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"Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest." John 4:35
Lakewood, New Jersey is a community like none other. It is rich in culture and diversity. In Lakewood you will find one of the largest Hasidic Jewish communities in the Northeast, housing the largest rabbinical school in the world. This community is surrounded by a very large Hispanic population from Mexico, Central and South America. Mixed into all this culture, you will find the homeless and mentally handicapped. Alongside this ever growing population, is an African American Community, as well as a sprinkling of people from Poland, Germany and Russia. The Lord has truly brought the nations to our backyard. |
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Those who are blessed to be parents or who have experienced the birth of a child, they might have a greater understanding of what the term "new beginning" means. The birth of the first child is one of the most special moments in the life of any human being; it is an experience that transforms us, giving us a new point of view, and new perspective on life. We cease being a couple and instead become a family.
It is interesting to look back on the day my daughter was born. While being with my wife during the whole process of birth, my life was deeply impacted. God wisely entrusted this task of childbirth to the woman. I admire them deeply, because most men feel a little pain and can't bear it. Recognizing that God is perfect, that day I vowed in my heart to never forget how brave and strong my wife was. |
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WOW!! It's April!! If you're a member of the Greeley household, this means baseball season has arrived. Baseball fields are coming to life - from Little League to Active Adult communities; from the amateur to the professional. The United States is reverberating with the sounds of “The Star Spangled Banner” - to –“ Play Ball!” - to - the crack of the bat - to - the cheers of the fans as their team rounds the bases. We Americans are alive with baseball fever! We Americans are anew with hope that "our" team takes home the big prize - The World Series.
Well, it's no different in the GAP household. We are officially launching The Pathway. You have seen the banners - you have heard the whispers - and finally, the time has come for each of us to join Team Pathway. It's time for each of us to step up to the plate and commit to taking our turns at bat and to running the bases - not for the title of "World Series" champs. No! Team Pathway is in it for the long haul - setting each of us on a course of lifelong learning - that we might all hear, "Well done, you upright, honorable, admirable, and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:23a AMP)
In May, we will all have The Pathway Playbook placed in our hands. This preliminary playbook will list the core classes for each base. It will give us all the key code to look for in the bulletin, DVD announcement, and website every time we see the opportunity to attend many of the classes and experiences with God that GAP offers throughout the year. This key code will show both the core and supplemental classes.
Sooooo ... how do we run the bases and why should we? Let me answer the last question first. In II Timothy 2:5, the Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, gives this command to the Body of Christ - "Study and be eager and do your utmost to present yourself to God approved and tested by trial, a workman who has no cause to be ashamed, correctly analyzing and accurately dividing - rightly handling and skillfully teaching the Word of Truth." (AMP.) The following points seem quite clear to me -
1. Our study of the word is not to be a one of passivity, but a compelling force that causes us to do.
2. Trials will come - no matter what - it is how we have learned to handle ourselves during those times that can be without or with God's approval.
3. The ability to accurately analyze the word takes us from head knowledge to heart wisdom.
4. We learn not only to wield the sword of His word for ourselves, but then are able to teach others, as well.
Running the bases of The Pathway is not only the easy part, but gets us involved with others building relationships as we all run the bases together. There are core and supplemental classes for each base. The core classes are the fundamentals that everyone absolutely needs to set us on a firm foundation, but our life as a Christian requires more than that. None of us can lay the foundation for a house and move in. It needs to be framed; walls put up to set rooms in place; wiring, plumbing, etc. so that it might be functional; an outer fabrication and roof to keep the interior free from weather and the occurrences of nature. To make that house livable, we need furnishings, and to make it beautiful, we decorate. These are the supplemental classes and experiences. "... all of us, as with unveiled face, because we continued to behold the Word of God as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His image in an ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit." (II Corinthians 3:18, AMP.)
We have the choice - we can remain veiled and blind to the workings of God or we can allow the Holy Spirit to be continually at work in us that we might be changed into His image, not for our pleasure or glory. The change in us is for producing a changed atmosphere around us as we take the territories for the Lord. So, Team Pathway looks forward to running the bases with you - as students of His Word and His deeds - as teachers - and as coaches! Come join us! There are no tryouts - The Pathway transcends age, gender, intellect, social status, and ethnicity!
Can you hear the reverberation? That great cloud of witnesses are on their feet and they're shouting – “Play Ball!!!”
Patricia Greeley
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One of the things we desire as church leaders is to provide for the fellowship and the intimacy so very necessary to our wholeness by fostering involvement of each believer in a small group. It is in small groups, whether a Life Group or some other regular assembling together to share our lives, that we can meet the interpersonal needs of one another.
Our culture is seemingly without true society and full of disintegrating relationships. Many have little opportunity to experience the giving or receiving of heartfelt concern and love of our neighbor. Individuals are lonely in a crowded room and there is more rejection and isolation than can be borne by the frailty of the human soul. Thus, we always hope to cause community to grow. A Christianity which does not begin with the individual never begins, but Christianity which ends with the individual simply ends. Fellowship is a required essential to healthy living.
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