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	<title>West Salem Foursquare Church &#124; Salem, Oregon &#124; 503.391.4346 &#187; Hello From John</title>
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	<itunes:summary>The weekly podcast of West Salem Foursquare Church.</itunes:summary>
	<itunes:author>John Fehlen</itunes:author>
	<itunes:explicit>clean</itunes:explicit>
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		<itunes:name>John Fehlen</itunes:name>
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	<copyright>West Salem Foursquare Church</copyright>
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		<title>West Salem Foursquare Church | Salem, Oregon | 503.391.4346 &#187; Hello From John</title>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 2.2.12- Staff Perspective</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-2-2-12-staff-perspective/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-2-2-12-staff-perspective/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:07:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=5116</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John gives a glimpse into our staff's perspective of our church. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<div>
<div>Once a month our WSFC staff and key leaders have an extended time together for what we call a Leadership Lunch. We pray, share God&#8217;s stories, vision-cast and equip our core leadership (and then we do something really biblical: eat together).</p>
<div></div>
<div>Yesterday we had a special guest share at our Leadership Lunch. He is a friend of mine that was up from California speaking at another church in the area. I grabbed him while he was in town.  His name is Jason Graves and his a new author of a book called &#8220;Anchored Man.&#8221; You can find it at <a href="http://www.anchoredman.com/">www.anchoredman.com</a>. Before he communicated a leadership lesson about the care of our souls, Jason asked each person in the room to share their name, their ministry role and what they see as a strength of West Salem Foursquare. He wanted to know what we were most proud of at our church.</p>
<div></div>
<div><strong>I took notes.</strong></p>
<div>
<div>Here are direct quotes from our key leaders regarding our congregation:</p>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div><em>• It&#8217;s a place for prodigals.</em></div>
<div><em><br />
</em></div>
<div><em>• You can come as you are.</em></div>
<div><em><br />
</em></div>
<div><em>• It&#8217;s a fun place that you WANT to be at.</em></div>
<div><em><br />
</em></div>
<div><em>• We have a positive reputation; people know about us.</em></div>
<div><em><br />
</em></div>
<div><em>• We are given permission to wrestle with tough questions.</em></div>
<div><em><br />
</em></div>
<div><em>• We work together as a team.</em></div>
<div><em><br />
</em></div>
<div><em>• We adapt to change.</em></div>
<div><em><br />
</em></div>
<div><em>• We have attached ourselves to the community and are making an impact.</em></div>
<div><em><br />
</em></div>
<div><em>• Our church has &#8220;huge arms.&#8221;</em></div>
<div><em><br />
</em></div>
<div><em>• We experience the miraculous on a regular basis in the lives of people.</em></div>
<div><em><br />
</em></div>
<div><em>• We are family.</em></div>
<div><em><br />
</em></div>
<div><em>• One word: joy.</em></p>
<div></div>
<div></div>
<div>Thought you might like to &#8220;eavesdrop&#8221; in on our gathering!</p>
<div>I love our church:  it&#8217;s <strong>simple</strong>, <strong>caring</strong>, <strong>positive</strong> and <strong>real</strong>.</p>
<div>
Blessings,</p>
<div>Pastor John<br />
Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 1.26.12-Persistence</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-1-26-12-persistence/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-1-26-12-persistence/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:19:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=5090</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John gives his thoughts about the parable of the widow and the judge in Luke 18.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<div>
<p>A few days ago I was reading Luke 18 in my daily devotions. Jesus told a parable about a widow that wouldn&#8217;t leave a judge alone. He taught this parable to show his disciples (that&#8217;s us, by the way) that they always pray and not give up.</p>
<div>
<p>If you have your Bible nearby I encourage you to read Luke 18:1-8 and notice a few things along with me.</p>
<div>
<p><strong>1.  The Plea</strong><br />
This widow had a particular plea: &#8220;Give me justice against my adversary.&#8221; In other words, &#8220;HELP ME!&#8221; How many of you have prayed that kind of prayer? I know I have. &#8220;Help&#8221; prayers are very common &#8211; perhaps the most common of all prayers on this planet. And I don&#8217;t think God minds it. He asks us to bring him our concerns, worries, and fears. He&#8217;s big enough to handle our stuff.</p>
<div><strong>2.  The Passion</strong></div>
<div><strong></strong>I&#8217;m always impressed with this woman&#8217;s passionate approach to getting justice. She was a real &#8220;go-getter!&#8221;</div>
<div>
<div>
<p>What are you passionate about? What makes your heart beat and your voice sing? Perhaps it&#8217;s your family, physical fitness, a hobby or upcoming event. Those are all wonderful things, but I ask you this question:  Are you passionate about Jesus?</p>
<div><strong>3. The Persistence</strong></div>
<div><strong></strong>The Judge said some pretty wonderful things about the woman: &#8220;This widow keeps bothering me&#8230;she will <em>eventually</em> wear me out with her coming!&#8221; One might think that these comments are less-than-flattering, but I see them as a badge of honor. She was a persistent person and got the results to show for it.</div>
<div>
<div>
<p>Notice the word &#8220;eventually&#8221; in the Judge&#8217;s statements. Eventually means possibly, someday, not now but perhaps soon. We tend to think of &#8220;eventually&#8221; like a child thinks about &#8220;maybe&#8221; from the mouth of a parent. Parents toss the word &#8220;maybe&#8221; around all the time in answer to our persistent children. Frankly, we know how frustrating that word is our to kids, but it&#8217;s SUCH A GOOD WORD (am I right?)!</p>
<div>
<p>Do you ever hear a &#8220;Maybe&#8221; from the Lord? Rather than quit, perhaps it&#8217;s an invitation to persistently and passionately keep praying.</p>
<div>
<p>Do give up. Keep knocking.  Jesus encourages us in Matthew 7:7 to:</p>
<div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>&#8220;Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.&#8221;</strong></em></p>
<div>
<div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<div>Pastor John<br />
Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></div>
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]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Hello Friends: 1.19.21- Dig Down Deep</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-1-19-21-dig-down-deep/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-1-19-21-dig-down-deep/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:16:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=5031</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John encourages us to dig down deep. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<div>
<div>
<p>Take a good look at this verse in the Old Testament.</p>
<div></div>
<div>
<p><em>&#8220;For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the Lord and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.&#8221;</em> Ezra 7:10</p>
<div></div>
<div>
<p>Go ahead and read it again.</p>
<div></div>
<div>
<p>Did you see the progression? Did you notice the obvious steps?</p>
<div></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Study.</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Do.</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><br />
</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Teach.</strong></p>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div>
<div>
<p>Ezra first devoted himself to the study of the Word. Then the actual doing of it (which is called <em>observance </em>in certain versions of the Bible). After that, with confidence, he taught it to others.</p>
<div></div>
<div>
<p>This is such an important concept for us to capture. The Word of God must get into our souls and affect the way we live <em>before</em> we run around trying to get others to believe it.</p>
<div></div>
<div>
<p>This reminds me of the word of Jesus in Luke 6 when he said that those <em>&#8220;who hear my words and put them into practice is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock.&#8221;</em></p>
<div></div>
<div>
<p>Church: let&#8217;s dig down deep!</p>
<div></div>
</div>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<div>Pastor John<br />
Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></div>
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]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-1-19-21-dig-down-deep/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 1.12.12- Imagine</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-1-12-12-imagine/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-1-12-12-imagine/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:17:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=5006</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John shares his vision for our church. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>IMAGINE WITH ME&#8230;</strong></p>
<p>• <strong>Imagine</strong> people focused on the person and purposes of Jesus Christ.</p>
<p>• <strong>Imagine</strong> a commitment to the reading of, interaction with, and the application of God’s Word.</p>
<p>• <strong>Imagine</strong> God-inspired passions that are limited only by the voice and direction of the Holy Spirit.</p>
<p>• <strong>Imagine </strong>a widespread influence upon the region in which we have been sovereignly and strategically placed.</p>
<p>• <strong>Imagine </strong>a place where those who are lonely, hurting, or frustrated can find love, acceptance, and forgiveness.</p>
<p>• <strong>Imagine</strong> being a force that reaches tens of thousands with the Good News of God’s love, and makes room in our family and facility for those who come to Jesus.</p>
<p>• <strong>Imagine</strong> connecting believers into healthy Christian community to love, learn, and live in unity and with purpose.</p>
<p>• <strong>Imagine</strong> developing every believer into a maturing disciple who is alive in worship, faithful in stewardship, empowered by prayer, filled with God’s Spirit, and obedient to God’s Word.</p>
<p>• <strong>Imagine</strong> releasing disciples to become servants in significant Kingdom ministry that is matched by his or her gifts, talents, passion, personality and experience.</p>
<p>• <strong>Imagine</strong> one day hearing the voice of the Lord say: “Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant!&#8221;</p>
<p>This is how I imagine West Salem Foursquare Church.</p>
<p>Do you?</p>
<p>Blessings in 2012,</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<div></div>
<div>Pastor John<br />
Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-1-12-12-imagine/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 1.5.12- 20/20/20 Groups</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-1-5-12-202020-groups/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-1-5-12-202020-groups/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:47:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4959</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John explains the 20/20/20 groups in more detail and encourages us to make our apointment with the Lord. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<div>
<div>
<p>This month we are dedicating ourselves to the reading of and interaction with the WORD OF GOD. For 31 days let&#8217;s read the Bible together. Visit our website at <a href="http://www.wsfc.org/">www.wsfc.org</a> for the daily reading portions of Scripture. Every weekday in January the WSFC Ministry Center is open THREE-TIMES A DAY for 20/20/20 Groups:</p>
<div>20 Minutes of reading the daily portion of Scripture<br />
20 Minutes of journaling on a passage</div>
<p>20 Minutes of sharing gems you&#8217;ve gleaned</p>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<p>The following is a good and helpful explanation of how to Journal your discoveries in Scripture.</p>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<p><em>&#8220;All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, </em><em>so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” </em><em>2 Timothy 3:16</em></p>
<div>
<div>
<p style="text-align: left;">As we read God&#8217;s words, we begin to see how God responds to things. Doing regular devotions re-patterns our  mind and transforms our spirit. Then when we face situations like Jesus did, we begin to respond in the same way. We begin to understand that His words always build, strengthen, affirm, and give life.</p>
<div>
<div>
<p style="text-align: left;">Journaling is an excellent way to both record and process what God has spoken to us. It&#8217;s also a useful tool to use at a later time, to reflect on and review some of the &#8216;gems&#8217; that you have received. Without writing them down, you may forget those blessings and some very important lessons! And while journaling is a very personal time with the Lord, you may want to share some of your daily journaling with your small group. Through discussion, you may be able to look deeper into what God is speaking to you, gain new insight and even encourage others.</p>
<div>
<div>
<p style="text-align: left;">You&#8217;ll need three items: a Bible, a pen/pencil and a journal. There are many journals you can purchase at a bookstore or a plain notebook will do. The <em>Life Journal</em> is handy because it offers &#8220;how to&#8221; instructions to help you get the most out of your scripture readings and devotions. There&#8217;s a section for special prayer requests where you can record the day you began praying and the day God answered your prayer. It also has a Through-the-Bible Reading Plan, using daily scripture readings from the Old and New Testaments to guide you through the entire Bible in just one year. Life Journals may be purchased from Welcome Center or you can also use our online daily devotional at <a href="http://www.wsfc.org/">www.wsfc.org</a>.</p>
<div>
<div>
<p style="text-align: left;">Next, set aside a certain time in your schedule each day and find a quite place where you&#8217;re not likely to be distracted. Many find peaceful meditation sites in nature, by the beach, in the back yard, or in a favorite lawn chair. It&#8217;s not important when you do your devotions, but that you make it a very important part of your day.  Give God the best part of our day, whatever time that is. For morning people, it&#8217;s a great way to start your day. For others, it&#8217;s 20-minute lunchtime appointments with Jesus. For the night owls, it&#8217;s the final act of the day, the time to quiet their hearts and hear God&#8217;s voice.</p>
<div>
<div>
<p style="text-align: left;">Now what? One way to do your devotions is to follow the simple acronym, S.O.A.P. which stands for Scripture, Observation, Application &amp; Prayer.</p>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><strong>S for Scripture</strong></div>
<div>
<p style="text-align: left;">Open your Bible to the reading found under today&#8217;s date. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. Highlight, underline or place a mark in the margin of your Bible, next to the scriptures that stand out. When you are done, reread the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>passage</strong></span> you marked, look for one that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.</p>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><strong>O for Observation</strong></div>
<div>
<p style="text-align: left;">What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Paraphrase</strong> </span>and write this scripture down in your own words, in your journal.</p>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><strong>A for Application</strong></div>
<div>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Personalize</strong> </span>what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write out how this scripture can apply to you today.</p>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;"><strong>P for Prayer</strong></div>
<div>
<p style="text-align: left;">This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember,<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> <strong>prayer</strong></span> is a two-way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">If this seems a little overwhelming, take it slow and keep it simple. No matter how you decide to do your devotions, the important thing is to show up for the appointment, because God is always waiting for you!</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">Blessings,</p>
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<div style="text-align: left;">Pastor John<br />
Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></div>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 12.21.11- Merry Christmas</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-12-21-11-merry-christmas/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-12-21-11-merry-christmas/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:19:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John wishes you and yours a very Merry Christmas. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-12-21-11-merry-christmas/screen-shot-2011-12-20-at-11-35-09-am/" rel="attachment wp-att-4902"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4902" title="Screen Shot 2011-12-20 at 11.35.09 AM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2011-12-20-at-11.35.09-AM-580x307.png" alt="" width="580" height="307" /></a></p>
<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>On behalf of all our WSFC staff, key leaders, elders and council, we want to wish you a very Merry Christmas to you and yours. We are so blessed. The words captured on the wall of our lobby say it so well:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>&#8220;We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy.</em><br />
<em> The Lord has done great things for us,</em><br />
<em> and we are one happy people.&#8221;</em><br />
Psalm 126:2</p>
<p>Denise and I are so happy to serve as your Lead Pastors. We are simply following the model of our Senior Pastor Jesus Christ. He is the one that came as the Ultimate Servant. The Incarnation (God with us) is affirmed in Philippians 2 when it says:</p>
<p><em>&#8220;Christ Jesus&#8230;Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.&#8221;</em></p>
<p>In coming to earth in human likeness, Jesus displayed how WIDE, LONG, HIGH and DEEP is his love for us. Join us this Christmas as we celebrate the vast dimensions of his LOVE. Our celebration services are Friday, December 23 at 6:00 &amp; 7:30 PM and Saturday, December 24 at 4:30 &amp; 6:00 PM. All are invited and welcomed!</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>Pastors John &amp; Denise</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 12.15.11- Just the Beginning</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-12-15-11-just-the-beginning/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-12-15-11-just-the-beginning/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:51:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4839</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John reminds us that the Birth of Jesus is only the beginning, he came for the Cross. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-12-8-11-the-red-cup/screen-shot-2011-12-06-at-2-23-51-pm/" rel="attachment wp-att-4781"><img title="Screen Shot 2011-12-06 at 2.23.51 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2011-12-06-at-2.23.51-PM-580x305.png" alt="" width="580" height="305" /></a></p>
<p>Hello Friends,</p>
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<p><em>“When the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci went to China in the sixteenth century, he brought along samples of religious art to illustrate the Christian story for people who had never heard it. The Chinese readily adopted portraits of the Virgin Mary holding her child, but when he produced paintings of the crucifixion and tried to explain that the God-child had grown up only to be executed, the audience reacted with revulsion and horror. They much preferred the Virgin and insisted on worshipping her rather than the crucified God. As I thumb once more through my stack of Christmas cards, I realize that we in Christian countries do much the same thing. We observe a mellow, domesticated holiday purged of any hint of scandal.  Above all, we purge from it any reminder of how the story that began at Bethlehem turned out at Calvary.”</em> (Taken from <span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Jesus I Never Knew </span>by Phillip Yancey)</p>
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<p>How true this is? How quickly we tend to forget that the birth of Jesus was really the beginning of the end. And the beginning of the end for Jesus was most certainly the <strong>starting point </strong>for those that would come to believe in the Son of God.  The miracle of his Birth has everything to do with our salvation, restoration and Kingdom welcome.</p>
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<p>The facts of Christmas, rhymed in carols, recited by children in church plays, and illustrated on cards, have become so familiar that it is easy to miss the message of the <strong>cross</strong>.</p>
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<p>That is the purpose of his coming.</p>
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<p>That’s why we call him Emmanuel: God with us.</p>
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<p>Take time during this Christmas season to rediscover Christ in Christmas and may the journey lead you to a point of confession that HE IS LORD!</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>Pastors John &amp; Denise</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 12.8.11 The Red Cup</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-12-8-11-the-red-cup/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-12-8-11-the-red-cup/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Dec 2011 18:08:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4780</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John encourages us to go beyond "The Red Cup" in our excitement for Christmas. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-12-8-11-the-red-cup/screen-shot-2011-12-06-at-2-23-51-pm/" rel="attachment wp-att-4781"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4781" title="Screen Shot 2011-12-06 at 2.23.51 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2011-12-06-at-2.23.51-PM-580x305.png" alt="" width="580" height="305" /></a></p>
<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>Ah&#8230;</p>
<p>The Red Cup.</p>
<p>You know what Red Cup I&#8217;m talking about, don&#8217;t you?</p>
<p>Not the Red Solo Cup that you find at parties, ala Toby Keith.</p>
<p>Instead, I&#8217;m referring to the Red Cup at Starbucks. Many folks have come to believe IT is the official beginning of the Christmas season.</p>
<p>More than Christmas music, frosty sidewalks, Black Friday sales, or precariously hanging lights from the eves. I&#8217;m here to declare that the new official start to Christmas has become the Red Cup&#8230;.or so I&#8217;ve been told (don&#8217;t shoot the messenger).</p>
<p>And if that is indeed true then we&#8217;ve placed a lot of symbolic weight upon a circular piece of graphically enhanced cardboard with a plastic lid and overpriced java within. Don&#8217;t get me wrong:  I&#8217;m a fan. I&#8217;ve dropped quite a bit of cash for that designer caffeine fix. The baristas know me by name and often have my drink ready when I walk in. I have a Starbucks Gold Card for crying out loud.</p>
<p>So, I too have waited with bated breath for the Red Cup to usher in the days of Christmas.</p>
<p>But hopefully Christmas doesn&#8217;t begin and end with a Red Cup. Hopefully there is more to this season than that. More than a cup. More than lights. More than gifts. More than shopping. More than church services. More than family meals. More than white elephant exchanges, office parties, fruitcake and figgy pudding (what IS that stuff anyway?!?).</p>
<p>Hopefully JESUS is in the mix.</p>
<p>He is the whole point of Christmas. Everything else is&#8230;well&#8230;a Red Cup.  The point is, plain and simple: JESUS.</p>
<p>Be excited about JESUS. Anticipate JESUS. Talk about JESUS. Put down the Red Cup and LIFT UP JESUS!!</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>Pastors John &amp; Denise</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 12.1.11- Grasping the Ungraspable</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-12-1-11-grasping-the-ungraspable/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-12-1-11-grasping-the-ungraspable/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:21:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John discusses some of the mystery of our Majestic God coming down in a little baby form. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>Christmas is crazy. I’m not necessarily referring to the hustle and bustle of the season. Not to mention the overspending. Who can understand the frenzy at Wal-Mart to get a cruddy DVD player? Why all the hype? Does the holiday music really have to start filling the stores around the end of October?</p>
<p>The first and foremost one is that God would become a baby. Please don’t miss the magnitude of this:</p>
<p>God and Baby.<br />
Big and Little.<br />
Powerful and Weak.</p>
<p>Go figure. How is it possible to have the fullness of the Godhead reduced down into an 8 pound 10 ounce bundle of energy? It’s similar to the task of putting a nuclear power plant into a thimble! In the end we are grasping the ungraspable and that might be just how God wants it. In Ephesians 3:19 the reader can find two tension-filled concepts that emphasize the absurdity of the Gospel. In Paul’s prayer he asks <em>&#8220;that Christ might dwell in our hearts and that we might be able to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.&#8221;</em> This prayer seems simple enough. It’s the desire of earnest, growing believers to have Jesus be at home within our hearts. And we most certainly want to have the love of Christ flowing in and through us.</p>
<p>But then it gets weird. Paul goes postal and the Bible gets bizarre. It’s says, catch this: “<em>and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”</em></p>
<p>How does one know what can’t be known? The love of God surpasses knowledge according to this passage. So how can we know it then? It’s like roping the wind or catching a sunbeam or defying gravity. Doesn’t this sound absurd? But wait, there’s more…</p>
<p>Try comprehending how we as humans can be filled with all the fullness of God. Finite simply cannot contain the infinite. Right? That goes back to the whole nuclear power plant/thimble scenario! I can understand how we could have a part or portion of God fill us up. In Exodus 33, Moses was allowed to see only God’s back side because if he saw the magnitude of God’s being then he would not live. The fullness of God’s presence is simply more than we can handle. And yet Paul has the audacity to pray for us to be filled with the full measure of God! Can we really handle it?</p>
<p>I’m convinced that God thrives on this craziness. He loves the tension and the absurdity because it fuels the mystery and feeds our faith (or lack thereof). Just when we think we’ve got God all figured out we unwrap another layer of his complexity. That’s what makes Christmas so ‘wonder full’ – the knowing what can’t be known – the being filled with someone so much bigger than ourselves.</p>
