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[MMXII]

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[MN John]

Hey, they took gullible out of the dictionary!!

 

[MMXII]

 

[MN John]

Soy un cajero. Trabajo en el banco. Yo puedo entender las leyes financieras. Si tú prefieres trabajar en el banco, necesitas poder contar el dinero rápidamente. Trabajo con mi cabeza. Trabajo la jornada completa. Debo hablar simpáticamente con todos los clientes desagradables. Cuando trabajo yo estoy muy ocupado pero estoy de buen humor.

 

[MN John]

The STAR Newsletter, a weekly publication of​

Bethlehem Baptist Church​

www.hopeinGod.org
mail@hopeinGod.org​

North Campus - 612.455.0800​

5151 Program Ave, Mounds View, MN 55112​

Downtown Campus - 612.338.7653​

720 13th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55415​

South Site - 612.746.2650​

Worship: Mraz Auditorium at Burnsville High School
600 MN Hwy 13 E, Burnsville, MN 55337
Office & Nursery: 501 MN Hwy 13 E, Burnsville, MN 55337​

1​

Dear Bethlehem Family,​

As you may know, I have been graciously granted a sabbatical. What a gift this is to me and
to my family (and, I pray - to the church)!
I flew away on Wednesday, April 25, after just returning from NYC where Julie and I
celebrated (early!) our 30th wedding anniversary. My life at Bethlehem has been full of
goodbyes. When I was missions pastor, I said goodbye to so many people who had become
very close to me, and that reality has only continued with each graduating class of TBI. By
God’s grace, my heart hasn’t become calloused toward these goodbyes. I feel them very
deeply and Julie feels them too. It’s part of what makes us long for heaven so much—no
more goodbyes as we enjoy our Christ together. But I’m glad this will only be a goodbye
for 4 months. Lord willing, I’ll be back in the office August 22.
All this to say I already miss Bethlehem and pray that you will press on with God’s strength
and that He will draw near to you throughout the summer.
I write this on my second day in Cambridge. What a wonderful place. I have my desk
already set up at Tyndale Library and I have moved into the Manse of Eden Baptist Church.
In mid-May, Julie, Emma and Nate will join me and then the rest of the family will come
in early June.
Please pray for me as I pray for you.
I have set up a website with photos and a blog with no guarantees on how often I will post.
But I will try to put up a picture here and there. http://web.mac.com/tom.steller/iWeb/
Site/Welcome.html
Blessings on you,
Tom (for all the Stellers)
p.s. Please don’t be offended if I don’t respond to emails.
I have been urged by more than one​

​

not to do so.​

Pastors Away​

Tom Steller,​

​

Pastor for
Leadership Development & Dean
of The Bethlehem Institute, is
on sabbatical until August 22.
John Piper, Pastor for Preaching
& Vision, is on writing leave
during the month of May.​

Contacting Staff​

For pastor’s assistants and
other support staff phone
numbers, see “Employees”
or “Pastors” at http://www.
hopeinGod.org/Staff.aspx​

1 MAY 2007​

A Letter from Pastor Tom Steller​

T h e 0 5 - 0 1 - 0 7 B e t h l e h e m S TA R Ne w s l e t t e r f o r t h e w e e k o f Ma y 6 , 2 0 0 7​

Bethlehem Baptist​

www.hopeinGod.org
mail@hopeinGod.org
Downtown Campus ph 612.338.7653
fax 612.338.6901
North Campus ph 612.455.0800
South Site​

​

​

(501 Bldg) ph 612.746.2650​

Fighter Verse​

To Recite May 12-13:
Ephesians 4:29​

Let no corrupting talk come out of your
mouths, but only such as is good for
building up, as fits the occasion, that it may
give grace to those who hear.​

Offering​

Church/Missions: April 28-29​

​

​

$156,198​

This Week in 2006​

​

​

$115,777​

YTD Giving 2007 church/mission​

​

​

$2,240,261​

YTD Giving at this time in 2006​

​

​

$1,707,339​

TCT Fund April 28-29​

​

​

$53,038​

Treasuring Christ Together YTD​

​

​

$299,331​

Worship Services​

Pastor Sam Crabtree
Preaching; Mother’s Day &
Child Dedication Weekend
Saturday, 12 May 2007​

