Thanksgiving and thanks-living

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On November 24, most of us in the U.S. will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day (other nations have similar celebrations at various times of the year). Reflecting on this annual holiday, comedian Phyllis Diller joked, “My cooking is so bad my kids thought the purpose of Thanksgiving was to commemorate Pearl Harbor!” While her humor always makes me laugh, I’m glad the Thanksgiving meals we’ll soon be enjoying will be gourmet affairs, not catastrophes.

Thanksgiving helps us remember what we’re thankful for (both great and small), then extend that gratitude to God and others. Perhaps, like me, you find yourself thankful for more things each year. The more we understand who Jesus is and who we are in him, and the more we appreciate the relationships he gives us in union with himself, the more we will be inclined to practice what the famous British Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon refers to in the following quote as thanks-living:

I think there is a better thing than thanksgiving: thanks-living. How is this to be done? By a general cheerfulness of manner, by an obedience to the command of Him by whose mercy we live, by a perpetual, constant delighting of ourselves in the Lord, and by a submission of our desires to His will.

Thanks-living, which flows from “an attitude of gratitude,” is the result of God’s grace. The word gratitude is derived from the Latin word gratia, which means grace, graciousness, or gratefulness. Considerable research confirms how important it is to express (and thus cultivate) gratitude toward others. A few years ago, the Harvard Mental Health Letter summarized some of that research. Dr. Robert A. Emmons of the University of California, Davis, and Dr. Michael E. McCullough of the University of Miami conducted a study in which they asked participants to write a few sentences each week, focusing on particular topics. Here is a summary of what they learned:

One group wrote about things they were grateful for that had occurred during the week. A second group wrote about daily irritations or things that had displeased them, and the third wrote about events that had affected them (with no emphasis on them being positive or negative). After 10 weeks, those who wrote about gratitude were more optimistic and felt better about their lives. Surprisingly, they also exercised more and had fewer visits to physicians than those who focused on sources of aggravation. [1]

In a related study, Dr. Martin E. P. Seligman, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, had 411 people write and personally deliver a letter of gratitude to someone they believed had never been properly thanked. The result was an almost immediate increase in the happiness of the letter writers.

This research confirms the wisdom contained in the Bible. Many of the Psalms mention the importance of being thankful, and the apostle Paul exhorts Christians to give thanks “in everything… for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV). Practicing thanks-living leads to both spiritual and physical health. Conversely, being unthankful is characteristic of those not living in communion with God as noted by Paul in Romans 1:21 (ESV): “They did not honor him as God or give thanks to him.” As we live in union and communion with God, we cannot help but be thankful.

In Letters to Malcolm, Chiefly on Prayer [2], C. S. Lewis helps us see how being thankful is woven into a life of worshipping God. He notes that when we give thanks to God we often focus on what God has done for us—all his blessings, especially the gift of redemption through the atoning work of Jesus. But sometimes when we turn to God with thanksgiving, we begin to realize that the reason God does all that we are thanking him for is because of who God is. It’s at this turning point in our thinking that our thanksgiving goes deeper, turning into adoration. In adoration we are thankful not so much for what God has done for us, but for who God is—for that is why God does what he does!

Being thankful is one thing. But knowing Who we’re thanking leads into true thanks-living—a life of worship, fellowship and communion with the Triune God: Father, Son and Spirit.

I’m grateful every day of the year for each of you, and for your faithfulness to our God. I pray blessings upon your celebrations of Thanksgiving whenever and however they come your way.

Thankful to God for everything,
Joseph Tkach

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[1] http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/in-praise-of-gratitude

[2] C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer, Letter 17

Trey Carlisle honored

On November 19, GCI member Arthur (Trey) Carlisle will be one of the My Hero honorees at the 12th International Film Festival & Multimedia Awards Ceremony held in Santa Monica, California. Trey is the son of GCI members Dr. Arthur (Jr.) and Hariett Carlisle, and the grandson of GCI members Arthur (Sr.) and Eula Mae Carlisle (Arthur, Sr. is an elder).

At the ceremony, Trey will be receiving the Emerging Artist Award. In announcing the award, the My Heroes Project noted this:

In the 8th grade, Trey Carlisle made a vow to fight injustice by telling important stories. Over the past four years, he has produced award-winning documentaries that speak out against violence and discrimination. He is a passionate voice for positive change in the world.

About a year ago, Trey was featured in local news reports for his work in the community, including helping disadvantaged kids. Here is a video that highlights some of what Trey has been doing:

On YouTube at https://youtu.be/KQNiOS6HBro.

