{"id":2767,"date":"2016-01-16T01:29:36","date_gmt":"2016-01-16T01:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/?p=2767"},"modified":"2016-01-16T01:29:36","modified_gmt":"2016-01-16T01:29:36","slug":"weekly-newsletter-january-15-2016","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/balboaunionchurch.org\/es\/2016\/01\/16\/weekly-newsletter-january-15-2016\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Newsletter: January 15, 2016"},"content":{"rendered":"

Disculpa, pero esta entrada est\u00e1 disponible s\u00f3lo en English<\/a>. For the sake of viewer convenience, the content is shown below in the alternative language. You may click the link to switch the active language.<\/p>

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Verse for today:<\/h2>\n

Jeremiah 29: 11<\/strong><\/p>\n

For I know the plans I have for you,\u00bb declares the LORD, \u00abplans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Sometimes things are not as we want them to be.\u00a0 Despite our best efforts, our circumstances aren\u2019t \u00abuser friendly\u00bb. Perhaps 2016 didn’t start quite as you had hoped. \u00a0Panama is looking at a very long and dry \u00abdry season\u00bb, with discussions of how to start saving water already. \u00a0Some of the foremost critics of the financial world are indicating that in 2016 we should expect a \u00abcorrection\u00bb like the one in 2008 – i.e. a crash of the financial markets. \u00a0When we look at the world situation – perhaps we don’t see peace and hope.<\/p>\n

This verse says that God plans to prosper us, give us hope and a future: \u00a0But what about translation? Obviously knowing the original language helps, but everyone can look at different English translations in hard copies or on the internet. Consider these three translations:<\/strong><\/p>\n

NIV<\/strong> For I know the plans I have for you,\u00bb declares the LORD, \u00abplans to prosper<\/strong> you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.<\/p>\n

ESV<\/strong> For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness<\/strong> and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.<\/p>\n

NAU<\/strong> ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare<\/strong> and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.<\/p>\n

Hmm. \u201cProsper you\u201d in NIV becomes \u201cwelfare\u201d and \u201cwholeness\u201d in the other two translations. In general, an interpretation that only holds with one translation is likely to be suspect.\u00a0According to Webster\u2019s, \u201cprosperity\u201d means \u201cthe condition of being successful or thriving; especially economic well-being.\u201d That is certainly not what \u201cwholeness\u201d means, and even \u201cwelfare\u201d has quite different connotations. This should give you an important clue that learning the specific Hebrew word will be helpful.<\/p>\n

As it turns out, in this case the Hebrew word is one you may already know: \u201cShalom.\u201d Normally this word is translated \u201cpeace\u201d, but it has a much wider range of meanings than our word \u201cpeace\u201d. The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament uses these words to describe it: \u201cCompleteness, wholeness, harmony, fulfillment. . . . Unimpaired relationships with others and with God.\u201d\u00a0So the emphasis of the word is not on economic prosperity, but more on the positive relationship with God and others.<\/p>\n

Jeremiah was trapped in the city of Jerusalem which was being dissembled by the Babylonians.\u00a0 False prophets were telling the people, \u201cDon\u2019t give up; there\u2019s still hope.\u00a0 God will surely send a miracle of deliverance as He has in the past.\u201d\u00a0 But Jeremiah\u2019s message was, \u201cThere\u2019s no last minute miracle on the way.\u00a0 The judgment of God is falling.\u201d\u00a0 In chapter 29, he wrote to exiles who had already been deported to Babylon, giving the same message, but in the middle of it we find this\u00a0remarkable verse of comfort and hope (v. 11).\u00a0 In looking this chapter, we can learn something about responding to negative surroundings.\u00a0 When we are not where we want to be, how should we respond? What relationships can we build on?<\/p>\n

Verses 13 and 14 of Jeremiah 29 give us our response:<\/p>\n

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you<\/strong>.\u00a0 You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So, as you are looking at 2016 and the possible difficulties that you may face – look at your relationships. \u00a0Which are the important relationships that you want to be drawn closer in? \u00a0What are the relationships you want to build on? \u00a0How will your hope and future look if these were stronger and firmer? \u00a0How will your relationship with God become stronger and firmer this year in spite of your circumstances?<\/p>\n

THIS SUNDAY AT BALBOA UNION CHURCH<\/h1>\n

Worship Service at 10 a.m. \u2013 ALL ARE WELCOME!<\/strong><\/p>\n

SPEAKER: Joel Guerra<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sunday School Teachers: On Vacation<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
First Testament Readings and\u00a0Psalm<\/td>\nIsaiah 62:1-5, Psalm\u00a036:5-10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Epistle Reading<\/td>\n1 Corinthians 12:1-11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gospel Reading<\/td>\nJohn 2:1-11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\u00a0Prayers Concerns<\/h2>\n

Please Pray for Our Brothers and Sisters from Siria and Iraq<\/p>\n

Lord, please remind the world that we are all brothers and sisters and there should be no violence among us, only love and attempts to understand one another.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We also remember in prayer our former pastor:<\/p>\n