Light Snow in Aims, and a Blizzard in Newberg!
The Lord’s amazingly creative water storage system is on display this week in Northwest Oregon foothill communities like Aims.
Living just above the 1000-foot elevation, Caroline and I were blessed to wake up Monday morning to a light dusting of snow. About an inch of flakes fell overnight, and reminded us of just how meticulously and intelligently God has provided for our needs. He came up with the most ingenious way of storing water on the mountains in the winter, to be slowly released during the dry months in a way that percolates deep into the soil and feeds mountain streams with cool refreshment, even in the hottest times of the year. We praise Him for His constant and creative provision!
While we were awaiting snow, Pastor Dan Wentworth experienced a blizzard in Newberg ! Dan, who lives in Dundee, and commutes across the Willamette Valley to preach at Mountain Home Church in Colton, is recovering from a serious bone infection in his back. He is currently in rehab at the Marquis care facility in Newberg, where a Dairy Queen Oreo Blizzard suddenly appeared to brighten his day. Many thanks to the “insiders, informers, and smugglers” who helped pull off this caper! Keep praying that the Lord will restore Dan to full strength and bring him back to his pulpit soon.
Get Ready to Laugh on February 18!
InFaith is having a national online event that could leave you in stitches (the good kind). It's designed to bring laughter and some auction opportunities to you: all while you support missions. There'll be great giveaways during the online event, too! If you’d like to see the trailer about the event, go here: https://infaith.org/event-trailer . For a flyer you can share, click on the attachment to this email. Save-the-Date and plan to attend on Thursday, February 18, 2021 from 7:30pm to 9pm, EST. If you'd like email update reminders, sign-up on this page ( https://app.mobilecause.com/e/AHV1WQ?vid=d4slk ) and InFaith will be happy to share more details and timely reminders so you can be part of this unique time. Hope to have you there!
The Next InFaith ADVANCE will be at Twin Rocks in January 2022
Yes. You read that right…January 2022, Lord willing. Right about now, some of you are missing that blessed annual visit to the beach with your brothers and sisters in Christ. It was difficult to have cancel the 2021 event (for the first time in 35 years, according to Alan Baumgarden). But after multiple attempts to reschedule and take into account rapidly changing circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, we simply ran out of viable options, and planning time. Rest assured, we are booking our regular weekend at the Twin Rocks Friends Camp next year, complete with the luxury lodge rooms, cozy cabins, crackling fireplace and beachside amenities. Exact dates will be released soon. So be prepared to mark your calendar, and start praying now for a refreshing, reinvigorating, revival of your ministry passion through the speakers, worship and fellowship we will all share on that weekend!
Need Help Understanding Church and Clergy Tax Issues?
Click here for www.churchlawandtax.com .
Asked specifically about taxes, the Lord Jesus said, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Luke 20:25) Sometimes it is not exactly clear which is which, especially as tax laws change from year to year. One of the more helpful resources I have found around tax season is Dr. Richard Hammar’s Church & Clergy Tax Guide. (Click on the link bellow the picture to see if this is something that might help you.) It is not cheap and not “light” reading, but it is a great reference tool for ministers, church treasurers and ministry financial officers. Dr. Hammar’s explanations of current tax issues specifically relating to ministry should help you make some of the crucial decisions about your ministry’s relationship to “Caesar.” And it might help you to follow the Apostle Paul’s admonition to “Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.” May God bless those of you who wade through mountains of paperwork so that your ministries can work and walk freely, proclaiming the name of Jesus in your communities!
May the Lord who blesses the mountains with snow bring a blizzard of joy into your life this week!
Tom Hiscox, NW Oregon Area Missionary thiscox@infaith.org