Sunday School at 9 a.m.

During the 10 a.m. worship hour, Bro. Myers will preach from God’s Word.

We will also have our regular evening service at 7 p.m.

You are welcome! And invite your friends!

Visitation:
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
2:00 PM until 4:00 PM
6:00 PM until 8:00 PM
Blue River Church of the Brethren
3040 East 700 North
Columbia City, IN

Service:
Thursday, March 21, 2013
11:00 AM
Blue River Church of the Brethren
3040 East 700 North
Columbia City, IN

Dallas Leon “Bud” Shively, 85, passed away peacefully at his home Sunday morning, March 17, 2013.

Bud was born June 17, 1927 on the family farm in Thorncreek Township, Whitley County to Murry and Eva (Strouse) Shively. A 1945 graduate of Wolf Lake High School, he was a member of the 1941-1942 Wolf Lake semi-state finals basketball team.

On December 9, 1950, he was united in marriage to June J. (Rarick) in the Wolf Lake Baptist Church. She survives.

Mr. Shively was engaged in farming and drove school bus until he built Wolf Lake Feed and Farm Supply, opening the doors November 11, 1956. The business expanded in 1983 with the purchase of Farmer’s Grain of Columbia City. Bud worked with his family before health issues forced his retirement in 2012.

Bud enjoyed baseball, basketball, and fishing. He coached baseball at DeVol field for many years and will be best remembered for his faithful, life-long attendance at Blue River Church of the Brethren and his dedication to his children and grandchildren. His grandchildren could always count on seeing Grandpa Bud cheering them on from the crowd.

In addition to his wife, Bud is survived by six children, Jerel (Deborah) Shively, Connie Dye and Terry (Jill) Shively, all of Columbia City, Dennis (RuthAnn) Shively of Churubusco and Mark (Lorie) Shively of Albion and Teresa (Scott) Perry of Wolf Lake; 26 Grandchildren; 7 Great Grandchildren; a brother, Larry (Sharon) Shively of Fort Wayne; and five sisters, Edith (Dale) Smith of Fort Wayne, June Targgart of Fort Wayne, Joyce (Paul) Munk of New Jersey, Lois Byer of Fort Wayne and Marcia (Russell) Wright of New York.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Thelma LaVon Shively; and brother, Glen Shively.

Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday at Blue River Church of the Brethren, 3040 East 700 North, Columbia City with visitation one hour prior. The burial will be in Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam. Visitation will also be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the church.

Preferred memorials are to Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana.

Arrangements are by Smith and Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.

Service:
Saturday, March 16, 2013
3:00 PM
Blue River Church of the Brethren
3040 East 700 North
Columbia City, IN

Patricia L. “Pat” Kreider, 78, of rural Columbia City, died at 9:35 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at Parkview Oaks where she was admitted on Tuesday.

She was born September 3, 1934 in Fort Wayne, Indiana a daughter of Eubert Dea and Crystal Fay (Stegner) Logan. As a freshman in high school, her family moved to Blue Lake from Fort Wayne. She graduated from Churubusco High School and was the first Turtle Queen.

On January 2, 1954 she was united in marriage to David Leon Kreider. They made their first home in Noble County, moving to Fort Wayne in 1955. In 1962 they moved to their farm in rural Columbia City.

She retired from Whitley County Memorial Hospital.

Her church membership is Blue River Church of the Brethren.

Surviving relatives in her husband, Leon; five children, Cheryl (Rick) Meinika, David A. (Judy) Kreider, James L. (Martha) Kreider, Glenn (Diane) Kreider and Daniel (Caryl Parlow) Kreider, all of Columbia City; 10 grandchildren, Josh Meinika, Jacob Meinika, Jessica Kreider, Elijah Kreider, Isaiah Kreider, Jared Kreider, Ryan Kreider, Nathan Kreider, Ben Kreider and Michael Kreider; three great grandchildren, Ethan VanWagner, Carter Meinika and Noah Kreider; and a brother, Larry (Sandy) Logan of Ossian.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Corrie Meinika.

The funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Blue River Church of the Brethren, 3040 East 700 North, Columbia City with visitation after Noontime Saturday. The burial will be in Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam. Pastor Craig Alan Myers will officiate.

Preferred memorials are to Blue River Church of the Brethren Deacon Fund or Camp Alexander Mack.

Arrangements are being completed by Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.

