SEPTEMBER 2016

Greyson Cole 9/3/14Kristy Ross 9/03/--Caroline Taylor 9/05/--Merna Colwell 9/5/--Lisa Mapes 9/06/--Jessica Susanj 9/07/ -- JONATHAN MCDONALD 9/08/06Elizabeth Kilmer 9/09/08Jocelyn MacDonald 9/10/07Anola Smith 9/17/12Tory Smith 9/17/12Elizabeth Hugo 9/21/--Carlee Ross Button 9/22/06 Eric Eberlin 9/22/--Jay Ross 9/22/--Chelsi Jacoski 9/24/--Barry Ballard 9/25/--Michelle Wilson 9/26/--Owen Hitchcock 9/29/12

Wyalusing Presbyterian Church79 Church StreetPO Box 25Wyalusing PA 18853return service requested

Heather & Chris Kolbeck 9/04/10Tiffani & Donny Warner 9/13/08Andrew& Kelly Smith 9/13/08Chauncy & Derek Spearing 9/15/07Diana & Josh Petlock 9/08/07 Karen & Steven Giffin 9/02/06Nick & Karyn Ross 9/10/05Lisa & Ken Mapes 9/27/03Rich & Becky Neiley 9/21/02Jackie & David Parfitt 9/09/95Bud & Kathie Marvin 9/29/73John & Margaret Dabback 9/14/57

GONE TO GLORY Kerry Detrick August 10, 2016

The brisk fall air sparks my anticipation: What do you have in store for me today, Lord? I put my hand in yours and move forward with you.

SEPTEMBER 2016

the

• SEPTEMBER 5, 2016Do something

God wants our work to be meaningful and satisfying. No matter what we do, it should provide a reason to get up each day and use the talents God has given us. As Benjamin Franklin said, “The man who achieves makes many mistakes, but he never makes the biggest mistake of all: doing nothing.”

Our Real WorkIt may be that when we no longer know what to do we have come to our real work, and that when we no longer know which way to go we have come to our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings. —Wendell Berry, Standing by Words

COMMUNITY CLOCK DEDICATION CEREMONY

On a sunny afternoon (5:30 p.m.) in August – August 8th to be exact, the Wyalusing Community Clock was dedicated. The keys to the clock were turned over to WPC Clerk of Session, Lynn Petlock.

The Session of WPC agreed to locate the clock on church property, and WPC will take care of the clock and its maintenance. Many members of our congregation were active in acquiring the clock - Bill Snyder, Barb and Paul Hugo, John and Lynn Petlock, Barry Ballard , Steve Reichard, and from the Rainbow Club, Bob Westover, Sherri Schreier and Art Allyn.

The clock was acquired in memory of Wyalusing Presbyterian Church members, Marilyn Prothero, Peg Shaffer and Bobbi Lord , who contributed greatly to the community. Many thanks to John Petlock who was instrumental in the installation of the clock; he’ll make a great Clock Keeper! [The dedication ceremony was coved extensively in the Rocket/Courier - the article is posted on the Sigler Hall bulletin board]

PATRIOT DAY •,

September 11 A time for peace“We must never allow September 11th to become a time for protest and division. Instead, this day must remain a time for promoting peace and mutual respect.” —Archbishop Timothy Dolan

FRONTFRONT PORCHPORCH

The FRONT PORCH is the monthly newsletter of Wyalusing Presbyterian Church located at 179 Church Street in the heart of Wyalusing Pennsylvania. The vision of Wyalusing Presbyterian Church is to nurture faith in Jesus Christ, and through that faith, reach out to all people in Christian love. Phone: 570-746-3333 E-mail: wpchurch@epix.net web site: www.wyalusingpc.org

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” —Nelson Mandela

NATIONAL

GRANDPARENTS DAYSEPTEMBER 11, 2016

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 at 8:45 a.m.

