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Written by Michael Cotten
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Tuesday, September 21 2010 14:01 |
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Family Notes
Michael Cotten
21 September 2010
Gloria and I were with Bob and Sandy Bulls on Sunday night. Bob is now pastoring New Life Church in Whiteville, NC. That church had been through some rough times when Bob Came in last year. Since then he has been working to bring healing and a consolidation of the vision. When we walked in Sunday night there was a sense of excitement in the air -- really a sense that the church was going somewhere. The building (a “miracle building” by the way) was painted and looking sharp and there’s a new sound system and huge HD monitors. Worship was great with new musicians and singers.
Bob and Sandy are family -- part of the GCI family. That means something. God means for us to be connected. Sure, we’re all connected to the “family of Man.” But that’s not what I am talking about. I mean that God wants us to be clear about our specific family. I know who my father is, and I know who my brother is.
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,” (Ephesians 3:14–15 ESV) This is what I mean. in a specific way, I need a family that acknowledges me as “brother.” The US passport has a place on it where we can write the name and address of someone to contact in the event of an emergency. I still list my brother Wesley there, because I know that no matter where I was or what trouble in I was in, Wes would come and get me out and get me home.
It’s no accident that most of the initial ministry contacts the new church has with Gentiles involved family -- The Philippian jailer was saved with his family and Cornelius the Roman was saved with his entire family. This sets a pattern for us.
Gloria and I were there Sunday night for a family event. It was a great evening and one to be long remembered.
Blessings.
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