As Jude started to write this letter, he was intending to write an encouraging word about salvation in Christ (v.3), but then changed his purpose to urge his readers to contend for the faith. This faith was something on which they were all united–that solid core of fundamentals that are necessary for salvation. This core is stated several times throughout the New Testament–in Acts 2:42 (the Apostles’ Teaching); Romans 6:17 (the Form of teaching); Ephesians 4:5 (One Faith); Philippians 2:16 (the Word of Life); Colossians 2:7 (the Faith); Titus 1:9 (sound doctrine); and Hebrews 4:14 (the Faith we possess). This was the truth around which they united in Christ. It was given to them by Christ, and they passed it on to others. Anything else was not the truth–or heterodox.

Some years ago, a survey done in one of the major denominations in the United States found that, among its ministers, 56% rejected the Virgin Birth of Jesus. 71% denied the reality of life after life. 54% tossed away the bodily resurrection of Jesus, while 78% doubted that Jesus would return. In other words, these teachers in the churches repudiated essential teachings that make the church truly Christian. They spurned the basic faith given to us through the Apostles.

Jude urged his readers to contend for that sound faith (verse 3). If no one knew what it was, how then could they fight for it? That word, “contend” means to struggle intensely. It means to get down where it might be dirty, gritty, and smelly. We are in a battle for truth, and have been since the Church was born. There is no pacifism in contending against the spiritual enemies of the Christian and of the Church. We fight, using the weapons of spiritual warfare as laid out in Ephesians 6:10-18.

Jude pressed his readers to pay attention (verse 4). Already, in the few years since the Cross, the Christian faith was being compromised. The attacks from the outside were often ferocious, but it was the departures from the inside that were more dangerous. And these defectors were not just the doubters, but those who were adamantly defiant. Some of their teaching had come into the church unnoticed, like someone slipping poison into a drinking glass. Heresy and error rarely enter with trumpet blasts, but rather by the back door with little attention.

Jude described the corrupting nature of the false teachers and their doctrines. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5 we find eighteen characteristics of those who were denying the Gospel from even within the Church. Here, Jude says these false teachers do two main things: (1) subtly, they twist the Gospel so as to teach ungodly living, or licentiousness, by saying that God’s love and grace is so great as to make godly living unnecessary; and (2) defiantly, they deny Jesus Christ–that is, they refuse even the need for a Saviour from sin. These two ideas are at the heart of every apostate teaching.

This two-headed creature of apostasy (or falling away) is a continual danger to the Church. Jude urges us to contend for the Faith that has been entrusted to us. We are to be aware of those who bring false doctrines into the Church, and we are to reject those teachings. We are to be on guard against those who would lead us away from the plain teaching of the New Testament. We are to study, teach, and preach sound doctrine as given to us by Jesus Christ and His Apostles. We are to keep on doing it until we die or until Jesus returns.

Pastor Craig Alan Myers

 Quill & Scroll
March 2012

Have you ever looked for something, but looked in the wrong place? Maybe we say about something, “I found it in the last place I looked…” Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, along with His disciples, also looked for Jesus, but didn’t find Him, even in the last place where they saw Him.  

 That’s because they looked in the wrong places. People still do.

Some look for Jesus on David’s throne.  That is, they look for a political Messiah–one who will rescue people from oppression, slavery, economic depression, and the like. We might ask, “Who will straighten out the mess in Washington?” and look for some hero who will have all the answers that he will apply with wisdom to the ills we face today. The only problem is, there is no man who has all the answers. So some looked then, and even some look today, for a Jesus who will turn the world upside down. But that isn’t where Jesus is.

Some look for Jesus a prosperity gospel. They expect Jesus to be where all is success, growth, and a tremendously fulfilling life. This kind of “gospel” is present in the “Word-Faith” movement, some television preachers, and in a host of places where grinding poverty almost pushes faith in an Almighty, Sovereign God to the limits. The only thing holding people back (they say) is a lack of faith in God’s provision. However, one can be full of faith, and be very poor, under great outward strains, and in physical pain. Jesus does promise to provide for His people, yet in His way, at His time, according to His pleasure. One can be mightily blessed of God while living in a shack, preaching to a small congregation, and seeing very little visible fruit of his faith. So in wealth and success isn’t where Jesus is.

Some still look for Jesus in a preacher or teacher. We have celebrity preachers who speak to countless persons daily on the radio or television. They might always have a smile, respond with a witty remark, or have a refined way of speaking. We might occasionally see the reflection of Jesus in someone like that, but we also know that every human being has his flaws and ill-tempers–even ones deeply devoted to Christ. But if we base our ideas of Jesus on any human being, we will soon be disappointed! That isn’t where Jesus is.

We must look for Jesus where He is!  That place is no longer in a tomb in Israel. That place is among the living! “Why do seek Jesus among the dead?”  He is not dead anymore.  That was a temporary condition for Him, and it has become a temporary condition of the bodies of God’s saints. So we look for, and find, Jesus in the place of the living. Where might that be today?

