Snow Hill News Blog

Psalms for the Week

Consider reading, reflecting and commenting on Psalm 23 and Psalm 89.

Thank You, You Preached Well

Fifteen years ago, July 18, Patty, me, and the girls began our journey as the "Pastor's Family" at Snow Hill. My pastor growing up, Brother Justice, eschewed surprises. He liked to know what was coming and going on. My mentor, Dr. Rick Davis, taught that it was a good idea to keep abreast of things. Surprises can sometimes go south on you. Not so here.

Yesterday, you surprised us. The ploy was not to cover an unprepared pastor. Instead, you preached the message. While many of the words spoken directed attention to some aspect of our time at Snow Hill, the underlying theme for me was the kind of relationship the Apostle Paul described in a number of places in the Scriptures - a loving, growing, mutual relationship of integrity and respect founded on the response to the love of God in Jesus, the Christ and the activity of the Spirit in the life of the Church.

Patty and I will look forward to our trip. The time away will be fun. New places are always intriguing and exciting. We are different because of our time together and the love we share with you.

Thank you Snow Hill.
We still thank God for allowing us to serve with you in the greatest church in the Country.

Pastor Todd and Patty

The Plumbline and the Platter

If you are reading the texts for this coming Sunday, consider spending a extra time with Amos 7:7-15 and Mark 6:14-29. Look for the relationship.

Congratulations Jonathan!

We received word here in the office that Jonathan passed his exams and is a "Fifth Year Med Student." Read "Final Year" medical student. You can read the story here.

The Kingdom of Downward Mobility

We found this quote from some online reading,

“…The society in which we live suggests in countless ways that the way to go is up. Making it to the top, entering the limelight, breaking the record - that's what draws attention, gets us on the front page of the newspaper, and offers us the rewards of money and fame.  The way of Jesus is radically different. It is the way not of upward mobility but of downward mobility. It is going to the bottom, staying behind the sets, and choosing the last place! Why is the way of Jesus worth choosing? Because it is the way to the Kingdom, the way Jesus took, and the way that brings everlasting life.” Henri Nouwen

(HT:ProdiganKiwi(s))

Update: Community of Hope Free Medical Clinic

We launched the Community of Hope Free Medical Clinic three weeks ago. We saw seven patients. Our volunteers - from our doctor all the way down to our "runners" - did an outstanding job.

Our next open date is set for next week, July 8, from 7-9 p.m. Over time we hope to add other doctors to enable us to provide for more appointment times.

Psalm for the Week

Sometimes we learn from reading. More often we learn from watching then doing. Watch children learn to tie shoes. They carefully watch the movements of the parents' hands. Over and again they watch. Then once they capture the actions they reproduce them.

Surely you can think of what you have learned by watching the hands of others.

This week, read Psalm 123. Pay particular attention to these words,

Behold, as the eyes of the servants look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maidservant to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the LORD our God,
til he has mercy upon us.

Long Walks - Psalm 130

Walking is good for the heart. Keeping the heart rate up is the key to a good walk. Sometimes we add weights. Other times we walk uphill or downhill to push our bodies harder. At least once annually Jewish families would make the trek to Jerusalem. A series of songs were written for the long journey. Eugene Peterson titled his little book on these songs, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. One of the texts for this week is Psalm 130 - one of these "songs of ascent." Take the time to read Psalm 130 each day the rest of this week. Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Tracking the Massons

We received an email from Jonathan that he and Kari had been sent their login information to take the Perspectives Course on World Missions! Their books are on their way. As a reminder of the dream God has given them read their recent post. (You may follow their journey by watching the sidebar for their updates.) Here is a clip.

The reason we made this appointment was to get a head start on the formalities for moving to Senegal and starting a clinic. After our experience moving to France, we knew that there would be a LOT of paperwork for visas, residency permits, taxes, renting a house, setting up utilities, opening bank accounts, plus starting a business in cooperation with the Minister of Health.

Here's what we found out: all of that can be done once we arrive. Because we will be bringing humanitarian aid and developing jobs, the government will make it as easy as possible for us to move and get established in Senegal.

Exciting news!

More Than A Storm on a Lake