Life @ Montrose, Aug. 4, 2010

WORSHIP THIS SABBATH
Gunnison (11 AM): Norman Graham is the featured speaker.
Montrose (11 AM): Pastor Campbell is preaching on "Learning to Listen from Lamentations."

NEW SCHOOL WEB SITE
A special thank you to Staci Nelson who thanks to her hard work our church school is blessed with a new web site: www.springcreekadventist.org. The web site looks up to date and classy! For those of you online I would strongly encourage you to stop by for a virtual visit.

THE PASTORAL PERSPECTIVE
Yesterday I sat in our local Rotary club meeting for a state-of-the-school report for the Montrose County School District. It was interesting to learn that public education is the number one expense for our local tax dollars, and that for every dollar we spend we get two dollars of federal funding. It also takes 750 contracted employees to educate the 6,311 students over the 1,121 square miles that make up our county. The total cost? A $63,000,000 school budget. Amazing. This year through attrition due to budget costs they are letting go of some 40 school employees which translates to more students per teacher in the classroom. I know that for our church family that times have been tight, and it is nice to know that we aren't the only ones who have had to cut back to make ends meet. It also tells me that our community cares for our kids. What is even more important is that I know because of the sacrifice of our church members that our church cares for our students at Spring Creek Adventist School! Although over the past couple of years we've had to do some cutting back I am encouraged that we have all the students and a waiting list for our church school, which starts here in just a few weeks. Plus with new leadership on our board and staff I believe our school is going to grow and blossom.
 
Speaking of which I was so encouraged to see the significant facelift that has occurred at our facility. The trim around the building looks neat and sharp. Yesterday I caught Dan Carpenter working with Mike to start the new staircase at the entrance. They are going to pour the cement on Friday. And, to top it all off, there is a new sign by the road that looks really sharp. Now I don't have to worry about driving past the school anymore! I know that it has been a lot of our church members who have worked together to make this all happen. Praise the Lord!
 
This week I've done a lot of reflection on the life and ministry of Elisha. God's call to him, which took him by surprise. Yet he chose to leave family behind and humbly served Elijah. In Patriarchs and Prophets one of my favorite authors comments on this experience: "success depends not so much on talent as on energy and willingness. It is not hte possession of splendid talents that enables us to render acceptable service, but the conscientious performance of daily duties, the contented spirit, and unaffected, sincere interest in the welfare of others." That is the kind of leader that I want to be more like, how about you? As a church we can strive to truly be servant leaders like Elisha by taking the time genuinely show that we care for other people. Perhaps this might be a phone call to a church member who hasn't come to church in a while, or it might be to someone who the Lord impresses you to stop by their home for a visit just to encourage them. I know the Lord will impress you with how you can serve Him.