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surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Trisha White 444 McComb Ave Cheyenne WA 82007
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Louise Barcelou 61 W. Kinkaid St,. Port Hadlock WA 98336
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Agnes Barker 1511 Eagle Ridge Dr. S. #F 7 Renton WA 98055
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Patricia Benz 2481 Anderson Lake Rd. Chimacum WA 98325
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Kathy Braun PO Box 627 Chimacum WA 98325
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Cathleen Brown 1503 7th St. SW Puyallup WA 98371
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Shelly Brown PO Box 756 Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Joe & Beth Burson 100 North Bay Way Port Ludlow WA 98365
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Wilma Calkins Victoria House Apt. 131 491 Discovery Road Port Townsend WA 98368
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Brian & LeNoir Conklin 720 Irondale Rd. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Chad & Amy Crandall 9033 Beaver Valley Rd. Chimacum WA 98325
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Dave & Gail Eddie PO Box 237 Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Eleanor Eldridge PO Box 311 Chimacum WA 98325
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
LeRoy Glessing 3920 San Juan Ave. Port Townsend WA 98368
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Fritz & Nancy Gordon 46 Village Way PMB 151 Port Ludlow WA 98365
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Sharon Miller 85 Garden Ct. Rd. #4-5 Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Jerry Lanphear 1486 S. Jacob Miller Rd. Port Townsend WA 98368
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Neil Smith 221 Aslan Dr. Sequim WA 98382
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Tim & Kelly Drennan 111 Irondale Rd. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Kim Vasenda 171 3rd St. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Debbie Boyd 12 E. Spruce St. Port Ludlow WA 98365
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Catherine Aman 3368 Gerrard Ave. Eau Claire WI 54701
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Sandy Larson 390 S. 8th St. Port Townsend WA 98368
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Lee Wilcox 4809 W. Max's Lane Spokane WA 99224
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Tyrus Wilcox 3300 Airport Rd. #E-25 Alamogordo NM 88310-8111
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Barrie & Susan Hay 2417 Ivy St. Port Townsend WA 98368
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Laverne Hicks 1410 Irondale Rd. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Judy Hiett 8701 S. Kolb Rd. #6-195 Tucson AZ 85756
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Marie Hodgin PO Box 444 Hamilton WA 98255
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Mike & Janet Hodgin 3806 Gala Loop Bellingham WA 98226
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Pastor David & Colleen Hodgin 452 W. Valley Rd. Chimacum WA 98325
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Jake & Julia Fulton 514 Bywater Way Port Ludlow WA 98365
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Roger Horner 454 W. Valley Rd. Chimacum WA 98325
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Butch & Diane Hoyle 36999 Hoyle Ln. Sedro Wooley WA 98284
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Carson & Judy Inman PO Box 217 Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Leroy Inman 220 E. Moore St. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
John & Christine Jamison PO Box 1411 Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Betty Judkins PO Box 388 Chimacum WA 98325
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Charles & Shirley Kleser 30 Westridge Ct. Port Townsend WA 98368
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Maurice Lindell 160 Windship Dr. Port Townsend WA 98368
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Glen & Anna Kominak PO Box 1232 Twisp WA 98856
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Lois Ludwig 1051 Hancock St. Apt. # 204 Port Townsend WA 98368
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
John & Bonnie Ludwig 20 Cedar Ave. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Bob & Audrey Mackey 41 Trader Ln. Port Ludlow WA 98365
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
John & Joy Modispacher 403 Hadlock Bay Rd. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Marge Webb 8233 Lariat Trail NW Bremerton WA 98311
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Anne Wheelock 12203 Shorewood Dr. SW Burien WA 98146
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Charles & Shirley Gadbaw 711 Egg & I Rd. Chimacum WA 98325
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Kathleen Horner 1051 Hancock St. #105 Port Townsend WA 98368
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Mike & Rona Anderson 445 Embody Rd. Port Ludlow WA 98365
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Jim & Kim Wilcox 34 E. Moore St. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Karen Gold 75 Flora Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Brian & Jillian Greenwood PO Box 236 Quilcene WA 98376
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Dave & Mary Noble 52 Fir Circle Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Troy & Melissa Norman 272 Cedar Ave. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Kate Olsen 2481 Anderson Lake Road Chimacum WA 98325
