online - everettfamilychurch.org | mail - 15317 73rd AVE SE #2, Snohomish, WA, 98296 | phone - 425 387-1975

The Wrong Edge of the Maul by Pastor Mike

As a child I had the chore of splitting firewood. There was an old tire I would put the wood rounds inside of so that when I missed wi th t he spl i t t ing maul (a s ledge hammer axe hybrid) the sharp edge would be protected. (This is a chore passed onto my own son much to his excitement!)

If you do not know how to use a maul it can be an exhausting and very fruitless tool. If you set out a wood round and whack away using the flat side of the maul, not even the strength of Paul Bunyon, lumberjack folk hero, will do much. There will be a round piece of wood with dents and splinters but not a single piece of usable firewood. Good form, strength, and bucket loads of motivation will not make up for the blunt side of the maul. Yet this is how so many of us Christ-followers strive to live for Jesus. We bring all our best stuff into the Christian life. The results are underwhelming - sinful patterns stubbornly persist, discouragement and the purposeless-driven life remain, and God’s voice sounds like the indistinguishable call of a lifeguard during a public swim. Does this describe you?

The truths of the Bible are the sharp edge of the maul that allow us to move into the bountiful Christian life. No amount of effort or strength or motivation will allow us to experience the deeper things of God apart from raw, whole-hearted obedience to God’s Word. We need to flip the maul around and use the sharp edge. When circumstances slide sideways and cause us to worry; when we face a tough decision between serving God and money/sports/leisure; when angered and ready to lash out because of our child’s rude comment; when hurt by a friend’s insensitivity and tempted to emotionally disengage; Jesus gives us the sharp edge of the spiritual maul in Matthew 5-7. Not to guilt us into conformity, but because raw, whole-hearted obedience is the sharp edge to the bountiful Christian life.

My prayer for us this month: When God speaks to us in the sermon or our devotional Bible reading that we grab hold of it with raw, whole-hearted obedience!

E F C F O C U S N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 4

EFC FAMILY GATHERING S A T U R D A Y S @ 5 P M

Our Family Gathering is a worship concert built upon the truth of God’s Word empowered by the Holy Spir i t . Music typically opens our time with an interactive time of worship and a creative presentation of God’s Word. There is an age-graded

breakout for elementary and youth while adults are challenged in a sermon based on the day’s Biblical text. The evening concludes with a simple dinner. We have begun a study of the Bible book of Exodus and the life of Moses and Israel as they depart Egypt for the Promised Land. In our study we are discovering why God has saved us and for what purpose we were rescued!

2nd-6th Grade, January 23-25 Register online or with a camp registration form. Camp registration is now open! Those who register and make full payment by Sunday, December 21st will save $14 from the regular camp price of $129.

READY TO SERVE AS CAMP STAFF? We are recruiting our staff for camp at this time. Every camp staff member (youth and adult) must complete a “Blizzard15 Staff Registration” and “Blizzard Application and Profile.” They must attend the upcoming Staff training meetings: ✴ Friday, December 19, 6:15-8:15pm - Youth training ✴ Saturday, January 3, 9-11am - All staff training #1 ✴ Saturday, January 17, 9-11am - All staff training #2

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online - everettfamilychurch.org | mail - 15317 73rd AVE SE #2, Snohomish, WA, 98296 | phone - 425 387-1975

Taco Tuesday: We continue to serve the families who come to the monthly meal at the Family Tree Apartments. Our prayer is that they might come to know the love of their Father in heaven as we strive to be Jesus with skin.

Police Chaplain: I (Pastor Mike) spent a week training with other chaplains so that I might be a resource for the Everett Police Department. I don’t wear a tie very often but I did at the graduation ceremony! Also pictured are two others serving with Everett Police and Fire - Chuck Hickman, pastor at P o r t G a r d n e r C o m m u n i t y Church, and Billy Wheeler, pastor at Calvary Everett.

Family Fall Festival: Numerous families from EFC dressed up and sponsored fun and eccentric b o o t h s a t o u r a n n u a l F a l l Fes t iva l a t t he F a m i l y T r e e Apar tmen t s . A wheel of prizes, e n g i n e e r i n g booth, and toilet paper toss were just a few! Our purpose was to o f f e r a s a f e , special time for c h i l d r e n a n d families and to build relationships with families who do not have a church family. Thank you to the many who served.

Youth at Bob’s Cornmaze: The youth grabbed their rubber boots, rain coats, and flashlights for a thrilling night at the popular cornmaze. A brief devotion at the blazing fire pit warmed us up before we finished the night cold and wet.

OCTOBER REWIND

E F C M a n a g e m e n t T e a m Dan Bell, Janine Ripley, & Mike Wright We believe that God provides the resources we need to do the ministry He has directed us to do. Therefore, we do not worry or press folks to donate. Rather, we invite you to continue to honor God in proportion to His provision. He doesn’t need us but boy it is a joy to partake in His work!

Total Joy Box gifts in October $6,986 ..................Total EFC spending in October $7,977 ................. Community Ministry & Missions Abroad$1,224

Everett Family Church is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. Tax Identification # 71-1025722

Visit EFC online (everettfamilychurch.org) for a current calendar of all events, times, and locations.

Family Football in the Park - Nov 29@3pm

@LOWELL PARK in EVERETT Bring a thermos of hot cocoa, chairs,

and soup to share!

E F C B I R T H D A Y S November 2 Darrell ....................November 3 John ....................November 14 Pascale, Nathalie ..................November 28 Mary Jo..................

COMMUN I T Y GROUPS We continue to find ways to deepen our relationships with one another and grow in our understanding of God’s word. Community Groups are a place of intentional discipleship for the whole church family. There are currently four Community Groups. Paul and Amanda, Steve and Janine, Jenn and Dan, and Mike and Pascale each pastor a group. We will be meeting on the weekend of November 21st - no Gathering on the 22nd.

Family Dinner @ Family Tree Tu e s d a y , N o v e m b e r 11 t h All are invited to help us prep and serve a meal to

the folks who live at the Family Tree Apartments. We will meet at Hope Church at 5pm to prepare the meal and serve the meal at the Family Tree Apartments at 6pm. We will clean-up about 7pm.

MENU:

Thanksgiving Dinner (sign-up online to bring food or help)