<p>This is<strong> grasping the ungraspable</strong> and that might be just how God wants it to be.</p>
<p>Join us at our services over the next few weekends and at one of our <strong>Special Christmas Services on Friday, Dec 23 at 6:00 &amp; 7:30pm and Saturday, Dec 24 at 4:30 &amp; 6:00pm</strong> as we try to grasp the ungraspable LOVE OF GOD together!</p>
<p>Merry Christmas you and yours.</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>Pastors John &amp; Denise</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 11.24.11- A Heart of Thankfulness</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-11-24-11-a-heart-of-thankfulness/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-11-24-11-a-heart-of-thankfulness/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:40:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4721</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor Rich Marshall reminds us to keep a heart of thankfulness while we enjoy our feast this week. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>May I recommend a few basic things for your Thanksgiving Day? It’s a day for the most basic things. The basics are always best.</p>
<p>Thanksgiving Day may be the best of all our holidays. There is no confusion about the purpose of this wonderful, uniquely American day. It’s all about a few basic things, shared by family, friends, and guests.</p>
<p>Here’s the basic picture: Our family’s good china and silverware, passed down two or three generations. Turkey with stuffing. Mashed potatoes with turkey gravy, butter, salt and pepper. Sweet potatoes with marshmallow and molasses sauce. Green beans. Cranberry sauce slid whole from the can onto a small garnish dish to be sliced and served on the table. Golden brown crescent rolls by the dozens. Three kinds of olives. Two kinds of pickles. A variety of six or seven cut vegetables on a sectioned relish platter. And of course, pumpkin pie with your choice of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Sparkling cider in crystal stemware during dinner and coffee after. Turkey sandwiches later on in the evening. It’s a wonderful life…</p>
<p>Add to this scene one more basic thing, not just for this one day of course. Nurture this one basic thing, whether or not you gather with family, or have the big overflowing feast. Add this one basic thing to your lifestyle and your character…</p>
<p>A heart of thankfulness.</p>
<p><em>“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God; and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.”</em> Philippians 4:6 – 7</p>
<p><em>“Give thanks for all things, for this is the will of God concerning you.”</em> 1 Thessalonians 5:17</p>
<p>A heart of thankfulness will settle your focus. If you set your heart to be thankful, putting sarcasm and harsh opinion aside, then you’ll more easily focus on the Lord Jesus and give Him thanks.</p>
<p>A heart of thankfulness will settle your differences. If you set your heart to be thankful, putting your family and relationships up to the Lord Jesus in prayer, then you’ll more easily love and serve those with whom you’ve had differences up to now.</p>
<p>And, well… basically, a heart of thankfulness will settle your dinner. If you set your heart to be thankful, then you’ll rest when you would have been worrying and your Thanksgiving dinner will just sit better.</p>
<p>The basics are always best. Stick to the basics. Seek to grow in a heart of thankfulness.</p>
<p>Blessings to you and your family, especially that you would have a thankful heart.</p>
<p>Pastor Rich and Sandy Marshall</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 11.17.11- Splits Happen</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-11-17-11-splits-happen/</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:25:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4691</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John closes his discussion of Barnabus by highlighting his ability for reconciliation.]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>This week I want to finish up my extended study of the New Testament character Barnabas. Over the last nine weeks I have been expounding upon nearly every mention of his name in the Book of Acts. You can find a running commentary at http://wsfc.org/connect/blog/.</p>
<p>I sincerely like this guy. I have modeled much of my life after him &#8211; he is called the Son of Encouragement (4:36) &#8211; and throughout the Book of Acts we find him going from place to place doing just that!</p>
<p>I want the same to be said of my life: <em>&#8220;That John Fehlen, he&#8217;s a real Son of Encouragement.&#8221;</em> (I guess it beats the alternative!).</p>
<p>In Acts 15:36-41 we find the last mention of Barnabas, but this time the context is not so positive.</p>
<p>Or is it? Let&#8217;s look&#8230;</p>
<p><em>And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, &#8220;Let us return and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are.&#8221; Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and departed, having been commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.</em></p>
<p>This passage of Scripture gives us a helpful response to personal failures and fractured relationships. These things happen. That can&#8217;t be avoided. But they can be properly handled.</p>
<p>Quick history lesson:<br />
• John Mark is Barnabas&#8217; cousin (Colossians 4:10).<br />
• John Mark was a part of the 1st Missionary Journey but didn&#8217;t want to continue on for some reason. The Bible doesn&#8217;t say why. We do know that in Acts 13:13 John Mark hopped off the Holy Ghost Tour bus and returned to Jerusalem.<br />
• At the start of the 2nd Missionary Journey, Barnabas asked if John Mark could rejoin them, and Paul had distinct misgivings. He opted to bring Silas with him, whereas Barnabas partnered up with John Mark (Acts 15:39,40). The remainder of the Book of Acts (as well as the majority of the New Testament) chronicles the activities of Paul and Silas, but very little is said about Barnabas or John Mark.</p>
<p>So, what do we make of all this?</p>
<p>I want to make two points of application:</p>
<p><strong>1. Split Happens.</strong><br />
I know this is a play on words, and I certainly am not wanting to be offensive, but rather, make a memorable point as to the reality of fractured relationships. Splits are a part of life. Not everyone is going to get along all the time. We are not a utopian society in which we all tip-toe through the tulips singing Kum-ba-yah. That&#8217;s simply not reality. We are fallen, sinful, and broken. As the saying goes: &#8220;Hurt people, hurt people.&#8221;</p>
<p>But, having said that, hear me clearly: we CAN be civil and kind. Relationships don&#8217;t have to end in anger, gossip, and venomous Facebook posts! We can biblically and rationally handle our issues one to another. This is what I see in Acts 15:36-41.</p>
<p>Paul felt like John Mark had abandoned them at a very important time. In verse 39 we read that Paul and Barnabas had a &#8220;sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other.&#8221; This was unfortunate, but it&#8217;s reality. Split happens. Notice though that it wasn&#8217;t mean-spirited or cruel. They didn&#8217;t see eye-to-eye on things and they decided to part ways, but we never read about them disparaging one another, speaking out lies or bemoaning their heart, motives or salvation.</p>
<p>Church, why is it that we, within the Body of Christ, have yet to learn this very well? We tend to shoot our wounded. We often push individuals or groups down in order to make ourselves look better? Admittedly, some of the meanest people I&#8217;ve ever encountered have been Christians. This ought not be.</p>
<p><strong>2. Seasons Change.</strong><br />
The second observation that I find in the saga of Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark is that after a stretch of time there was a restoration of relationship. Seasons change. Not everything stays the same way forever. Perhaps you had a split happen in a particular relationship, and now is the time for healing and reconnection.</p>
<p>Two passages in the New Testament give us an indication that the seasons of ministry indeed did change for those involved:</p>
<p>Colossians 4:10 &#8211; Paul commends the church in Colossea to receive and welcome John Mark.</p>
<p>2 Timothy 4:11 &#8211; Paul tells Timothy to send John Mark to him because &#8220;he is very useful to me for ministry.&#8221;</p>
<p>Did you catch that? There was once a split but now we read of a commendation and reconnection. Paul continued to speak kindly regarding John Mark and as well, discovered that he was helpful and actually useful. In other words: seasons changed. With the changing of seasons we see things clearer and differently. Someone who hurt us in the past may now be an asset OR&#8230;.wait for it&#8230;perhaps a&#8230;friend!</p>
<p>Blessings,<br />
John</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 11.10.11- Servants of the Kingdom</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-11-10-11-servants-of-the-kingdom/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-11-10-11-servants-of-the-kingdom/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 18:56:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John highlights Paul and Barnabus as servants who were the first to arrive and last to leave. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>Over the last few months I have been tripping through the Book of Acts with the goal of spotlighting a man named Barnabas. It&#8217;s natural to think of Paul or Peter in association with the Acts of the Apostles because they&#8217;re larger than life and left a huge fingerprint upon the New Testament. But I like to draw attention to an Underdog: Barnabas. He often gets overlooked and/or minimized, but his investment is so impacting. I&#8217;ve said it before, but it&#8217;s worth repeating: &#8220;Without Barnabas, we would not have a Paul.&#8221;</p>
<p>Barnabas worked behind the scenes.<br />
Barnabas took a backseat.<br />
Barnabas deferred attention to others.<br />
Barnabas served diligently without applause.</p>
<p>Barnabas is representative of our West Salem Foursquare SERVANTS. We have a wonderful group of people that serve the Kingdom of God wholeheartedly and selflessly. These are the folks that give, pray, build, teach, smile, cook, clean, sing, play, reach, wave and worship with their passions and gifts.</p>
<p><strong>I LOVE our SERVANTS.</strong></p>
<p>Too often a local church is only known by its facility, senior pastor, worship leader, or a particular program or event. These are important and should not be negated; however, I want our church community to be known not for the few, but for the many &#8211; those that lay themselves down in big and small ways each and every day.</p>
<p>I see a couple of characteristics of Barnabas in Acts 15 that apply so well to our WSFC Servants:</p>
<p><strong>1. First to Arrive</strong></p>
<p>In chapter 15 we read about a situation in which newly converted Gentiles in Antioch were being required by the religious leaders to perform certain customs, or else put their salvation into jeopardy. This was certainly NOT the heart of the Lord, and Paul and Barnabas were the first to confront it. They were appointed to go to Jerusalem to meet with the council in order to sort the matter out. After an agreement was reached by Peter and others on the council, Barnabas and Paul were then the first to be sent back to Antioch with the verdict.</p>
<p>I love the initiative of these two. They didn&#8217;t wait around for &#8220;someone else&#8221; to do something. Waiting to see if someone else will do it is an easy posture to take in today&#8217;s overcommitted culture. Someone else will clean up that mess. Someone else will reach out to the &#8220;urban campers.&#8221; Someone else will pray for that single mom. Someone else will hold a baby or play with a preschooler. The problem with a &#8220;someone else&#8221; mentality is that it is alway deferring personal responsibility.</p>
<p>Servants reject a &#8220;someone else&#8221; mentality. They are the first to arrive, first to say yes (with reasonable balance, of course) and the first to jump in; lending a hand.</p>
<p>They are also the:</p>
<p><strong>2. Last to Leave</strong></p>
<p>After Paul and Barnabas delivered the letter from the Jerusalem Council, and their work was technically done, they &#8220;remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord&#8230;(vs. 35).&#8221; It&#8217;s this kind of commitment to the Kingdom that sets them apart. The were the &#8220;last to leave.&#8221;</p>
<p>Denise and I have always been &#8220;last to leave&#8221; people. It&#8217;s a mentality that we&#8217;ve held for as long as we can remember.</p>
<p>I blame it on Pastor Tom.</p>
<p>Tom was my youth pastor growing up in Osceola, Wisconsin. I loved being mentored by him and found any opportunity I could for us to hang out. That often meant staying at the church until he left, and he was always the &#8220;last to leave.&#8221; Together we would put away chairs, take down posters, wrap up microphone cables, and throw away wrappers and pop cans. During these &#8220;last to leave&#8221; moments I was unknowingly being discipled into Kingdom ways and means.</p>
<p>First to arrive. Last to leave. Servants with a Barnabas Spirit.</p>
<p>That&#8217;s why I LOVE our SERVANTS.</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>John</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 11.3.11- Ministry of the Minister</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-11-3-11-ministry-of-the-minister/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-11-3-11-ministry-of-the-minister/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Nov 2011 18:40:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John gives us a gimps of a pastor's role according to Acts 14:19-23. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>Today I am sitting at a local coffee shop and around me are a number of pastors and leaders &#8220;doing their work&#8221; (as well as sipping their favorite coffee drinks).</p>
<p>The phrase &#8220;doing their work&#8221; is an interesting one. The questions I hear from folks (sometimes jokingly) are:</p>
<p>&#8220;What does a pastor do?&#8221;<br />
&#8220;Do they only work a couple of hours on the weekend?&#8221;</p>
<p>I giggle when I hear these questions, not only due to the sheer volume of hours I work each week, but also because the pastoral office indeed operates with a level of mystery as it deals with matters of the heart and soul.</p>
<p>&#8220;Doing their work&#8221; could very well mean a number of things to a number of people. For some, it&#8217;s pastoral counseling with a parishioner or preparation for a sermon. For others it could be thoughtful mediation or reflective study. For me today, my &#8220;work&#8221; involves reading my Bible, writing, brainstorming for upcoming teachings, and vision-casting for our leadership team (not to mention all the nods and greetings to folks from around our fair city)!</p>
<p>I think often about my pastoral role. I am consistently musing on what &#8220;doing my work&#8221; means. I write whitepapers and blog about it often, but much of what I write is rarely shared with our congregation. Pastoring can be like making sausage. We like sausage but not everyone wants to see how it&#8217;s made!</p>
<p>However, based upon my reading of Acts 14:19-23 (and it&#8217;s focus upon Barnabas), I want to expound a bit upon the &#8220;Ministry of the Minister.&#8221;</p>
<p>Over the last few months I have been spotlighting the New Testament character of Barnabas. He is an underdog. He is lesser known than his buddy Paul, which is why I like him so much. I am focusing upon Barnabas for this week&#8217;s study of the &#8220;Ministry of the Minister.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong>Acts 14:19-23 (ESV)</strong> But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had <strong>preached the gospel</strong> to that city and had <strong>made many disciples</strong>, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, <strong>strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith</strong>, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had <strong>appointed elders</strong> for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.</p>
<p>Go back and reread the passage and notice the<strong> bolded</strong> phrases. These phrases constitute a very clear, and progressive mission of pastoral leadership: <strong>the ministry of the minister.</strong></p>
<p>1. Preach the Gospel</p>
<p>2. Make many disciples</p>
<p>3. Strengthen the souls of the disciples</p>
<p>4. Encourage disciples to continue in the faith</p>
<p>5. Prayerfully appoint leadership</p>
<p>Undoubtedly, pastors do so much more than these five things&#8230;I know I do! Sadly, I often liken myself to a cruise director, like Julie McCoy on The Love Boat, running around trying to keep everybody happy and smiling. But the problem with the &#8216;cruise director&#8217; concept is that it turns The Church into a pleasure craft complete with every creature comfort; a spiritual smorgasbord or hedonistic hideaway of sorts.</p>
<p>That, however, is NOT the purpose of The Church.</p>
<p>Instead, we are to be a lifeboat or a battleship. We have a huge and honorable mission. The pastoral calling is to serve The Church in this clear and compelling mission:</p>
<p>•<strong> To preach the Gospel:</strong> The Apostle Paul told the church in Galatia that he was &#8220;entrusted with the Gospel&#8221; (Gal. 2:7) and then to the church in Corinth, &#8220;Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!&#8221; (1 Cor. 9:16). Pastoral leaders must preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen again. That is our mandate.</p>
<p>•<strong> Make many disciples:</strong> The result of the preaching of the Gospel is not just that people would have heard, but that they would believe and obey. The Great Commission in Matthew 28 is that we would &#8220;make disciples of all nations, baptizing them&#8230;teaching them to observe all that I [Jesus] have commanded you.&#8221; Our clear and compelling mission at West Salem Foursquare is aligned to the Great Commission: Making More and Maturing Disciples.</p>
<p>• <strong>Strengthen the souls of the disciples:</strong> I have a wonderful friend and spiritual mentor that would often ask me: &#8220;How is it with your soul?&#8221; This is a good question that gets right to the heart of the matter: our souls. Pastoral leaders concern themselves with the soul and seek to see it strengthened in the Lord.</p>
<p>• <strong>Encourage disciples to continue in the faith:</strong> Life is hard. God is good. The task of pastoral leadership is to connect the two: Life and God. We serve as a Barnabas, whose name means &#8216;Son of Encouragement&#8217;, to disciples that are sojourning together in Christ. The ministry of the minister is to encourage (which means to put courage into) believers to continue in the faith. In other words: don&#8217;t give up. Finish well!</p>
<p>• <strong>Prayerfully appoint leadership:</strong> Paul and Barnabas were going from city to city appointing elders in the churches. The word elder is interchangeable with overseer, bishop and pastor. With prayer and fasting, they would recognize and release key people to lead and govern the ministry of the local church. This is the role of modern day pastors as well. We still are to recognize and release people into leadership ministry. Ephesians 4:12,13 tells us that we are to &#8220;prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.&#8221;</p>
<p>There it is again. Our clear and compelling mission: <strong>Making More and Maturing Disciples.</strong></p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>Pastor John</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 10.28.11- Crave</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-10-28-11-crave/</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:42:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[John reminds us that we all crave something to worship, but only the one true God can fill that void. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>Recently I co-lead a group of students and pastors on a tour of the Footsteps of Paul in Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, Patmos, Crete and Rome. It was an amazing time with much to learn and see. It&#8217;s powerful to walk in the places which the New Testament Scriptures were originated and to visit the cities in which the Apostle Paul planted churches and established the work of the Lord.</p>
<p>Simply put: The Bible comes alive.</p>
<p>But there is also a sad element to it as well. Everywhere you look there are statues, auditoriums, idols and places of worship established for Greek gods and goddesses. Zeus, Apollos, and Dionysus, to name a few. The City of Ephesus, for example, was dedicated to the worship of the goddess of fertility, Artemis.</p>
<p>Here is what I concluded: People crave something to worship.</p>
<p>We see this happening in Acts 14:8-15. This portion of Scripture is the next in a series of texts that spotlights Barnabas. Barnabas was a linchpin. He was a catalyst. I have been devoting a handful of these email devotionals to Barnabas &#8211; a guy that is peppered throughout the Book of Acts, and had a considerable impact on the trajectory of the church.</p>
<p>Take a moment to read Acts 14:8-15.  Do you see what happens?  Paul and Barnabas were involved in the healing of a man that was crippled since birth. Undoubtedly, the Lord is the Healer, but he used two willing vessels to extend that healing to the hurting. When the crowds witnessed the healing they shouted: &#8220;The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!&#8221; They gave Barnabas the name Zeus. Paul they called Hermes. Temple priests we&#8217;re poised to offer sacrifices to Paul and Barnabas.  It was getting pretty crazy.</p>
<p>How did they get to this point?</p>
<p>Well&#8230;the answer is that people crave something to worship.</p>
<p>As you walk the Footsteps of Paul you&#8217;ll note something interesting. The worship of Greek gods and goddesses is obviously not as pervasive as it once was but now you see in their place other statues, religious icons, of folks such as Peter, Paul and Mary (sorry, I had to do it). One focal point of worship has been replaced with another. Visit Rome and you&#8217;ll see what I&#8217;m talking about.</p>
<p>Bottom line: People crave something to worship.</p>
<p>Denise and I watched a powerful movie yesterday. It&#8217;s called &#8220;The Way&#8221; starring Martin Sheen. It&#8217;s about pilgrims walking the Camino de Santiago, also known as The Way of Saint James. It was a deeply impacting film with a number of spiritual implications. It had us pondering and talking long after leaving the theater. Our common synopsis was that people are longing to worship&#8230;something&#8230;anything.  Unfortunately, folks all too often miss the mark. They worship wrongly. They venerate people and things. They elevate human accomplishment and honor good deeds. They seek out experiential and relational connection and call it spiritual.</p>
<p>To combat this, Paul and Barnabas ran into the crowd and tore their garments, and in essence said: &#8220;Why are you doing this? Don&#8217;t worship us! Worship the Living God!&#8221;</p>
<p>What I observe about Paul and Barnabas is that they were good &#8220;Deflectors of Glory.&#8221; Rather than receiving honor (as wonderful as that would be) they deflected it to the one who made the heavens and the earth. That&#8217;s where our worship should be directed.</p>
<p>Question:  Are you a good deflector of glory? Do you point people to Jesus?</p>
<p>People all over the world are craving something to worship.  There is a God-shaped hole in everyone&#8217;s heart. Will you point people to the ONLY ONE that can properly fill that void?</p>
<p>Blessings!</p>
<p>John<br />
Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 10.20.11- Speak Up</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-10-20-11-speak-up/</link>
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		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:20:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
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		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John encourages us to speak up in such a way that many hear and believe in Jesus. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>How are you? Good? Bad? Ugly?</p>
<p>Feel free to shout it out right now. I&#8217;m listening&#8230;</p>
<p>Go ahead. Yell it out&#8230;</p>
<p>&#8230;I can&#8217;t hear you. You gotta speak up&#8230;</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>This week in my &#8220;Hello Friends&#8221; I want to write about &#8220;Speaking Up&#8221; from the perspective of Barnabas. For a number of weeks we have been spotlighting an aspect of the life of Barnabas (one of my favorite characters in the Bible). This week&#8217;s focus is upon Acts 14.</p>
<p>Acts 14:1-3 &#8220;At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke in such a way that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.&#8221;</p>
<p>Paul and Barnabas spoke &#8220;in such a way&#8221; that people believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. Don&#8217;t you want to speak in such a way? The remainder of this passage gives us some clues as to the way they spoke.</p>
<p><strong>1.  With Strength.</strong></p>
<p>The Scripture tells us that they spoke boldly for the Lord. There was a weight to their words. The last sentence in the Book of Acts tells us that Paul finished his life in a Roman prison &#8220;proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.&#8221;  And a number of New Testament passages refer to Jesus as someone who spoke with authority (Matthew 7:29; Mark 1:22, 27; Luke 4:32, 36).</p>
<p>Barnabas. Paul. Jesus. Three examples of people that spoke with strength. I want to be on this list. Don&#8217;t you?</p>
<p><strong>2. With Signs</strong></p>
<p>Not only was the word spoken boldly but it was accompanied by miraculous signs and wonders of the Lord. Now that&#8217;s a one/two punch!</p>
<p>Not only is Missouri the Show-Me State. I think people all over the world want to see the Gospel in action and not just hear it spoken. So many Christians would do well to not only speak about the Lord, but to accompany those words with Spirit-infused signs and wonders. Imagine non-believers hearing AND seeing the grace of God in action.</p>
<p>The Great Commission in Mark 16:20 says &#8220;they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.&#8221; Another one/two punch.</p>
<p>This reminds me of Ephesians 4:15 that challenges us to &#8220;speak the truth in love.&#8221; Words (truth) are to be paired up with actions (love). Again, another great one/two punch.</p>
<p>Strength.<br />
Signs.<br />
Truth.<br />
Love.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s speak up&#8230;in such a way&#8230;that a great number of people will believe! Amen? Amen.</p>
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<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>John</p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 10.13.11- Bold</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-10-13-11-bold/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-10-13-11-bold/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2011 19:42:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4505</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John highlights the power of the Word of God. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
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<p>If you have a few moments right now, will you grab your Bible and read this short passage:  <strong>Acts 13:42-52.</strong></p>
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<p>Have you done it yet?</p>
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<p>I&#8217;ll wait.</p>
