Soli deo gloriaSoli deo gloriaSoli deo gloriaSoli deo gloriaSoli deo gloriaSoli deo gloriaSoli deo gloriaSoli deo gloriaGlory to God AloneGlory to God AloneGlory to God AloneGlory to God AloneGlory to God AloneGlory to God AloneGlory to God AloneGlory to God Alone

Volume 38, Issue 9September 2012

By Pastor John Dawson

NewsletterAbingdon Presbyterian

Church

Prayer takes effort, but it is not the heavy lifting kind. It is not the force of your prayers that make them effective, but the power of the God to whom you pray. That is not to say you can be lax about prayer, for it takes effort, and it even takes practice. But prayer does not require the sort of effort needed to lift a piano or run a race. It is a patient effort that requires you to slow down and yield to God.

Prayer Is like golfPrayer Is like golfPrayer Is like golfPrayer Is like golf

Photograph of Jerusalem

Mikhail Levit

Jerusalem the golden, with milk and honey blest,Beneath your contemplation sink heart and voice

oppressed.I know not, O I know not, what joys await us there; what radiancy of glory, what bliss beyond

compare.

They stand, those halls of Zion, all jubilant with song, and bright with many an angel, and all the

martyr throng.The Prince is ever in them, the daylight is serene;

The pastures of the blessed are decked in glorious sheen.

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from GAnd I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from GAnd I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from GAnd I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God od od od out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Andout of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Andout of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Andout of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And[god] carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain[god] carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain[god] carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain[god] carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and , and , and , and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out ofshowed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out ofshowed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out ofshowed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out ofheaven from God. heaven from God. heaven from God. heaven from God. Revelation 21: 2, 10Revelation 21: 2, 10Revelation 21: 2, 10Revelation 21: 2, 10

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” Psalm 122: 6-7

Prayer is like Golf (continued)Prayer is like Golf (continued)Prayer is like Golf (continued)Prayer is like Golf (continued)

Prayer is like golf. You who know golf will understand. For those who do not golf (or do not like golf), please be patient with me. In most sports, success is determined by moving fast and swinging hard. In baseball, the ball comes fast, and the bat must be as fast to meet it. The runner moves fast as does the fielder. In most sports, harder, faster and quicker will help you succeed. Not so in golf. A golfer has to suppress the natural urge to “kill the ball.” Swinging as hard as you can will invariably put a spin on the ball that will carry it to parts unknown where it will never be seen again. Faster and harder is not better in golf. Prayer is like that. Prayer does not succeed because you prayed loud and long, repeating the words over and over with passion (though good prayer can be loud and long). Prayer does not succeed because you have all of the right reasons for God to grant you your request. Prayer does not succeed because of the strength you bring to the table. Like golf, prayer requires you to relax, trusting less in your ability and more in the Lord’s love. One of the reasons I like the frustrating game of golf is that it forces me to slow down and relax. A walk in the country has the same effect on some, and knitting with others. True prayer requires a giving over to God. When this happens, the peace of God comes to you. Prayer is not called a means of grace for nothing. If you don’t feel God’s peace after you have prayed, then perhaps you have not come to prayer in your weakness and have left before you gave all your burdens to the Lord. Keep praying until you

know God has received your prayers.

Golf takes practice. No one picks up a club and drives the ball long and straight without learning the grip, the posture and swing; and then that information has to be communicated to the muscles until it becomes second nature. But this new swing motion must be constantly practiced. I play golf like one who only gets out a few times a year. Those who play a bit more are a bit better. Even the pros must practice constantly to maintain their level of play. If you don’t use it, you lose it.

Prayer is like this too. There are books that talk about spending an hour in prayer. Have you ever tried this? One person said that he prayed for everything he could think of and then checked his watch. His time? Three minutes and 20 seconds. His question? How could anyone pray for an hour. Those who spend longer times in prayer know. They know how because they are practiced at praying. They started shorter and their time became longer. They are used to setting up the time and praying then. They have prayer partners they meet with. They have learned the delight in prayer and have grown in their ability and desire to pray.

Everyone knows you have to practice at golf to get better. And the better you get, the more you enjoy it. Most things are that way. Playing the piano takes practice. And the more you can play, the more you enjoy it (and the more you can play with and for others). Don’t be surprised when I say that your prayer life becomes better with practice. The more you pray, the more it changes you.

Photograph by Mikhail Levit

Photographs of Jerusalem

by Mikhail levit

And there shall be no night there; and they

need no candle, neither light of the

sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for

ever and ever. Revelation 22: 5

Prayer is like Golf (continued)Prayer is like Golf (continued)Prayer is like Golf (continued)Prayer is like Golf (continued)

But in prayer, golf, and all things, this is true: you do not get better by faking it. You do not get better by pretending that you are at a level that you are not. There is no shame in being where you are in your Christian life. That includes your knowledge, your good works, and your prayer life. The fact is, where you are is where you actually are. The real shame is in not growing in your Christian life in all these areas. Growth does not happen when we are not honest with ourselves.