Our Christian Education Team met on July 31 to outline plans for the fall beginning with RALLY DAY on August 28 to kick off the new Sunday school year. Many, many thanks to Barb and George Hugo for hosting this fun event at their home!Sunday School Superintendent Lynn Petlock tells us the breakdown of classes and teachers for the coming year:

3 & 4 year olds Lisa Mapes

Kindergarten, 1st & 2nd grades Blaire Wayman & Katy Stoddard

Grades 3 – 6 Sue Kilmer & Amy Soper

Grades 7 – 12 Shannon Lord

Adult Class Barry Ballard & Mary Eberlin

Helpers so far will be Julie McCarty, Diana Petlock, Toni McCarty, Keri Pickett and Lynn Petlock.

We Are Heading Into Another School Year! I can imagine a groan from the students, and possibly a cheer from the parents. Some semblance of normalcy will stabilize our lives again. Even without children in the Wyalusing Schools this year, Karen and I are looking forward to our schedules becoming less chaotic.

With the start of the school year, Christian Education opportunities start up again around WPC. Sunday School starts on September 11 at 8:45 with Celebration in the Sanctuary. There are classes for all ages, including an Adult Sunday School Class, so you can stay right here to learn along with the kids. Youth Group for 7th through 12th graders begins with a cookout at the McCarty’s house on September 11 at 5:00 PM. There are 2 Bible Studies beginning. First, Mike Jensen will lead a Bible Study on Sunday nights at 5:00 at the home of Ron and Toni McCarty. While the target group for this study is Youth Group Parents, anyone is welcome to join in. The Horizon Bible Study begins September 16 at 10:30 a.m. at Bonnie Reichard’s and the third Bible Study starts on Tuesday, September 20 at 6:30 in the Social Rooms at WPC. There is more about this elsewhere in the Front Porch, so I won’t spoil it. Learning opportunities abound through the church beginning in September!

Christian Education is vitally important for the church family. We Christians are disciples of Jesus Christ. A disciple is a follower and a learner. We have the privilege of learning the truth from the Master Teacher: Jesus. We do this by engaging God’s Word, learning the principles and precepts therein, and praying about how we can apply them to our daily lives. Throughout this process, we trust that the Holy Spirit is working on us to strengthen our faith and devotion to Christ, transform our character, shape our conduct, and make those principles & precepts second nature to us. Some of us may live with nagging doubts and persistent questions about Christianity. The church’s Christian Education provides a safe setting to ask those questions, and seek out answers. Some of us may be seeking a supportive community for any number of reasons. The church’s Christian Education provides a community beyond the Sunday morning Worship Service (where you can easily choose not to interact with anyone) where people can get to know you, and become your friends. This is all part of growing as disciples (or prospective disciples) of Jesus through the ministry of our church.

So, as the school year begins, and as our students get back into the routine of learning, let us all renew our commitment to Christian Education. Each of us and all of us together have so many opportunities to learn and grown in our knowledge, understanding, faith, and devotion to God. Please join me, and take advantage of what is offered. Have a great (school) year!

Their prayer: “God bless America, land that I love.” And God, please bless the whole world with justice, peace and freedom to worship you.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

Back-to-school humorSummer is over. Time to officially

remember what day of the week it is! “Labor Day is a glorious holiday because

your child will be going back to school the next day. It would have been called Independence Day, but that name was already taken.” (Bill Dodds)

Receiving new textbooks, one student to another: “Psst. How do you turn this thing on?”

Parent: “What did you learn today?” Kindergartner: “Not enough. I have to go back tomorrow.”

By now everyone has received their “stewardship” letter from this year’s team leader Lin Heath, We all recognize the very practical aspects of operating the wonderful facilities of WPC. This is our time to step up and pledge our support for the well being of our church.

According to the September issue of the Joyful Noiseletter “humor rakes in the bucks” so here are some fun commentaries from their “stewardship” edition:

$1A reader wrote columnist Smiley Anders of the Baton Rouge (LA) Advocate: “My granddad, F.M. Grouchy, was head usher for St. Joseph Cathedral in Baton Rouge. He gave regularly to the church, but every Sunday he started the collection by dropping a silver dollar in the plate.

