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A Message from Pastor James
August 7, 2009
Dear friends:
So, if you read the front page of the Oakland Press on Wednesday of this week you already know that we had a fire at the church on Monday night. Matt Fleser and Tim Maxfield were outside about 6:30 PM, ½ hour into VBS, when each, independently noticed black smoke streaming up into the air from behind our shed. They discovered a fire in a full blaze with flames leaping up above the roof line. We called 911 and a number of people sprung into action with a garden hose & 2 fire extinguishers. The fire was knocked down before the Fire Department arrived. They told us we did a good job containing the fire. We saved the garage from burning down and kept the dry woods behind the garage from catching on fire.
The VBS children were never in any danger and no one was hurt. Damage to the building is fixable and our loss minimal. I am convinced that there are several people who are nothing less than heroes. I hesitate to mention the names of these heroes lest I leave someone out, but I’m going to risk it: the ones I remember helping were Matt Fleser (who jumped in to pull the sawhorses that were fueling the fire away from the fire). Tim Maxfield (who acted calmly and quickly during crucial moments to keep the fire from spreading and later cleaned up the garage area and trimmed back the limbs lying on the roof of the garage). Chad Morgan (who bravely attacked the fire and helped clean up afterward). Keith Carnes (who quickly got the hoses connected to get water to the blaze). Also, Steve Croff, Lon Fall, Gordie Fall, Sammy Bolin (who ran and got a fire extinguisher right away), and others (it all happened so fast – I probably have missed mentioning someone. If I did, it is purely because of my faulty memory. Please tell me if you also helped during the week and I’ll give a more complete story next time). Also, Tim Patterson sprung into action notifying our insurance company and getting bids for repairs. From our whole congregation, we speak with one voice: THANK YOU to everyone who helped.
The Fire Inspector told us that he strongly suspected arson. The recent string of fires in Waterford may be related. There is a full investigation under way.
I’d like for you to do two things:
1. Thank God for this blessing. Normally, no one is at the church at 6:30 PM (the Fire Investigator told me that he thought it was set sometime around 5 PM, when no one was on the property, and burned for a while until the sawhorses provided fuel to create the leaping flames that we saw). THANK GOD, for this is nothing short of a blessing! No one was hurt and we didn’t lose the garage (although it will have to be repaired and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected on the inside because of smoke damage). Think BLESSING! Not luck. “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!” This is a true blessing!
2. Pray for the perpetrator! Yes, you read that right! Pray for this person or these persons who did this. Ask God to work on their hearts and consciences. Pray that the one(s) responsible will be bothered or become troubled on the inside until they turn themselves in. They did something wrong (sin). Ask God to convict their hearts (repentance). We don’t really know who did this or what they were thinking. Maybe the fire was set out of anger, maybe to feel powerful, maybe for a thrill – we can only speculate. But whoever did this is troubled or twisted in some way. This person(s) needs our prayers. Jesus said to love our enemies and to pray for those who despitefully use or harm us. Well, now is the time listen to our dear Lord and respond with prayers for whoever did this. For us, it has to be more than wanting them to come to justice, we must love them enough, despite the circumstances, to pray for a change of heart within them. We must pray for God to be at work transforming their hearts. So please PRAY.
This Sunday, August 9, we will celebrate VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL. Our workers will be recognized and our children will sing the VBS songs for us. Also, you will hear some special music from Bob Caldrone. My message is timely and helpful. It is called “What I’ve Learned”. The scripture for the day are four short passages from Isaiah that are very meaningful to me. If you want to read them in advance, they are Isaiah 1:16-18; 44:8; 49:16a; 58:11. We worship at 10:30 AM.
DON’T FORGET that we are having a Fellowship Dinner after Worship. We will provide hot dogs, fruit, and chips. Please bring a side salad or whatever you had already planned to bring so their will be food and variety enough for everyone. There will be donation baskets for the lunch provide. The proceeds will go to support the ministry of CAMP LAEL.
Scripture to carry with you through the week: Paul said: “If God is for us, who is against us?” – Romans 8:31b
We worship at Bethany at 10:30 AM every Sunday. We are located at 1375 Hiller Rd, ½ mile south of Cooley Lake Road.
My cell phone number is 248-722-4516. My email address is: jamesbolin@bethanywater.org
Our AUGUST newsletter, the LINC, is now available on line! Visit us at our web site: www.bethanywaterford.org
James 
Read Pastor James E. Bolin, Jr’s Bio HERE
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