Elder Reflection - Steve Orth -March 2022
Ralph has challenged the elders to have a word for 2022. My word is REST. I am a person who when it comes to work I have a driver-type personality that is very task-driven, loves to achieve/succeed, and enjoys being busy. Since becoming a Christian my biggest challenge is to consistently release my desire to be in control, be submissive, and trust in God in my daily walk with him. If I am honest, as I look back on my 50ish years of following Christ, I must admit that I have too often allowed the busyness and stress of the world to influence me in greater ways than the “living and active” word of my Heavenly Father. God is re-learning me that we who have faith in him are designed for HIS REST. We are designed to have a full day and at various times throughout each day set aside to simply enjoy God and the blessed life he has given us. When we value success and busyness over relationship with God and obedience to his commands, our priorities begin to fall out of place. For the last several months I have been really endeavoring to pursue rest….not sleep…but actively seeking to pursue God’s rest! Hebrews 4:9-11 says, So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us, therefore, strive to enter that rest… The Sabbath Rest is more than just a day, it’s a picture of how God wants us to live…not by trusting ourselves, or other people but accepting His new way of life which is God living in us, working through us, and we making ourselves available to him. Lord, here I am! This is what the true Sabbath is, to cease from my own efforts and my own works and to depend on the work of the one who indwells me. This is why Paul cries, I no longer live, but Christ lives in me (Galatians 2:20). This was also the secret of the life of Jesus as he himself said, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work (John 14:10). God is teaching me that the rest of God is not a rest from work—it’s a rest in work. It’s partnering with God to do what He is calling me to do (stay in my own lane) by His grace, and leaving the part I can’t do in His hands, trusting Him to do it in His timing. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus gives a promise to those who will follow him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. My prayer is that my Sierra Bible Church family can obey God’s command to observe his Sabbath and embrace God’s desire to bring us REST!

To our dear SBC Community, “Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author, and Finisher of our faith,” we can look with gratitude at all He has done among us in 2021. Here are a few highlights: • The Nursery relaunched • Monday night Team Time opened with 31 kids - a great start! • Awana opened to a packed crowd • Becky began a ministry to equip and build women • We held an Ash Wednesday Service, Good Friday gatherings in Elder and Staff homes, and three Easter services, each with Children’s Ministry and Nursery! • And look around – we’re seeing many new people at SBC. Be encouraged! Together we are taking seriously the command in Hebrews 10:25 – “Do not neglect to meet together … encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” We are building and blessing one another to be Christ’s “Church triumphant.” In our February elders and staff meeting, Steve Orth reminded us of God’s deep delight in answering our dreams, Kingdom dreams, “greater than even He did,” and to reach for God’s abundant plans and purposes. His insights reminded us of the abundant God we worship and serve. Pastor Steve encouraged us to trust in God’s best timeframes for everything and to carefully follow God’s lead. And Nate rejoiced that we are growing stronger, again meeting indoors, continuing the Rooted series, and hosting several sermon-based Life Groups. Bryan Stanton’s worship ministry team is serving us so well, and we are deeply grateful for the solid 32-year Children’s Ministry foundation Becky has handed off to us, where God is continuing to build and bless young lives and their families. Through this year the Lord has bountifully supplied our needs, and He is leading us now to do even more in 2022. The Lord has given the elders a bold vision of “Kingdom dreams” for the year ahead at SBC. Randy voiced the staff and elders’ unified commitment – “to offer attractive service to our community, where people are encouraged to stay and to learn with us in growing personal relationships.” Please pray with us to that end – God is at work! There are always challenges ahead. Jesus said, “In this world, you will have troubles,” and He quickly added, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” And so, as we walk together with the Lord, we do so by grace, in confidence, and rest in His perfect will and way. We remain focused together on growing in the gospel, strengthening one another in Christ, and boldly proclaiming Him in our surrounding community – one that is eager for hope. Thank you for your faithful service, support, and supply all through this year. The elders are humbled by and grateful for your trust. We encourage you to continue in this work with us with your year-end giving, assured in the apostle Paul’s encouragement to the Philippians, that “My God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” We pray for you all, for a rich Christmas season of joy in Christ, and an abundant New Year. In Christ, our life, The Elders of SBC Ralph Milnik, Steve Orth, Don Broesamle, Randy Richter, Steve Osborn