We find Jesus in the Church. Remember that the Church is the only institution directly established by Christ, and the bride for which He gave His life. If you want to find a fellow, you might want to look where his bride is. Often they will be together. Jesus is always with His Church. So, rather than running from church, we need to turn and run to the church, and encourage others to do so. There will we and they find Jesus Christ. He can be found elsewhere, to be sure, but the most obvious place to find Him is at church. A church that is singing, praying, praising, and preaching the Gospel is a good place to look for Jesus. So we find Jesus where His people are working, sharing, and being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We look for Jesus where He is physically–in Heaven.  His glorified body ascended into Heaven, where the Bible says He sat down at the right hand of God the Father. He is active in interceding for His people, in building our mansions, and in receiving the exaltation of humans and angels in Heaven.

We look for Jesus coming again. Some day soon, Jesus will return to this old earth in power. He will come for His saints, reunite souls and bodies, and bring judgment to sin and unbelief. Every true Christian looks up, for his redemption draws near.

If you look for Jesus where He is not–you will never find Him. But if you look for Jesus where He is, and you are truly sincere in that search–you definitely will find Him. Are you trusting Him today? Can you confess with faithful Christians throughout the ages,    
He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!
He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Pastor Craig Alan Myers

Quill & Scroll

April 2012

The Colossian church (near to Ephesus and Laodicea), was troubled with some of the same problems as Ephesus and the other congregations of Asia Minor. Yet, within the space of four sentences, Paul exhorts his readers to thankful living.  Let’s look at several points here.

First, the context is that Christians be thankful in the relationships with other believers in the Church. We all fall short in so many ways (Romans 3:23), and the more we are involved in the Church, we become more conscious of our own failings, and unfortunately, the failings of others. We have the responsibility to bear with them, and encourage them and ourselves to higher living. We do that by being thankful for our brothers and sisters, and for the blessings they bring into our mutual relationship with Christ.  We are to be people grateful for the grace that saves us, for the blood that has redeemed us, and for the hope that fills us and the presence of Christ that is with us. We should be people who are thankful to be part of the very best thing this side of heaven.

Second, we deepen our thankfulness through several means: a.) We meditate on the Word of Christ–that is, the Bible, especially the New Testament, to know how we are to think and act Biblically in this dispensation. We allow it to dwell in our hearts.   b.) We are to apply that Word daily and encourage one another with it. c.) We are to sing our thanksgiving regularly. It is hard to be gloomy and dispirited when you are singing. Accompanying every Christian’s Bible in our devotions ought to be a good hymnal. Our corporate worship is also involved here–we turn to the Word of God, we seek to apply that Word, and we sing our joy at our very best.

Third, everything we do is to be in thanksgiving. That’s an arresting thought–whatever we say or do is to be done for the name and sake of Jesus Christ. When we do our work around the house, it is for Christ. When we gather to worship, it’s not for us, it is to the honor and glory of Jesus. When we go into the world, it with thankful hearts that Jesus has saved us from sin and for good works. When we raise our children, is for them to serve Christ. What is evident here is (as with the whole book of Colossians) is the excellency of Jesus Christ in every matter.

In other words, for the Christian, thanksgiving is a natural part of our life in Christ. It needs cultivated, even as the nine-fold fruit of the Spirit is to be cultivated in our daily Christian life. Thanksgiving is a daily part of our life, and not merely reserved for the fourth Thursday in November.

We should as often share our thankfulness as we do our prayer concerns. We have time in personal and public worship to do this. Are we as quick to share thanks as we are to share our problems? Lest anyone think we are boasting in our thankfulness, we must recognize that our thankfulness is to God for His grace, mercy, and blessing, and our boasting is in Him.

Pastor Craig Alan Myers
Quill & Scroll
November 2012

We’re glad you’re here!

At Blue River, we endeavor to do three things:

• worship God Biblically;
• teach believers the Word of God; and
• proclaim the Gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ alone

Our Sunday School for ALL ages is at 9 a.m., our morning worship is at 10 a.m., our our evening worship is a 7 p.m. (there are occasional variations for Sunday evening services).

We invite you to our services, to join with us in our work, and to share in our fellowship. We strive to emphasize basic New Testament teachings, and practice the New Testament ordinances.

We look forward to seeing you soon at Blue River!

Mrs. Targgart was born on April 11, 1949 in Beech Grove, a daughter of the late Rev. Richard E. and Mabel V. (Morehead) Kistler, and lived all of her life in Indiana except for three years in Ohio.  She graduated from Churubusco High School in 1967 and also attended Indiana Central College (now University of Indianapolis).

