firstIMPRESSIONS
from Senior Pastor Timothy Satryan

Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?

John 20:7 tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin.

As we examine the story of the resurrection found in John 20, we read that Simon Peter arrived at the tomb and “went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side.”

Is that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes!

In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished.

Now if the master was done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, “I’m done”.

But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because the servant knew that the folded napkin meant, “I’m not finished yet.” The folded napkin meant, “I’m coming back!”

Our Master, Jesus Christ, is coming back!

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 7.25. Live for God, on purpose, for He is coming back soon for His people!

You may have seen Indiana Jones in one of his adventures, but we have someone better than him! We have Delaware Jones! And, you can meet him personally this Sunday morning, right here at WFA, as we are treated with a special sneak preview of our “Quest for Truth” Vacation Bible School, which continues on Monday through Friday, June 25-29. You will be delighted and blessed as you see Delaware Jones on his mission to find the truth!

Digging Into God’s Word
Come join the SuperKIDS Network and “Claymont Clara,” president of the QFTO (Quest For Truth Organization) as we uncover the mysteries of God’s Word. Clara, along with world renown archeologist Delaware Jones, travel the world looking for clues, while our very own Dakota Joe and his sidekick Maverick will help kids find the truth at our own excavation site. They will be aided by the special forces of Righteous Rover and Dora the Explorer.

Each day the kids will visit our Digz Observation Camp where Professor Digz and her crew will be piecing together the clues. Kids can create their own artifacts with Kathy Quest and Artifact Sue. You will not want to miss it!

Friday Night is Family Night!
Everyone is invited to join us on Friday night! We will begin in the Sanctuary, where we will conclude the week’s mystery. We will then go outside for fun, food and fellowship. We will have popcorn, cotton candy, hot dogs, our kiddie-pillar inflatable, face painting, ballooning and much more.

Don’t miss this Sunday morning, as well as next Friday evening, joining Delaware Jones and Dakota Joe on the “Quest for Truth!”

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by Mark Batterson

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop criticizing and start creating. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilacs. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshipping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Laugh at yourself. Keep making mistakes. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. And remember: If God is for us who can be against us?

an excerpt from Mark Batterson’s book “In A Pit with A Lion on a Snowy Day.” Mark Batterson is the pastor of the National Community Church, an Assemblies of God church in Washington, DC. Visit his website at www.theaterchurch.com

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I will...
Like Paul, forget those things which are behind, and press forward.
Like Abraham, trust implicitly in my God.
Like Enoch, walk in daily fellowship with my heavenly Father.
Like Jehosaphat, prepare my heart to seek God.
Like Moses, choose rather to suffer than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.
Like Daniel, commune with God at all times.
Like Caleb and Joshua, refuse to be discouraged because of superior numbers.
Like Gideon, advance even though my friends be few.
Like Aaron and Hur, uphold the hands of my pastor and the leaders of my church with my prayer and support.
Like Andrew, strive to lead my brother to Christ.
Like Stephen, manifest a forgiving spirit toward all who seek my hurt.

And, realizing that I cannot hope to achieve these objectives by my own strength, I will rely upon Christ for “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

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I met the strangest man the other day.
He said he believed the Bible, but he never reads it.
He said he loves the church of which he is a member, but he never attends.
He said he believes a man should be honest in money matters, but he never tithes.
He said younger people certainly need the Lord, but he isn’t leading them in that direction.
He said the main need of the church is for dedicated Christians, but he isn’t one.
He said the church should do more in the way of ministering to other people, but he doesn’t help.
He criticized the way the church is “run,” but he never participates.
He said he believed in the Second Coming of Christ, but he lives as though Jesus will never return.
He says prayer will change things, but he never prays.
He was a strange man, indeed!

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That’s when you blessed me

When I stepped out on faith and believed you would do for me what I had seen you do for others
That’s when you blessed me

When I realized that obedience was better than sacrifice
That’s when you blessed me

When I got off my high horse and got on my knees
That’s when you blessed me

When I acknowledged you in all my ways
That’s when you blessed me

When I set my mind on things eternal
That’s when you blessed me

When I recognized that only what I do for Christ will last
That’s when you blessed me

When I took the time to study your word and ordered my steps
That’s when you blessed me

When I figured out that I am the biggest obstacle I have to overcome
That’s when you blessed me

When I stopped “going with the flow” and went with “Thus sayeth the Lord”
That’s when you blessed me

When you sent your comforter to dry my tears and told me to keep on keeping on
That’s when you blessed me

When I opened my heart to fully receive the love of God
That’s when you blessed me

You were there all the time whether I acknowledged you with my words or deeds
All I had to do was receive what you already ordained for me to have
That’s when you blessed me

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For years he had been too busy to worship in his home church. Then he returned. No more a “no-show,” he was now a changed man. No, the roof didn’t fall in—and good thing; it was raining. That provided quite a contrast for someone who always let the least little excuse like rain keep him out of church.

Naturally, this was not just another service. His return was such a big event that family and friends accompanied him. Even the minister publicly recognized his presence. Some family members became emotional about the matter, but the man himself expressed absolutely no emotion. He seemed to be at a total loss for words. Neither did he sing nor smile. That may seem strange to some, but it was consistent with his spiritual nature. From all other indications, however, he was indeed a changed man.

As the service closed there he was at the altar – the center of attention.

His pastor stood beside him while friends and relatives came by. What a difference! He was no longer present just “in spirit.” Now his body had finally caught up with that spirit.

It was such a nice funeral.

as seen in the October-December 1979 issue of “Proclaim” magazine.

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An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole, which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water, at the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.” The old woman smiled, “Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side?” “That’s because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You’ve just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

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A minister delivered a sermon in ten minutes one Sunday morning, which was about half the usual length of his sermons. He explained, “I regret to inform you that my dog, who is very fond of eating paper, ate that portion of my sermon which I was unable to deliver this morning.”

After the service, a visitor from another church shook hands with the preacher and said, “Pastor, if that dog of yours has any pups, I want to get one to give to my minister.”

My two golden retrievers surprised us last week while we were out doing lawn work. We came back inside to discover that they had thoroughly “enjoyed” a couple of my daughter’s magazines left at “nose level!” But, I prepare my sermons on the computer, and Breeze and Booty are not going to be having any puppies! So, no ten minute sermons at WFA!