I write this as I prepare to leave on vacation. You read it after I have returned. I might play golf when I am away, but I intend to spend some time in prayer. I hope to grow in prayer. And I hope that we will grow in prayer together in the coming months. -Pastor John

September Nursery ScheduleSeptember 2 – Elaine Wright & Debra KiserSeptember 9 – Carolyn Dando & Carol HullSeptember 16 – Chellie Davis & Teresa Berg

September 23 – Brenda Holbrook & Zula LambertSeptember 30 – Teresa Lawson & Annie Dawson

WomenWomenWomenWomen’’’’s ministriess ministriess ministriess ministries

For All APC Women:Mark your calendars for the Fall PresWIC Meeting!

Saturday, September 29th

Eastern Heights, PCA8:30 am – 12 pm

Hope Sullivan will speak on “Unity in Service”We will meet at the church and carpool together.

Photograph by Joyce Ferris

Operation Christmas Child

APC will be providing volunteers for packing boxes on December 5, 2012 from 7pm-10pm. We need to fill these spaces. Please contact

Sally Dawson or Carolyn Dando if you can help.

Session update:1. Budget report

a. July Income $13,611.b. July Expenses $12,107.c. YTD Income $88,594; YTD Budget $95,279; YTD Expenses $106,517.d. Insurance payment of $2,663. Note: The difference between the budget and the

actual is that we spent money on the front door and the new sign. Neither were funded by insurance.

2 Cash on handa. Building Fund $9,110.b. Checking $15,104.c. Savings $5,709.

3. Most of our remaining actions for the month were related to our guest preachers and our pastor’s vacation.

4. Missionary Charlie Davidson will be speaking on the third Sunday evening, September 16th.

From the sessionFrom the sessionFrom the sessionFrom the session

Photograph by Ansel Adams

By Susan Ojanen

Cornerstone Cornerstone Cornerstone Cornerstone Christian AcademyChristian AcademyChristian AcademyChristian Academy

One of the joys of teaching is seeing that light bulb go on inside your students’ heads. No, light doesn’t emanate from their eye sockets. But their eyes do glow with recognition. Their minds have understood an idea or concept in a fresh way or they have made connections to the learning that they have not had before. For a teacher that is the real reward for what we do.

By Dana Dando

As a new Christian school, Cornerstone Christian Academy is an enigma for some in our community. People we meet sometimes knit their eyebrows in an effort to make sense of who we are and what we do. Some come to us to ask us questions and check us out. Others have stood back glancing at us from afar wondering if we will make it. For many it is a challenge to what they have always thought about education: it is a free service provided by thegovernment. It was good enough for me; it is good enough for my child. But CCA has seen some “light bulb” moments over the last year.

We see the light bulb go on when we connect with a family, and they truly understand our mission. They understand that Christ is at the core of all we do. All knowledge in this world is

built on the solid Rock of Jesus Christ, and we consider it a distinct privilege and a high calling to share that in every discipline we teach.

They understand the opportunity that CCA provides. It is more than praying before class or having weekly chapel. It is challenging our students to expand their knowledge of the Holy; to soak up as much of God’s wisdom as they can; to think about every subject and their

actions in the light of God’s Word. All learning is focused on Him, and the purpose of all learning and activity is to bring glory to God.

We consider it a privilege to partner with parents in the education of their children. Twenty-seven students with their families joined us in 2011, our inaugural year. In this upcoming year, 61 students are enrolled, and we have 15 full

Cornerstone Christian Academy Cornerstone Christian Academy Cornerstone Christian Academy Cornerstone Christian Academy (continued)(continued)(continued)(continued)

and part-time staff members. Our students travel from Marion and Blountville to join us for classes. We have expanded to offer nine sports and hired a full-time art and Latin teacher. Our staff reconvenes on the 22nd to begin to make plans for another year, and volleyball and cross country teams have already started practicing.

Last year through several events God blessed us with gifts and donations over $250,000. Our next “Building the Foundation” dinner is October 4th at the SWVA Higher Education Center. We would love to have you join us as our guest for this evening as we cast the vision of CCA’s future. It is a bright future. Especially if we are able to turn on more light bulbs across this community.

Every Sunday:

10 am Sunday School 11 am worship 6 pm evening study

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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CommunionPrison Ministry

Prison Ministry

Did you know: the toothbrush was invented in 1948 the same year Israel becamerecognized as a nation?

Men’s Study

Abingdon

Care Group

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Morning

Glories

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Fall

PresWIC

Bristol Care

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Bristol Care

Group

Morning

Glories

Abingdon

Care Group

Go Hokies!

Ed & Betsey

Warhurst’s

Anniversary

Regina

Dawson’s

Birthday

Ron Cassell’s

Birthday

Joy

Moormans’

Birthday

Walter

Lawson’s

Birthday

Picnic at

Sugar Hollow