“One day, one of the new ushers went to the priest and said, ‘I think Mr. Grouchy is stealing. I saw him take a silver dollar out of the plate.’ “The priest explained, ‘Mr. Grouchy has been starting the collection for years with that silver dollar. It was the first dollar the U.S. Army gave him when he returned from the Spanish-American war in Cuba.’” $1It has been calculated that if the widow’s mite had been invested in the First National Bank of Jerusalem 2,000 years ago at 4% interest compounded semi-anually, the $4,800,000,000,000,000,000,000 now in the account could pay off several national debts. $1A visiting preacher went to preach for a country church. Near the front door was a box labeled “Offering.” The preacher dropped in a quarter. After the church service, the treasurer said to the preacher, “We pay you whatever is in the offering box.” When the box was opened, the preacher found only his quarter. —Rev. Tal Bonham $1

An airliner was flying at a high altitude when two engines caught on fire; the fog was so heavy it eliminated all visibility. As the airliner descended, the passengers were numb with terror, except for a pastor on board who told the passengers, “Let us all kneel and pray.”

All the passengers complied and knelt except one old gent. “Why aren’t you praying with us?” the pastor asked. “Because I don’t know how,” the old man replied. “In that case,” the pastor advised, “do anything religious.” So the old man took up an offering.

$1

“I have watched 100,000 families over my years of investment counseling. I always saw greater prosperity and happiness among those families who tithed than among those who didn’t.” —Sir John Templeton

$1When the late comedian Danny Thomas was a

young man, he and his pregnant wife were struggling to make ends meet. Thomas took some part-time jobs to pay the groceries, but a week before the baby was born, he only had $7.85 left in his pocket.

Despairing, he went to a Catholic church. When the offering plate was passed, he put $7 in it and then had second thoughts about it.

He got on his knees and prayed, “Lord, I got carried away and gave my last seven bucks. I need it back tenfold because I’ve got a kid on the way, and I’ve got to pay the hospital bill.”

Thomas went home with 85 cents in his pocket.The next morning the telephone rang, and he

was offered a job, a part in a commercial for a paycheck of $75, almost exactly 10 times the amount he had prayed for in church. “I whooped with joy,” Thomas recalled.

$1Another reader wrote Columnist Smiley Anders of the Baton Rouge (LA) Advocate: “In the late 1950s at St. Landry Catholic Church in Opelousas, LA, the collection baskets had long handles, and the ushers would pass the basket in front of each person. “In those days, most of the money in the baskets was coins. A couple of high-performing ushers would jingle the basket in front of select persons to make sure the congregation noticed what they put in the basket. “After the first time, the ‘offering’ increased and then other people became targets of these volunteer extortionists.”

STEWARDSHIP SUNDAY - September 11

©Scott A. Masear Reprinted with permission

The Youth Group is starting up again!

We will kick off on Sunday September 11 at 5:00 at Alyssa and Cari McCarty’s house for a cookout and swimming. Parents are welcome, and encouraged to come to this event. Our friends from Scotland will be there, so we can catch up all the news.

Youth Group is open to ALL 7TH through 12th GRADERS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US (AND BRING FRIENDS). Heather and Scott McAllister along with Karen and Barry Ballard are the leaders of the group. We meet with people from the whole Wyalusing community (not just Presbyterians).

Come join us every Sunday night at 5:00 at WPC (unless otherwise posted) for fun, food, fellowship, and some learning, too.

Keep up with the latest Youth Group information on the Wyalusing Youth Group Facebook page.

Bible Quiz Which of the following sports does Paul use metaphorically to describe the Christian life?

Answer: D (See 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.)

OUR FRIENDS FROM SCOTLAND!!!!

Rob Mitchell and Evelyn McAulay

will be with us ‘til September 13. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FOLLOWING EVENTS:Soup Supper at church, 5:30 p.m. 8/30/16

Wyoming County Fair meet 6:00 p.m. 9/1/16

Picnic @ (Ron) McCartys - Youth Group 9/11/16 5:00 p.m.

