Memorial Day and beyond

Hey Everyone,

What a neat day in our country! This Memorial Day I think back and think of all those who served in so many wars so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have. And I, of course, am thankful for those who are now serving our country at home and abroad. It is my prayer that we and all Christians will use the freedoms we have in this country to proclaim the freedom for captives that is only found in Jesus!

Our first book study this summer is going to be Essential Church? You can pick this book up at any major bookstore or online. It is written by Thom and Sam Ranier. The cover is just to the left. Our first meeting night will be June 10 at 6pm at The Point. We will have a grill out and then review the introduction and the first chapter of the book. This book brings us key information that we need to know and put into practice so that we can best share Jesus with our culture. If you are planning on being a part of this study, please e-mail at pastorbill@tpog.net, so we know how much food to prepare and so I can contact you personally with any up-dates that may be necessary. This book study is open to all!

In case you haven't heard - Paul Micheel has received his vicar call to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. God's blessings Paul, be sure to stay in touch - you will continue to be in our prayers.

Congratulations again to all of our graduates from UWM, MU, MSOE and WLC. God's blessings as you illustrate Christ in your various professions.

The campus ministry rally in Eau Claire was awesome!! College students from various ministries in the US met for three days and considered what it meant to Walk in the Light! I got back just in time to talk about Christ in College with Ryan Markgraf and Amber Frick at Grace, Downtown! What a deal!! I'm so blessed.

Nick and Diana have come up with a great idea - to have a community garden. If you want to take part in growing, eating and sharing food contact Nick or Diana at 414-455-8170. This is going to be a really cool way to get to know some of our neighbors, have some home grown food, and be able to donate to those who are in need.

President Mark Mattes and I will be meeting Tuesday to discuss a few aspects of our ministry. Did you know that Mark and I meet from time to time to keep the communication flowing and improve the ministry at The Point? Mark is such a great blessing for us at The Point. Be sure to keep Mark and his family in your prayers.

Speaking of praying, do realize there are many reasons to go to God in prayer. In prayer we can go to God with our praise, with our sins, with our thanks, and with our requests plus a whole lot more. Prayer is an awesome way to communicate with our loving God. If you want to be a part of our prayer team, contact abby at abby@tpog.net. Note: You do not have to be a part of the prayer team to pray. :)

This coming weekend we are continuing our series: What if God really meant it? We will at God saying, Remember the Sabbath day be keeping it holy.

God's blessings to you this week and always!

Bill

Congratulations and Calling!

Congratulations and God's blessings to the graduates of 2009! You made it and we are proud of you.
Do you have a summer job yet? Imagine that your summer job start next Monday at 8 am. Your boss has telephoned you and asked you to arrive about 15 minutes early so that you can fill out some paper work. As you are talking with your boss, she lets you in on some bad news. She says, "When we hired you, we thought we would have a full summer's worth of work for you but it looks like we only have a bout a month. So I'll give you three options: 1) I'll help you try to find another job, but there are no promises. 2) I'll pay you a $1,000 a week for the four plus weeks that you work here. (That's not bad for a summer job, especially one where you only work a month!) or 3. You can work for a penny a day that doubles every day for the 30 days that you work for us. No brain-er right. No brain-er that is if you picked the penny a day doubled every day. If you chose that method of payment, you would be a millionaire 5 times over at the end of the month. Cool.
Our calling in life, however, is not to make the most money that we can. That is not necessarily a bad thing, it is just not our calling. Have you ever struggled over what you are called to do? Most of us do. In fact there is more than just a little bit of angst when we are trying to determine what we are supposed to do.
Our calling is to be like Christ, to be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. We are to be like Christ whether we are at home, in the neighborhood out on a walk, at the park, at the game, at church, in the office or wherever. Our world is calling out to us to "Give me Jesus!" So let's live up to our God given calling a let people know we are Christians by our love, the love that God gave to us and the love that God wants us to share.
Memorial Day Weekend is up next. Remember in your prayers those who have lost so much so that we could enjoy so much (and this of course includes not only our military families but also Jesus)!
I will be in Eau Claire for the next couple of days for the Campus Ministry Rally. Pretty exciting stuff as college students and I learn more about how to Walk Like Christ.
The two ministry committees began their work this past Sunday. We pray that through your work we will all be better positioned to love God and to love the world!
God's blessings this summer. Be sure to check out tpog.net to keep informed of all the things that are happening at The Point.

Bill

Exciting Week

Hi Everyone,

I don't know about you, but I am preparing for a very exciting week with Jesus! And I have to tell you what gets me really fired up is studying God's Word. This morning I began a week long study of the book of Colossians. Oh man is it awesome. Will you join me in reading the book of Colossians everyday this week and studying it for key themes that we can incorporate into our day to day lives?! Just a heads up on some of the cool things talked about in Colossians are: being connected with God, baptism, prayer, life in Christ, joy, our homes, freedom in Christ - oops sorry - there is just a lot in it.
I have to tell you another reason why I am preparing for another exciting week with Jesus: because last week was full of fantastic blessings. God's grace is fresh and new and exhilerating each and every day. No one could have imagined the blessings that God poured out on us this past week as a family of believers. And since God doesn't change, I am expecting great blessings for this week too.
Some highlights of this upcoming week: Bible Class at MSOE, meeting with one of God's son's who has a tremendous heart for ministry, Manitowoc Lutheran High School (our time with them last week was moved to this week), pastors conference, and our two committees will begin work this Sunday.
Some of you are going to be going home for the summer - we pray that God's blessings be on you. I am just a phone call or e-mail away and God is always be your side. For some we will be staying here and are going to have the priviledge to plan ministry together for the entire next school year - I pray that God will give us wisdom and grace in our planning.

Colossians 3:12-17

¹²Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

¹⁵Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. ¹⁷And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Have a great day and week with Jesus!

Pastor Bill

Son Tan?

Hey Everyone!

The end of the semester picnic was a blast. It was a full day from soccer to badminton to volleyball to ladder golf to baseball and football. I just don't think we could have done anymore. Thanks to all who came out and made the day such a special day.
We have a busy week at The Point. In addition to our normal Bible Classes, we have:
an appreciation dinner for our housefellows tonight (Mon)
Mike and I are off to Manitowoc Lutheran High School for devotion and to meet students who will be living in Milwaukee next year (Wed)!! Also on Wed I will be giving a presentation to the Atonement Lutheran Ladies Aid. The Point will also be hosting ESL Wed. evening at 5:30. If you can help out, why not stop by and share some good times and some good news with the international students from UWM.
Thurs, is a presentation for the Gloria Dei Betheseda Ladies Aid.
Fri. Mark and I have a meeting with a business planner.
God has a lot of neat blessings in store for us this week. How amazing it is to be able to be a part of his plan!
Hey, don't forget two things: National Day of Prayer (Thurs) and Mother's Day is this Sunday!
God's blessings as you finish up the semester. Be sure to check out tpog.net to keep up-to-date on all the happenings at The Point.