Christ - The ReeseSource - The Newsletter of Net Work Ministries, Inc.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
CORRECTION IN DECEMBER 2010 NEWSLETTER
THE NET WORK MINISTRIES GOLF TOURNAMENT WILL BE FRIDAY, MAY 6TH AT MARIETTA COUNTRY CLUB
DECEMBER 2010
Whew! 2010 was quite a year! I must say, I am glad it is over.2010 was a year fraught with challenges. The economy was in the tank. Congress was saddling us and our children and grandchildren with unmanageable debt. Foreclosures were at an all-time high. War in Afghanistan and Pakistan dragged on and on seemingly forever. Nauseating and never-ending political campaigns dominated the media.
On a personal level, several of my friends encountered severe health issues requiring hospitalization. Many of my friends had difficult employment issues, from layoffs to income reduction forcing some to declare bankruptcy or have their homes foreclosed.
Sadly, we saw some churches encounter division and strife. The downturn in the economy had a rather severe impact on our ministry. Towards the end of the year, I experienced some mild depression. To sum it all up, 2010 was a rather difficult year.
That was the bad news of 2010.
Now, the good news …God was and is in control. His hand guided all the events of the past year. We may not understand this. We may not like this, but it is true. We will not know why some things happen this side of Heaven.
On a personal level, the trials of the past year served to challenge and ultimately strengthen my faith. It was easy to trust God when things were all rosy with the “coffers” full and life was easy. The economic collapse put that trust to the test, for sure. I cannot say that I did not waver in my faith. There were times when I wanted to take the situation in my hands and remedy the situation. I remember one time that I had the telephone in my hand, ready to make a phone call to do just that. At that moment, I received a very strong check in my spirit that reminded me that I was trying to take control and not allow God to work in my life. I immediately placed the phone on the receiver. I will not say that the situation got better but I knew that I was doing the right thing by not trying to play God.
In the difficult times of the past year, there were more opportunities for ministry. People were hurting, scared, and tired. They were looking for answers. It was a privilege to walk alongside men in the midst of the struggle. Many times they were not looking for answers. They did not need a lecture on theology. They just needed a listening ear and a caring heart to help them discover truth for themselves. That is what Net Work Ministries does best. We draw some of our inspiration for ministry from Henri Nouwen’s book “Gracias”:
“It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems. My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress. But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them”
Thank you all for making this ministry possible with your friendship, encouragement, financial support and, most importantly, your prayers. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
MINISTRY NEWS:
The new year brings many new opportunities!
The Friday Morning Group will serve a Saturday breakfast at The Extension, a men’s rehabilitation center here in Marietta in January.
We will host a men’s retreat in March.
Our Friday Morning Group is organizing a Golf Tournament on Friday, April 6th at Marietta Country Club to raise money for the ministry.
Net Work welcomes the opportunity to facilitate your weekly men’s group or men’s retreat. Contact Buck at 678-986-4814 for details.
The Friday Morning Group invites you to join us on Friday mornings at 7:00 a.m. at Marshal Dye’s office, CourtMakers, Inc. at 1011 Marble Mill Circle located between Church Street Extension and Kennesaw Avenue. Let us know you are planning to come and we will get you a biscuit from Chic-Fil-A. We provide the coffee. Call Buck at 678- 986-4814 for details
On a personal level, several of my friends encountered severe health issues requiring hospitalization. Many of my friends had difficult employment issues, from layoffs to income reduction forcing some to declare bankruptcy or have their homes foreclosed.
Sadly, we saw some churches encounter division and strife. The downturn in the economy had a rather severe impact on our ministry. Towards the end of the year, I experienced some mild depression. To sum it all up, 2010 was a rather difficult year.
That was the bad news of 2010.
Now, the good news …God was and is in control. His hand guided all the events of the past year. We may not understand this. We may not like this, but it is true. We will not know why some things happen this side of Heaven.
On a personal level, the trials of the past year served to challenge and ultimately strengthen my faith. It was easy to trust God when things were all rosy with the “coffers” full and life was easy. The economic collapse put that trust to the test, for sure. I cannot say that I did not waver in my faith. There were times when I wanted to take the situation in my hands and remedy the situation. I remember one time that I had the telephone in my hand, ready to make a phone call to do just that. At that moment, I received a very strong check in my spirit that reminded me that I was trying to take control and not allow God to work in my life. I immediately placed the phone on the receiver. I will not say that the situation got better but I knew that I was doing the right thing by not trying to play God.
In the difficult times of the past year, there were more opportunities for ministry. People were hurting, scared, and tired. They were looking for answers. It was a privilege to walk alongside men in the midst of the struggle. Many times they were not looking for answers. They did not need a lecture on theology. They just needed a listening ear and a caring heart to help them discover truth for themselves. That is what Net Work Ministries does best. We draw some of our inspiration for ministry from Henri Nouwen’s book “Gracias”:
“It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems. My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress. But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn’t be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them”
Thank you all for making this ministry possible with your friendship, encouragement, financial support and, most importantly, your prayers. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
MINISTRY NEWS:
The new year brings many new opportunities!
The Friday Morning Group will serve a Saturday breakfast at The Extension, a men’s rehabilitation center here in Marietta in January.
We will host a men’s retreat in March.
Our Friday Morning Group is organizing a Golf Tournament on Friday, April 6th at Marietta Country Club to raise money for the ministry.
Net Work welcomes the opportunity to facilitate your weekly men’s group or men’s retreat. Contact Buck at 678-986-4814 for details.
The Friday Morning Group invites you to join us on Friday mornings at 7:00 a.m. at Marshal Dye’s office, CourtMakers, Inc. at 1011 Marble Mill Circle located between Church Street Extension and Kennesaw Avenue. Let us know you are planning to come and we will get you a biscuit from Chic-Fil-A. We provide the coffee. Call Buck at 678- 986-4814 for details