5:30pm Downtown Campus​

Sunday, 13 May 2007​

9:00 & 11:00am Downtown Campus​

720 13th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55415​

9:00 & 11:00am North Campus​

5151 Program Ave, Mounds View, MN 55112​

9:00 & 11:00am South Site​

Mraz Center at Burnsville Senior High School
600 MN Hwy 13 E, Burnsville, MN 55337​

Connection​

Wednesday, May 16​

Downtown & North Campuses​

4:45pm Dinner:​

​

​

call by noon, 5/14​

5:30pm Prayer
6:15pm Youth Baptisms​

Join us North or Downtown
(all ages together) to worship
& hear amazing testimonies of
young people in our church
who are ready to express their
faith through Baptism.​

CONGRATULATIONS​

To Luke & Kelly Anderson on the birth
of their son, Henry Banks Anderson, on
April 24, 2007.​

CONDOLENCES​

To Jim & Mary Holmes in the recent
passing of Jim’s mother. Our thoughts &
prayers are with you.​

WOMEN’S SUMMER
“TITUS” BIBLE STUDY​

Thursdays from June 21-August 2
9:45am–Noon, Downtown Campus​

Women, join a Titus Precept Bible Study
this summer: “Developing Character
and Integrity in the Midst of a Society
Which Has Lost Respect for God.” Cost:
$6. Childcare is available. To register, you
may fill out form found in the Women’s
Ministries wall display at the Downtown &
North Campuses or at the South Site Info
Booth. You will receive your book during
the first week of class. Questions? Call
Tracy Cornish at 612.455.0806.​

BETHLEHEM at CAMP SHETEK​

To register for Bethlehem’s camps at Camp
Shetek for 5th-6th graders (beginning
June 17) or for 7th-9th graders (beginning
June 24), see the link on the home page or
look up those dates on www.hopeinGod.
org/Calendar.aspx. Questions? Contact
Kevin Dau at kevin.dau@hopeinGod.org
or 612.455.3493. If
you don’t prefer to
pay by credit card, 1)
download a printable
registration form
online or 2) pick up a
form at your campus.
•
•​

SUMMER’S COMING!
NURSERY HELP NEEDED​

Hooray for a schedule break, warm
weather, and vacations…but they do​

​

cause a
challenge in the nurseries. We have had to turn
away families due to worker shortages.
In addition to this, some regular volunteers
are taking a much needed break or vacation
during the summer, so we need lots of
people to help. Could you
serve?
To serve in the
Downtown or South nurseries,
contact Meg at 612.455.3496 or meghan.
stolp@hopeinGod.org. To serve in the
North nurseries, contact Carmen at
612.455.0807 or carmen.tomaszewski@
hopeinGod.org. Please pray & respond soon!​

WOMEN’S WELCOME COFFEE​

Saturday, May 12, 10:00-11:00am
Downtown Campus, Room 205
North Campus, Room A202​

If you are new to Bethlehem or looking for
a way to connect with Bethlehem women,
please join us! Ask questions, tour the
building, and meet other women who are
new. (​

​

If you are not new, please consider bringing
a newcomer to this gathering.) Hostesses
for these semi-regular coffees are also
needed. If you are interested, contact Tracy
Cornish, 612.455.0806 or tracy.cornish@
hopeinGod.org.​

FURLOUGHING MISSIONARY REALTY - NOW A REALITY!​

Located 2 Doors from the Downtown Campus
Help Us Clean & Set Up: Saturday, May 19
Open House: Saturday & Sunday, June 2-3​

After years of praying and planning, the Foreign
Mission Committee is establishing an apartment for
our missionaries on home assignment. Thanks to Kurt
Swanson, Jim Waldemar and crew, the renovations to this apartment
are underway. Please pray for the renovation process. We have a family
coming to stay in the apartment in early June. There are cabinets to be
cleaned, furniture to be assembled, beds to be made, etc. If you would
like to help May 19, contact Jan Korbel (612.879.0651) or Char Ransom
(charransom@gmail.com; 612.816.3694). Watch for open house details.​

T h e 0 5 - 0 1 - 0 7 B e t h l e h e m S TA R Ne w s l e t t e r f o r t h e w e e k o f Ma y 6 , 2 0 0 7​

