Two weeks ago I put the finishing touches on my prayer letter with a passage from Colossians. Here’s what I wrote: “As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in Him, being rotted and built up in Christ and established in the faith.” Colossians 2:6,7
Yikes! A few of you caught the big blunder – “being rotted and built up in Christ” when it should have read “being rooted and built up in Christ.” What a difference one misspelled letter makes. I thought Bob Kessner was brilliant in his response, comparing a quote earlier in that same letter…
Unintended slips fascinate me in the way they cause reflection. Two quotes to compare…
“God destroys that He might build; for when He is about to rear His sacred temple in us, He first totally razes that vain and pompous edifice, which human art and power had erected, and from its horrible ruins, a new and beautiful structure is formed by His power only.” Jeanne Guyon
“As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so live in Him, being rotted and built up in Christ and established in the faith.” Colossians 2:6,7
Of course, you meant to type “being rooted and built up”, but now I reflect on the necessity of discarding the old, rotted pompous edifice of selfishness, so that good roots find their anchor and nourishment in Christ alone.
Thanks Bob. This gaffe does certainly remind me of some of the rottenness God has removed from my life. But I am so aware there’s still much more to take out.
The Answer: Last week I asked who was wearing the jacket in the photo below on New Year’s morning?
From Lisa Thompson: “That awesome jacket belongs to my beloved Geoffrey! It is the coolest! And so is he!”
Prayer Needs This Week…
- Youth ministries Impact and Refuge fire up again after the Christmas break
- So does Pastor Greg’s Tuesday night men’s study in 1st Corinthians
- And Pastor Jeff’s Thursday evening Young Adults study
- Healing – Bob Schaefer (missionary in Ghana), Jeff Jonason, Parim, Art Risley
- Comfort for Denise de la Torre, whose mother passed last Friday
- Mark Ellis, ministry trip to Burma, leaving this week.
A Letter From Paula Pitts: “I’m praising God for the healing of Pastor Greg! Many have died from this flu when it quickly turns to pneumonia, then sepsis. What a blessing to hear of your crisis team who drop everything to pray!!! I’m also thrilled to hear of the El Morro Good News Club, being held, and all these precious children in it. May they be light to their teachers and other students as they grow in their faith. It brings back memories for me, of El Morro kids like Greg Farnes, who have grown up to be such godly adults. Getting to watch this almost makes it worth getting older!”
And From Deb DeSimone: “When I got the word from Greg and Michelle- heard the symptoms- my 26 years of nursing said- He has a pneumo” – which is a pneumothorax- He had been sick- coughing and all the symptoms and my gut feeling felt very strongly about this. I stopped what I was doing- texted you and prayed- I visualized the collapsed lung with air space in there- being closed and disappearing – by the hands of Jesus Christ. All the people praying and the healing began. I am so thankful for this support we have at Little Church. I have felt the power of prayer heal me.”
God is merciful and gracious, everyone, and I am so thankful.
Pastor Jay