“Now these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken captive to Babylon (they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to their own town, 2 in company with Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah): The list of the men of the people of Israel:” (Ezra 2:1-2) Friends, I always feel a temptation to skip over lists of names in the Bible. Reasonably, a quick scan usually gives us the information we need in those more detailed sections. But every once in a while, I like to slow down and let some of the names roll around in my mind… Rehum, Baanah, Mispar. I have no idea how to pronounce them, so I give them my own pronunciations and start wondering about who they might have been. What were their days like? What were their roles in their communities? Who were they? They were real people with real lives, doing the work God had set before them. Last night, Aaron and I had the opportunity to share about Harvest at our local church. They are planning to host a clothing drive for the thrift store, and we were able to share a little bit about the heart behind the ministry. Afterward, I chatted with a few people, including Mrs. W, who told me she had been donating for years and reads these newsletters. (Hi, Mrs W!) Of course, my awkward response was, “Well, then we’re basically best friends!” For a long time, I was the one who put these newsletters into envelopes, sealed them up, and dropped them off at the post office. I became so familiar with the names on that mailing list. Even though I didn’t know most of them personally, I knew they were real people who cared enough about Harvest to support the work. Just like those names in the Bible were real people, so are the people who quietly make ministries like Harvest possible. Every donation, every bag of clothes, every prayer, every person who chooses to care about the needs of others — they all matter. Their names may not appear in a list in Scripture, but they are known to God, and their faithfulness makes a difference in the lives of the people we serve. And sometimes, when I see those names or meet someone who has been supporting the work for years, I am reminded again that ministry is never the work of just a few people. It is the quiet faithfulness of many.  CELEBRATIONS!!! Ms L – Received Second Harvest Thrift Store, store credit so she could get a couch, making her home more comfortable for herself and her five children. Ms B - Received help with gas and electric bills, as well as some counseling resulting in payment plans with both companies so her family will be able to cover the bills going forward! Blessings, Elizabeth Kilby

My dentist has been trying for years to get me to consistently book appointments with him. For whatever reason, I just find it easier to reschedule him and take care of more pressing things first. Over the last week I've been having some pretty serious pain in one of the teeth he's been at me to get capped for years. Now my dentist isn't calling me--I'm calling him! I need to get in there right away, and I'll clear anything off of my calendar to make it happen! I'm having trouble sleeping. I'm having trouble thinking about anything other than my tooth and the throbbing pain within it. The truth is that God often has to act similarly to get us to pay attention to serious problems in our lives. He humbles us through the process of suffering, and he tests us within that process. Our heavenly Father would love to do things the "easy way" but in our sinfulness, we simply will not pay attention until He turns up the heat! Then, and only then, will we even stop to listen. "Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands." Deuteronomy 8:2 And by the way, my toothache has convinced me that for the foreseeable future I'll be doing whatever my dentist tells me to do.  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