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<p>OK. Here we go. Let&#8217;s talk about this passage.</p>
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<p>This is the next place that highlights a great guy named <strong>Barnabas</strong>. I&#8217;ve been spending a number of weeks spotlighting him in my &#8220;Hello Friends&#8221; email series.</p>
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<p>I really like Barnabas. I like how he always finds himself right in the middle of the action. First, he and Paul were teaching in the synagogue and the Jews and new converts wanted to hear more about the Word of God. Then, the next day the &#8220;whole city&#8221; gathered to hear the Word of God and it stirred up anger and jealously in the religious leaders. This culminated with intense persecution of Paul and Barnabas &#8211; so much so that they shook off the dust from their feet and moved onto another city to  minister.</p>
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<p>Bold.</p>
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<p>One could easily focus upon the individuals of Paul or Barnabas, but the real star of this story is <strong>The Word of God. </strong></p>
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<p>The Word of God is what stirred up such intense feelings. Acts 13:49 tells us that the &#8220;word of the Lord spread through the whole region.&#8221; It caught fire and was blazing through the synagogue, city center, and ultimately throughout the entire region of Asia Minor.</p>
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<p>The Word of God.</p>
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<p>It&#8217;s Bold.</p>
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<p>There is something very powerful about God&#8217;s Word when spoken and ministered in truth and spirit.</p>
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<p>Are you allowing the Word of God to spread throughout your heart?  What is it stirring up in you?</p>
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<p>Blessings,</p>
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<p>John</p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 10.7.11- We Go Together</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-10-7-11-we-go-together/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-10-7-11-we-go-together/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:06:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4488</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John continues to highlight Barnabas, this week he highlights our need for each other. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Hello Friends,</span></p>
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<div>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Let&#8217;s keep looking at Barnabas.  I really dig this guy and have had a blast writing to you each week about an aspect of his life as found in the Book of Acts.  I just returned from a journey in the Footsteps of Paul &#8211; including his missionary stops in Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, and Rome. I can say with a great level of certainly that there wouldn&#8217;t have been an Apostle Paul without a Barnabas!</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">In chapter 13 of the Acts of the Apostles (should be called Acts of the Holy Spirit though), we come to the church of Antioch. One of the primary teachers there was Barnabas. Another one was an upstart leader named Saul.  We also know him as Paul. Barnabas and Saul did some tag team ministry in Antioch. Barnabas was sent there by the church in Jerusalem &#8211; we read of this in Acts 11:22.  This life-giving, sacrificial church sent one of their best leaders to Antioch. When Barnabas got to Antioch he &#8220;saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose&#8221; (vs. 23).  It goes on to describe Barnabas as &#8220;a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith&#8221; (vs. 24).  The result of Barnabas&#8217; ministry in Antioch was that &#8220;a great many people were added to the Lord.&#8221;</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">It was there that people were first called&#8230;wait for it&#8230;<strong>Christians</strong>.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">So much spiritual growth was happening that Barnabas sent for Saul to come help him. They were able to a great deal together.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Together</em>.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Everybody needs a wingman (that&#8217;s a quote from Top Gun, in case you missed it).</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Barnabas and Saul. The dynamic duo.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Not only did they do the work of the Lord <em>together</em> in Antioch, but they were also <em>SENT OUT TOGETHER</em> from Antioch to minister in other areas. Acts 13:2 says, &#8220;Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work for which I have called them. then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went&#8230;.&#8221;</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Sent out together.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">This makes me think of the church we are planting in Dallas, Oregon under the leadership of Darrin &amp; Stacy Hausler. At West Salem Foursquare we are like the Jerusalem church &#8211; the sending church &#8211; giving our best to see the work of the Lord flourish in an other area.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">In the coming months we will be laying our hands upon them and their core planting team and sending them out together. What a joy-filled time that will be!</span></p>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Jerusalem and Antioch.</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Barnabas and Saul.</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000000;"><em>West Salem and Dallas.</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000000;"><em>You and I.</em></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #000000;"><em>Together.</em></span></div>
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</em></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">It&#8217;s so great doing life together.  Denise and I are blessed to be growing together with you.  You are deeply loved.</span></p>
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<div><span style="color: #000000;">Blessings,</span></div>
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<div><span style="color: #000000;">Pastor John</span></div>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="Picture 2" src="https://us2.admin.mailchimp.com/_ssl/proxy.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwsfc.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FPicture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="https://us2.admin.mailchimp.com/_ssl/proxy.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwsfc.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fvimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="https://us2.admin.mailchimp.com/_ssl/proxy.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwsfc.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Ficon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></span></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="https://us2.admin.mailchimp.com/_ssl/proxy.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwsfc.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FWSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></span></a></span></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 9.29.11- Barnabas the Uniter</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-9-29-11-barnabas-the-uniter/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-9-29-11-barnabas-the-uniter/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:59:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4453</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[John continues to highlight Barnabas and points out his unifying gifts.  ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Hello Friends,</span></p>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Hopefully you&#8217;ve been following along in my weekly emails as I&#8217;ve been spotlighting a gentleman in Scripture named Barnabas. We don&#8217;t know a ton about him except from the Book of Acts. At the time you will be reading this Denise and I will be touring the land of the Acts of the Apostles &#8211; Athens, Ephesus, Rome, Crete, Patmos, etc. This is an exciting trip for five of us from West Salem Foursquare, as we join with twenty others from around the United States.</span></div>
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</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">This tour of the Footsteps of Paul wouldn&#8217;t have happened without a <strong>Barnabas</strong>. Sure, God would have accomplished his purposes another way, but I do wonder how many things the Lord simply won&#8217;t do without our partnership and obedience. </span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Barnabas was an obedient partner.</span></div>
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</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">His primary ministry buddy was Paul, but occasional he would pick up others.  </span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Case in point:  <strong>John Mark.</strong></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Acts 12:25 says <em>&#8220;When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.&#8221;</em></span></div>
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</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Who is John Mark?  Colossians 4:10 indicates that he is the cousin to Barnabas. Luke 13:13 tells us that Paul and his companions (which would have included Barnabas and John Mark) put out to sea from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphilia, but John [Mark] left them and returned to Jerusalem.</span></div>
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</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: medium;">Why did John Mark leave?  The text is unclear, but many speculate that he was uncomfortable about the mission to evangelize the Gentiles. John Mark, a resident of Jerusalem, perhaps bailed because of the focus upon &#8220;non-Jews.&#8221; Some have called him the &#8220;New Testament Jonah.&#8221;</span></div>
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<div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;">Acts 15:36-41 points out how Paul didn&#8217;t want John Mark to be with them on their upcoming trip because of how he abandoned them during the first missionary journey. There was a sharp disagreement to the point of Paul and Barnabas parting company. This is something certainly worthy of study, however, I want to focus our attention to who Barnabas took with him: <strong> John Mark.</strong></span></div>
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<div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;">I love this about Barnabas. He is a UNITER. </span></div>
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<div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;">You may say, &#8220;Well, if he was such a UNITER then why did he part company with Paul and take sides with John Mark?&#8221;  That&#8217;s a valid point, but one must dig deeper into Scripture to get the full story. The Book of Acts does not give us any further detail but other New Testament writings of Paul do.</span></div>
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<div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><strong>2 Timothy 4:11</strong><em> (Words of Paul) &#8211; &#8220;Only Luke is with me. Get [John] Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful [useful] to me in my ministry.&#8221;</em></span></div>
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</em></span></div>
<div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><strong>Colossians 4:10</strong><em> (Words of Paul) &#8211; &#8220;My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does [John] Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. You have received instruction about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.&#8221;</em></span></div>
<div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><em><br />
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<div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;"><strong>Philemon 24</strong><em> (Words of Paul) &#8211; &#8220;Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do [John] Mark&#8230;my fellow workers.&#8221;  </em></span></div>
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<div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;">It would appear as if Paul and John Mark got the band back together again!  Not only that, but Paul now finds John Mark to be a great asset to his ministry.</span></div>
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<div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;">We don&#8217;t know this explicitly from the biblical text, but I have to wonder if <strong>Barnabas</strong> had anything to do with this change of heart. After all, he&#8217;s a UNITER.</span></div>
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<p><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;">Do you bring people together?</span></p>
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<div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;">Blessings, </span></div>
<div>
<div><span style="color: #222222; font-size: medium;">Pastor John</span></div>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 9.22.11- Eyes Wide Open</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-9-22-11-eyes-wide-open/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-9-22-11-eyes-wide-open/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Sep 2011 18:07:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4425</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John asks us, "Are your eyes open? Are you a "looker"?" ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;This week&#8217;s Hello Friends comes to you while John &amp; Denise are leading a tour of the Footsteps of Paul throughout Greece, Rome and Ephesus. Be praying for them as they travel, teach, film and prepare for our Fall teaching series &amp; small groups.&#8221;</p>
<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>Barnabas. What a guy.</p>
<p>The Book of Acts would have been much smaller without him. During this season I want to highlight in my weekly correspondence this unsung hero of the New Testament. Acts 11 has Barnabas&#8217; fingerprints all over it. Read about him in verses 22-26.</p>
<p>22 News reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.</p>
<p>25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were first called Christians at Antioch.</p>
<p>Two keys phrases jump out to me in these verses:</p>
<p>1. &#8220;Saw the evidence of the grace of God&#8230;&#8221; (vs. 23)</p>
<p>2. &#8220;Went to Tarsus to look for Saul&#8230;&#8221; (vs. 25)</p>
<p>Barnabas was a looker.</p>
<p>By this I don&#8217;t mean he was attractive. Of course, I really don&#8217;t know if was UNattractive. Ah, I digress.</p>
<p>When I think of Barnabas as &#8220;a looker&#8221; I mean he was an INITIATOR. He had an eye for good things. He SAW the evidence of God&#8217;s grace in Antioch. He LOOKED for Saul in Tarsus in order to bring him to Antioch. Both Paul and Barnabas spent a year in this city, sharing the Gospel and growing the church. It was here that they first began to call followers of Jesus &#8220;Christians.&#8221; There he goes initiating again!</p>
<p>Are you a looker?</p>
<p>What good things are you initiating?</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>Pastor John</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="https://us2.admin.mailchimp.com/_ssl/proxy.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwsfc.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FPicture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="https://us2.admin.mailchimp.com/_ssl/proxy.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwsfc.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fvimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="https://us2.admin.mailchimp.com/_ssl/proxy.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwsfc.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Ficon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="https://us2.admin.mailchimp.com/_ssl/proxy.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwsfc.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FWSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 9.8.2011- It&#8217;s all about the Heart</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-9-8-2011-its-all-about-the-heart/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-9-8-2011-its-all-about-the-heart/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Sep 2011 22:53:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4370</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John reminds us that giving is all about the heart. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<div>
<div>Check out this Scripture:</p>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>&#8220;Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles feet.&#8221; Acts 4:36,37</em></p>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: left;">Joseph.</p>
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<div style="text-align: left;">Barnabas.</p>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div>Son of Encouragement.</p>
<div>Wow, this guy sure had A LOT of nicknames&#8230;</p>
<div>I would add to the list this one:<strong> Giver.</strong></p>
<div>I really dig Barnabas. I love reading about him. He is one of my favorite characters in the New Testament. Throughout the Book of Acts we find multiple examples of Barnabas’ giving and encouraging spirit.</p>
<div>Barnabas is the reason a radical named Saul got his start. We know him now as Paul the Apostle, but I often wonder if Saul would have ever became Paul if it wasn’t for Barnabas and the interest that he took in the “long-shot” with the dicey reputation.</p>
<div>Barnabas was always about others. We see this most clearly in Acts 4:36,37 when he sold his field and gave the proceeds to the apostles to be used for the needs of a growing faith community.</p>
<div>Barnabas went ALL IN. In contrast, the next chapter of the Book of Acts tells us about Ananias and Sapphira who knowingly withheld from the sale of a piece of property. Now, to be fair, I don&#8217;t think the main point of these stories is about money.</p>
<div>It&#8217;s about HEART.</p>
<div>One had an ALL IN heart and the others did not. Again, it wasn&#8217;t about the money. Verse 4 affirms this when Peter said to them: &#8220;Didn&#8217;t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn&#8217;t the money at your disposal?&#8221; In other words, they didn&#8217;t HAVE to give it. They could have rightfully kept it, but they chose to lie about &#8211; making it a matter of the heart.</p>
<div>I love Barnabas&#8217; heart. I want one like his. He is an encourager. He is a giver.</p>
<div>What are some nicknames people would give you? How are you known?</p>
<div>Blessings,</p>
<div>
<p>Pastor John</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: 0px;" title="Picture 2" src="https://us2.admin.mailchimp.com/_ssl/proxy.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwsfc.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FPicture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: 0px;" title="vimeo_icon" src="https://us2.admin.mailchimp.com/_ssl/proxy.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwsfc.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fvimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: 0px;" title="icon_flickr128" src="https://us2.admin.mailchimp.com/_ssl/proxy.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwsfc.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Ficon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img style="border-style: initial; border-color: initial; border-width: 0px;" title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="https://us2.admin.mailchimp.com/_ssl/proxy.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwsfc.org%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2FWSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 9.1.2011- The Gift of Giving</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-9-1-2011-the-gift-of-giving/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-9-1-2011-the-gift-of-giving/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:17:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4337</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John shares an experience of giving. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<div>It was his 32nd birthday and, frankly, it might have been his best one <strong>ever</strong>.</p>
<div>A week or two ago, me and three of my kids stood on the corner of Wallace &amp; Glen Greek and we sang Happy Birthday to a homeless man named Daniel. Along with a well-sung song, we gave him a Starbucks pastry, a bottle of water and five bucks. You would have thought he had been given a million dollars.</p>
<div>How did I know it was Daniel&#8217;s birthday?</p>
<div>Well, Christi told me.</p>
<div>Christi is a wonderful member of West Salem Foursquare. She has been actively extending kindness to Daniel for some time now and found out the date of his birth. Recently when we both discovered that we had been reaching out to the same &#8220;address challenged&#8221; individual, we worked together to celebrate his birthday. Christi knew she would be out of town that day, so she asked me to give him some birthday money (normally she only gives food and smiles). My kids and I pitched for the pastry and water.</p>
<div>After celebrating on the street corner, we walked back to our car with smiles on our faces and joy in our hearts. My youngest son said, &#8220;Dad, that was awesome!&#8221;</p>
<div>It <strong>was</strong> awesome. It was awesome on a number of levels:</p>
<div>1.  It was a simple yet powerful demonstration of the kindness and love of the Lord to a person who is struggling.</p>
<div>2.  It was an act of giving with an amazing return on investment, not only in Daniel, but in me, my children and in Christi.</p>
<div>3.  It was a partnership between various individuals, all working <strong>together</strong> to minister grace and hope.</p>
<div>4.  It felt like something Jesus would do: singing Happy Birthday on a street corner to a homeless man.</p>
<div>I tell you this story because it illustrates the power of partnership and giving. Over the next few months at West Salem Foursquare we will have a number of opportunities to partner in our giving. I encourage you to prayerfully pour your heart into these opportunities&#8230;go ALL IN. Don&#8217;t hold back, knowing that if we all work together, each contributing faithfully, then <strong>it will be awesome</strong>.</p>
<div>Look forward with me to these upcoming opportunities:</p>
<div><strong>1.  ALL IN // September &#8211; November</strong>. Last year at this time, I sensed the Lord say to my heart: &#8220;Ask the Church to go ALL IN.&#8221; So many from our congregation responded cheerfully to the biblical pattern of tithing &amp; generous giving. We heard story after story of God&#8217;s faithfulness. So we&#8217;re going ALL IN again! This September through November we are calling WSFC to a <strong>Three-Month Giving Challenge</strong>. If you go ALL IN and the Lord doesn&#8217;t honor His Word in your life THEN your church will give you 100% of your donation back. No questions asked. Go for it. Trust the Lord. Try giving your full tithe for three months. Then tell the stories of God&#8217;s faithfulness in your life!</p>
<div><strong>2.  Outreach Offering // September 24/25.</strong>  This last June we received an offering for our youth camps scholarships. WSFC was so faithful to invest into our young people. Our next quarterly special offering will be the weekend of September 24 &amp; 25 and it will be received specifically for the various outreaches of WSFC, including the Salem Dream Center, City Vibe, A New Leaf, and Mexico Missions. Begin to pray and plan now regarding an offering, which is over and above your regular tithe.</p>
<div>Be challenged AND encouraged by Luke 6:38:  &#8220;Give and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full&#8230;pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. For with the measure you give, it will be measured back to you.&#8221;</p>
<div>Blessings,</p>
<div>Pastor John<br />
Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></div>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 8.25.2011- Slow Down</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-8-25-2011-slow-down/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-8-25-2011-slow-down/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:57:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4318</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John shares with us some wisdom from the journals of Richard Proenneke called "One Man's Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey."]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
<div><strong>Hello Friends,<br />
</strong></p>
<div>
<p>During the month of August at WSFC we&#8217;ve been in our <strong>PAUSE</strong> teaching series from Genesis 26:25. Week one was about &#8220;Building Altars&#8221; and it focused upon our spiritual lives. Week two was about &#8220;Pitching Tents&#8221; and together we considered our personal lives and how it should integrate together with the spiritual.</p>
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<p><strong>Reminder:</strong> Our altars should be permanent and our tents should be temporary. Sadly, we often reverse these.</p>
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<p>This morning I finished reading the journals of Richard Proenneke called &#8220;One Man&#8217;s Wilderness: An Alaskan Odyssey.&#8221; This best-selling book became the basis for the enormously popular documentary &#8220;Alone in the Wilderness.&#8221; It chronicles the day-to-day explorations and activities that Proenneke carried out alone, including the clearing of land, cutting of trees, and building of a log cabin. He lived a simple life off of the land for an extended period of time and continued to visit his handiwork until his death at the age of 87.</p>
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<p>I want to give you a few random quotes from him journals in light of the teaching this last weekend about our temporary personal lives. I used the concept of a Tent, and I know that Proenneke built a home (not a tent), but there are principles about simplicity, detachment from stuff and contentment that I believe is valuable for us to grab onto.</p>
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<p>From Richard Proenneke&#8217;s journals:</p>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<p><em>&#8220;What a man never has, he never misses.&#8221;</em></p>
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<p><em>&#8220;In time man gets used to almost anything, but the problem seems to be that technology is advancing faster than he can adjust to it. I think it&#8217;s time we started applying the brakes, slowing down our greed and slowing down the world.&#8221;</em></p>
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<p><em>&#8220;I realize that men working together can perform miracles such as sending men to walk on the surface of the moon. There is definitely a need and a place for teamwork, but there is also a need for an individual sometime in his life to forget the world of parts and pieces and put something together on his own&#8211;complete something. He&#8217;s got to create.&#8221;</em></p>
