The back group leader told me to lead and he would follow. So, after a couple of riders had to break off for home it was down to six in our group. Along one road we passed a rider that waved, which I didn't think much of it. At our next stop while waiting for the rest of the group to catch up, I see his near the end of our group. Cool! We are growing now. He rode with us to the lunch stop. It was now getting warm, so it was nice to sit in the air conditioning and cool down. The lead group still wasn't there yet, so we enjoyed some cool drinks while getting to know a new friend. I finally heard from the lead group, they were off the route and one member had a bike break down on them. A family member came in a truck to pick them up and we met up with them at the lunch stop, after we had eaten and shared the Scripture. That group would eat lunch and then head home. We rode off to Chester County and some neat roads. It spritzed on us a couple of times and drizzled once for about 3 minutes. We made it to the end of the ride and met up with some friends that had eaten breakfast with us, but due to bike troubles couldn't ride with us. They went shopping instead. We had some good times with some great ice cream. With radar indicating some serious rain, we broke off and headed home. It did rain but not too bad, all got home safe and I am looking forward to next month's ride, our last "screamer" for the year. Don't miss it!

Scripture Readings for September 2014

This month's Scripture lesson was a continuation of "lesson in Christian living", this lesson was on the Church. There are two types of "church" in Christianity. The first type, the universal church, sometimes referred to as the Bride of Christ, which represents all Christians through out the world. The second type is the local church where believers worship on a regular basis. It can be in a traditional church building, in a store front, a home, or out doors. The building is not what is important, the members are the church. When I speak of "the church" in this lesson, I am referring to the second type, the local church. Our lesson begins in Psalm 122:1 which says, "I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”" Here we see that the writer has not only a desire, but a delight to go to church to worship God. Back in the Old Testament times when this was written, it was the Temple in Jerusalem, but the same meaning applies for us today. It IS good to go to God's house, the church, to worship Him. When we consider worship and serving God a few questions come to mind.

1. How should a church serve God? I Thessalonians 1:2-3 gives us some insight, " 2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." We should have our work produced by faith, not by obligation. Our labor prompted by love, not by duty. Our endurance should be inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, not of our own efforts.

2. What should a church do? I Thessalonians 2:13 show us some things we can do, " And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe." We can accept the Bible as God's holy Word and allow it to work in us. This allows God to begin working in and through you not only with the Word, but also by His Holy Spirit.

3. What roles are in the body of Christ? " 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Here we see the five roles given to the church to build it up so it may grow and be mature. Here is one of many places where the Scriptures refer to the Church as a body with many parts with Christ as the head.

4. From where does faith come? According to Romans 10:17 it is by hearing God's Word, " Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ." Where can we hear God's Word being not only read but taught? In the church, of course! This only applies though if you go to church to hear that Word.

5. What are some of the gifts we have as members of the Body of Christ? Romans 12:3-8 gives us some instructions, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." We can see coming to church with humility to find out where you belong, where you can use your gifts, is necessary not only to benefit us but also to bless the church.

6. What one thing does Jesus pray for us as believers of God? "“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."This passage from John 17:20-23 has Jesus praying for mainly one thing for us: unity. That is huge in God's eyes because God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, yet they are united and committed to each other. And so should all of us as we worship at the church God has called us to attend. Go where God is calling you to go and be united with the believers there, may God bless your work.

In a few days it will be Autumn, make sure you dress for the weather on our next ride. See you then.