June, 2006 Newsletter
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June 19, 2006
Volume XXXIX
Number 6 |
| Dates to Remember: |
| June 25 - July 1 |
|
JEMS Mt. Hermon Conference |
| July 24 - July 28 |
|
Vacation Bible School (VBS) |
|
Graduation It’s that time of year again when we celebrate the accomplishments of those who have labored in school over the past years. Whether it was elementary school, junior high school, high school or college, we have the wonderful opportunity to celebrate the reaching of a milestone in the lives of some of our family and friends during this graduation season. I can sense the excitement not only in the graduates, but also the joy in the parents who have given their lives to raise their children so that this day might be possible. Some parents even take the time to set up graduation parties for their own children so that they can continue the celebration of their child taking the next step in life. It’s a wonderful feeling to hear the names of people you know called and to see the big smile on their faces as they receive their diplomas. All those hard years of work and perseverance have paid off. They may have not seen the end in the midst of the late night papers, the weekend projects and all the tests they had to take, but the end did come in the form of their graduation day. Sometimes I wonder if we lose sight of the end in the midst of the hustle and bustle of life. Are we losing sight of what’s most important due to all the distracting elements of our culture? Are we growing weary in seeking out God and His ways? Are we growing weary in our service and witness to Christ? It’s so easy for us to grow weary in doing good because oftentimes we believe that our Christian service and Christian witness are in vain. But Paul wrote, “…your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58) Therefore, we need to keep the end in sight. One day there will be another type of graduation day when there will be a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1), and only those with their names written in the Book of Life will enter. I look forward to that day and hope that the graduation services of those in the youth group and all of us who have graduated years ago will serve only as a precursor to the day when our names will be found in the Book of Life. So let’s continue to worship the Lord together so that we don’t lose sight of the end. --Pastor Lester Yamashita
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