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<p><em>&#8220;I have learned patience, learned to take my time and try to do a job right by first figuring it out. No sense to rushing and going off half cocked; there plenty of time out here.&#8221;</em></p>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<p><em>&#8220;Needs? I guess that is what bothers so many folks. They keep expanding their needs until they are dependent on too many things and too many other people. I don&#8217;t understand economics, and I suppose the country would be in a real mess if people suddenly cut out a lot of things they don&#8217;t need. I wonder how many things in the average American home could be eliminated if the question were asked, &#8216;Must I really have this?&#8217; I guess most of the extras are chalked up to comfort or saving time. Funny thing about comfort: one man&#8217;s comfort is another man&#8217;s misery.&#8221;</em></p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">Blessings,</p>
<div style="text-align: left;">John<br />
Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></div>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 8.18.2011- How Flexible Are You?</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-8-18-2011-how-flexible-are-you/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-8-18-2011-how-flexible-are-you/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:58:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4228</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John encourages us to check our flexibility to make sure we are not becoming rusty old springs. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<div>
<p>First a <strong>question</strong> and then a <strong>story</strong>:</p>
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<p><strong>Question</strong>:  How flexible are you?</p>
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<p><strong>Story</strong>:  A few nights ago, after Denise and I got back from serving at our regional middle school camp, I went out to the backyard and began jumping on the trampoline in order to burn off some excess energy. Normally after a week of camp I have little to no energy left, but I had just had my 3rd cup of coffee and even downed one of those nasty energy drinks that you turn to in times of desperation. So&#8230;I was&#8230;<strong>amped</strong>. And also, most importantly, we had experienced such an amazing time in the Presence of the Lord that I was hard pressed to settle down any time soon.</p>
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<p>Thus&#8230;the trampoline.</p>
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<p>As I bounced up and down, I rejoicingly remembered the handiwork of the Lord in students lives, and was so deeply aware of the beauty of the blue skies, the cool dusk air and thoughts of my family. I was thinking about our oldest son leaving for college. I was thinking about turning 40. I was thinking about the last three years of life in Salem.  I was thinking about how grateful I was for Jesus, my wife, kids and church family.</p>
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<p>All this was rolling through my heart and mind as I went up and down on the trampoline.</p>
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<p>Then it happened.</p>
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<p>Without warning.</p>
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<p>Like a bullet in the blue sky, one of the metal trampoline springs broke and shot through the air directly towards me.  I was in mid-air descent when the shrapnel honed in on me. With a whizzing sound much like that of a gunshot, the spring sliced the air and then grazed the side of my right bare foot. Thankfully it was &#8220;only a flesh wound.&#8221; There indeed was blood, but nothing a bandaid couldn&#8217;t handle. As I, with dramatic flare, replayed the events to my family, I was keenly aware that the whole situation could have been much worse.  In other words, I do not have a gaping hole in my chest or one less eye.</p>
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<p>That&#8217;s my story.</p>
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<div>
<p>Now back to my question:  How flexible are you?</p>
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<div>
<p>Over the years we have had to replace various springs on our trampoline. Over time the springs become brittle, rusty and eventually break. The intended purpose of the spring is to give flexibility to the trampoline, but time has a way of compromising that effectiveness. Occasionally the springs need to be replaced.</p>
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<div>
<p>What &#8220;springs&#8221; need to be addressed in your life?  Are there areas of your heart that have gotten rigid, rusty and brittle? How spiritually flexible are you? When is the last time you have made a significant change?  Are you making new friends, sitting in different seats, worshipping in fresh ways or learning new skills? Consider reading a different version of the Bible. Try new foods or coffee blends. Serve in a different ministry for a short season to see how it fits.</p>
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<div>
<p>How flexible are you?</p>
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<div>
<p>My prayer today is that God would replace hard and brittle &#8220;springs&#8221; in us so that we are increasingly effective for seasons to come.</p>
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<div>
<p>Consider Ezekiel 11:19-20 <em>&#8220;And I shall give them one heart, and shall put a new spirit within them. And I shall take the heart of stone </em><em>out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances, and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.&#8221; </em></p>
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<div>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<div>
<div>
<p>Pastor John</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 7.7.11- Rules of the Playground</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-7-7-11-rules-of-the-playground/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-7-7-11-rules-of-the-playground/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Jul 2011 23:40:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4208</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor Tim Clark encourages us to swing high, slide fast, play hard and have fun!]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>John has asked Tim Clark, his best friend and ministry partner of over 2o years to share with us this week. Tim is currently pastoring a church in San Dimas, CA. We will have the pleasure of having him with us next weekend at church.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-4213" href="http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-7-7-11-rules-of-the-playground/angelsplayground/"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-4213" title="angelsplayground" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/angelsplayground.jpg" alt="" width="262" height="331" /></a>One Sunday after church a while back, my family went to a birthday party at a great park in Costa Mesa, CA. This park had one of the coolest playgrounds I had ever seen. It was great fun for my elementary age boys, but was also built with a system of ramps for wheelchair accessibility so my toddler daughter could totally get into it, too.</p>
<p>About an hour into play, I saw Caleb, my oldest son, frantically pacing around the outside of the playground as if he was looking for something. Running up to me and out of breath, he said “Dad, Dad”. Slightly concerned, I asked him what was up? “This playground doesn’t have any rules”, he said. He had spent the last 10 minutes searching high and low for the posted regulations, because he had been pushed aside during play and wanted to discover if that other kid was ‘out of bounds’.</p>
<p>I noticed a huge sign with the name of the park that thanked all the people who had helped build it. I guessed—correctly—that we would find rules somewhere on that sign. Caleb had read it, but didn’t recognize the rules, because they didn’t look like any he had ever seen before. In capital letters at the  top of the sign were these words…</p>
<p><em><strong>Swing High. Slide Fast. Play Hard. Have Fun.</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong> </strong></em>We weren&#8217;t expecting that. These were words that gave all the kids permission to passionately have a blast on this playground. <em>“Use this thing for all its worth”</em> the sign seemed to be saying. And as I watched all the kids that day, it’s exactly what was going on.</p>
<p>On the very bottom of the large sign, in much smaller print was this follow up: <em>“Please play fair, take turns, be safe, and most of all have fun. Adult supervision is required.”</em></p>
<p><em> </em><em>Rules.</em> We are always looking for the things we can’t do or shouldn’t do. More than that, we are often looking for the things that others can’t or shouldn’t be doing so we can point out the rules to them. But what if we understood that life was governed by a set of ‘rules’ that looked more like what was posted on this playground sign?</p>
<p>I think God wants us to fall totally head over heals in love with Him and serve him with all we have. That will help us passionately enjoy our time on this playground called life.</p>
<p>Moses reflected on the law being given in Deuteronomy 10 and 11. He made it clear that the reason we needed to love, serve, and obey the Lord with all our hearts and souls was for our own good. There is great blessing tied to obedience—the focus was never on ‘the rules’, but on the fantastic potential of a full and passionate life that we were created to experience. The rules were simply the context that would release this kind of blessing (if you don’t believe me, go ahead, read Deuteronomy 10 &amp; 11).</p>
<p>Too often we make life about the rules. Not only do we put them first, we forget what they are there for. Yes, there are some conditions to the &#8220;high, fast, hard, and fun” encouragements: Care about others; don’t do something that will hurt yourself or anyone else; play within the context of knowing somebody responsible is watching you. But within those very generous boundaries, prepare to have the time of your life…Get ready to <em><strong>swing high, slide fast, play hard and have fun!</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong> </strong></em>Blessings,</p>
<p>Tim Clark<br />
blogging at <a href="http://www.pastortimclark.com/">www.pastortimclark.com</a><br />
Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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<p><strong>P.S. Here are some things to check out in the life of WSFC:</strong></p>
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<p><strong>Baby Dedications: </strong>If you are wanting to dedicate your baby, your next opportunity to do so is July 16 &amp; 17. For more informations please contact Jake Poetzl at jake.poetzl@wsfc.org.</p>
<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>Connect Cafe: </strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">New to WSFC or have questions for Pastor John? Join us for Connect Cafe after every service on July 16th &amp; 17th in the Ministry Center. </span></strong></strong></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong><strong> </strong></p>
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<p><strong><a rel="attachment wp-att-4129" href="http://wsfc.org/united-riverfront-park/united11/"><img class="alignleft" title="united11" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/united11-270x82.jpg" alt="" width="270" height="82" /></a>UNITED:</strong> Just a few weeks to go&#8230; Saturday, August 6th we will be taking church outside the walls of our building to have church at Riverfront Park! We invite you to spend the day at the park starting with Family Fest from 10am-2pm, hosted by Family Building Blocks. From 4-6pm we will have games, fair yummies and fellowship so bring the family out for a picnic and fun! Service will be at 6pm in the amphitheater. <strong>Come by the table in the lobby to see all the fun areas you can sign up to help make UNITED a blue ribbon event!<br />
</strong>Note: <strong>There will be no services August 7th.</strong></p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 6.30.11- A Little Sunshine</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-6-30-11-a-little-sunshine/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-6-30-11-a-little-sunshine/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:20:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4140</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nicole Harkins encourages us to take a moment and bring a little sunshine to someone else's day. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>Here we are once again, running into July and we are stuck under a cloud of darkness. Granted we have had a few days of sun and allegedly nice weather is coming down the pike for the weekend; however, it doesn’t seem like Summer wants to join us for very long. So, if the sun doesn’t want to shine on us, I suggest we take matters in our own hands and bring a little light to those around us.</p>
<p>Matthew 5:14-16 in the Message encourages us&#8230;</p>
<p>&#8220;&#8230;You&#8217;re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We&#8217;re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don&#8217;t think I&#8217;m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I&#8217;m putting you on a light stand. Now that I&#8217;ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you&#8217;ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”</p>
<p>There is nothing like being surprised by a friend, a family member or even a stranger, with a kind gesture. Kindness has this way of brightening up someone’s day. No matter how big or small, an act of kindness will make someone feel loved and encouraged. If we are going to be God’s light and representation here on earth, let’s be a good reflection, a light that could not be mistaken.</p>
<p>As you go about your week and celebrations this weekend, I encourage you to put someone else first. Take a moment and think of someone you can bless. Say a kind word, give a small gift, allow someone else to go first in line for the BBQ that you are dying to dig into, tell your family how much you love them. It doesn’t have to be much, but I guarantee it will brighten their day.</p>
<p>Happy 4th of July everyone! Thank you to everyone who has so willingly served to give us the freedom we enjoy everyday.</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>Nicole Harkins<br />
Executive Assistant</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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<p><strong>P.S. Here are some things to check out in the life of WSFC:</strong></p>
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<div>
<div>
<p><strong>Community Garden:</strong> We have started a Community Garden on WSFC campus this summer. We will use the food to help feed City Vibe, the Edgewater community and hungry families in the church. We will need assistance with planting, weeding, and harvesting, so join the Community Garden Team from June to October. Email Zach Tresch at Z_TRESCH@msn.com.</p>
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<p><strong><a rel="attachment wp-att-4129" href="http://wsfc.org/united-riverfront-park/united11/"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4129" title="united11" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/united11-270x82.jpg" alt="" width="270" height="82" /></a>UNITED:</strong> Mark your calendars, Saturday, August 6th we will be taking church outside the walls of our building to have church at Riverfront Park! We invite you to spend the day at the park starting with Family Fest from 10am-2pm, hosted by Family Building Blocks. From 4-6pm we will have games, fair yummies and fellowship so bring the family out for a picnic and fun! Service will be at 6pm in the amphitheater. Come by the table in the lobby to see all the fun areas you can sign up to help make UNITED a blue ribbon event! Note: <strong>There will be no services August 7th.</strong></p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 6.23.11- Human Trafficking</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-6-23-11-human-trafficking-awareness/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-6-23-11-human-trafficking-awareness/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jun 2011 20:38:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4094</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sarah Warnock brings awareness to us about Human Trafficking and calls us to act with her. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello friends!</p>
<p>&#8220;Today, Pastor John wanted you to hear from Sarah Warnock. Sarah has been apart of our church family for five years and is a brilliant young leader. She just finished her MA in Theological Studies at George Fox Evangelical Seminary (GFES). This coming year she will be teaching New Testament Greek at GFES and preparing for a PhD in Christian Ethics with her dissertation on evangelical response to Human Trafficking. We have the pleasure of hearing from Sarah this weekend at WSFC where she will address some of these issues. To read more about her passion to raise awareness for Human Trafficking visit her blog at <a href="http://dearindiaproject.com/">http://dearindiaproject.com</a>.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>I’ve known since I was nine years old that I would dedicate my life to serving the God who so graciously gave me new life. I did not know what this would look like for some time, though. While I gathered bits and pieces of what God had in store for me as a youth and young adult, it wasn’t until I heard the following story that the vision for my life began to take shape.</p>
<p>Award winning singer/songwriter Natalie Grant was watching an episode of <em>Law &amp; Order</em> which featured the theme of human trafficking. She, like many Americans, didn’t know that slavery still exists in the world, let alone America – “the land of the free and home of the brave.” So she got online and googled “human trafficking.” Within six months, she and her husband were in the red-light district of Mumbai, India, to see firsthand what slavery looked like.</p>
<p>While touring a brothel with a local guide she noticed little ropes at the foot of the cots used for “business.” She asked what they were for. The guide somberly informed Grant that the young women working in the overcrowded buildings often had children, and without the luxury of childcare, the women were forced to leash their infants and toddlers to the bed while the young mothers were raped up to 30 times a day.</p>
<p>As a result of the eye-opening trip, Grant started The Home Foundation to provide safe havens for girls who have been rescued from the commercial sex trade; homes that would provide the physical, mental and spiritual healing necessary for these young women (some as young as preschoolers) to live productive lives.</p>
<p>Now, this story is eye opening and inspiring, which caused it to  have a positive effect on my life; however, the picture below ruined me.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-4113" href="http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-6-23-11-human-trafficking-awareness/natalie-grant/"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-4113" title="Natalie Grant" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Natalie-Grant.png" alt="" width="183" height="212" /></a>You see, Grant later returned to Mumbai to visit the home her foundation had established. After singing so much she had begun to lose her voice. This picture was captured as these two little girls, once treated as property to feed sexual addiction, laid hands on Natalie to pray for her healing.</p>
<p>How good is God’s grace that those who have been used as property would become the hands that heal those who seemingly have it all?</p>
<p>My calling to educate future ministers, mentor youth and young adults, and to facilitate healing through the church has not changed. But what has changed is my motivation. I want to be part of the healing that the girls in this picture display. I want to be part of what God is doing in the lives of victims and addicts alike.</p>
<p>Friends, will you pray with me? Will you join me in asking our God what we can do to be part of the healing and restoration we trust the Creator of all things is working toward?</p>
<p>Many Blessings,</p>
<p>Sarah</p>
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<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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<p><strong>P.S. Here are some things to check out in the life of WSFC:</strong></p>
<div>
<div>
<p><strong>Moving on up: </strong>It&#8217;s that time of year when children are moving up in the world and may be switching classrooms or ministries. We will be making this transition THIS WEEKEND, June 25th &amp; 26th. If you have any questions feel free to email our Children&#8217;s Pasor, Jake Poetzl at jake.poetzl@wsfc.org, our Middle School Pastor, Jonathan Lewellyn at jonathan.lewellyn@wsfc.org or High School Pastor, Kevin Pruett at kevin.pruett@wsfc.org.</p>
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<p><strong>Community Garden:</strong> We will be starting a Community Garden on WSFC campus this summer. We will use the food to help feed City Vibe, the Edgewater community and hungry families in the church. We will need assistance with planting, weeding, and harvesting, so join the Community Garden Team from June to October. Email Zach Tresch at Z_TRESCH@msn.com.</p>
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<p><img class="alignleft" title="United" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/United-270x179.png" alt="" width="197" height="131" /><strong>UNITED:</strong> Mark your calendars, Saturday, August 6th we will be taking church outside the walls of our building to have church at Riverfront Park! We invite you to spend the day at the park starting with Family Fest from 10am-2pm, hosted by Family Building Blocks. From 4-6pm we will have games and fellowship so bring the family out for a picnic and fun! Service will be at 6pm in the amphitheater. Come by the table in the lobby to see all the fun areas you can sign up to help make UNITED a blue ribbon event! Note: <strong>There will be no services August 7th.</strong></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 6.17.11- Seasons Change</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-6-17-11-seasons-change/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-6-17-11-seasons-change/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:55:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=4068</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John reminds us that our pain dosn't last forever, seasons come and go. ]]></description>
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<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>Today I&#8217;m sitting at my local coffee shop early in the morning and, thanks be to the Lord, it&#8217;s sunny! I love the warm season that we are heading into. Those of us that call the Pacific Northwest our home know full well how much we &#8220;deserve&#8221; some nice weather. We&#8217;ve endured a lot. Of course, I make this sound like we&#8217;ve been through war, survived a natural disaster, or navigated a painful breakup.</p>
<p>In case you didn&#8217;t know this:  I tend to lean towards melodrama.</p>
<p>But seriously, does anyone else agree that our weather lately has been a real STINKER?!? Frankly, isn&#8217;t this aspect of our Northwest culture what keeps folks from moving here in droves????  So maybe it&#8217;s not all bad.</p>
<p>Anyway, my point is this: seasons change.</p>
<p>The Bible says in Psalm 30:5 that &#8220;weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.&#8221; In other words, nothing is forever. Our last season of rain and cold may have FELT like it was going to be FOREVER, but thankfully, it truly is not. The same is true of what you may be enduring right now.</p>
<p>Your pain is not permanent.<br />
Your hurt will not hang over your head indefinitely.<br />
Your worry is not a pit to wallow in forever.<br />
Your struggle is not set in stone.<br />
Your Winter can and will become&#8230;wait for it&#8230;Spring.</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>Pastor John</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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<p><strong>P.S. Here are some things to check out in the life of WSFC:</strong></p>
<div>
<div>
<p><strong>Moving on up: </strong>It&#8217;s that time of year when children are moving up in the world and may be switching classrooms or ministries. We will be making this transition on the weekend of June 25th &amp; 26th. If you have any questions feel free to email our Children&#8217;s Pasor, Jake Poetzl at jake.poetzl@wsfc.org, our Middle School Pastor, Jonathan Lewellyn at jonathan.lewellyn@wsfc.org or High School Pastor, Kevin Pruett at kevin.pruett@wsfc.org.</p>
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<p><strong>Community Garden:</strong> We will be starting a Community Garden on WSFC campus this summer. We will use the food to help feed City Vibe, the Edgewater community and hungry families in the church. We will need assistance with planting, weeding, and harvesting, so join the Community Garden Team from June to October. Email Zach Tresch at Z_TRESCH@msn.com.</p>