Coffee hour at Ruth Parson's 9/13/16

GO TO THE CHURCH WEB SITE,FOLLOW THE SCOTLAND LINK

AND SIGN UP!

“Okay, that’s enough, Dave!”

A. Fishing B. Running a race C. BoxingD. Both B and CE. All of the above

SEPTEMBER 16 Horizons Bible StudyWho Is Jesus? What a Difference a Lens Makes’ by Judy Yates Siker [A New Testament scholar and an ordained teaching elder in the PC (USA)] . Quoting from the introduction to this year long Bible study:

 “Halfway through the Gospel of Mark, as Jesus and his disciples are on their way to Caesarea Philippi, Jesus turns to his disciples and asks, “So, what’s the word on the street? Who do people say that I am?” It seems like a reasonable question to ask the people who travel with you and who have the opportunity to hear what folks in their towns and villages are saying about their teacher. “Well,” they answer, “some say you are John the Baptist (back from the dead); others think you are one of the prophets, maybe Elijah, maybe another one.”

Then Jesus looks them squarely in the eyes and asks, “Yes, but who do you   say that I am?”

Now that’s a qood question! The author's prayer is that, through the course of this study, you will find your own voice, your own answer. When Jesus turns and looks you squarely in the eyes and asks, “Who do you say that I am?” what will you say?”

Things to look for in the study: the art (the paintings are by international artists), scope and sequence, background scripture, opening prayer and the glossary… in Lesson One “According to Mark” - background scripture is the Gospel of Mark 1-8 ;the key scripture is Mark 8:27-33; and the key idea is ‘ Jesus is not the messiah they expected, but he is indeed God’s Son.’

Study sheets for the first lesson – from the Horizon Magazine and the Presbyterian Outlook - are available in the church office (just ask Diana). Lesson books are ordered and will be ready for you before the first meeting at Bonnie Stevens Reichard’s on Friday, September 16 at 10:30 a.m.

SEPTEMBER 18 Parents’ Bible Study will meet

Sunday nights at Toni and Ron McCarty's home [Address: 189 Chillaway Road, Wyalusing- just a short bit away from the church] while our kids are at Youth Group (5 p.m.) (i.e. drop them off, head over to Toni's, have the study time, leave in time to pick them up - 5:10 to 6:25 p.m.). We have a great time sharing food and fellowship in a comfortable, no pressure environment. The group is discussion-based so we explore the selected topic together focused on lessons from God's word that we can apply to our lives today. The group is open to everyone (not just parents of teenagers) and new people are always welcome. Mike Jensen will lead the study group. This fall we will be studying "Finding Hope When Life Seems Dark". Written by leading Christian authors and Bible teachers Kay Arthur and Pete DeLacy, this study examines the messages of Hosea, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah who ministered during the years leading up to Babylon's invasion of ancient Israel. We expect to find hope in these messages for our nation during this difficult election cycle as well as lessons from God's word that we can apply to our lives today.

For more information, contact Mike Jensen at jensen4hire@gmail.com or 570-746-3055.

SEPTEMBER 20 New BIBLE STUDY

+ Christian Symbol +

Ship

The Christian church has long been symbolized by a ship. While the Old Testament tells of Noah’s ark preserving righteous people during the flood, the New Testament recounts Jesus calming the storm that battered the disciples’ fishing boat. St. Ambrose described the church as a ship with the cross as its mast, and others have compared salvation to being drawn out of the sea of death into the safety of the church (ship). Indeed, many large churches are constructed to represent a big boat, with the main worship space called the nave —

PERSECUTED CHURCH This Fall Bible Study will start on September 20 at 6:30 p.m. The topic is “i am n,” 6-week study on the Persecuted Church with a curriculum from Voice of the Martyrs (www.persecution.com). The “n” stands for Nazarene, and it is the way ISIS identifies Christians in Iraq and Syria. There is a weeklyvideo and an accompanying Participants Guide. The Participants Guide costs $5.49 from Christian Book Distributors (www.Christianbook.com). The Guide is Available in e-book form for $5.40, as well. You canPurchase your own, or let us know, and we will order for you.