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
David & Linda Ramsey 190 Sherwood Rd. Sequim WA 98382
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Cathy Racine 720 Irondale Rd. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Stan & Patricia Schaff 80 W. Eugene St. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Jim & Janice Schauer PO Box 274 Chimacum WA 98325
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Wally & Leatha Smith 280 French Rd. Port Ludlow WA 98365
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Charlie & Joy Stewart PO Box 38 Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Chuck Stewart PO Box 38 Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Donald Swanson 6212 Beaver Valley Rd. Chimacum WA 98325
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Bob & Su Tipton PO Box 54 Nordland WA 98358
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Mike & Margaret Plumb 88806 Faulhaber Rd. Elmira OR 97437
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Dale & Sue Peterson PO Box 921 Winthrop WA 98862
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Chuck & Millie Hodgin 23807 Terrell Lane Sedro-Wooley WA 98284
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Jim Nickerson 21759 Sterling Dr. Sedro-Wooley WA 98284
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Hank & Rosalie Reimers 2227 6th Ave. N. Great Falls MT 59401
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Chuck & Norma Trueman 31870 SR 20 Lyman WA 98284
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Jason & Cristie VanCamp 43 Cedar Ave. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Patrick & Kathi VanCamp 3521 Center Valley Rd. Chimacum WA 98325
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Wayne Shirts 204 8th St. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Ray & Rita Sayer 2481 Anderson Lake Road Chimacum WA 98325
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
David & Jenny Brengan 81 Shotwell Rd. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Randall Goldsmith PO Box 1056 Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Michael & Laura Brittain 91 Patison St. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Elmer & Russea Headley 440 8th St. Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Jeanne Ridgeway 3724 Pine Rd. Sp. 22 Bremerton WA 98310
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Krystal Gadbaw PO Box 771 Port Hadlock WA 98339
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Jay & Janice Hundtoft 460 Jolie Way Port Townsend WA 98368
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Jon & Aleta Georg-Groenig PO Box 795 Port Hadlock WA 98368
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Rebecca Gibson 1235 Landes St. Port Townsend WA 98368
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
John & Betty Bobo PO Box 190 Quilcene WA 98376
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
B.J. & Jodi Hallinan 191 Airport Road Port Townsend WA 98368
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Bill & Judy Plice 1005 31st Street Port Townsend WA 98368
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Melanie & Alan Lunde 6878 Goodwin Rd. Everson WA 98247
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Tim & Hannah Montgomery 1014 Adams Apt. A Port Townsend WA 98368
surrounding his killing are hazy1.” Do we see any-thing implied here? There was a “killing,” a killing not an arrest gone bad, or an assault on a police offi-cer, or even a confronta-tion, there was a “killing.” The person killed was an 18 year old, barely more than a child and worst of all he was just “walking down the street with a friend.” Of course I know nothing of the details, but I do know when I am be-ing baited to believe something. This is some-thing ministers know a lot about. The good minis-ters avoid baiting people into the faith and simply ask and re-ask, “Have you considered Christ?” Good news reporters report the news, they don’t inflame their readers with mis-leading statements.
I am thinking about our words and how we use them. How we say what we say. “That shirt looks good on you,” or “You look good in that shirt.” Is it the same mes-sage with the same mean-ing? Does it make a dif-ference how you say it, as long as a compliment is intended? To say ‘you look good in that shirt’ sort of implies you may not look so good in an-other one. Where “That shirt looks good on you,” says the person makes the shirt. It’s not something to go crazy over, but in the long run a steady ear-diet of misspoken expres-sions will paint your brain in a corner it cannot es-cape.
In the news lately we have seen bannered the expression, “Black lives matter.” As if there is some doubt about that. But the expression implies there is doubt, by the gen-eral public and definitely by the police. “Black lives matter” is a simple little statement intended to do well, but it exposes a
deeper problem. It leads us down a path of “you look good in that shirt.” The path where there is more being said behind the thought than through it.
Imagine two guys, one a blue-eyed bald man holding up a sign that reads, “White lives mat-ter,” the other a black man with a sign that reads, “Black lives mat-ter.” Our culture tells us the white guy is a white supremacist raging with hate and the other is a disadvantaged black man longing for equal rights. The conclusion is made for us before any facts are gathered.