On June 13, 1970 she was married in Churubusco to Dan L. Targgart of Wolf Lake, and lived all of her adult life in Churubusco.

She and her family attended the Blue River Church of the Brethren in Whitley County, where she was very active in the children’s department.  She had worked at the former Green Center School for a number of years, and for the last 12 years had worked at the Churubusco Community Child Care Center.

The surviving relatives include her husband Dan; her children Tim (Amy) Targgart of Albion, Angie (Cary) Stauffer of Berne, and Joel (Kaitlyn) Targgart of Woodbury, Minn; two brothers Lanny (Cindy) Kistler, Sr. of Goshen and Leslie Kistler of Mishawaka; three sisters Cindy Merrill of Russiaville, Nina (Alan) Peery of Goshen, and Renny (Mark) Yeoman of Elkhart; and five grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p. m. on Sunday, February 3, 2013, at the Blue River Church of the Brethren, 3430 East 700 North, Columbia City, with Pastors Craig Alan Myers and Rick Van Horn, officiating.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 8 p. m. on Saturday at the Sheets & Childs Funeral Home in Churubusco, or at the church one hour prior to the service Sunday afternoon.

Interment will be in the Christian Chapel Cemetery, Merriam.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Churubusco Community Child Care Center, 111 Home Avenue, Churubusco, IN  46723

Cora Myers, from Blue River, attended the Church of the Brethren/Brethren Revival Fellowship Workcamp in Brooklyn, New York, from June 19-26, 2011. The local cable news station did a brief video of the workcamp, working.

For the Christian, the Resurrection is the touchstone of our faith in Christ. Without it, everything else in the Christian faith falls.  It is the key to everything we believe and do. Without it, being a Christian is rather pointless. There are many other worldly institutions that can do what many churches do in terms of helping the poor, encouraging the weak, and bringing hope to those touched by disaster.

We emphasize the Resurrection–because there was an empty tomb. Jesus was dead, and then he was buried by some of his followers (Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus). They ascertained that He was dead. There was no mistake. He was quickly prepared for burial and then placed in a brand new tomb that belonged to the Arimathean. There they left the body of the One they had loved and followed. There they left their hopes and dreams. There was the greatest of disappointments.

But, within the space of three days, that very tomb was vacant. The dead body was gone. The disciples had not stolen it–they were cowering in fear. The women who went to the tomb early that Sunday morning were certain of its location. There was a Roman guard, with an official Roman seal ordered by the Roman governor. These men were duty-charged, at the cost of their lives, to make sure that nothing happened to disturb that tomb. Still, the tomb was empty. That remains a fact of history.

That empty tomb was the door to new life.  The Apostle Paul, in Romans 4:25, tells us that Jesus was raised to life again for our justification. That is, that because of Jesus’ resurrection, we (who believe) are declared to be right with God, just as if we had never sinned in the first place. Without that justification, we would still be lost in our sins. God cannot allow the unjustified sinner into His Heaven. So He accepts the sacrifice that Jesus made on the Cross in our place.

When we accept Christ, God declares us righteous, as Christ has taken on our sin, and died for it. No longer are we lost and dead in our sins.

That empty tomb was the open door to eternal life. Death is scary. It means an end to a life we know, love, and cherish.  The lament for those who have died goes up in every community every day of the year.  Yet, In John 11:25-26, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.” The Resurrection does not guarantee that we shall never die physically. But it does guarantee that we shall live beyond death. We are not in a hopeless situation, anymore. With our faith in Christ Jesus, we are given a living hope, that our life will continue beyond our physical death, and someday, we will be given a new body that will complement our redeemed soul.

That empty tomb was the open door to new hope. The disciples were dejected because their best Friend had died. When they found Him alive, however, they were infused with a new hope that transformed their lives.  So it has been with all who have truly trusted Christ. As Jesus had been raised from the dead, so they, too, would be raised as well.
That hope was worth sharing, worth telling the world. And after a time of learning more from Jesus, and then watching Him ascend into Heaven, they were blessed by the Holy Spirit and then went into the world proclaiming the Resurrection of Jesus. Those disciples, who just a few days before were afraid for their lives, went out without a worldly care for their lives to the corners of the known world. All but one died as a result of persecution for their preaching and faith. What transformed them?  The empty tomb–the Risen Jesus.

Do you know Jesus Christ? Do you have the hope that you, too, will spend eternity in Heaven with Him?  Do you know that death has no permanent claim on you? Are you ready to meet God? Trust Jesus by faith today! Don’t put it off!  You, too, will have a transformed life, and a renewed energy. Turn to Jesus today!

Pastor Craig Alan Myers

Quill & Scroll
March 2009