This will be an informative and challenging study. While learning about the difficult conditions our brothers and sisters in other countries face because they follow

Jesus, we will gain a new appreciation for the religious freedom we have thus far enjoyed in the USA. Please join us, and bring friends.

Our Communications Team leader Toni McCarty has listed some websites about persecution in her weekly Church Love e-mails – these will give you a good head start: 

Voice of Martyrs – www.persecution.com

International Christian Concern –  www.persecution.org

American Center for Law and Justice – www.aclj.org

Open Doors International –  www.opendoors.org and www.opendoorsusa.org

Christian Persecution –  www.christianpersecution.info

Operation World (directs how to pray for every nation in the world) – www.operationworld.org

“Here is where we started making it more relevant

and got another coffee maker.”

AROUND THE PRESBYTERY and BEYOND…SEPTEMBER 10 - Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Lackawanna at Camp Lackawanna: 9:30 AM

SEPTEMBER 10 - Representing Your Church: Image and Invitation, workshop for all congregations, 2:00-4:00 PM, Camp Lackawanna

SEPTEMBER 18 - Rooting for Earth Justice, Farm-to-Table Gala at Stony Point Center, 4:00-7:00 PM, info/tickets at stonypointcenter.org/gala-register

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES: VOLUNTEER(S) NEEDED: Interested in church

history? Presbytery has a job for you! The presbytery is re-organizing church files to separate historic and current records and determine which information can be archived. Reply to wpcnews@ptd.net if you are interested in helping with this project. 

There are still openings on a few of our

presbytery teams...especially Camp Lackawanna Team ...nomination forms are posted on

www.lackawannapresby.org. Get involved today!

… AND A REMINDER…Have you paid apportionment for 2016.?

The cost this year is $31.00.  WPC receives a discount if we pay weekly

so the sooner the better! 

We thank you for paying your apportionment which supports the day to day work of

PC(USA) and our own Presbytery of Lackawanna.

WPC’s total for 2016 will be $5735.00

…from the DEACONS BENCH Katy Stoddard, Jay Ross, Mary Eberlin,

Sylvia Ballard, Scott Eberlin, Linda Moon, Colleen Brown, Sue Fenton, Marleah Stevens.

The August 21, 2016meeting was held at 11:00

New Business: At our next meeting, we will prepare care packages for our college students. Each member of Deacons is to bring 7 item (such as a snack). We will assemble these packages and they will be sent out. They will go to Kirstyn Ballard, Wesley Ballard, Olivia Minturn, Kirstin McCarty, Madison Eberlin, Ethan Rhodes Katie Epler, Todd Porter and Jonecca Robinson.

Cards: Get well to Sue Fenton, thinking of you to Bernard Moon and Sympathy to Kerry Detrick’s family.

Reminders:

Marleah Stevens is in charge of ushers and greeters for September. Deacon to serve communion in September is Mary Eberlin.

Next Meeting: September 18, 2016 following worship Service.

“I cannot endure to waste anything so Precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.”

—Nathaniel Hawthorne

MISSION GIVING! Mission Team: Elders Pam Quentin & Deb Minturn Throughout the year WPC supports local charities, Rev. Cameron Smith, the Howard family and the Wyalusing Youth Group. The first Sunday of each month we leave the HUNGER BASKET at the Greeters table in the front hall – all donations in the basket go to Towanda Area Christian Outreach (TACO) which helps needy people in Bradford County including many in our school district.

For the past 12 weeks WPC has been a pick-up location for The Summer Feeding Backpack Program sponsored by the Helping Hands Food Pantry. Each Thursday from 2-4 pm we served about 12 families and 20 students.

Thank you to Nancy and David Jones for their support getting the Backpack Program underway.