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<p><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-4070" title="United" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/United-270x179.png" alt="" width="197" height="131" /><strong>UNITED:</strong> Mark your calendars, Saturday, August 6th we will be taking church outside the walls of our building to have church at Riverfront Park! We invite you to spend the day at the park starting with Family Fest from 10am-4pm, hosted by Family Building Blocks. From 4-6pm we will have games and fellowship so bring the family out for a picnic and fun! Service will be at 6pm in the amphitheater. Please note: <strong>There will be no services August 7th. </strong></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 6.9.2011- Keeping Jesus First</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-6-9-2011-keeping-jesus-first/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-6-9-2011-keeping-jesus-first/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Jun 2011 22:12:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3967</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John reminds us to keep Jesus first in the midst of transitions and growing up. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hello Friends, </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is graduation season. Denise and I are having our first child graduate from high school this week, so our brains are pretty much immersed in this great time of expectation and hope. I remember when I graduated from high school, college, and most recently, from my master&#8217;s degree studies.  It felt great. </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, congratulations to all our students that are graduating right now. Blessings to you! </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I giggle when I consider what the cartoonist Garry Trudeau once said about commencement speeches. He theorized that &#8220;they were invented largely in the belief that graduating students should never be released into the world until they have been properly sedated.&#8221;  It&#8217;s true that commencement speeches can often be quite boring, but the adventure that awaits is far from that. It&#8217;s certain to be full of challenges, fear, excitement, wonder, wins and losses.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember to keep Jesus first. The rest will take care of itself.</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Solomon says it this way: &#8221;Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come&#8230;&#8221; Remember your Creator. Don&#8217;t forget about God. Statistics tell us that 80% of teenagers will leave the church after the age of 18. Don&#8217;t let that be said of you. Keep Jesus first. Remember your Creator! </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Blessings,</span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: #000000;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pastor John </span></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; color: #000000;">Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a> </span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: medium;">P.S. Here are some things to check out in the life of WSFC:</span></span></strong> </span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: medium;">Summer Kids Volunteers:</strong> Thanks to everyone who signed up for the 40 for 3! We have reached our goal! Thank you for being willing to serve and be apart of the team! </span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: medium;">Moving on up: </strong>It&#8217;s that time of year when children are moving up in the world and may be switching classrooms or ministries. We will be making this transition on the weekend of June 25th &amp; 26th. If you have any questions feel free to email our Children&#8217;s Pasor, Jake Poetzl at jake.poetzl@wsfc.org, our Middle School Pastor, Jonathan Lewellyn at jonathan.lewellyn@wsfc.org or High School Pastor, Kevin Pruett at kevin.pruett@wsfc.org. </span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: medium;">Community Garden:</strong> We will be starting a Community Garden on WSFC campus this summer. We will use the food to help feed City Vibe, the Edgewater community and hungry families in the church. We will need assistance with planting, weeding, and harvesting, so join the Community Garden Team from June to October. Email Zach Tresch at Z_TRESCH@msn.com. </span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: medium;">Senior&#8217;s Group: </strong>Calling all seniors (55+)! Join our first activity of fellowship and brunch on Friday, June 17th from 11am-noon. Fill out a Connect Card and write &#8220;Senior Group&#8221; and we will save a spot just for you! Call Harvey and Claudia with any questions, 503-409-5022. </span></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 5.26.2011-Partnership @ WSFC</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-5-26-2011-partnership-wsfc/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-5-26-2011-partnership-wsfc/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 May 2011 14:22:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3942</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John reminds us what it means to be a Partner with West Salem Foursquare Church. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<div>
<p>Many churches emphasize the concept of membership. Without losing some of the important elements of classic church membership, I want to give room for this term: <strong>Partnership</strong>! Why? There is something very alive and active about partnership. It’s not passive. It involves and contributes. It grows and adapts to change and it embraces the power of <em>one another </em>(Romans 12:4).</p>
<div>
<p>The following are core aspects of partnership with West Salem Foursquare.</p>
<div>
<p><strong>PURPOSE</strong>: We have very distinct beliefs, values, and dreams. They may be different than those of other churches you’ve been a part of or have visited. We believe God has given us a clear purpose and we want to fulfill it&#8230;hopefully with your help! You can discover more at <a href="http://www.wsfc.org/im-new/who-we-are/">www.wsfc.org/im-new/who-we-are/</a></p>
<div>
<p><strong>AGREEMENT</strong>: When you become a ministry partner of WSFC you are coming into a covenant agreement with our tenants of the faith of the Foursquare Gospel Church. You are endeavoring to have a testimony that lines up with the corporate church body and to live a life that safeguards the unity that we so treasure at WSFC.</p>
<div>
<p><strong>RESPONSIBILITY</strong>: We believe that the life of the church is the responsibility of those that comprise the Body. According to Ephesians 4, the pastors of this church are called to “prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the Body of Christ may be built up.” Your responsibilities as partners are in four key areas: <em>Live Godly, Attend Consistently, Serve Wholeheartedly and Give Generously.</em></p>
<div>
<p><strong>TRUST</strong>: Trust is the foundation of any community of faith. It believes the best in one another. It seeks for God’s best in one another. As a ministry partner you are committing to a high level of trust in your fellow partners and church leaders.</p>
<div>
<p><strong>NURTURE</strong>: In building sincere relationships, we are committed to the continual pursuit of relational harmony, genuine affection and shared life that reflects the value of every person. It takes intentional work to build a community of care and nurture. We believe WSFC should be the first place people think of when they are in need of care and sincere relationships.</p>
<div>
<p><strong>ENTHUSIASM</strong>: Do you smile? Love life? If so, you’re a perfect candidate to be a WSFC ministry partner. We value initiative and enthusiasm so much. Jesus came to give us life more abundantly so we believe our personal lives and our corporate service ought to reflect that!</p>
<div>
<p><strong>RESOURCES</strong>: As a ministry partner, we are called to give generously of our talents, time, and our treasures. Classically we find that 20% of the people do 80% of the work and give 80% of the money to the local church. This is an unfortunate but true reality. By partnering with us, you are extending your resources to support the on-going work of the Lord at WSFC.</p>
<div>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<div>Pastor John</div>
<div>
<p><strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare</span><strong> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></strong></strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><strong>P.S. Here are some things to check out in the life of WSFC:</strong></strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>The J12 Encounter: </strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">On Sunday, June 5 @ 6 pm we welcome Gregg Johnson and The J12 Encounter. This is an event specifically for Parents and their Tweens, even though ALL AGES are invited. The J12 Encounter is an international touring, 2-hour event that will equip parents and young people with the &#8220;MUST&#8221; spirit of Jesus found in Luke 2:  I MUST BE ABOUT MY FATHER&#8217;S BUSINESS. You won&#8217;t want to miss this powerful evening!</span></strong></strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>Summer Kids Volunteers:</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Due to summer travels and vacations we are looking for 40 people to do 3 services throughout the summer. We value our volunteers and want to make sure everyone has a well deserved break. Contact Jake at jake.poetzl@wsfc.org or sign-up by filling out your info on a Connect Card during the weekend.</span></p>
<p><strong>2011 Graduates: </strong>Do you have a 2011 high school or college graduate in your family? We would like to honor them on June 11/12. Email a photo and short bio (where they graduated from and future plans) to  <a href="mailto:bryan.spangler@wsfc.org">bryan.spangler@wsfc.org</a> by June 8.</p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 5.19.11-The WSFC Dream</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-5-19-11-the-wsfc-dream/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-5-19-11-the-wsfc-dream/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 May 2011 19:32:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3895</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[John continues his series about our beliefs and values as a Foursquare Church, today he shares about Our Dreams.
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>The last two weeks I have been writing to you about our beliefs and values as a Foursquare Church. Today I want to share:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>The West Salem Foursquare Dream<br />
</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It is the Dream of people focused on the person and purposes of Jesus Christ.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It is the Dream of a commitment to the reading of, interaction with, and the application of God’s Word.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It is the Dream of God-inspired passions that are limited only by the voice and direction of the Holy Spirit.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It is the Dream of a widespread influence upon the region in which we have been sovereignly and strategically placed.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It is the Dream of a place where those who are lonely, hurting, frustrated, or confused can find love, acceptance, forgiveness, encouragement and purpose.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It is the Dream of being a force that reaches tens of thousands with the Good News of God’s love, and makes room in our family and facility for those who come to Jesus.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It is the Dream of connecting believers into healthy Christian community that is loving, learning, and living in unity and with purpose.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It is the Dream of developing every believer into a growing disciple who is alive in worship, faithful in stewardship, empowered by prayer, filled with God’s Spirit, and obedient to God’s Word.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It is the Dream of releasing disciples to become servants of significant Kingdom ministry that is matched by his or her gifts, talents, passion, personality and experience.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">It is the Dream of one day hearing the voice of the Lord say: “Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant,” knowing that our dreams have been birthed and blessed by God Himself!</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>Pastor John</p>
<p><strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare</span><strong> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></strong></strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><strong>P.S. Here are some things to check out in the life of WSFC:</strong></strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>Baptism: </strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Our next opportunity for you to be baptized is coming up THIS WEEKEND, May 21st &amp; 22nd! To sign-up or for questions email Dan at </span><a href="mailto:dan.durbin@wsfc.org"><span style="font-weight: normal;">dan.durbin@wsfc.org</span></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">. Since it is so late in the week, please email Dan as soon as you can. Thanks! </span></strong></strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>Grouplink: </strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Wanting to get connected at WSFC? Meet others and learn more about groups, serving, ministries. Grouplink meets for three weeks on Sundays from 5:30-6:30pm starting THIS WEEKEND, MAY 22nd. Contact </span><a href="mailto:joan.english@wsfc.org"><span style="font-weight: normal;">joan.english@wsfc.org</span></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></strong></strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><strong><strong>The J12 Encounter: </strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">On Sunday, June 5 @ 6 pm we welcome Gregg Johnson and The J12 Encounter. This is an event specifically for Parents and their Tweens, even though ALL AGES are invited. The J12 Encounter is an international touring, 2-hour event that will equip parents and young people with the &#8220;MUST&#8221; spirit of Jesus found in Luke 2:  I MUST BE ABOUT MY FATHER&#8217;S BUSINESS. You won&#8217;t want to miss this powerful evening!</span></strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><strong> Summer Kids Volunteers: </strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Due to summer travels and vacations we are looking for 40 people to do 3 services throughout the summer. We value our volunteers and want to make sure everyone has a well deserved break. Contact Jake at jake.poetzl@wsfc.org or sign-up by filling out your info on a Connect Card during the weekend. </span> </strong></strong></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 5.12.11- Our Values</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-5-12-11-our-values/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-5-12-11-our-values/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 12 May 2011 21:13:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3802</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[John continues his series on what we believe at WSFC, this week he touches on our Values. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></p>
<p><strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Hello Friends,</span></strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">I&#8217;m continuing on in sharing the beliefs, values, and dreams of West Salem Foursquare. It&#8217;s important to be reminded every once and awhile about what makes us tick as a congregation.</span></strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><strong><strong> </strong></strong></strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><strong><strong> </strong></strong></strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><strong><strong></p>
<p style="display: inline !important;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Together, we value:</span></p>
<p></strong></strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>1. GENEROSITY:</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">We believe that possessing a generous spirit allows us to give and bless others freely. This is consistent with, and conditional upon God’s gracious benevolence towards us. (Matthew 10:8;  2 Corinthians 8:1-2; 9:11-13)</span></p>
<p><strong>2. SINCERE RELATIONSHIPS: </strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">We are committed to the continual pursuit of relational harmony, genuine affection and shared life that reflects the value of every person, the inclusion of each family member and the importance of strong community. (Romans 12:9-21; 1 Peter 4:8-10)</span></p>
<p><strong>3. GROWTH PROCESS: </strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">With the goal of spiritual maturity in mind, we contribute to the growth of every person. We are not driven by results, but we do understand that Christ continues His work of perfection in us all until we reach spiritual maturity. (Eph 4:1-4 &amp; 13; Phil 1:6; Hebrews 5:2)</span></p>
<p><strong>4. MINISTRY MULTIPLICATION:</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">We choose to reproduce ministries and servant leaders through multiplication not addition. One plus one ought to equal more than two if we’re purposely training others. (2 Timothy 2:2)</span></p>
<p><strong>5. INTEGRITY:</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">We choose the same Christ-honoring standards to guide us whether in church ministry, in the market place or in our private moments. God’s pattern is that </span><em><span style="font-weight: normal;">how </span></em><span style="font-weight: normal;">we minister flows from </span><em><span style="font-weight: normal;">who</span></em><span style="font-weight: normal;"> we are in character. (1 Peter 1:13-16; Colossians 1:28-29)</span></p>
<p><strong>6. SHARED MINISTRY:</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">In decision-making and everyday serving, everyone has something to contribute and a community to which they belong. The role of staff pastors is to prioritize, shepherd and train emerging, spirit-gifted servant leaders in the church family.  (Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 Corinthians 12:14-20)</span></p>
<p><strong>7. INTERGENERATIONAL EMBRACE:</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">We believe that every generation has a unique contribution and expression in the life of the Church and in the Kingdom of God. Each person in every age group is to be upheld within the community as a viable and valuable member. (Psalm 45:17; 71:18; 145:4; Job 8:8)</span></p>
<p><strong>8. LAUGHTER AND JOY:</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">We take God and the things of God very seriously, but we don’t take ourselves so seriously. Rejoicing in God and experiencing His joy will add strength to our lives. Therefore, we endeavor to laugh at ourselves and enjoy each day as a gift from God. (Nehemiah 8:10; Proverbs 17:22; Philippians 4:4)</span></p>
<p><strong>9. COURAGE</strong>: <span style="font-weight: normal;">We do not fear forward movement or change as we look to God to supply our every need and be our very sustenance. Faith demands that we hear and obey God, which will allow us to move into the future with vision, passion and sacrificial commitment. (Proverbs 38:1; Joshua 1:6-7; Acts 1:8)</span></p>
<p><strong>10. BALANCE:</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">In both doctrine and conduct we choose to strike a scriptural and practical balance. We desire to not fall off the cutting edge. (1 Timothy 4:21; Titus 2:1-5)</span></p>
<p><strong>11. CREATIVE EXCELLENCE:</strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">We believe that a simple presentation of Jesus Christ in creative ways will impact and transform lives. We believe that God is worthy of our best. Therefore a growing spirit of undistracting excellence should permeate every activity. (Colossians 3:17, 23-24; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Psalm 33:3)</span></p>
<p><strong>12. PRAYERFUL SUBMISSION: </strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">The invitation from the Apostle Paul to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) could very well be deemed </span><em><span style="font-weight: normal;">impossible</span></em><span style="font-weight: normal;"> if it were to mean one must maintain a constant flow of words and petitions. Rather it is an intentional posture of submission to the heart and purposes of our loving Father. We value an unashamed dependency upon God for everything in our lives. (Romans 12:1,2; Matthew 26:36-45)</span></p>
<p></strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
Blessings, </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;">Pastor John</span></p>
<p><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare</span><strong> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">P.S. Here are some things to check out in the life of WSFC:</span> </strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Connect Cafe: </strong>New to WSFC or have questions for Pastor John? Join us for Connect Cafe after every service this weekend, May 14th &amp; 15th in the Ministry Center.</span></strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Baptism: </strong>Our next opportunity for you to be baptized is coming up on May 21st &amp; 22nd! Pastor Dan Durbin will be teaching a Baptism class this weekend, May 14th &amp; 15th. To sign-up or for questions email Dan at </span><a href="mailto:dan.durbin@wsfc.org"><span style="font-weight: normal;">dan.durbin@wsfc.org</span></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></strong></strong></p>
<p><strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>Grouplink: </strong>Wanting to get connected at WSFC? Meet others and learn more about groups, serving, ministries. Grouplink meets every Sunday 5:30-6:30pm beginning May 22nd. Contact </span><a href="mailto:joan.english@wsfc.org"><span style="font-weight: normal;">joan.english@wsfc.org</span></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: normal;"><strong>The J12 Encounter: </strong>On Sunday, June 5 @ 6 pm we welcome Gregg Johnson and The J12 Encounter. This is an event specifically for Parents and their Tweens, even though ALL AGES are invited. The J12 Encounter is an international touring, 2-hour event that will equip parents and young people with the &#8220;MUST&#8221; spirit of Jesus found in Luke 2:  I MUST BE ABOUT MY FATHER&#8217;S BUSINESS. You won&#8217;t want to miss this powerful evening!</span></p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 5.5.11-What We Believe</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-5-5-2011-what-we-believe/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/hello-friends-5-5-2011-what-we-believe/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 May 2011 17:26:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3781</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[John reminds us of the fundamental elements of "What We Believe" here at WSFC. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>This week I&#8217;m starting a month-long series of &#8220;Hello Friends&#8221; that will focus on West Salem Foursquare&#8217;s beliefs, values, dreams and finally how to partner with WSFC.</p>
<p><strong>What We Believe:</strong></p>
<p>West Salem Foursquare Church is a part of a global family called The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel (www.foursquare.org).  As a Foursquare Church we believe in:</p>
<p><strong>The Holy Scriptures:</strong> We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God: true, immutable, steadfast, and unchangeable (2 Timothy 3:16,17).</p>
<p><strong>The Eternal Godhead:</strong> We believe that God is triune: Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the Three are coexistent, co-eternal, and equal in divine perfection (1 John 5:7).</p>
<p><strong>The Fall of Man:</strong> We believe that man, created in the image of God, by voluntary disobedience fell into the depths of sin and iniquity, bequeathing sin’s nature and consequences to all mankind, with their accompanying loss of intended meaning and purpose (Genesis 1:27; Romans 5:12).</p>
<p><strong>The Plan of Redemption:</strong> We believe that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, took our place, and with His life’s blood purchased the pardon for all who believe in Him (John 3:16; Titus 2:14).</p>
<p><strong>Salvation Through Grace:</strong> We believe that salvation is wholly through grace; that no human righteousness or merit can contribute to our receiving God’s love and favor (Ephesians 2:8).</p>
<p><strong>Repentance and Acceptance</strong>: We believe that, upon sincere repentance and a whole-hearted acceptance of Christ, we are justified before God through Jesus’ sacrificial death (Romans 10:6-10; 1 John 1:9).</p>
<p><strong>The New Birth: </strong> We believe that the change that takes place in people at conversion is a very real one; that having received righteousness in Christ and having received of His Spirit, people will have new desires, interests, and pursuits in life (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20).</p>
<p><strong>Daily Christian Life:</strong> We believe that it is the will of God that those who have been born again grow in sanctification, become partakers of His holiness, and daily grow stronger in the faith, power, prayer, love, and service (2 Corinthians 7:1).</p>
<p><strong>Water Baptism and the Lord’s Supper:</strong> We believe that being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is an essential response to Jesus’ command, testifying to His lordship as Christ and King (Romans 6:4). We believe in observing the Lord’s Supper, receiving the broken bread and the fruit of the vine with joy and faith as we partake anew of the life and triumph of Christ’s Cross (1 Corinthians 11:24-26).</p>
<p><strong>Baptism in the Holy Spirit:</strong> We believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit empowers believers to exalt Jesus, to live lives of holiness, and to be witnesses of God’s saving grace; we expect the Spirit’s incoming to be after the same manner as that in which He came upon believers in the days of the Early Church (Acts 1:5, 8;2:4).</p>
<p><strong>The Spirit-Filled Life:</strong> We believe that it is the will of God that believers walk in the Spirit moment by moment, serving the Lord and living lives of patience, love, truth, sincerity, and prayer (Ephesians 4:30-32; Galatians 5:16, 25).</p>
<p><strong>The Gifts and Fruit of the Spirit:</strong> We believe that the Holy Spirit bestows enabling ministry gifts upon believers, and that these gifts will build up the Body of Christ through edification and evangelism(1 Corinthians 12:1-11); as evidence of a Spirit-filled life, believers should show spiritual “fruit”: love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Galatians 5:22-25).</p>
<p><strong>Moderation:</strong> We believe a Christians’ moderation should be obvious to others and that relationship with Jesus should never lead people into extremes of fanaticism; their lives should model that of Christ in uprightness, balance, humility, and self-sacrifice (Colossians 3:12, 13; Philippians 4:5).</p>
<p><strong>Divine Healing:</strong> We believe that divine healing is the power of Jesus Christ to heal the sick in answer to the prayer of faith; He, who does not change, is still willing and able to heal the body, as well as the soul and spirit in answer to faith (Mark 16:17,18; James 5:14-16).</p>
<p><strong>The Second Coming of Christ: </strong> We believe that the second coming of Christ is personal and imminent; the certainty of His coming and the fact that no man knows the hour of His coming prompt our evangelistic efforts; that the Lord Himself will descend from Heaven, the dead in Christ shall rise, and the redeemed will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (Matthew 24:36, 42, 44; 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).</p>
<p><strong>Church Relationship:</strong> We believe that it is our sacred duty to identify ourselves with a congregation of believers with whom we can worship God, observe the ordinances of Christ, exhort and support one another, labor for the salvation of others, and work together to advance the Lord’s Kingdom (Acts 16:5; Hebrews 10:24).</p>
<p><strong>Civil Government:</strong> We believe that civil government is by divine appointment and that civil laws should be upheld at all times except in things opposed to the will of God (Acts 4:18-20; Romans 13:1-5).</p>
<p><strong>Judgment:</strong> We believe that all shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ: the redeemed to be delivered unto everlasting life, and the unrepentant unto everlasting punishment (Revelation 20:11, 12; 2 Corinthians 5:10).</p>
<p><strong>Heaven: </strong> We believe that heaven is the glorious habitation of the living God and the eternal home of born-again believers (John 14:2; Revelation 7:15-17).</p>
<p><strong>Hell:</strong> We believe that hell is a place of darkness, deepest sorrow, and unquenchable fire, which was not prepared for man but for the devil and his angels; yet it will become the place of eternal separation from God for all who reject Christ as Savior (Matthew 13: 41, 42; Revelation 20:10, 15).</p>
<p><strong>Evangelism:</strong> We believe that soul winning is the “one big business” of the Church on earth, and that every hindrance to worldwide evangelism should be removed (James 5:20; Mark 16:15).</p>
<p><strong>Tithing and Offerings:</strong> We believe that tithing and offerings are ordained of God to sustain His ministry, spread the Gospel, and release personal blessing (Malachi 3:10; 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2).</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>Pastor John</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
<p>P.S. Here are some things to check out in the life of WSFC:</p>
<p><strong>Grouplink: </strong>Wanting to get connected at WSFC? Meet others and learn more about groups, serving, ministries. Grouplink meets every Sunday 5:30-6:30pm beginning May 22nd. Contact joan.english@wsfc.org.</p>
