Life @ Montrose, Jan. 17, 2008

 

We've started a new series entitled "Just Walk Across the Room" by Bill Hybels. I was blessed this past week as we reflected on God's journey across the universe to save us, and the powerful story of a man at soccer practice who was introduced to Jesus. Because I will be gone for one day for a meeting next week (Tuesday) Norman Graham will lead us in the second part of the series about how to introduce your friends to Jesus Christ.

Last night we had our first meeting for Pathfinders. We now have 14 signed up as our "Montrose Mountain Lions" club continues to grow. We started our first meeting with an orientation from Sharon Holbrook, worship by Judy Kelley, and then a thought on Adventist history by myself. We then went over our individual class goals and learned about skiing (once the Pathfinders actually go skiing and demonstrate their knowledge they will have earned their honor--for most this will be easy at the upcoming school ski trip but we may have to find a second option for those who can not come). It was an action packed night filled with energy and fun. I'm so thankful that our church prioritizes our young people.

 

Yesterday I had my hospital orientation as a chaplain and discovered that I will be on "call" the week of Feb. 18-24. I'm excited at the opportunity to pray with people in our community who may be in distress. They have a sheet that tells the chaplains which patients have checked off they would like to be visited by a chaplain. The person orienting me, Willis Jones, has very positive feelings toward Adventists after having lived in Lincoln, Nebraska, near Union College, for eight years. He is also a veteran chaplain having served as a minister in our community for 30 years.

 

I realize this is our first winter in Colorado but I'm still excited with the snow (I wish yesterday we had actually gotten three inches instead of the light dusting). At prayer meeting we sang "White than Snow"--even though the snow has been getting dirty it continues to remind me of how beautiful it is to see everything white. Every day as I drive down our street my heart skips a beat as I see the beautiful San Juans to our south. The beauty of God's second book, nature, surrounds us. And with all of the snow we've received, Jesus transforms our dirty lives into something white and beautiful--just like the snow.

Pastor Michael Campbell