Thank you to Alyssa McCarty and Julie Gamble for their faithful weekly help greeting the families and handing out backpacks.

September Noisy Can collections will be donated to T.A.C.O.

September 22, 2016

We will be collecting canned tuna for the Helping Hands Food Pantry.

SAVE THE DATE – HARVEST PARTY Sunday, October 30, 2016 - 5:30 - 6:30 pm

Costumes, games and treats in the church social rooms and hosted by the WPC Session. This will be a community out-reach event.

Come Welcome Friends, Family & Neighbors!

Be sure to check out the library for new editions!

WPC has a great group of young people going off to college this fall. We’re getting ready to print a new roster and would like to include their addresses so we can send goodies and mail and keep them in our prayers! Please, parents and friends, leave updates in the office - block print it on a post it note or e-mail it to wpchurch@ptd.net. Thanks so much! Our college students are Kirstyn Ballard, Wesley Ballard, Olivia Minturn, Kirstin McCarty, Madison Eberlin, Ethan Rhodes, Katie Epler, Todd Porter and Jonecca Robinson

... to Shannon Lord and all her helpers for the super float in this year’s Firemen’s Parade: “THOSE WHO SERVE” won second place in the parade [see the photo of the float from the Rocket/Courier article – it’s on the Sigler Hall bulletin board]

… to Adam & Sara Petlock for hosting the picnic that was a perfect way to wrap up this year’s RIVER FLOAT (August 21)

… to Barb & George Hugo for hosting the Picnic and Swim Party on RALLY DAY (August 28) – what great fun to get everyone ready for a new year at Sunday School!

…from Towanda Area Christian Outreach (TACO), Dear Congregation Members… the food pantry board of directors would like to thank you for your donations of food on July 06 and July 13. These donations are very appreciated and will help us in continuing our mission to provide food assistance to our local area. Through July of 2016, the pantry has served a total of 1,832 families totaling 4,328 individuals. We also served 700 boxes to seniors (60 years +) in the Elder Share/Fresh Express program. Thank you for thinking of us with these donations.

“O God of every nation, of every race and land, redeem the whole creation with your almighty hand. Where hate and fear divide us and bitter threats are hurled, in love and mercy guide us and heal our strife-torn world. …” (If we truly believe that God cares for all people, we cannot limit our prayers and songs for peace to the welfare of our own nation, no matter how much we may love it. This challenging text is set to a stirring Welsh tune, named for a hamlet with a prominent Baptist chapel – text by William Reid Jr, 1958 and Welsh folk tune Llwybrau Moliant, 1872.) To start the month of August we had no special music lined up and invited a favorite hymn from the congregation and Lizzie Klmer suggested “Jesus

Loves Me” - you can’t go wrong with that testimonial! On August 14 we turned to our list of favorite hymns and chose one from an anonymous

source: “Tell me the Old, Old Story”. For August 21 we were able to grab Wesley Ballard and his French horn before he left for college and hear his beautiful “Vocalize” . On August 28 Ray Brigham filled our hearts & our ears with his thrilling rendition of “10,000 Reasons” [We substituted “In Christ Alone” when it was discovered that Ray planned to sing the very some hymn that Barry had selected as our first hymn. Everyone was a winner with two great songs!

THANKTHANK YOU...YOU...

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ENDLESS MOUNTAINS PREGNANCY CARE CENTER FIRST LOOK PREGNANCY CENTER 2016 Annual Partnership Banquet September 24, 2016 6 p.m. New Life Church, Route 14, north of Canton “Stories Untold” Keynote Speaker – Kurt Bricker Reservation by September 18 - Call the Canton office (570-673-4476) or e-mail: contact @empccfree.comAn opportunity to make a financial gift will be extended. Complimentary Buffet Dinner catered by Fran Martin

Modern MiraclesAt the mention of miracles, we often picture the biblical kind: a dead person brought back to life, a small amount of food feeding a crowd, sight restored to a blind man. Yet even today we look for unexpected healings or an earthquake victim found alive after days amid rubble.