<p><strong>Connect Cafe: </strong>New to WSFC or have questions for Pastor John? Join us for Connect Cafe after every service the weekend of May 14th &amp; 15th in the Ministry Center.</p>
<p><strong>Baptism:</strong> Our next opportunity for your to be baptized is coming up on May 21st &amp; 22nd! Pastor Dan Durbin will be teaching a Baptism class the weekend of May 14th &amp; 15th. To sign-up or for questions email Dan at dan.durbin@wsfc.org.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Hello Friends: 4.28.11-Have You Seen the Lord?</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/have-you-seen-the-lord/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/have-you-seen-the-lord/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Apr 2011 17:45:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3746</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John asks us if we "Have seen the Lord" and invites us to share our story. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>This last weekend we had an amazing time at West Salem Foursquare. Nearly 2750 people came onto our campus to worship the Risen Jesus. There were over 50 that responded to give their lives to the Lord. Please be praying for those that made that good decision. Ask the Lord to guard their hearts and to keep them plugged into a life-giving fellowship so that they will grow spiritually.</p>
<p>During our Easter Experiences we focused in on the story of one particular woman named Mary Magdalene. She&#8217;s been called the first Christian missionary in that she was the first person to see the Risen Christ and tell others the Good News.</p>
<p>In John 20 she announced to the disciples:  &#8220;I HAVE SEEN THE LORD.&#8221;</p>
<p>This is a powerful declaration. Can you say the same thing?</p>
<p>Have you seen the Lord?</p>
<p>Have you sensed Jesus&#8217; presence in your life?</p>
<p>Has your life been marked by Jesus?</p>
<p>What is your story?</p>
<p>Tell us.  Chime in on this blog post or on our Facebook Page (www.facebook.com/WestSalemFoursquareChurch).</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>John</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
<p>P.S. Here are some things to check out in the life of WSFC:</p>
<p><strong>WALKER BEAUTIFICATION: </strong>Come help us give back and bless Walker Middle School May 7 @ 8am (check in at 7:30am). We need you to pull weeds, trim trees and bushes, spread bark, plant flowers, trees and bushes, put in benches and a concrete patio, clean and more. Contact Craig at <a href="mailto:craig.oviatt@wsfc.org">craig.oviatt@wsfc.org</a> for more info</p>
<p><strong>GROUPLINK: </strong>Wanting to get connected at WSFC? Meet others and learn more about groups, serving, ministries. Grouplink meets every Sunday 5:30-6:30pm beginning May 22. Contact joan.english@wsfc.org.</p>
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		<title>EASTER GREETINGS FROM PASTOR JOHN</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/easter-greetings-from-pastor-john/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/easter-greetings-from-pastor-john/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Apr 2011 19:45:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3679</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Friends: 4.21.2011- Pastor John gives us a special Easter greeting and instructions for regular attendees. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-3729" href="http://wsfc.org/easter-greetings-from-pastor-john/alive-banner/"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-3729" title="Alive Banner" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Alive-Banner-580x176.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="176" /></a><P></p>
<p>Hello Friends,<P></p>
<div>
<p>This weekend at West Salem Foursquare we are celebrating the truth that Jesus is ALIVE.  We are doing this in grand fashion at each of our services:<P></p>
<div>
<p><strong>Saturday night @ 5:00 &amp; 6:30 PM</strong><br />
<strong>Sunday morning @ 9:00, 10:15 &amp; 11:45 PM</strong><P></p>
<div>
<p>We encourage you to invite friends, co-workers, and family to experience the life of Jesus with us.  The Gospel will be communicated, the worship will be kicking, the espresso will be flowing and smiles will be plentiful!<P></p>
<div>
<p>Why will all this happen:  because we believe Jesus is <strong>ALIVE. </strong>That is a bedrock truth that we acknowledge each and every time we gather at WSFC, but there is something special about each Easter weekend.<P></p>
<div>
<p><strong>Jesus is ALIVE and&#8230;</strong><P></p>
<div><strong><em>Because he lives, we can face tomorrow.</em></strong></div>
<div><strong><em>Because he lives, all fear is gone.</em></strong></div>
<div><strong><em>Because I know He holds the future, </em></strong></div>
<div><strong><em>And life is worth the living</em></strong></div>
<div><strong><em>Just because HE LIVES!</em></strong></div>
<div>
<p><strong><em> </em></strong>- Lyrics by Bill &amp; Gloria Gaither<P></p>
<div>
<p>In his book &#8220;<em>The Weekend that Changed the World,</em>&#8221; Peter Walker says, &#8220;No wonder, then, that Christians become excited when it comes to the Resurrection! For regardless of the precise historical and archaeological details, the Resurrection <em>itself </em> is the source of their joy. It is the basis for their faith in Jesus &#8211; the one whom God vindicated as Messiah and Lord, and as his Son. It is the grounds for their hope in a world of suffering and death. And it is the event which enables them to experience the powerful love of God, which can overcome the evil in their own hearts and in the world. The Resurrection is a divine <strong>bombshell</strong> dropped into the heart of the world, loaded with truth, and utterly transforming in its effects.&#8221;<P></p>
<div>
<p>So excited to be with you on Easter Weekend!<P></p>
<div>
<p>Blessings,<P></p>
<p>Pastor John</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a><P></p>
<p><strong>P.S. Helpful Tips for our 5 WSFC Easter Services</strong><P></p>
<p>In anticipation of the volume of guests that we will welcome on Easter weekend please consider the following two Helpful Tips:<P></p>
<p>• We are asking that regular members of WSFC attend our <strong>Saturday @ 5 pm</strong> or our <strong>Sunday @ 9 am</strong> services. This will allow for more room for guests at the other services.<br />
• Our new entrance off of Eola Road IS COMPLETED. We are asking that WSFC regular attenders ARRIVE and LEAVE from this new driveway.<P></p>
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		<title>Gospel Drive</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/gospel-drive/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/gospel-drive/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 14 Apr 2011 19:14:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3644</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Friends: 4.14.2011 Pastor Rich challenges us to consider who we are taking on the "road of life" with us. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>Have you noticed by now?  The new driveway has been surveyed, plowed, and is on its way to being paved. To call this new, winding path just a driveway might give one the wrong impression. It will truly be a two-lane country road by the time you leave Eola, rise through two curves to arrive in the parking area, and stroll to the sanctuary. But our hope as a congregation is far beyond adding convenience, or even the safety of an extra access point should it ever be needed.</p>
<p>I hope that you will join me in the highest hope for this new drive. Its highest and best use is that it will help to welcome people who need to welcome Jesus into their lives. Can a driveway be a tool for the Gospel? Of course!</p>
<p>Think about the drive people are taking through life; all the twists and turns, the starts and stops. For all the things people go through in their journey, you and I have helped the Lord Jesus layout what will, for many, be the most important part of their drive. You know what the “drive through&#8221; life is like. None of the men, women, girls or boys who turn to Jesus here will be faceless strangers or just part of a crowd. Will you pray for them and contend for their salvation even before they drive up the hill and settle here?</p>
<p>Who will you bring on the drive? How will you help to pave the way for a friend or family member? Jesus not only commands us to go, He also sends us out to bring someone back to meet Him. Lead them to Jesus any day of week, and then direct them on the drive to gather with the Church as we meet for worship and prayer each week. Use the drive that the Holy Spirit puts in you.</p>
<p>All-In,</p>
<p>Pastor Rich Marshall</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>WSFC Financial Update. </strong></span></p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p>The first quarter of 2011 started strong. January and February giving and expenses were each slightly above budgeted levels. During those months we also saw our Mexico home building mission successfully accomplished, along with winter season discipleship ministry in our fellowship. However, the month of March was not as strong, as our giving total did not quite meet expenses.  Expenses in March were kept  under budget, so the shortfall was kept to a minimum, while we enjoyed the full schedule of wonderful fellowship and ministry at WSFC.</p>
<p>Pray diligently and joyfully over your faithful tithes and offerings. Cheerful and prayerful giving is a strong evidence of the love of God working in us.  Blessings.  RM</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
<p>P.S. Here are some things to check out in the life of WSFC:</p>
<p><strong>CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION: </strong>Join us on April 16th from 9am-1pm as we give our campus a face lift. Bring your yard tools, tractors, tillers, presser washers, work gloves and friends! For questions contact craig.oviatt@wsfc.org. Hope to see you then!</p>
<p><strong>WALKER BEAUTIFICATION: <span style="font-weight: normal;">Come help us give back and bless Walker Middle School May 7 @ 8am (check in at 7:30am). We need you to pull weeds, trim trees and bushes, spread bark, plant flowers, trees and bushes, put in benches and a concrete patio, clean and more. Contact Craig at </span><a href="mailto:craig.oviatt@wsfc.org"><span style="font-weight: normal;">craig.oviatt@wsfc.org</span></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> for more info</span> </strong></p>
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<p><strong><strong> </strong></strong></p>
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<div style="display: inline !important;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a rel="attachment wp-att-3650" href="http://wsfc.org/gospel-drive/alive/"><img class="alignleft size-large wp-image-3650" title="Alive" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Alive-580x154.png" alt="" width="580" height="154" /></a><br />
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		<title>Interpreting the Times</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/interpreting-the-times/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/interpreting-the-times/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Apr 2011 21:51:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3573</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Friends: 4.7.2011 Pastor John encourages us to be ready and keep pleasing the Lord in all seasons. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>Every day there are hundreds of knowledgable people interpreting the weather on news sites, cable networks and the internet. We tune into to our favorite meteorologist or bookmarked webpage to find out what the skies will do and how we should dress accordingly.</p>
<p>Then we realize just how fallible they can be.</p>
<p>Interpreting the weather is a sketchy venture. As Pacific Northwest diehards, we have learned to just be ready for anything, keep an umbrella in the trunk, and to not do a whole lot with our hair!</p>
<p>In the same way, interpreting the times is also a pretty sketchy venture.</p>
<p>The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:6 that while we are on this earth we are away from the Lord and we are walking by faith not by sight. There is a lot that we simply do not know or will not be able to see fully right now.</p>
<p>The passage goes on to encourage us to be courageous and make it our goal to please the Lord, whether we are in heaven with him or away from him on Planet Earth. 2 Corinthians 5:10 affirms that one day we will all appear before the judgement seat. We may not know when, but be assured it will indeed happen.</p>
<p>So rather than being all caught up in weather reports, just be ready for anything. And rather than speculating about the timing of Christ&#8217;s return, be courageous and keep pleasing the Lord in all things.</p>
<p>There&#8217;s nothing sketchy about that!</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>Pastor John</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
<p>P.S. Here are some things to check out in the life of WSFC:</p>
<p><strong>GOSPEL OF MARK </strong>Women Today are starting a new Bible Study in the Gospel of Mark. Class begins April 12 6:30-8pm in the Auditorium. Childcare provided. No fee. <a href="mailto:penne.ryan@wsfc.org">Email penne.ryan@wsfc.org</a> for more info.</p>
<p><strong>CAMPUS BEAUTIFICATION: </strong>Join us on April 16th as we give our campus a face lift. Bring your yard tools, tractors, tillers, presser washers, work gloves and friends! For questions contact craig.oviatt@wsfc.org. Hope to see you then!</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong><img title="EasterServeCard" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/EasterServeCard.png" alt="" width="577" height="147" /></strong></p>
<p><strong><a rel="attachment wp-att-3539" href="http://wsfc.org/love-cries-out/screen-shot-2011-03-31-at-5-04-41-pm/"><img title="Screen shot 2011-03-31 at 5.04.41 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-03-31-at-5.04.41-PM.png" alt="" width="555" height="145" /></a><br />
</strong></p>
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		<title>Love Cries Out</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/love-cries-out/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/love-cries-out/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 Apr 2011 00:36:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3536</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Friends: 3.31.2011. Joanne Wilson shares how Christ's Love calls to us from the Cross. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,<P></p>
<p><strong>Love cries out to us from the Cross</strong><P></p>
<p>Matt. 27:45-46  &#8220;Now from the 6th hour until the 9th hour there was darkness over all the land.  And about the 9th hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying &#8220;Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani, that is, &#8220;My God, My God why have you forsaken me?&#8221; <P></p>
<p>You can hear the voice of your Savior as He cries out the words of Psalm 22:1, &#8220;My God, My God why have You forsaken me?&#8221; The poignancy of the sound pierces into our heart. Don&#8217;t you find it interesting that He refers to &#8220;My God, My God,&#8221; rather than call to His Father? There is a sense that Jesus, from the weight of our sin, knew He could not call out to His Father, could not rely upon that intimate relationship and that He must call forth to The Supreme Being, His own God, that One &#8220;who judges righteously,&#8221; (I Peter 2:23). God did not answer because though He hears, though He sees, His own righteousness and justice prevent Him from answering the cry.<P></p>
<p>His question is rhetorical. Jesus, really expects no reply. He is alone, alone for us! He shouts loudly so all the forces of hell can hear Him. Jesus, this man, is no wimp.<P></p>
<p>The world often portrays Jesus as meek which it seen as weak. But meekness is defined as “humility wrapped in strength,” giving us another picture. It is never demonstrated so vividly as here from the Cross, Jesus, the &#8220;meek&#8221; lamb cries out with a loud voice to His/our God, who cannot answer Him. We hear the cry, our Savior&#8217;s humble plea and in the very loudness of it, we hear His strength.<P></p>
<p>Love cries to us in offering, the offering of His very own separation from His Father. Can you see the chasm, that vast expanse between them? Let your spirit feel it. He offered Himself to that separation, to the severing of the intimacy that He and His Father shared. He did it out of love for us, so that we would never have to be separated from our Father again.<P></p>
<p>As He cries out from the cross with a loud voice, it is His love crying out to us. What is the cry that you hear? Is it the weight of your sin or failure? Is it your stubborn rebellion, “I can’t, I won’t, it’s not the right time, I’m not ready?” Are you letting your own waywardness silence the cry from the Cross?<P></p>
<p>Listen! Listen! Darkness!<P></p>
<p>Darkness has covered the land. Are you covered in darkness? Listen to the loud cry of your Savior from His Cross. What is the cry of your heart? Oh, that it would be, “let me know You Lord! Let me hear Your cry from the cross. Let your cry pierce my own heart so that my one desire is to be close to You.”<P></p>
<p><strong>Love cries out to us from the Cross</strong><P></p>
<p>Blessings,<P></p>
<p>Joanne Wilson<P></p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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<p>P.S. Here are some things to check out in the life of WSFC:<P></p>
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<p><strong>GOSPEL OF MARK </strong>Women Today are starting a new Bible Study in the Gospel of Mark. Class begins April 12 6:30-8pm in the Auditorium. Childcare provided. No fee. <a href="mailto:penne.ryan@wsfc.org">Email penne.ryan@wsfc.org</a> for more info.<P></p>
<p><strong><img title="Screen shot 2011-03-24 at 2.09.43 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-03-24-at-2.09.43-PM1.png" alt="" width="556" height="104" /></strong></p>
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		<title>Measuring Stick</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/measuring-stick/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/measuring-stick/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:57:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3485</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Friends: 3.24.2011 Joan English encourages us to measure our worth by the Lord's standards, not by that of the ever changing society around us. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Hello Friends,</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">This past year I discovered why the 5th graders at WSFC hold me in such “high” regard. At 5’2’’ I am the shortest adult they know! That makes me their personal, living, measuring stick. I get lots of hugs as they carefully check out their height next to mine. The kids worry that they won’t be at least 5’1” prior to moving up to middle school!</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">So, I started wondering. Like the kids, we all have things we measure ourselves by. Most of us carry the list in our heads. Each of us has a different list but the foundation on which the list is based is similar. We are wired to be accepted for who we are or want to be. However, we are born into a world where measures for acceptance and success are fleeting and ever changing. There does not seem to be a stable “measuring stick” in our world anymore. Really?</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Scripture tells us that we are secure, significant and acceptable in Him. Romans 8:1 states that we are free from condemnation. 1John 5:18 states that the devil cannot touch us. Matt. 5:13-14 exclaims that we are salt and light in this world. Romans 8:35-39 pronounces to the world that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">In these turbulent times we are blessed to know that how the world may measure us is in the end, irrelevant. The relevant measure is found in who we are in Christ. That is the only measure by which true acceptance, peace and success will come. Believe it! No matter what anyone says or does.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Should you want a copy of the scriptures of who you are in Christ, stop by the Welcome Center. We have one just for you!</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Blessings,</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Joan English</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></span></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></span></a></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">P.S. Here are some things to check out in the life of WSFC:</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;"> <strong>GOSPEL OF MARK </strong>Women Today are starting a new Bible Study in the Gospel of Mark. Class begins April 12 6:30-8pm in the Auditorium. Childcare provided. No fee. </span><a href="mailto:penne.ryan@wsfc.org"><span style="color: #000000;">Email penne.ryan@wsfc.org</span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> for more info.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;"><strong>BE READY! </strong>Join this exciting 6 &#8211; week class to learn how to give your testimony, lead others to Christ and disciple them. Begins March 31 at 6:30pm in the Youth Building. </span><a href="mailto:penne.ryan@wsfc.org"><span style="color: #000000;">Email penne.ryan@wsfc.org</span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> for more info.</span></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3495" title="Screen shot 2011-03-24 at 2.09.43 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-03-24-at-2.09.43-PM1.png" alt="" width="556" height="104" /></strong></p>
<p><strong><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3496" title="EasterServeCard" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/EasterServeCard.png" alt="" width="577" height="147" /></strong></p>
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		<title>Happy St. Patrick&#8217;s Day!</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/happy-st-patricks-day/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/happy-st-patricks-day/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Mar 2011 19:58:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3380</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Friends: 3.17.2011 Pastor John takes a look at St. Patrick's life and encourages us from what he learned. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-2681" href="http://wsfc.org/intentional-impressions-kids/logo-header-21/"></a><br />
<a rel="attachment wp-att-3430" href="http://wsfc.org/happy-st-patricks-day/screen-shot-2011-03-17-at-12-10-06-pm/"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-3430" title="Screen shot 2011-03-17 at 12.10.06 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-03-17-at-12.10.06-PM-150x150.png" alt="" width="120" height="120" /></a><a rel="attachment wp-att-3430" href="http://wsfc.org/happy-st-patricks-day/screen-shot-2011-03-17-at-12-10-06-pm/"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-3430" title="Screen shot 2011-03-17 at 12.10.06 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-03-17-at-12.10.06-PM-150x150.png" alt="" width="120" height="120" /></a><a rel="attachment wp-att-3430" href="http://wsfc.org/happy-st-patricks-day/screen-shot-2011-03-17-at-12-10-06-pm/"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-3430" title="Screen shot 2011-03-17 at 12.10.06 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-03-17-at-12.10.06-PM-150x150.png" alt="" width="119" height="119" /></a><a rel="attachment wp-att-3430" href="http://wsfc.org/happy-st-patricks-day/screen-shot-2011-03-17-at-12-10-06-pm/"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-3430" title="Screen shot 2011-03-17 at 12.10.06 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-03-17-at-12.10.06-PM-150x150.png" alt="" width="120" height="120" /></a></p>
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<p><span style="color: #333333;">Hello Friends,</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">It&#8217;s a rainy St. Patrick&#8217;s Day.  Of course it&#8217;s been raining for quite a stretch now, and it appears (if the weather forecasts are correct) that we&#8217;ll be into some wetness for a bunch of days ahead (yippee). I&#8217;ve been consistently saying this tongue-in-cheek comment lately: &#8220;Oh, look&#8230;it&#8217;s raining!&#8221; When we live in the Northwest, I guess it&#8217;s just part of the deal.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">I&#8217;ve been told that the Northwest is similar to the wet and cold of Northwestern Ireland where Patrick began to meet with the God of his youth.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">Patrick was not born an Irishman, but was actually a Roman citizen in Britain during the final years of the 4th century  During his teenage years Celtic raiders were barbarically carrying off women and children as slaves throughout the Empire of Rome. At the age of 16 Patrick was snatched from his bed and taken into captivity as a slave in Ireland. His particular role as a slave was to shepherd sheep. This was lonely and exhausting work that went on for six years.  It was during his time of forced servitude in the wet and cold sheep fields of Northwestern Ireland that Patrick&#8217;s became a Christian.  Here are his own words:</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">&#8220;After I reached Ireland I used to pasture the flock each day and I used to pray many times a day. More and more did the love of God, and my fear of him and faith increase, and my spirit was moved so that in a day [I said] from one up to a hundred prayers, and in the night a like number; besides I used to stay out in the forests and on the mountain and I would wake up before daylight to pray in the snow, in icy coldness, in rain, and I used to feel neither ill nor any slothfulness, because, as I now see, the Spirit was burning in me at that time.&#8221; Confession of St. Patrick, Christian Classics Ethereal Library http://www.ccel.org/ccel/patrick/confession.iv.html</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">Catch this:  in the snow, icy coldness, and rain, he sensed the warmth of the Spirit burning in him. He didn&#8217;t feel ill nor slothful. He was moved to deep times of prayer, and God&#8217;s love was increasing in him.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">This is a great reminder for us during this long stretch of rainy, cold weather. Prayerfully allow the warmth of the Spirit of God to draw you towards his heart. Even in the mundane, the lonely or the exhausting times of our lives, we can discover an increase of the love of God, fear of God and faith in God.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">Be encouraged today. Keep going!</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">Blessings,</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">Pastor John</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><span style="color: #333333;"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><span style="color: #333333;"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><span style="color: #333333;"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></span></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><span style="color: #333333;"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></span></a></p>
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<div><span style="color: #333333;">P.S. Here are some upcoming events:</span></div>
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<p><span style="color: #333333;">* Our high schoolers are heading to CA this weekend for their missions trip to LA. We would love your prayers to support them as they are gone.</span></p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-3427" href="http://wsfc.org/happy-st-patricks-day/eight-6/"><img class="alignleft size-large wp-image-3427" title="eight" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/eight1-580x142.png" alt="" width="580" height="142" /></a></p>