Here’s an exam-ple, three days after Mi-chael Brown Jr. died in Ferguson MO, NBC re-ported, “Here is what we know about the killing of Michael Brown, 18. Brown was walking down the street with a friend when he was shot to death by a Ferguson po-lice officer on Saturday afternoon, all parties ac-knowledge, but the facts
THAT SHIRT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU!
29
June 2015
Irondale Church News
Irondale Church News
Pray Always:
Pastor David and
Colleen
Community Soup
Irondale Bible Insti-
tute
Our outreach and
witness to our com-
munity
Busy Hands
People struggling
with illness
Young families and
single parent fami-
lies
Those struggling
with addictions
Schools: students,
staff, administrators
Missionaries
Homeless, helpless,
hopeless and hungry
Salvation for the lost
Law enforcement
professionals
The military serving
at home and abroad
We saw this again in Olympia on May 21. The head-lines of the Seattle PI read, “Olympia cop shoots 2 un-armed men suspected of steal-ing beer” The article begins, “Two stepbrothers suspected of trying to steal beer from a gro-cery store were not armed with guns when they were later shot Thursday by a police officer who confronted them in the state's capital city…..” Do you see the bait? Do you see how the media is spoon feeding us the conclusion as it reports? It begins with the headline, “cop” not a more respectful term like ‘officer’ or ‘policeman’ but “cop.” “Shoots 2 unarmed men,” sounds like there was no encounter, just another killing. “Suspected of stealing beer,” suspected is such a vague term. The headline is leading us to believe that the only thing we know is some cop killed two unarmed men. When the arti-cle begins they are, “suspected of trying to steal beer.” Sounds like they didn’t even steal the beer, they were just “trying” to. Then the bait ramps up, “a po-lice officer who confronted them,” how does a policeman “confront” a suspect? Police don’t “confront” they question, they apprehend, they pursue and they arrest. Once again as in Ferguson the media sets the hype without the facts. (Of course I don’t know the officers involved and they may be big-ots, but I really doubt it, be-cause if they were, the media
would not have to bait us.) But if you are looking
for facts, here are some facts. From 2010-15 law enforcement officers in the United States killed 2,2221 people. During that same timeframe 7032 law enforcement personnel died in the line of duty. This means that for every 3 citizens that are killed by police officers, a police officer died. Bet you did-n’t know that. That is the type of thing that gets left out by people who are trying to create the news rather than report it.
How are you doing when you are baited to believe something? Are you falling for it or leaving it for what it is? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Romans 16:17-18 adds to that, “I appeal to you, broth-ers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create ob-stacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the na-ive.” God wants us to be in-formed and knowledgeable. Completely believing in some-thing, anything, requires faith. But having faith does not mean we check our brains at the door, it means quite the oppo-site. We are challenged to study God, place our trust in
Him and see if He’s for real. The more we lean on Him the stronger He becomes.
Do not buy into every-thing you hear or read. It was the mob-mentality that cruci-fied Christ. There are people out there with some weird agendas and they will bait you into believing what they want you to believe. Sometimes even those who may claim to be like-minded with you may twist the message just enough to throw you off course.
Remember Jesus’ words, “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents a n d i n n o c e n t a s doves” (Matthew 10:16 ESV). And by the way, keep smiling, joyful people really irk the Devil and just so you know, that shirt looks good on you!
-Pastor David 1http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/michael-brown-shooting/killing-unarmed-teen-what-we-know-about-browns-death-n178696 2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_killings_by_law_enforcement_officers_in_the_United_States 3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_police_officers killed_in_the_line_of_duty#2015
That Shirt Looks Good on You! continued
Page 2 Irondale Church News
Enjoy the Kid’s Club pictures in the following pages
Ok, so we didn’t exactly pray for the fish, except that they would be very Hungry! God blessed a total of 16 of us with three boats, heading to Lake Leland for our first ever “Kid’s Club” fishing derby.
We prayed for sunshine, we got and abundance of rain. I mean an abundance of rain! Good thing Shirley was my co-pilot. It sprin-kled on the way down with a few breaks, draw-ing us in with a sneaky display of just being over-cast at some points.