But consider someone born with poor eyesight who, thanks to technology, can work as a professional proofreader or create intricate digital paintings. Consider someone with a prosthetic leg who can run and even win races. Consider someone

Reminder: Please let Diana or Amy Eberlin (our Worship Team leader) know if you have something special to share – your special talent -- your favorite hymns – your favorite musician.

“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all, but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”

—Corrie ten Boom

Smile [Card passed out by JoyfulNoiseletter Subscriber Virgil K. Hawn, Shelbyville, IN:

A smile is something nice to seeIt doesn’t cost a cent.A smile is something all your own.It never can be spent.A smile is welcome anywhereIt does away with frowns.A smile is good for everyoneTo ease life’s ups and downs.

Chariots And Horses “Some trust in chariots, and some in

horses,” proclaims Psalm 20:7 (NKJV). “But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.” Do these antiquated modes of transportation make this verse irrelevant to us? Not if we broaden our notion of chariots and horses.

Some trust in fancy cars, boats, bikes or snowmobiles for status or entertainment. Some trust in big houses, expensive furniture or high-end fashion to feel important. Some trust in investments or a promised inheritance for security. Some trust in food, painkillers or alcohol to feel good — for a while. Some trust in military might, academic degrees, sports, relationships and so much more.

Let’s help one another trust instead in the name — and trustworthiness — of our God. Even the psalmist didn’t do so alone; verse 7 says “we.” We need friends, Christian mentors and, above all, the Holy Spirit to assist us. In God we’ll find our answers, our strength and our purpose.

Men’s Breakf Men’s Breakfast September 25, 2016 8 a.m.

Break My HeartWhile traveling with Youth for Christ in

Asia in the 1940s, Baptist minister Robert Pierce saw many orphans and suffering children. He wrote in his Bible, “Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God.” Pierce then dedicated his life to relief work, eventually founding World Vision International and Samaritan’s Purse. He believed the church had to meet people’s physical needs before it could share the gospel message with them.

The work Pierce began continues today: World Vision is now active in 90 countries and Samaritan’s Purse in more than 100.

Prayer WarriorsAfter tragedies, natural disasters and

terrorism, people now commonly turn to social media to request prayers. Although it can feel “jarring” to see “so many references to the divine in spaces normally reserved for vacation photos,” writes journalist Eleanor Barkhorn, it’s a modern-day version of the New Testament’s reminders to pray constantly and in all circumstances.

Over the years, churches have encouraged members to pray through letters, phone chains, prayer breakfasts and prayer groups. “With that context in mind,” Barkhorn writes, “Facebook shouldn’t cheapen prayer any more than the Postal Service or the telephone does.”

Russell Moore of the Southern Baptist Convention says, “Asking for prayer via Twitter or Facebook is no different than calling someone and saying, ‘We should really pray for this.’ ... Social media can be a tremendous force for good in alerting people to things they can be praying about right away.”

Modern MiraclesAt the mention of miracles, we often picture the biblical kind: a dead person brought back to life, a small amount of food feeding a crowd, sight restored to a blind man. Yet even today we look for unexpected healings or an earthquake victim found alive after days amid rubble.

But consider someone born with poor eyesight who, thanks to technology, can work as a professional proofreader or create intricate digital paintings. Consider someone with a prosthetic leg who can run and even win races. Consider someone

A man from New York City visited his Mormon friend in Salt Lake City one summer. They went to the mall, and the Mormon left his car unlocked. Then they went to the grocery store, and the Mormon left his car unlocked. Then they drove home, and the Mormon left his keys in his car. The next day they went to church together, and the Mormon removed the keys and locked the car before entering the church. “I don’t get it,” his friend exclaimed. “Here you don’t lock your car at the mall or the grocery store; you even leave the keys in the ignition all night at your home. But when you go to church, you lock your car. Why?” “Simple,” the Mormon said. “If I don’t lock it here, when I come back out, it will be filled with zucchini.” —Best Loved Humor of the LDS People