School on a Bus (a.k.a. Radical Sabbatical)

We attended services this Sunday at the Calvary Chapel of Black Hills in Rapid City, SD. The sermon was on the value of the unborn child from a biblical perspective. Pastor Greg Blanc’s message was succinct and well reasoned. This was a timely message because South Dakota is about to vote on a law that extends the right to life to an unborn child. I would encourage you to listen to the sermon at http://www.calvarychapelblackhills.com/audio/2006/415.m3u .

Today we attended services at Sheridan’s Cornerstone Community Church (Wyoming).  The sermon was on prayer. The best example of prayer of course is what’s commonly called the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13). However, Jesus was instructing the disciples on how to pray so it’s really the Disciple’s Prayer. We should pray to give praise and ask for God’s purpose and provision in our lives. As for the Lord’s prayer, go read John 17.

Today we had a family church service. Church services have not been offered at the park since Labor Day. As a family, we try to have devotions on at least a weekly basis, but we are not used to “doing church” on our own. I’ve been enjoying Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller so I read a portion of it. Specifically how we use the term God the Father and how we reconcile that term with whoever our earthly fathers are. And what about families where the father has abandoned the family? This can be a barrier to some to understanding how we might have a personal relationship with the Creator.

Worship is difficult because no one is yet proficient enough to play hymns and sing on key. There’s nothing to replace worshiping and fellowship with other Christians.

After doing church, we drove on Highway 2 over to East Glacier. Tomorrow we will explore that side of Glacier Park.

We attended the Kauzlarich’s church in Republic called Lakeside Bible Church.  We almost didn’t find the church because they use the local Episcopalian building – a beautiful stone church in town.  We learned that there are at least ten churches for a town of about 1100 so none of the churches are going to be very large.  Not like what we’re used to at Monroe Community where membership is around 400.

Church today was at the Faithful Baptist Church in Omak, the neighboring town to Okanogan.  As always we were greeted very warmly by the small congregation and enjoyed worshiping with the body of believers there.  I also got my first taste of a King James only church.  This was new to me and let me know I’ll need to do some investigation on the difference in which manuscripts are used for which Bible translations.  Felt a bit out of place with my NIV bible and my tie-less open collared sports shirt.  Still, I believe there can be communion among different denominations as we praise and worship together.