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		<title>THE TREASURE HUNT</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/the-treasure-hunt/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/the-treasure-hunt/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Mar 2011 18:53:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3314</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Friends: 3.10.2011 Pastor Rich encourages us to store up eternal treasures. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; color: #333333;">Hello Friends, </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; color: #333333;">In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust corrupt and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven… for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Observation: “</span><em><span style="font-size: medium;">not for yourselves.</span></em><span style="font-size: medium;">” Jesus commands that I not lay up for myself treasures on earth. He doesn’t say “there’s no treasure for you.” He says no laying up “for myself” treasures on earth. Why? Because from the perspective of real value, the eternal perspective that only Jesus can provide, treasure-for-self is a futile pursuit. Inevitably, treasure for myself is either lost as I live, or lost as I die. </span></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: medium; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Natural forces conspire to corrode my treasure.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Nasty humans scheme to steal my treasure.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Treasure takes my limited time and never returns it.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Treasure demands selfish ways as my normal way of living.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: medium;">But wait … Jesus doesn’t say – there is no treasure on earth. </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em>There is</em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> eternal treasure to be found on earth. Jesus talks about treasure and value in a number of other places. He came to this earth, the Son of God became man, in order to unearth and rightly redeem the treasure that </span><em><span style="font-size: medium;">can</span></em><span style="font-size: medium;"> be “laid up,” deposited in Heaven.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; color: #333333;">Treasure on earth is what the kings of this earth seek. Kings (or whatever their office and title may be) establish and advance their kingdoms 1) to increase treasure (land, gold, industry, trade, laws, language, science, art, etc.);  2) to gain strength; and 3) to gain control over others. The treasure hunt of men is accomplished through the primary activity of subjecting people to their claim of authority, and using people to gain treasure. To those who lay up for themselves treasure on earth, people are tools used to capture treasure, and are then cast away.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; color: #333333;">Heaven seeks a treasure. The value of that treasure must indeed be fabulous, if we take into account the extraordinary – truly, unfathomable – expense to which the King of Heaven has put Himself in order to acquire the treasure He seeks on earth. What does Heaven seek on earth? What treasure does Jesus command you and me to lay up for ourselves in Heaven?  For what treasure did He spill out and expend His beautiful, sinless life?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; color: #333333;">How foolish are the powerful men, the kings of this world? Completely foolish are the values of those who set their hearts and spend their souls to acquire the treasures which they cannot keep. But the treasure sought by the King of Heaven, that which He values most in this world, are the very rough-hewn, flawed and sinful souls of men and women, boys and girls; that which men cast away, God, in His love, has come to redeem and collect.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; color: #333333;">And so He sends us, those whom He has already collected like nuggets from the sluice box, the miner’s pan; sends us to love and to value human souls as He does – looking past the earthly shell to envision the value that far exceeds all the passing value of every earthly treasure. So it is, then, that all you can attain and all that you can influence of the things, the money, the time and the people of this world – you are to redirect and divert into the purpose of “the treasure hunt.” Invest your all so that more men and women, boys and girls may be brought to believe Jesus and follow Him. Who will be your treasure this year?<br />
<span style="font-size: medium; color: #333333;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; color: #333333;">Seeking souls with the King,</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: medium; color: #333333;">Pastor Rich</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><span style="color: #333333;"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a><a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><span style="color: #333333;"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><span style="color: #333333;"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></span></a><a href="http://wsfc.org/"><span style="color: #333333;"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></span></a></p>
<p><a href="http://wsfc.org/"> </a></p>
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<p><span style="color: #333333;">P.S. Here are some upcoming events.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #333333;"> Calling all Women! Sign-up now for “Gifted,” WSFC Woman’s Retreat 2011, April 8-10th. Enjoy a weekend away with just the ladies at beautiful Seaside, OR. <strong>Sign-ups extended till March 13th. </strong>Contact Nikki Weiner for more information, </span><a href="mailto:nikkiweiner@gmail.com"><span style="color: #333333;">nikkiweiner@gmail.com</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">.</span></p>
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		<title>Do you have a moment for someone else?</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/do-you-have-a-moment-for-someone-else/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/do-you-have-a-moment-for-someone-else/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:45:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3247</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Friends: 3.3.2011 JD Shinn reminds us to be a blessing to someone by taking time for them as Jesus takes time for us. ]]></description>
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<p><span style="color: #333333;">Hello Friends,</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #333333;">Who makes the world go &#8217;round? I&#8217;m not referring to how the physical world actually spins in space. I mean who does the things that really lift the spirits of others high enough that they can rise from the mire and change their lives? I can&#8217;t seem to force myself to believe that corporations and government agencies are truly responsible for truly helping people. While these do good things from time to time, they aren&#8217;t where the rubber begins to smoke and cause the proverbial drag race car of reaching out to other people to quickly move up the dragstrip of life toward the victory line and away from that sluggish point they started from. The greatest works of love are done when the heart of God reaches through the hands of people. </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">People who care enough to volunteer their resources, in some way, are the ones who indeed bring hope to those who have none. It seems to me at Christmas time that more people volunteer to help the homeless and downtrodden. And indeed that is a good thing. And without taking away from these helps at that time of year, it is absolutely necessary and needed to help the people you can, during every season. I know I&#8217;ve lost plenty of opportunity to help people and I&#8217;ve been on the receiving end of much help myself. I&#8217;ve never been homeless, but I&#8217;ve been deep in the red in my checking account, someone gave me $5 for gas so I could get to work. That helped. I&#8217;ve lost loved ones, someone cried with me. That helped. I was at risk for an early heart attack, someone showed me something that could eliminate that risk. That helped. I was struggling with a relationship, someone took 30 minutes to talk and pray with me. That helped. This list could go on. And it does.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;">Your list goes on too. Just like mine. But are you also on the other end of the list? Do you take 30 minutes to talk and pray with someone who needs it? Do you take the opportunity to buy a homeless person a meal? The real personal work of the church is done by people like you and me. These actions are the ones that make us the hands and feet of God Himself.  Jesus instructed his disciples in Matthew 25:35-40 about reaching out to people in need because when we reach to these brothers we also reach to Him.  Notice in verse 35 <em>&#8220;</em><em>for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in&#8221;</em> <strong>Jesus brings simple things to light as ways of reaching out and blessing others.</strong></span><strong> </strong></p>
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<div><span style="color: #333333;">So as you reach to help the hand of someone in need, whether the need is big or small remember to consider that you are touching the heart of God by doing so, and with that in mind, touch the heart of God as frequently as you can.</span></div>
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<p><span style="color: #333333;">Blessings,</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #333333;">JD Shinn</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">Young Adults Ministry</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #333333;">Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><span style="color: #333333;"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a><a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><span style="color: #333333;"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><span style="color: #333333;"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></span></a><span style="color: #333333;"><a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #333333;">P.S. Here are some upcoming events.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #333333;">Calling all Women! Sign-up now for “Gifted,” WSFC Woman’s Retreat 2011, April 8-10th. Enjoy a weekend away with just the ladies at beautiful Seaside, OR. Sign-ups open till March 13th. Contact Nikki Weiner for more information, </span><a href="mailto:nikkiweiner@gmail.com"><span style="color: #333333;">nikkiweiner@gmail.com</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">.</span></p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-3163" href="http://wsfc.org/falling-through-the-cracks/sg2go-2/"><span style="color: #333333;"><img title="SG2gO" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/SG2gO1.png" alt="" width="585" height="154" /></span></a><span style="color: #333333;"><img title="Pulse" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Pulse.png" alt="" width="589" height="145" /></span></p>
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		<title>Falling Through the Cracks</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/falling-through-the-cracks/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/falling-through-the-cracks/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:39:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3140</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Friends: 2.23.11 Pastor John exhorts parents to examine where there may be things in their family that are "falling through the cracks." ]]></description>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Hello Friends,</span></p>
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<div><a rel="attachment wp-att-3141" href="http://wsfc.org/falling-through-the-cracks/bad-parenting/"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3141" title="Bad-Parenting" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Bad-Parenting.jpg" alt="" width="206" height="456" /></a></div>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">I found this series of pictures today entitled &#8220;Bad Parenting&#8221; and laughed pretty hard. Then I nearly cried. Not the kinda crying that comes from laughing really hard, but rather the kind that comes from the realization that the photos had touched a couple of sensitive nerves.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">I thought about my own upbringing. Were there areas of my life that &#8220;fell through the cracks&#8221; as I followed my parents leadership? Undoubtably that would be true. Now, was my childhood horrible? No. But was it perfect? Again, no. Myself and our pastoral staff work with people everyday that have struggles that root back into their upbringing. Some would say that they learned &#8220;what not to do&#8221; from their parents. Others had little to no parental interaction or care. Others have been seriously marked and marred by poor parenting. When I think about all of these scenarios, I have to ask: &#8220;Is there such a thing as a perfect family?&#8221;</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">I also thought about what my kids might say about Denise and I later in life. Would they have regrets, pains and flaws that can be traced back to me and my wife? Like the mother duck in the enclosed series of pictures, have our kids been following us only to fall through the cracks at some point along the way?  Is it possible to do all the right things and still loose your children? These are hard questions.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Bottom line: </span><strong><span style="color: #000000;">parenting is tough</span></strong><span style="color: #000000;">. It&#8217;s not for the faint of heart. And frankly, it should make you a better pray-er. The longer I parent my kids, the more I realize just how much I need God! After all, he is our Father, and he loves his kids.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Blessings,</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Pastor John</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><a href="http://wsfc.org/"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></span></a></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">P.S. Here are some upcoming events.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Calling all Women! Sign-up now for “Gifted,” WSFC Woman’s Retreat 2011, April 8-10th. Enjoy a weekend away with just the ladies at beautiful Seaside, OR. Sign-ups open till March 5th. Contact Nikki Weiner for more information</span><span style="color: #000000;">, </span><a href="mailto:nikkiweiner@gmail.com"><span style="color: #000000;">nikkiweiner@gmail.com</span></a><span style="color: #000000;">.</span></p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-2998" href="http://wsfc.org/intentional-impressions-for-future-generations/screen-shot-2011-02-03-at-10-41-23-am/"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="Dave Ramsey: Financial Peace University " src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-02-03-at-10.41.23-AM-580x163.png" alt="" width="580" height="163" /></span></a></p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-3163" href="http://wsfc.org/falling-through-the-cracks/sg2go-2/"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3163" title="SG2gO" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/SG2gO1.png" alt="" width="585" height="154" /></a> <img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-3164" title="Pulse" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Pulse.png" alt="" width="589" height="145" /></p>
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		<title>Parenting Grandkids</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/parenting-grandkids/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/parenting-grandkids/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:54:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3085</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Pastor John encourages grandparents in the importance of their relationship with their grandkids. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Times;"> </span></p>
<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>Over the last handful of weeks, I and another one of our staff pastors, Jacob Poetzl, have been writing about PARENTING. We&#8217;ve hit on various topics and age groups (ie:  babies, young kids, and teenagers). There are a few more unique aspects of parenting that I want to address over the next few weeks. But I need to give a quick disclaimer:</p>
<p><strong>I don&#8217;t know what I&#8217;m talking about.</strong></p>
<p>Yes, you read that right. I&#8217;m out of my power alley. I&#8217;m over my head. I&#8217;m gonna take some prayerfully educated guesses and see where this plane lands&#8230; here I go&#8230;</p>
<p>I want to address the topic of <strong>Parenting Grandkids</strong>. I use the term &#8220;parenting&#8221; in the broadest sense. Perhaps you are actually serving as the primary care-giver of your children&#8217;s children. That is a calling and most certainly a blessing. Most, however, do not have that full-time responsibility but rather &#8220;a place&#8221; in the lives of their grandchildren. This place is not to be dismissed lightly. It&#8217;s very important. That was the case in the life of Timothy in the Bible.</p>
<p>Scripture contains little direct information about Timothy but it does mention the names of people that had an impact upon him: his mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois.</p>
<p>The Apostle Paul writes this to Timothy: <em>&#8220;I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also&#8221;</em> (2 Timothy 1:3-5).</p>
<p>According to Acts 16:1-3, Timothy&#8217;s father was a Gentile and not a believer in Jesus Christ. Yet, beginning with Timothy&#8217;s grandmother Lois, and then on to his mother Eunice,  a difference was made in Timothy as a boy, after which he would grow up to be one of the early ministers of the Church and a faithful companion and coworker alongside the Apostle Paul. Timothy had the benefits of a Godly influence from his mother and grandmother.</p>
<p>Grandparents rarely get much credit for the success of a child. However, it&#8217;s often these quiet forces that have been working quietly in the background to build character from the time of birth. In 2 Timothy 3:15, 16 it tells us that Timothy had been taught the Holy Scriptures since he was an infant. This is an amazing foundation!</p>
<p>Eunice and Lois must have been living by the Old Testament Proverb: <em>&#8220;Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it&#8221; </em>(Proverbs 22:6).</p>
<p><strong>How can you establish this kind of foundation in your grandchildren?</strong></p>
<p>1.  Pray for your grandchildren and their parents often.</p>
<p>2.  Pray some more.</p>
<p>3.  Make Scripture a natural part of your everyday life. Let your grandchildren see the Bible alive in you.</p>
<p>4.  Give appropriate, biblical wisdom when necessary.  Be careful not to go overboard with this because it can be perceived as nosy and domineering.</p>
<p>5.  Lovingly tell your grandchildren why it&#8217;s important for them to have a right relationship with Jesus.</p>
<p>6.  Write each of them a personal letter with details about your faith, love for them, expectations you have of them and a passage of Scripture that has been most meaningful in your life.  This will be a very treasured gift.</p>
<p>Perhaps you have grandchildren and have found great ways to establish a Godly foundation.  Click on the link below and comment!</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>Pastor John</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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<div>P.S. Here are some upcoming events.</p>
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<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-2998" href="http://wsfc.org/intentional-impressions-for-future-generations/screen-shot-2011-02-03-at-10-41-23-am/"><img class="alignleft size-large wp-image-2998" title="Dave Ramsey: Financial Peace University " src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-02-03-at-10.41.23-AM-580x163.png" alt="" width="580" height="163" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://wsfc.org/grow/young-adults/"><img title="Screen shot 2011-02-10 at 3.11.49 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-02-10-at-3.11.49-PM-580x106.png" alt="" width="580" height="106" /></a></p>
<p><img title="Screen shot 2011-01-27 at 1.09.51 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-27-at-1.09.51-PM-580x93.png" alt="" width="580" height="93" /></p>
<p><img title="Screen shot 2011-01-27 at 1.09.26 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-27-at-1.09.26-PM-580x135.png" alt="" width="580" height="135" /></p>
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		<title>Sending out the Next Generation</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/sending-out-the-next-generation/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/sending-out-the-next-generation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:03:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=3055</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Friends: 2/10/2010. John draws a correlation between Jesus sending out the Twelve and parents sending out their children. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="color: #000000;">Hello Friends,</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Here is another excerpt from a small book I wrote called <em>Intentional Impressions for Future Generations.</em> I&#8217;ve been writing to you for a number of weeks about parenting.  These are some further thoughts on that topic. You can find the full book for free at www.johnfehlen/whitepapers.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Jesus had some lofty goals for the twelve disciples that he trained for three years. Interestingly, none of his goals involved them being with him forever.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">The goal of discipleship is going.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">This was a necessary step in discipleship.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Likewise, at some point our disciples (our kids) must be sent out. They won’t have us around to make decisions for them. They will be on their own. What will they go with? Luke 9 says this: “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “&#8217;Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave their town, as a testimony against them.&#8217; So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere” (emphasis mine).</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Let’s look at a few of these phrases in this text. First, Jesus gave them some things. </span><strong><span style="color: #000000;">He invested </span></strong><span style="color: #000000;">in them before they went out to minister. The text tells us that he gave them power and permission. Jesus gave them ability and authority. He invested in them the power to drive out demons and cure diseases, and also gave them permission to minister. What kind of investment are we making in our disciples? Are we empowering them to make Godly decisions and live righteously? Hopefully, you have had years to train them and now you get the opportunity to seal those values into their hearts before they are sent out.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">That’s what Jesus did next: he sent them out. I call this stage </span><strong><span style="color: #000000;">immersion</span></strong><span style="color: #000000;"> because its similar to jumping into the deep end of the pool. You have taught your kids to swim, but now you get to find out if they really can! It can be scary because you won’t be there to help when they get in over their head. When Jesus sent the disciples out to proclaim the Kingdom of God and heal the sick he undoubtedly had to wonder if it would work. But, he sent them out nonetheless. So must we.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Lastly, Jesus gave them some important </span><strong><span style="color: #000000;">instructions</span></strong><span style="color: #000000;"> before they went on their journey. His instructions had to do with what to bring and where to go. I love how Jesus addressed very practical issues. We must talk to our children about practical concepts such as school, dating, job hunting, finances, marriage, faith and family. At this season of their life these topics are on their mind so you have a wonderful opportunity to address them according to a biblical perspective, with the hopes that when they leave your gates they will be equipped.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Blessings,</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Pastor John</span></p>
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<div><span style="color: #000000;">Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><a href="http://wsfc.org/"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></span></a></div>
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<div><span style="color: #000000;">P.S. Here are some upcoming events.</span></div>
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<p><img title="Dave Ramsey: Financial Peace University " src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-02-03-at-10.41.23-AM-580x163.png" alt="" width="580" height="163" /></p>
<p><a href="http://wsfc.org/grow/children/family-venture/"><img title="Screen shot 2011-01-06 at 2.23.54 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-06-at-2.23.54-PM-580x135.png" alt="" width="580" height="135" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://wsfc.org/grow/young-adults/"><img class="alignleft size-large wp-image-3061" title="Screen shot 2011-02-10 at 3.11.49 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-02-10-at-3.11.49-PM-580x106.png" alt="" width="580" height="106" /></a></p>
<p><img title="Screen shot 2011-01-27 at 1.09.51 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-27-at-1.09.51-PM-580x93.png" alt="" width="580" height="93" /></p>
<p><img title="Screen shot 2011-01-27 at 1.09.26 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-27-at-1.09.26-PM-580x135.png" alt="" width="580" height="135" /></p>