3​

Missions​

Tom & Mary Lou Ellison​

(Ellen, Grace, Erick, Luke, Peter, Philip)​

Focus​

​

of the Week​

Church Planting​

​

with the Baptist
General Conference in Japan​

GRADUATING SENIORS’
BACCALAUREATE SERVICE &
OPEN HOUSE RECEPTION​

Sunday, June 3 at 6:00pm
Downtown Campus
Speaker: Pastor John Piper​

To Honor God’s faithfulness in the lives of
our Graduating Seniors, we invite you, the
church family, and friends, classmates, and
families of our graduating seniors to join
together in honoring God’s faithful work
in the hearts and lives of the graduating
class of 2007. Pastor John will speak at the
service in the sanctuary. There will be an
open house reception in the Main Hall
afterwards, where seniors will have display
tables of pictures, awards, and scrapbooks of
their school years. Join us as we celebrate
this important passage in the lives of our
young adults.​

​

High School Seniors: please
contact Betty at 612.455.3490 to reserve a
display table at the open house reception.​

BETHLEHEM’S FRESHMAN
YEAR OF COLLEGE​

Downtown Campus: May 9, 5:15pm
North Campus: May 16, 5:15pm​

High school juniors, seniors, and their
parents are invited to an INSIGHT
information meeting. Pizza and soda will be
served. Questions? Contact Barb Waldemar
at 612.718.6360 or barb.waldemar@
hopeinGod.org.​

NURTURE PROGRAM
ORIENTATION​

Saturday, May 12 at 7:00pm
Downtown Campus, Room 114​

Come and find out more about Bethlehem’s
missionary preparation program. Attendance
is required for those wanting to be sent by
Bethlehem to the mission field. Registering
for the orientation in advance really does
help our preparation! RSVP by contacting
Kari in the Missions Department at 612.
455.3432 or kari.hoilien@hopeingod.org.​

POST-ABORTION SUPPORT​

For those experiencing painful effects from
a past abortion, Conquerors invites you
to our support groups that offer hope and
healing. There are confidential, separate
groups for women and men interested in a
graceful recovery program based on Biblical
principles. For more information on
Conquerors groups being formed in June,
please call 612.866.7643, ext 163.​

NORTH CAMPUS LIBRARY
STILL NEEDS YOUR HELP​

Donate a Book! We update our wish list
weekly; see our needs at www.hopeinGod.
org/NorthCampusLibrary.aspx. Bring
donated items to the box by North Campus
Rm A211, the North Info Booth, or the
Downtown Campus Library. Please don’t
donate items that are not on the wish list
without prior approval. We might already
have the item or may not be able to use
it. If you have given already, thank you!
Questions? Contact Edith at 612.455.3401
or edith.carlson@hopeingod.org.​

TROUT LAKE CAMP &
HAM LAKE DAY CAMP​

Brochures for these two camps are available
at the Info Booth or the Ministries wall
displays. Our week at Ham Lake Day Camp
is July 23-27 (for those entering 1st-6th
grade). For carpool info, contact Cindy at
763.434.4883 or cynthia@waltho.com.​

BABYWEARING:
AN INFORMAL INTRO​

Thursday, May 17 from 6-7:30pm
Downtown Campus, Room 114​

Join us to see fellow moms from Bethlehem
demonste the use of soft baby carriers, also
known as​

​

babywearing. This is a practical help
for parents and soon-to-be parents. Come
benefit from this casual introduction to
the ancient art of babywearing. Questions?
Contact Elisa Engesser, 763.559.7335,
erengesser@yahoo.com.​

MEET ME AT THE GATE​

Saturday, May 19, 8:30am–Noon
at All Nations Christian Fellowship
Office: 4500 Lyndale Ave N, 2​

​

nd flr.​

There are 2.4 million prisoners in the US
today. Statistics say that upon release, 70%
return to prison within 3 years of release.
Who will be there to meet our brothers
and sisters at the gate, to teach them what
it means to live in community,​

​

to reconstruct
the family that most of them never had? Join
Manny Mill, director of Koinonia House,
as he unpacks a vision of discipleship that
helps local churches embrace brothers and
sisters coming out of prison. Please RSVP
with Carol Osnes, 612.529.9593 or carol.
osnes@ancf.org. Manny will preach at All
Nations Christian Fellowship on Sunday,
May 20, at 10:30am. See www.ANCF.org!​

Ministering​

​

with the MacLaur in
Institute in Minneapolis​

Pray for God to provide a recent
graduate to serve as the Institute’s new
program coordinator.
Pray for Bob, as he works as the
director for the national conference
of the Association of Christians
Ministering to Internationals (May
31-June 3).
Praise God for 25 years of faithfulness
to the MacLaurin Institute, as we
serve Him at the University of
Minnesota.​