Conference in Denmark

Forty six people gathered in Denmark recently for a conference that focused on the topic of peace (“shalom” in Hebrew) in accordance with the priestly blessing voiced in Numbers 6:24-26.

The sermons at the conference expounded different aspects of God’s gift of shalom, leading into small group discussions where personal stories were shared concerning how God has granted his peace in difficult situations.

A highlight of the conference was the blessing of a one year-old girl.

Building a culture of thankfulness

It’s vital that church leaders not only practice thanks-living in their own lives but that they work to build a “culture of thankfulness” within their congregations. How is that done? Rob Hurtgen, in a Lifeway Pastors article, offers three essential habits. To read his helpful article, click here.

thank-you

Death of Jeremiah Ortiguero

We were saddened to learn of the recent death of retired GCI-Philippines pastor Jeremiah Ortiguero. Here is a tribute to Pastor Jerry from Eugene Guzon, GCI-Philippines National Director.

Pastor Jeremiah Orteguero — Pastor Jeremiah Ortiguero

“Pastor Jerry,” as he was affectionatly known, was one of the longest-serving ministers in the Philippines. Jerry’s father, Pedro Ortiguero, planted our denomination in the Philippines in 1962.

Jerry was in the United Arab Emirates visiting family when he suffered a stroke and was hospitalized. He died peacefully in his sleep on November 14 at age 71. He is survived by five siblings, five children (and spouses), and fourteen grandchildren.

Jerry’s death brings great loss to us in the Philippines where he served the church for a very long time (including several years after he retired). We thank him for an inspiring legacy of living and sharing the gospel, of fatherly love, passion for God and service to God and our members. Though he had his share of life’s pains and challenges, his hope in Christ prevailed. He had a big heart, which continued to beat for God and people until he was called home.

We join Jeremiah’s family in grateful praise to God for a servant who finished well. We say affectionately to him, “Thank you Pastor Jerry for everything! You are dearly loved and highly honored.”

Jesus said… “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (John 11:25-26)

Please continue to remember the Ortiguero family in your prayers.

Earl Jones

Last month we asked for prayer for Earl Jones, pastor of GCI’s congregation in Fayetteville, NC. Here is an update from Earl’s regional pastor, Paul David Kurts:

Earl Jones

I visited Earl and his wife Betty at the facility where he is going through rehabilitation following the stroke he suffered in early October. Earl was in good spirits and doing well. He has improved significantly since I saw him just a month ago. He is still anxious to get back to the gym! Earl and Betty and their entire family are grateful for the prayers, cards and words of encouragement received from GCI brothers and sisters around the country.

Cards may be sent to:

Earl and Betty Jones
168 N. Gaines Street
Southern Pines, NC 28387-3906

Jim Kissee

Two weeks ago, we asked for prayer for Jim Kissee, pastor of GCI congregations in Springfield and Joplin, MO. Here is an update from Jim’s daughter Janna Jones:

Jim Kissee

Dad, Mom and I met with the doctors who will be removing the cancerous mass and also, if necessary, Dad’s right kidney. There is a possibility that they won’t have to remove the kidney, but if the mass is into the covering of the kidney, which they think it might be, then it will have to be removed. The good news is that the left kidney should be fine on its own, though anytime you remove one kidney, kidney failure is a risk. They showed us on a scan how the tumor seems to be moving everything out of its way, though not invading anything, and Dad’s chest is negative for any cancer.

All three of us left the meeting feeling encouraged and hopeful that the surgery will take care of the cancer. Dad will be hospitalized for about five days.

Thank you again for the prayers and encouragement for all of us, we really appreciate it.

Cards may be sent to:

Jim and Kaye Kissee
601 N. 36th St
Nixa, MO
65714-7558

Glen Weber retires

On November 6, New Hope Christian Fellowship, GCI’s congregation in Eagle Rock, California, bid fond farewell to their lead pastor, Glen Weber and his wife Connie. Glen is retiring from employment as a GCI pastor and the couple has moved to the Denver, Colorado area.

Reflecting on his last day as a lead pastor, Glen wrote this on his Facebook page:

After 43 years and 5 months, today is my final sermon/service as a full-time pastor. We will ride off into the sunset to Denver (Aurora) and see what new opportunities await us in my retirement (Connie will continue to work for another couple years.) Thank you to all of you out there that have shared and impacted our lives!!

Here is a video produced by his congregation giving tribute to Pastor Glen and his wife Connie:

On YouTube at http://youtu.be/N_5xK2yt5YE.