none came. And finally I had to ask, “Why did you just call me at 11:30 when you knew I’d be asleep?”
Her answer was, “Oh, I just let Duke in.” (Duke is her roommate’s dog.) “Oh, I just let Duke in and I think he has a tumor on his back. Isn’t that really weird, Dad?”
“Yes, that’s weird Lauren, why did you call me at 11:30 to tell me about Janice’s dog, which I have never met?”
“Well, I just thought you’d want to know.”
“Maybe I would want to know in the morning, but I don’t want to know at 11:30 at night.”
“Do you think the landlord put something on the grass that has caused both dogs to get tumors?”
“No, Lauren, it’s winter. There’s snow on the ground. He didn’t put anything on the grass.”
“Do you think I should call him?”
“Not tonight. Good night, Lauren.”
The next morning I awakened at my normal 4:45 a.m. and decided I needed to call Lauren. I called her phone and let it ring and ring, and finally left a message stating, “Lauren it’s 10 minutes to five and I thought you’d want to know your mom is drinking coffee out of a snowman’s cup this morning. Have a great day. “
She called me back, “Dad, you are so rude. Why would you call at 4:50 a.m. you knew I’d be asleep. And it was anything even important.”
Sometimes getting even is sweet.
I thought later, I’m sure glad I don’t have a Father who falls asleep and doesn’t want to hear me, or is too busy to hear me when I call out. In fact, the Psalmist wrote, “He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber. Indeed, he who watches over [you] will neither slumber nor sleep.” (Psalm 121:3-4 NIV)
You have a Father you can call out to any time, day or night, with the urgent, the trivial, the insignificant, or the important. He loves it when His kids talk to Him about their day.
DID YOU KNOW????
No Church Board Meeting tonight because of the threatening weather.
Crystal and Dan Trigg have friends who are serving the Lord in the Middle East and are in need of old laptop computers. They are ministering to those in a country that is 99.9% Muslim, and are putting themselves in harm doing this. If you have a computer to donate, bring it to the church office and the Triggs will make sure they are boxed up and mailed off.
We’ve started “The Pursuit,” a nine-week spiritual adventure. We will be studying the life of David together, reading the same Scripture during the week, memorizing Scripture, and committing to prayer and fasting, and service to others. If you haven’t signed up yet and want to join others in pursuing the heart of God you can sign up Wednesday or Sunday or e-mail the office. Pick up a booklet at the information center and start receiving the weekly “Pursuit” e-mails.
At this Wednesday’s Prayer Gathering, we will be celebrating communion.
Peter Adams has now been placed for his Advanced Training. Here’s his new address:
SPC Adams, Peter B.
Bldg. #18026 BCO 16th ORD BN
210 Edgewood Rd.
Ft. Lee, Virginia 23801
Angel Food Ministries February order dates are Wednesdays Feb, 10, 17 from 5-6:30 p.m. and 7:30-8:00 p.m., and Saturday Feb, 13 from 9-11:00 a.m. at the church. Of course you can order online through our website anytime, www.springfield first.com. Pick up day will be February 27th from 11:00-12:00 noon. Did you see the great story Channel 20 did on this important ministry to our community? You can go on our website and see it.
Lee School Boxes are in the foyer for your convenience. One is for school supplies (the usual) and Treasure Box items (new or gently used Beanie Babies, small toys, books, stickers, etc.) The other box is for soup labels and box tops. Also, any gently used or new outerwear for those in kindergarten through age 20 are being accepted.
The next Blood Drive will be this Wednesday, February 10th. Call Pat Fowler (529-9597) for an appointment between 3:00-7:00 p.m., or see her at the church to make an appointment. There is a critical need for blood this time of the year.
Seasons of Celebration – Our next special Wednesday Family Service will be on February 17th. This is an opportunity for the entire family to worship and praise the Lord together.
TEAM DAY Decatur is February 20, 9:00 AM at Decatur First. $15 will include all seminars and lunch. Contact the office if you plan on attending. This will more prepare us to minister effectively.
Anyone interested in being baptized contact Pastor Fred.
Did you know that you can go online to our website (www.Springfieldfirst.com) and listen to the Sunday sermons? Just click on the sermon you want to hear…it’s that easy! You are now able to subscribe through I-tunes and receive the sermons.
Spiritual Leadership for Men- All men are invited to be a part of a Small Group meeting on Thursday evenings from 6:30-7:30 p.m. They will be meeting this Thursday.
Wednesday Night Connection dinner is from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. The menu is: `Vegetable Soup, Crackers, Salad and Dessert. Our Prayer Gathering, Velocity (teens) And Caravan will take place from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
This coming Sunday, February 14th , our wonderful nursery volunteers are LaVon Nelson with the infants, and Julie Bott and Zach Shepherdson with the toddlers, and our floater will be Delaney Workman. Wednesday, February 10th, the nursery will be staffed by Mindy Palmer and Heidi Hochstetler. Thank you!
KUDOS & THANK YOUS
Dear Church Family, Thank you for your thoughtfulness, your many, many cards, prayers and meals, e-mail, kind thoughts and words. They all helped us with our parents’ heavenly homecoming. Tricia Hofman and family.
CHILDREN MINISTRIES
Children’s Mission Project is to help support the Good Samaritan Mission in Washington Park, Illinois. From now until February 21st our kids will be collecting pounds of pennies for this very worthy and needy mission.
Children’s Quiz Practice will be held this Sunday, February 21st , 5:30 p.m.
TEEN MINISTRY
Teen Ski Trip February 13-14. No small group on Sunday February 14th, because of the ski trip.
There will be No Momentum February 12th.
District Celebrate Life will be March 19-20 see Pastor Jay for all the details. Deadline was Jan. 31st to register.
The Haitian Relief Effort – to make a contribution go to www.ncm.org (This is the Nazarene Compassionate Ministry website), and click on Contribute to fill out the form. If you prefer to write a check, make it out to “General Treasurer”, list Caribbean Response ACM 1204 and Springfield First Church in the memo area, and send it to Global Treasury Services, P.O. Box 843116, Kansas City, MO 64184
PRAYER REQUESTS……….
Those listed in Sunday’s bulletin
Julie Duncan’s mom (lung cancer) and dad
Kay Gottrich
Norm Castleman
Dorcas Chandra
Tricia Hofman