The Lord's prayer is often repeated, but not often understood. When Jesus answered the disciple's request to "teach us how to pray," He gave them a model prayer that included the phrase, "your Kingdom Come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Although it may appear so, this prayer has nothing to do with the future time when God will recreate the earth. It actually is asking the Father to allow His Kingdom to come right now. When you pray and mean those words, God can and will actually use the praying Christian to do His will on earth right now. Essentially you'll be saying, God, bring your Kingdom to earth TODAY and use me to do it. Use me in spite of anything I may be planning today and no matter what it costs me. This, then is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." Jesus of Nazareth (Matthew 6:9-13)  Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I believe the phrase, "I gave my heart to Jesus" has a couple of serious and humanistic problems with it. First of all, "I" never really had anything to do with my salvation. The Scriptures are clear that not one of us ever sought God (Romans 3:11). He sought us without us deserving a bit of it, even giving us the faith to believe (Ephesians 2:8-9). Secondly, what would God want with our hearts? Our hearts are sinful and warped (Proverbs 20:9). The Scriptures say that we are "dead in our transgressions" (Ephesians 2:1). Unless God gives us a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26), we are utterly hopeless. I think a phrase that would be more appropriate would be something like, "Jesus gave me life!" If you agree, start using it instead of the other one. I pray that God will use it to cause others to ask you what you mean by it. I pray He'll give them life too! "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it." John 5:21 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Dating seems really crazy for young singles these days. As I understand the process, if you see someone you think is attractive, then you "get their digits" (that's a cell phone number for you older folks) and then give them a call. Or... maybe you have a friend talk to them for you, to see if they are also "into" you? Unfortunately, for many young Christians, they start relationships based on "attraction" without giving their faith much thought. Most do not believe that dating non-Christians will hurt their faith. However, if you ask them if they've fallen away from the Lord after they enter into such a relationship, most of them will have changed their tune. No doubt this is the reason that God forbids us to get involved in marriage (and I would add "dating") relationships with non-believers. Doing so is a great way for Satan to start working up-close and personal in the most intimate parts of our lives. This Scripture outlines how even the wisest man of all time fell into the same trap. "As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molech the detestable god of the Ammonites. So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done." 1 Kings 11:4-6 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Everyone knows how the male of the human species attempts to attract the opposite sex. They show off, either with physical ability, smarts, or with what their wealth can buy them. The female generally goes about it a different way. Even if they are smart, or have physical ability, neither of those assets seem to attract the carnal man, so they go with what always sells; that of course being sex. Christians are not to act this way and the Scriptures are full of examples of what happens when we do. The man who chases after such skin-deep attractions will wind up with the most shallow of mates. The woman who cares little about the Commands of God will undoubtedly compromise in other areas as well. At either rate, God is not impressed and neither should we be. The Lord says, "The women of Zion are haughty, walking along with outstretched necks, flirting with their eyes, tripping along with mincing steps, with ornaments jingling on their ankles... In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and head bands and crescent necklaces, the earrings and bracelets and veils, the headdresses and ankle chains and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, the singed rings and nose rings, the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls. Instead of fragrance there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of fine clothing, sackcloth; instead of beauty, branding." Isaiah 3:16 & 18-24 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

Elation and depression seem to be the two most common states of emotion I encounter. No doubt elation (being really happy, excited or joyful) comes from realizing a dream or something wonderful, but the opposite (not realizing a dream, etc.) seems to be the more prevalent emotional state in the world today. Not to minimize genuine psychological issues like severe depression, manic depression and the like, I believe the vast majority of common depression is the result of either denying God or forgetting what He has done for us -- where we've been and what He's brought us through. Whenever we forget God or deny His hand in our lives, we wind up where the Israelites often found themselves--lost in ourselves! Is it any wonder the Lord so often says, "Remember what the Lord your God has done..." It's too bad we so rarely listen. "The Israelites said to Moses, "We will die! We are lost, we are all lost!" Numbers 17:12 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate

I'm not sure where the saying "Peace on earth, goodwill towards men" comes from, but I know that in spite of the sentiment, there will never be peace on earth until Jesus comes again. There will be wars, rumors of wars, and every kind of sin. As Christians we are told that these things will happen, they will increase, and then the end will come. I've got no real problem with that. What I DO have a problem with is doing MY part to assure peace between myself and others. When people hurt us it's flat-out hard to go to them and make things right. But we must forget our pride, and instead make sure God is honored regardless of what we may have suffered at the hands of others. The Scriptures do not tell us to "accept peace when it comes to us," but to seek it and pursue it! That's hard work for sure! But in the end, isn't that what Jesus did for us? He didn't come to bring peace to earth, but to assure peace between God and those who would call on His name. Now honestly, has anyone done you so wrong that what Jesus did for you couldn't cover it? "Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." Psalm 34:14 Pastor Jim Kilby Your donation spreads good news! www.harvestyouth.org/donate