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		<title>Intentional Impressions for Future Generations</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/intentional-impressions-for-future-generations/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/intentional-impressions-for-future-generations/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2011 20:32:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=2987</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Can we be a Barnabas? Can we be a Moses? Can we be an encourager of future generations?]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">Hello Friends,</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #000000;">This last month I and our children&#8217;s pastor Jacob Poetzl have been writing about the parenting of teenagers, young kids and babies.  I wanted to pass on some extended thoughts on the subject for the next two weeks.  What follows are excerpts from a small book I wrote last year called </span><em><span style="color: #000000;">Intentional Impressions for Future Generations</span></em><span style="color: #000000;">.  This book was specifically written for Dads and their boys but the principles can be applied to both genders. </span></span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #000000;">The full and free version of this book can be found at www.johnfehlen/whitepapers.</span></span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">In Deuteronomy 6:6-8, the writer encourages the older generation to impress the commands of the Lord upon the heart of their children. In a nutshell, every Joshua needs a Moses. Young people desire to have older, wiser individuals </span></em></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">impart blessing and instruction. Fathers, both biological and relational, are so </span></em></span><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">vital. In today’s culture, fathers are often deemed unnecessary and deadbeat, </span></em></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">when in reality they are the key to our next generation. </span></em></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">The opening words of </span></em></span><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">Deuteronomy speak to this: “But your assistant, Joshua, will enter. Encourage him, </span></em></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">because he will lead Israel to inherit it [the Promise Land]” (Deuteronomy 1:38). </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">Moses would not live forever, and it was vital for him to intentionally impart all he </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">could into his young apprentice. In Joshua 1:2 we discover “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">the land…” (Joshua 1:2). Notice the text: “Moses my servant is dead…” (vs. 2). In </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">no translation or paraphrase does this denote that Moses is no longer to be </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">honored or esteemed for his incredibly valuable contribution to the Kingdom. All </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">throughout the Book of Joshua we read of a blessed man that led the Israelites as </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">far as God would allow. In no way are we given permission as Christians to speak </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">negatively about our forefathers and those that have paved the way for the next </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">generation. We’re not to “rag on” Moses, nor our fathers. Rather, they are to be </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">honored. </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">Moses was told to encourage Joshua, his assistant. Do your young </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">people receive your encouragement or do they only get your chastisement and </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">ridicule? </span></em></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">In the New Testament, Barnabas was known as the “son of </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">encouragement.” In other words, his name denoted his nature. His designation </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">was his demeanor. Acts 11 records just one of many examples of Barnabas’ </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">encouraging spirit and this time it involved a young, upstart named Saul. We know </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">him now as Paul the Apostle. I often wonder if he would have ever became a Paul if </span></em></span><span style="font-family: Times;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">it wasn’t for the encouragement of Barnabas and the interest that he took in </span></em></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">the “long-shot” with the dicey reputation. </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">How many potential Paul’s are there within our sphere of influence that </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">are trapped in the externals of Saul – complete with a history; recognized as a </span></em></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><em><span style="color: #000000;">troublemaker; and misunderstood by the populace? </span></em></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #000000;">Can we be a Barnabas? Can </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #000000;">we be a Moses? Can we be an encourager of future generations? </span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #000000;">Blessings,</span></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #000000;">John</span></span></div>
<div><span style="color: #000000;">Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><a href="http://wsfc.org/"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></span></a></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #000000;">P.S.</span></span></div>
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<p><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<div><img class="alignleft size-large wp-image-2998" title="Dave Ramsey: Financial Peace University " src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-02-03-at-10.41.23-AM-580x163.png" alt="" width="580" height="163" /></div>
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<p><a href="http://wsfc.org/grow/children/family-venture/"><img title="Screen shot 2011-01-06 at 2.23.54 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-06-at-2.23.54-PM-580x135.png" alt="" width="580" height="135" /></a></p>
<p><img title="Screen shot 2011-01-27 at 1.09.51 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-27-at-1.09.51-PM-580x93.png" alt="" width="580" height="93" /></p>
<p><img title="Screen shot 2011-01-27 at 1.09.26 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-27-at-1.09.26-PM-580x135.png" alt="" width="580" height="135" /></p>
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		<title>Parenting with A Purpose</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/parenting-with-a-purpose/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/parenting-with-a-purpose/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:39:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=2898</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Friends: 1.27.2011 Pastor Jake Poetzl challenges parents to make a mission statement for their kids. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="color: #000000;"> Hello Friends,</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Have you ever considered crafting a mission statement for you kids? I know it sounds a little too organizational, but I’ve noticed that most parents not only have a mission statement, they also state it often and quiz to see if their children have attained it. “Not me,” you might say. But I bet you do; take some time this week and listen to what you tell your kids.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">I first noticed it when I became a children’s pastor four years ago. About 75% of parents would tell their kids to </span><strong><span style="color: #000000;">“have fun” </span></strong><span style="color: #000000;">when they dropped them off at class. When they picked them up, they’d say, “Did you have fun?” Not only did the child hear what they were to do when mom and dad were out of sight, so did the teachers. We knew that we could teach them, but at the end of the day, it’d better be fun.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">I can’t say that I was a fan of that particular idea. As a teacher in public school, and now at church, I’d spend a huge effort fitting what I taught into a fun format. I’d learned to avoid the “B” word at all costs: “Boring!”  As if I didn’t know better, when I dropped my oldest child off at Kindergarten on her first day, I heard myself say, “Have fun.”</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Ironically, most of us don’t really want our kids to always have fun. Among other things, parents want their kids to learn to work hard, to show kindness to others, and to learn contentment. We know from personal experience that it’s not always fun to achieve those virtues. But when it comes to parenting, most of us simply don’t take enough time to really consider the consistent message we are speaking to our kids. We know that if our kids were trying to have fun all the time &#8211; or even to be happy all the time &#8211; it would be like building a house on sand: it’s a ruinous mission in life.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">When I heard myself saying, “Have fun” to my kindergartner, I decided that I needed to sit down with my wife and come up with a mission statement that was more purposeful (and certainly more spiritual). I’ll warn you, this exercise is not easy&#8230;and it might not be “fun.” I’m not going to tell you what we came up with&#8230;honestly it has changed a couple of times as we’ve learned more about what God desires from us as parents. But what I’ve found is that in formulating a mission statement for my kids, I not only state my expectations for them when I’m not there, I also keeping myself focused on what I’m trying to do as a parent. It goes both ways.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">We’d love to hear back from you. If you come up with a great mission statement please email it back.</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Sincerely,</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Jacob Poetzl<br />
Children’s Ministry Pastor<br />
West Salem Foursquare Church</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><a href="http://wsfc.org/"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></span></a></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">P.s. Begin 2011 right by joining one of our new small groups starting up in the next few weeks. Stop by the Connecting Point to see all of your options. Or contact Penne Ryan for questions at penne.ryan@wsfc.org.</span></p>
<p><a title="Children's Ministry " href="http://wsfc.org/grow/children/" target="_blank"><img title="Screen shot 2011-01-06 at 2.23.54 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-06-at-2.23.54-PM-580x135.png" alt="" width="580" height="135" /></a></p>
<p><img class="alignleft size-large wp-image-2932" title="Screen shot 2011-01-27 at 1.09.51 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-27-at-1.09.51-PM-580x93.png" alt="" width="580" height="93" /></p>
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		<title>Intentional Impressions: Babies</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/intentional-impressions-babies/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/intentional-impressions-babies/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Jan 2011 19:51:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=2857</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Friends: 1.20.2011 A note of encouragement to parents with babies. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>For the last two weeks I have written about children of various ages, starting with teenagers then working my way backward to young kids and this week, <strong>BABIES</strong>.</p>
<p>The words of Amy Grant&#8217;s 1991 hit seem all-together appropriate right now: <em>&#8220;Baby, Baby, I&#8217;m taken with notion to love you with the sweetest of devotion.&#8221;</em></p>
<p>And devotion is important, because infants, although sweet, are not easy.  They require a lot of work. Denise and I are only a few of the millions of parents that have had many sleepless nights, arm-loads of diapers &amp; wipes, late night feedings, messes and crying (the baby and us!).</p>
<p>The challenges are plentiful but so are the joys. Who can resist the coo&#8217;s, giggles, smiles and first steps of a little one?  There is such amazing wonderment in hearing a child&#8217;s first few words, and seeing them light up with recognition as you walk into the room.  This is the stuff that money cannot buy, and a few of the reasons why, even though it can be difficult, we keep being &#8220;fruitful and multiplying.&#8221;</p>
<p>These early years of a child&#8217;s formation are so vital.  Much of a boy or girl&#8217;s emotional and spiritual capacities are being shaped during these years.  They are not &#8220;too young to get it.&#8221;  Babies are absorbing huge amounts, so it&#8217;s important to establish a consistent and Godly environment for their soul-shaping.</p>
<p>Proverbs 22:6 <em>&#8220;Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.&#8221;</em></p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>John</p>
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<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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<p>P.s. Begin 2011 right by joining one of our new small groups starting up in the next few weeks. Stop by the Connecting Point to see all of your options. For instance here is one for married couples.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-2883" href="http://wsfc.org/intentional-impressions-babies/screen-shot-2011-01-20-at-11-39-25-am/"><img class="alignleft size-large wp-image-2883" title="Screen shot 2011-01-20 at 11.39.25 AM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-20-at-11.39.25-AM-580x96.png" alt="" width="580" height="96" /></a></p>
<p><a title="Children's Ministry " href="http://wsfc.org/grow/children/" target="_blank"><img title="Screen shot 2011-01-06 at 2.23.54 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-06-at-2.23.54-PM-580x135.png" alt="" width="580" height="135" /></a></p>
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		<title>Intentional Impressions: Kids</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/intentional-impressions-kids/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/intentional-impressions-kids/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:08:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=2663</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Friends: 1.13.2011 A note of encouragement to parents with younger kids. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="color: #000000;">Hello Friends,</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">Denise and I recently had an epiphany:  soon three out of four of our kids will be teenagers. That&#8217;s a weird thought for us, because it seems like we&#8217;ve been parenting young children for soooooo long. We have been up to our elbows in formula, diapers and Chuck E. Cheese tokens.</span><br />
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">In last weeks &#8220;Hello Friends&#8221; email I wrote about teenagers. This week I want to send some thoughts about younger kiddos. Perhaps you are right in the middle of that wild and crazy time and you&#8217;re pulling your hair out. Toddlers have that kind of effect on parents. Call them the &#8220;terrible two&#8217;s&#8221; or whatever you want, it can be tough to parent young children.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Is it possible to keep your sanity?</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Do you have to take them to Walmart to spank them, like the rest of society?  :)</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Can I encourage you with a few simple reminders?</span></p>
<div><strong><span style="color: #000000;">1.  You&#8217;re not alone. </span></strong><span style="color: #000000;">Our small group has a number of parents of young children, and we hear this almost on a weekly basis:  &#8221;Oh man, it&#8217;s good to hear that we&#8217;re not the only people that struggle with this!&#8221;  One of the main tools of the devil is isolation &#8211; that feeling that you&#8217;re totally alone and that no one else has dealt with what you&#8217;re facing. Not true.  You&#8217;re not alone.</span></div>
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2.  You&#8217;re not bad. </span></strong><span style="color: #000000;">Parenting toddlers can be a test of endurance and patience. Sometimes you may loose your cool.  You&#8217;re not a bad parent. Of course, rage and violence are never acceptable. That must be repented of and healed, but sometimes we can find ourselves at our wit&#8217;s end. This does not mean you&#8217;re a rotten parent. We all struggle. We all come up short. That&#8217;s why we need Jesus.</span></div>
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3.  You&#8217;re not stuck</span></strong><span style="color: #000000;">.  It&#8217;s been said, &#8220;This too shall pass.&#8221;  True words. Of course, they are not much consolation when you feel as if you&#8217;re stuck in this eternal phase of parenting children. Please know that this season that you think will never end indeed will! They will grow up and out. You may even wish you could go back to the days when they were young (I think a few of you just laughed and rolled your eyes). </span>Without question, there will be new challenges ahead and the way you conduct yourself now will serve as wisdom and strength for the journey.</p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Don&#8217;t give up. You&#8217;re not alone. You&#8217;re not bad. You&#8217;re not stuck.</span></p>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">Blessings,</span></p>
<div><span style="color: #000000;">Pastors John &amp; Denise</span></div>
<div><span style="color: #000000;">Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></span></a><span style="color: #000000;"> </span><a href="http://wsfc.org/"><span style="color: #000000;"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></span></a></div>
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<p><span style="color: #000000;">P.s. Begin 2011 right by joining one of our new small groups starting up in the next few weeks. Stop by the Connecting Point to see all of your options. Or contact Penne Ryan for questions at penne.ryan@wsfc.org.</span></p>
<p><a href="http://wsfc.org/grow/young-adults/"><img class="alignleft size-large wp-image-2678" title="Screen shot 2011-01-13 at 2.58.55 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-13-at-2.58.55-PM1-580x116.png" alt="" width="580" height="116" /></a></p>
<p><a title="Children's Ministry " href="http://wsfc.org/grow/children/" target="_blank"><img title="Screen shot 2011-01-06 at 2.23.54 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-06-at-2.23.54-PM-580x135.png" alt="" width="580" height="135" /></a></p>
<p><a title="Axis High School Ministry " href="http://wsfc.org/grow/youth/high-school/" target="_blank"></a></p>
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		<title>Intentional Impressions: Teenagers</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/intentional-impressions-teenagers/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/intentional-impressions-teenagers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Jan 2011 23:11:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Youth]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=2482</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Friends 1.6.2011 A note of encouragement for parents with teenagers. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>Dick Cavett once said, “If your parents never had children, chances are you won’t either.” For those of you reading this column(and you are certain you have parents that had children) then you will someday, if not already, deal with the issue of raising children. Some of you may even be wading through the murky waters known as “parenting a teenager.&#8221;</p>
<p>To you I say two things: “Hold on tight!” and “You can do it!”</p>
<p>I read recently that you might be a parent of a teen if&#8230;<br />
&#8230;your blood pressure is higher than your weekly income.<br />
&#8230;your car insurance is the same as the National Debt.<br />
&#8230;you are losing your hair, hearing and patience.<br />
&#8230;your favorite prayer is “Come quickly, Lord Jesus.”</p>
<p>And the Lord does come quickly to the assistance of parents that call on his name.  Scripture tells us to bring up our children in the training and instruction of the Lord and that is accomplished through a great amount of prayer and intercession. We then must listen closely to the heart of God for the young person within your care.</p>
<p>Adolescence has been called the period when a teenager feels he/she will never be as dumb as his/her parents. One thing that is never dumb, however, is to raise your teenager in the fear and knowledge of Jesus. You will be giving them a heritage of righteousness that will hopefully be passed on from generation to generation.</p>
<p>That makes it worth it.</p>
<p>And trust me&#8230;it is worth it.</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>Pastor John</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
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<p><a title="Children's Ministry " href="http://wsfc.org/grow/children/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft size-large wp-image-2560" title="Screen shot 2011-01-06 at 2.23.54 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-06-at-2.23.54-PM-580x135.png" alt="" width="580" height="135" /></a></p>
<p><a title="Fusion Youth Ministry" href="http://wsfc.org/grow/youth/middle-school/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft size-large wp-image-2554" title="Screen shot 2011-01-06 at 2.10.33 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-06-at-2.10.33-PM-580x169.png" alt="" width="580" height="169" /></a></p>
<p><a title="Axis High School Ministry " href="http://wsfc.org/grow/youth/high-school/" target="_blank"><img class="alignleft size-large wp-image-2557" title="Screen shot 2011-01-06 at 2.14.00 PM" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Screen-shot-2011-01-06-at-2.14.00-PM-580x98.png" alt="" width="580" height="98" /></a></p>
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		<title>Special Advent Series pt. 3</title>
		<link>http://wsfc.org/special-advent-series-pt-3/</link>
		<comments>http://wsfc.org/special-advent-series-pt-3/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Dec 2010 01:34:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Fehlen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Front Page]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hello From John]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://wsfc.org/?p=2421</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Friends 12.16.2010 This week let's light the Angel candle and talk about worship. ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello Friends,</p>
<p>This week I am on Part Three of a mini-devotional series for Advent. Advent is an annual, focused time of anticipating the coming birth of Jesus by utilizing various candles and the corresponding meanings.</p>
<p>In today’s devotional, I will take a glimpse at the Angel candle. In Luke 2:13-14 we read of a multitude of heavenly hosts that came upon the scene with some pretty serious fanfare:  &#8220;Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!&#8221;</p>
<p>Note the exclamation point (!) at the end of the angels declaration.  It&#8217;s in the biblical text for <strong>emphasis.</strong> This was no passive announcement. This was a strong clarion call to worship and praise.</p>
<p>Before expounding upon this please allow me to recap our previous Advent devotionals&#8230;</p>
<p>Historically there are 5 candles in the wreath that are lit in succession. There is no standard across evangelical Christianity as to the concrete meaning of each of the candles because it has changed and adapted over the centuries, however, most commonly we find the candles designated as such: Prophets, Bethlehem, Shepherds, Angels and finally Jesus (celebrated on Christmas Eve). The first candle (The Prophets) is to be lit at the start of Advent, often the weekend after Thanksgiving. This is to remind us of the sweeping, and confirming prophecies concerning Jesus the Messiah. To dig deeper into these prophesies look up Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7 and 53:2-6.</p>
<p>The second candle is for Bethlehem.  Forever honored as the town where our Savior was born, Bethlehem was so named because it was a center of wheat production. In Hebrew Bethlehem means “House of Bread.” Bethlehem is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank about 5 miles south of Jerusalem. It was crucially important for the nourishing and sustaining the people of Israel. Isn’t it amazing how poetic and prophetic this is? God’s Son, Jesus is the Bread of Life entered the world at a site named “House of Bread.”  The Written Bread (The Bible) points to the Living Bread (Jesus).</p>
<p>The third candle is for the Shepherds.  The shepherds were carefully and quietly watching their sheep during the night watch. There probably wasn’t a whole lot happening, because there is very little that is exciting about a shepherd’s duties, other than the occasional wolf or pack of dogs. For the most part, their job was a simple and sleepy one.  These are solitary moments. The quietness is almost deafening, but it is in moments like these that God shows up. Such is the case with prayer.  Prayer is like the shepherds night watch.</p>
<p>Then there is the Angel candle.  This I want to connect to the subject of WORSHIP.</p>
<p>The <strong>Word. Prayer.</strong> And now&#8230;<strong>Worship</strong>.  These are the three topics that we have been exploring at West Salem Foursquare during our current teaching series: Christmas Unwrapped.</p>
<p>The angels serve as examples of inspired and intentional praise and worship to our great God. It&#8217;s worship such as this that establishes a receptive environment for the coming of Jesus Christ.  This is affirmed in Psalm 22:3 in the King James Version of the Bible:  &#8220;But thou art holy, thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.&#8221;  God dwells within our praises.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s join the angels (both at the announcement of Jesus&#8217; birth as well as the ones around the very throne of God) with our worship.</p>
<p>Perhaps we need to add some exclamation points to our praise!!!!!</p>
<p>Blessings,</p>
<p>Pastor John</p>
<p>Connect Online with West Salem Foursquare <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/WestSalemFoursquareChurch?ref=ts"><img title="Picture 2" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/Picture-21-150x150.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://vimeo.com/9046902" class="lightbox"><img title="vimeo_icon" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/vimeo_icon1.png" alt="" width="32" height="32" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/westsalemfoursquare/"><img title="icon_flickr128" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/icon_flickr1281.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /></a> <a href="http://wsfc.org/"><img title="WSFC Color Icon Only Transparent" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/WSFC-Color-Icon-Only-Transparent1-150x150.png" alt="" width="28" height="28" /></a></p>
<p>P.s. Our Simple Giving Offering will be this weekend, Dec. 18 &amp; 19th. Simple Blessing flyers will be available in the lobby. How can you simplify to be a blessing this Christmas?</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-2426" href="http://wsfc.org/special-advent-series-pt-3/dreamcenter-logo-4/"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-2426" title="dreamcenter logo" src="http://wsfc.org/wp-content/uploads/dreamcenter-logo3.jpg" alt="" width="127" height="81" /></a>In the midst of the holiday business we wanted to remind you to be thinking of those who may not have much. A few events you can get involved with are:  Friday 5:30-9pm Christmas Wrapping Party; Saturday 9am @ Oak Village Apartments on 8th St. we are passing out presents; Following the 6pm service on Saturday we will be doing caroling, passing out candy canes and light bulbs at the Oak Village Apartments; Bring cookies for the Sneaky Elf event up to Dec. 24th; During the 4:30 &amp; 6pm services on Christmas Eve we will be sorting cookies in the Ministry Modular; for information on Sneaky Elf delivery contact craig.oviatt@wsfc.org.</p>
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