Haw! That was just a net about to be drawn tight. It started to sprinkle again just as we were getting the boats launched. With all the kids life jacketed, handed out their poles and given their own personal fish stringers (very sweetly made by Russea, com-plete with hand wiping cloths) they were loaded in the boats captained by Elmer, Troy and Pastor David. Off they headed with their gleeful fishing people, all talking at once and very excited. And then it began to p o u r ……………pour…………..pour….
I am proud to say our pre-fishing school and pole use in Kid’s Club
paid off, not a one of our kid’s hooked another child and only one pole had to be abandoned in a tangled mess. Extra poles had been brought for just such an occasion.
However one boat who’s captain (name not mentioned as I live with him) was apparently suffering a mutiny as he gave up the helm briefly and the mutineers did manage to wrap a line in the boat propeller during the melee.
The reports rolled in “Colleen.” “Hello its Russea; Dymon caught the first fish! Manasseh and Sara caught fish too!” I am not sure who was more delighted, Russea or named lucky child! Kids whom had never fished before caught their first ever fish! Some caught multiple fish. Some caught no fish and the rain did not discrimi-nate in its torrential downpour, it rained on the successful and the not so successful! Just like life!
Adults caught fish, some adults even (we were told) threw back the fish of those adults who were catching more fish than them!!! We were one person short on boat seating and I elected to wait on the
shore; so, no it wasn’t me who threw back the fish.
As I fished from the bank you could hear the shouts of laughter, you could hear singing. I looked at the other fish-ermen on the shore near me, there were big smiles on their faces as well as they took it all in.
We continued to be drenched, but no one thought we ought to go back. I would get regular updates on my cell phone as catches were made but for the most part I didn’t need them as the shrieks of delight or dis-appointment at the one that got away carried across the water.
I watched in amazement as two of our adult women in a small boat both stood up to fish at the same time, they hadn’t got the memo that you probably shouldn’t do that even in a small sturdy boat. One of them made the deci-sion to cast from the standing position and that’s all it took for stra-tegic fishing dancing methods to be em-ployed…. Thankfully there was a true seaman on board who saved the day!!! I only wish the whole thing had been caught on tape (for pos-terity’s sake you know)
Pray for the Fish!
Page 3 Irondale Church News
and we could use it in one of our teaching les-sons on fishing etiquette.
It continued to pour. I was entertained by the company of multi-ple otters who felt the need to hang out with me on the shore and a family of newborn ducklings and their mother swimming by (the little runt in the back couldn’t quite keep up and occasionally even his mad paddling would fail him and the mother would come back to give him a poke with her beak...sheesh...it’s even hard to be a duck some-days!!!
Lest you feel I was cheated by not being out on the water, the two fishermen to my left would occasionally men-tion they thought they
should go get lunch and maybe dry out. (Sissies I thought, why even our littlest fisherman hadn’t offered any complaint!) What I didn’t know was they were wise to the ways of Leland Lake fish and as they would begin to make motions of leav-ing they would each catch a fish in spite of the local otters! I waited with baited breath for them to leave so I could have their “lucky” spot. Finally they did leave and I had just started to relocate to the prized position when the voices from the water seemed a lot closer and sure enough here they all came drowned as rats but with grins that would-n’t quit.
I asked “Did you have fun?” Silly question, their faces were plas-
tered with joy and even though by now their teeth were indeed chat-tering, They all re-sponded with resounding “YES-S” Do you want to do this again? “YES!” We decided to go to my home where it would be warm to eat our lovely picnic provided by Angel and Joy.
Better to be drowned and wet with a bunch of happy kids or sitting in a warm dry house??? Better with the kids! And of course, bet-ter having gone fishing!
Thanks God for an opportunity to know even in circumstances that are less than perfect, much joy can be found with the right attitude in place!
-Colleen
Pray for the Fish! continued
Page 4 Irondale Church News
Community Soup continues into the sum-mer months now, and we are still going strong!
I’m happy to re-port that in May we had some new volunteers join in: two washed dishes, one came to serve, and another will be baking cookies. What I love about this is that three of the four new volunteers are people who come to
We learn to en-courage one another, and often receive encourage-ment through the apprecia-tion of those we serve. Thank you to all the prayer warriors and volunteers who keep us going week after week. Maybe you don’t hear it enough, but I’ll tell you now: You are LOVED AND APPRECIATED so very much! God bless you all! -Kim
Community Soup on a pretty regular basis! We’ve seen some of them at church on Sun-days as well.
