Pastor's Page

Pastor David Whitten and Judith Whitten Zherina Lia Demi Whitten

November 2011

"Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. But you ask, „How do we rob you? In tithes and offerings. . . . Bring the whole tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. (Malachi 3:8, 10).

There is an expression that says, "Close doesn‟t count except in horseshoes or hand grenades." I would add that "almost" doesn‟t count either, including horseshoes and hand grenades. Ted De Hass, of Bedford, Iowa, and Brian Lowery, the managing editor of PreachingToday.com, comment on the failure of "Almost."

"Since the 1940s, the Ad Council has been the leading producer of public service announcements. Of the thousands of commercials they have produced, their work for the „Don't Almost Give‟ campaign has been particularly powerful.

One ad shows a man with crutches struggling to go up a flight of concrete stairs. The narrator says, „This is a man who almost learned to walk at a rehab center that almost got built by people who almost gave money.‟ After a brief pause, the announcer continues: „Almost gave. How good is almost giving? About as good as almost walking.‟

Another ad shows a homeless man curled up in a ball on a pile of rags. One ratty bed sheet shields him from the cold. The narrator says, „This is Jack Thomas. Today someone almost brought Jack something to eat. Someone almost brought him to a shelter. And someone else almost brought him a warm blanket.‟ After a brief pause, the narrator continues: „And Jack Thomas? Well, he almost made it through the night.‟

Another ad shows an older woman sitting alone in a room, staring out a window. The narrator says, „This is Sarah Watkins. A lot of people almost helped her. One almost cooked for her. Another almost drove her to the doctor. Still another almost stopped by to say hello. They almost helped. They almost gave of themselves. But almost giving is the same as not giving at all.‟ Each ad ends with a simple, direct message: „Don't almost give. Give.‟"

Please consider what God requests of each of us. Giving our tithes, talents and time is a part of our faith statement. Giving is between God and us. Giving for the 2012 year should be a part of your budget strategy. Almost giving even if it is well intentioned doesn‟t count even in horseshoes and hand grenades!

Pastor Dave

Pastor David Whitten was installed as pastor of the South Waterloo Church of the Brethren on May 31, 2009.

He formerly served the Moscow Church of the Brethren in Mt. Solon, Virginia. Most recently he served as Mission Coordinator for the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria, where he met his wife, Judith.

The South Waterloo Church of the Brethren is located at 6227 Kimball Avenue in Waterloo. All are welcome to attend Sunday School at 9:00 am and Worship is 10:15 am every Sunday.

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Waterloo Courier

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Pastor Dave & Judith Whitten

Blessing us with their gift of music

Mark 10:13-16

The Little Children and Jesus

¹³People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. ¹⁵I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." ¹⁶And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

Pastor Dave with the little children...

Camden, Arial, & Joslyn

I am Barabbas. Jesus died for me! I am a Zealot; a radical Jewish group dedicated to overthrow the Roman State...