Contact Info:​

​

​

osbu0001@umn.edu
•
•
•
We are starting a new ministry year
on May 1. Pray for a year of “taking
root downward, and bearing fruit
upward” (Isaiah 37:30-31).​

Contact Info:​

​

​

Tom & Mary Lou Ellison
2-10-5 Kanayama Cho
Higashi Kurume Shi 203 Japan
mltellison@aol.com​

Evangelism &
Mercy Ministries​

Bob & Susan Osburn​

(Jon, Matt)
•​

T h e 0 5 - 0 1 - 0 7 B e t h l e h e m B a p t i s t C h u r c h S TA R Ne w s l e t t e r​

Following this weekend’s sermon entitled “Single in Christ: A Better Name Than Sons and Daughters,”
Pastor John received a letter asking, “If what you say about the blessing of singleness is true, then why
would one even want to be married?” Pastor John has graciously permitted us to print his brief and
informal response below.​

Dear [Bethlehem Single],
You ask: “What is at all compelling about marriage? Why would we even want to be married?”
The “compelling” comes only from the right combination of internal realities and objective
truths about God’s design for marriage. When the right combination is not there, marriage is
not compelling and should not be. I would say the same thing about singleness.
The objective truths about marriage are primarily God’s design 1) to display his covenant
keeping love between Christ and the church, 2) to sanctify the couple with the peculiar pains
and pleasures of marriage, 3) to beget and rear a generation of white-hot worshippers, and
4) to channel good sexual desire into holy paths and transpose it into worshipful foretastes
of heaven’s pleasures. That is a high calling but is only compelling if it meets with internal
longings for God that lean strongly into these designs.
The objective truths about singleness are primarily God’s design to 1) display the spiritual
nature of God’s family that grows from regeneration and faith, not procreation and sex, 2) to
sanctify the single with the peculiar pains and pleasures of singleness, 3) to capture more of
the single’s life for non-domestic ministry that is so desperately needed in the world, 4) and to
magnify the all-satisfying worth of Christ that sustains life-long chastity. That is a high calling,
but it is only compelling if it meets with internal longings for God that lean strongly into these
designs.
There is more to marriage and singleness than I have mentioned. But the point is to show
that neither I nor the Bible means to say that either is compelling in and of themselves. That
is why Paul says, “One has one gift and one another.” I think he means: The internal reality of
one person finds one of these powerfully compelling and the internal reality of another finds
another powerfully compelling. And I would add: This can change from one season to another.
I don’t know which holds out more joys and more hardships. There is not way to know ahead
of time, it seems to me. We Christians don’t make our choices that way anyway. This would be
clear if all singles not only heard the wedding vows, “For better or for worse,” but also heard
the same words written over singleness: “For better or for worse.” Marriage may prove to be
gloriously happy, or painfully disappointing. Singleness may prove to be gloriously satisfying or
painfully disappointing. Only God knows which it will be for you.
So in the end, your heart really matters. Objectively, we cannot know ahead of time whether
marriage or singleness will sanctify us more or honor God more. Does the internal reality
of our heart lean us into the designs of marriage or the designs of singleness? That is a huge
question and one that only the heart can answer. But it should be a heart well-formed with
much Bible and much prayer and much maturity through life and counsel of friends and family.
That’s my best effort. Thanks for caring about being devoted to Christ above all.
Pastor John​

4​

Single or Married: For Better or for Worse​

A Letter by Pastor John​

Please pray for
Pastor John during
his annual writing
leave this month.​

 

[MN John]

.99999 99999 99999 26434 38379 12760 69846 06294 02093 35858 39843 75

 

[MN John]

Reputation: 920,250

 

[MN John]

Posts: 126,003

 

[MN John]

Letters Left: BCDFGHIJKLMNOQRUVWXYZ[/quote]

 

[MN John]

I have a vocabulary of words.

 

[KellyLeigh]

Chicken Parmesan Panini
Italian breaded chicken breast topped with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce

 

[MN John]

Posts: 24,430

 

[MMXII]

CFCDPAR

 

[MN John]

http://www.christianforums.com/showpost.php?p=34778869&postcount=413

 

[MMXII]

CEAV

 

[MN John]

It is 52 days, 21 hours, 42 minutes and 59 seconds until Sunday, July 8, 2007 at 5:46:55 AM (San Diego time)​

 

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