GOD'S ROYAL COVERING(Notes taken from a talk given by Jennifer Teachey) Do you like covered trash cans? They are such a blessing when you need to throw away something especially smelly, like a dirty diaper. What about a covered compost bin? All the rotting, smelly, bug-filled waste can bring up such a sense of loathing. We can be very glad that it has a cover, yet what of the sin-filled heart of a human being? What of a very lowly God who covers our raw filth of a sin nature? Our souls long to be covered, and in Ezekiel 16 God shows how He covers us. "And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!' Yes, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!'” His heart for us is to LIVE! A theses statement if you will. Then, “I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness.” Here when God sees us in the leprosy of our sin nature and with no thought to His own beautiful garments He covers us. The Holy Spirit drapes over us and gives us privacy to heal, privacy to grow. We are still filthy, and yet He covers us! The beauty of this is when you experience God covering you and all your ugly wounds and it gives you a compassion for other people, the desire to cover them and their needs. God is mighty to save! Don’t have any doubt about what God can do in your life! Don’t have any doubt as to what God can do in another person’s life! It will not be by our sight that we can see what God will do in someone’s life. God took the worst (Saul of Tarsus) and called him a “Chosen vessel!” What a lowly God! Does that not give you HOPE? PROFILE ON DAN AND CHIRS DAKEDan grew up in a Christian home in Oshkosh and Waupaca, Wisconsin. From an early age he experienced what could be called “old-fashioned Pentecost”, where the preaching was direct and fiery, the altars were filled with seekers at the end of every meeting, and where consecration to the Lord’s service was a constant appeal. At 15 years old, Dan knew God had called him into the ministry, but he was a fun-loving teen (and was often in trouble for it!), and he drifted from that call. During the Viet Nam war, he was drafted and served his country as an infantry soldier in the U. S. Army from 1968-1970. God preserved him through that terrible war, but he continued to drift from the Lord and paid for it with much unhappiness. Finally, in the Mercy of God, he joined the congregation worshiping at Glad Tidings Tabernacle, a small church in Oshkosh, and got right with God. He and the Pastor, Rev. Collin Hughes and his wife Barbara, became good friends and Dan became a Board Member. There he met the young lady, Chris, who would become his wife and mother of two wonderful children, Tommy and Tiffany, in addition to four other children from previous marriages. Dan obtained employment at a paper mill in Neenah where his father worked, and for nearly 40 years he served as a Quality Control Inspector for P.H. Glatfelter. Dan knows what “a long commute” means, driving many miles each workday, and more than 40 miles on Sundays and Wednesdays to attend service at Glad Tidings Tabernacle. Eventually he and Chris started a Bible Study in their home on Friday nights, where they studied What the Bible Teaches about Mercy, as well as other topics. When Pastor Doug Detert moved to Wautoma in 1996, Dan invited him to teach the Friday Night Class. As time passed, the group transitioned into a home church, as several in the class felt it was time to change their place of worship of Sundays. Dan and Chris faithfully attended this home church, which met first in Oshkosh, then in Pickett, Poy Sippi, Redgranite, and finally in Almond, Wisconsin. From the outset of the purchase of Evergreen Center’s 105-acre site in Almond, Dan and Chris have been involved in helping the work in countless ways and for countless hours. In 2006, while Dan and Doug were enjoying breakfast together in Wautoma, a call came from Dan’s employer with news that the paper plant was closing. Sensing the hand of the Lord in this seeming unhappy news (and without much tact!), Doug let out a, “Praise the Lord!” Looking back, we can both see that God would use the next 10 years to prepare Dan to assume the leadership of Evergreen Center. 4 years ago the Board ordained Dan, recognizing his calling, and fulfilling the word of the Lord given to him so many years ago, that he should serve as a pastor someday. Since then, Dan has been appointed Chairman of the Board, as well as President of Evergreen Center, and his ministry at the Center is practically full-time now. Meanwhile, his wife Chris, who knew in 2005 that God wanted Evergreen to purchase the property we now own, fasted and prayed until it finally happened in 2006. She stands with Dan as one with him in his new role. This short profile would not be complete without mentioning the tragic death of their son Craig, and how the Lord has inspired the entire Evergreen Center church family by the way they have responded to Craig’s murder, with much mercy, and without bitterness. Many in the congregation have testified to the affect their example has had on us. Truly Jesus has his hand on this couple, and we thank God for them! We are so grateful for all of you, and your prayers and support!
Every blessing, Elizabeth Metz on behalf of the Evergreen Center Staff In the recent months, the Lord has been speaking to us in remarkable directness. We would like to share with you some examples of talks that have inspired us. Three talks are available on one disc. They are: “Where Do We Find Jesus Now?” Rev. Doug Detert 12-24-17 “Your Self Strength Must Die” Rev. Kevin Teachey 2-18-18 “Having the Passion of Jesus” Rev. Kurt Koshall 3-25-18 If you would like a free copy, please write "Three Talks" on the back of the response card, with your name and address on the front, and send it back to us. If you wish to enclose $5.00 to cover shipping and handling, that will help, but there is no obligation. God bless you!"
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