Volunteering is such a rewarding experi-ence! It removes our tunnel vision and opens our horizons. We meet people we may never have met otherwise, and learn more about our community as a whole.
Community Soup Volunteers Rock!
Guilty, but Free 5/5/2015
Page 5 Irondale Church News
The gavel fell, the verdict read “guilty as charged had” been my plea, I hung my head in shame as the crimes were read; they told the truth about me….
I‘d been there on the day that someone fell by my thoughtless cruel words and their character death lay at my feet. But to look at me you saw no remorse I was vindicated you see.
They were exactly who I said they were and I had every right…because it was me they’d hurt with their thoughtless acts and I was trampled beneath their feet.
To climb the social ladder they had carefully stepped upon me, took credit for the things I’d done, so they would rise and I no longer credited would be….
Oh how it hurt, it smarted to see my work so easily stolen and my labored hours cheapened as the glory seeped away, bitterness slipped in and my godly character slid astray.
I waited for my moment when I would reveal their crime, dark thoughts trudged swiftly through my mind. I knew because of who they were it would be only a matter of time.
Sure enough it happened their villainy was revealed, I waited breathlessly as their fatal plot unrav-eled, pushed it along, made sure it was clear, their fatal death was sealed.
The gavel held up in the air waited only to be brought down, but tears began to fall as they asked forgiveness of the one who’d paid the price, me... This couldn’t be, this wasn’t my advice.
I rushed in with my proof and deeply pled my case, ruthlessly exposing them hoping for a full dis-grace, It would not hurt my heart to see their name scratched from the human race.
But I stood before the Judge and with tears in His eyes, He looked at me with broken heart and said; “It was for you I died.” “But, but, I hadn’t lied, every word was true I cried!”
With head bowed low towards my heart I looked deep within. I saw no mercy no grace for them like I’d been freely given. It was by my hurt feelings that I was being driven.
I looked up to see a mirror where His face had been, I saw the face of my own guilt filled heart re-flected back at me. No shred of His glory shown within, just a dark empty raging sea.
Now it was my eyes that held the tears you see, I had so forgotten the priceless cost He had paid to make me guilt free.
He’d taken His nail pierced arms so cruelly fastened tightly to the tree, falsely accused for the remis-sion of my sins; He cried and wrapped them lovingly around me.
“Guilty Judge” I said, Please mark their debt paid you see, they were pardoned long ago when You hung upon that tree. “Please Lord; forgive such a one as me.”
Oh matchless is the gift He gave and taught that so dark and painful day. The weight of my sin and yours He reached up and carried beyond our finite minds away.
The price was fully paid by Him alone who would show us with His great love the one and only way. I looked up to see Him smile…His tears of joy. “Now you understand, He said”, the gavel fell, He said;
“Guilt free.” Love poured out it was enough for them and enough for me.
Located at 681 Irondale Road PO Box 959
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Phone: 360-385-1720 Fax: 360-385-1720
E-mail:
[email protected] www.irondalechurch.org
IRONDALE CHURCH
Irondale Church is a place of promise to grow and belong
Pastor & Wife: David & Colleen Hodgin
Associate Pastor: Troy Norman
Visitation Pastor: Chuck Gadbaw
Elders: Dave Noble, John Jamison, Fritz Gordon, LeRoy Glessing, Dave Eddie
Council: Colleen Hodgin-Youth, Shirley Gadbaw & Melissa Norman-Fellowship, Mary Noble-Finance,
Troy Norman-Worship, Jim Wilcox-Interior Property, Kim Wilcox-Treasurer
Weekly Schedule:
Sunday: 9:30 Sunday School, 10:30 Worship, Children’s Church & Nursery;
Coffee Hour; 6:30 Evening Bible Study
Monday: 6:30 Bible Study in Small Meeting Room
Tuesday: 4-6:30 Community Soup
Thursday: 11:00 Prayer Hour
2nd Saturday Men’s breakfast at Chimacum Café
3rd Saturday: Busy Hands Quilts for Foster Kids
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a
future.” Jeremiah 29:11
Irondale Church PO Box 959 Port Hadlock, WA 98339
Jorah & Cheyanne Benson 187 Llama Lane Port Townsend WA 98368