Dear Quail Family,

What a year it has been! When I glance back to last June, I see that it was a time when we were deep in the heart of dealing with the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic. It brought changes to our individual lives, as well as our Kingdom ministry. In fact, a year ago almost to the day (as I write this) we began our first “live stream” services with people actually in the Sanctuary after months of purely remote worship. Since then, each week we have seen increasing participation in our “in-person” worship, Sunday Bible classes for all ages, and our youth and children’s activities.

Download the May/June Men's Ministries and Refresh Softball schedules here.

We are looking forward to a great service of Thanksgiving on “Thanksgiving Eve,” Wednesday, November 25 at 6:30pm. As usual, we will sing songs of praise and hear a message of encouragement. The service will be live in- person in the Sanctuary and on-line on YouTube. However, we will not be able to do our “testimony time” of sharing as usual. Instead, I invite you to send a one minute video testimony in to our Media Director, John Welsh, and he will compile these brief videos into a montage of thanks.

This week’s lesson: The Ten Commandments

The Israelites and Moses were traveling in the desert towards the Promised Land. The Israelites grumbled at Moses and the Lord about lack of food and water.

This week’s lesson: The Golden Calf

The Israelites were waiting for Moses to come back down from Mt. Sinai after his meeting with God. They had just been wandering through the desert after escaping from Egypt, and God invited them to the foot of Mt. Sinai to witness His presence and to wait for Him to chat with Moses.

Dear Quail,
This will be my last Friday “Brief Update” for the foreseeable future. Instead, starting this Sunday and continuing on, we will be sending out our new Sunday bulletin on Sunday mornings. This will allow those of you who are continuing to worship from home to get the same bulletin that we will once again be publishing in hard copy for those who attend in person.

The restarted bulletin will contain the same program information and ongoing announcements that we always have had, as well as the sermon outline and the prayer page. For those who are on campus and worshipping “in-person,” you will have the option of a hard copy to pick up and take with you.

Dear Quail,

Have you failed at something lately? Have you disappointed yourself or someone else? The fact is that it happens to all of us from time to time. But how will God use that event that you consider to be a failure? Listen to these words from the Apostle Paul:

This week’s lesson: Jacob Wrestles God

Jacob was on his way to meet his brother. He and his brother were at odds since Jacob stole Esau’s blessing AND Esau’s birthright. So, on Jacob’s way he met a man and wrestled him. When the man realized that Jacob wouldn’t relent, he blessed Jacob.

This week’s lesson: Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9)

The Tower of Babel was a building project meant for selfish goals. The text is filled with “ourselves,” highlighting the point that the people were working for themselves and not for God. They wanted to build a tower that reached the sky!

Dear Quail,

At one point in his ministry, the prophet Jeremiah was told to go down to the potter’s house and there he would be instructed by the Lord. This is what happened…

Dear Quail,

In Psalm 46:10 we read, “Be still and know that I am God…”

Be still! Most of us do not do “stillness” very well. Sometimes it takes all of our strength and concentration to simply sit still.

We have two great options for our children and families on Sundays.

9:45 AM - Family gathering for all families with worship, activities and lesson time. Come and join in the family fun!

Jr. High Ministry Update

Hello, QLBC Jr. High families and students.

We wanted to give you an update on the current happenings with the Jr. High Ministry.

Dear Quail,

One author tells about the time he was skiing in Colorado and he saw a young man with a vest on with the words “Blind Skier” on the front and back. Seeing that he wondered how anyone could ski down the mountain when they were blind, and the answer came right behind the young skier.

Gathering together and connecting around God’s Word is available! There are several Zoom Bible Studies throughout the week: Embrace, Pathfinders, Axis, Deaf Ministry, Fuertes y Valientes, The Power of Knowing God, Red Sea Rules, and a study on Job. The Discipleship Commission is planning and looking forward to launching Rooted!

Dear Quail,

This Sunday (9/27), in our live, in-person, outdoor “Concert of Prayer and Praise,” we kick-off a 21 day period where QLBC, along with many other churches in S.J. County, make a commitment to prayer and fasting for God to move in our county and nation.

Global Focus
It is difficult being missional during a pandemic but the efforts of Global Focus continue. Global Focus recently sent Tanji Brown Fields off to Honduras to work with orphan children at Rancho Ebenezer under the agency World Gospel Outreach. Pray for Tanji as she navigates this new season in her life as a missionary.

Quail’s Media & Technical Arts team is continuing to support our fellowship’s various efforts during these Covid-19 times. The most obvious effort is the Sunday morning live stream out to the courtyard here on campus, and online. We continue to tweak and evolve this effort to make is as meaningful and impactful as possible.

It’s been an action-packed 6 months for the Young Adult Ministry. It seems like things have changed almost monthly, even though it feels more like weekly. We have had to traverse these health guidelines, which have impacted how we operate our worship service “Refresh.” Refresh is our Wednesday night worship service, which generally meets in “theAttic” on Wednesday nights.

Our custodial and maintenance crew has been working hard to make the church ready when County officials give us approval to meet inside. They have been deep cleaning carpets, sanitizing restrooms, and even grinding concrete to remove trip hazards. With extra help this summer from young adults hired to repaint exterior columns and railings of the Activity Center and Education building.

Care Ministry—our health ministry team has been very active on Sunday mornings ensuring the health and safety of our Quail family. They set up two health stations each week in the plaza area taking temperatures and making (free) masks and sanitizer available. We have also teamed up with the Outreach team to reach out to our local hospital staffs.

Dear Quail,
You probably have noticed by now there are nearby churches that have decided to open their doors for indoor, in person, worship even though the civil authorities in San Joaquin County still have us on the “widespread” list which precludes such activity. Some within the Christian community are saying “enough is enough, this is dragging on too long!”

Dear Quail,
In Habakkuk 2:3, we read “…Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” NIV

God is a God of order. Everything He does, He does by appointment. An appointment is simply an event that has been set up in advance. God has appointments set up for you, a scheduled time for bringing to pass two specific things in your life, His promises and His plans. You can count on the fact that the appointment is coming.

Dear Quail, About mid-way through the story of Joseph in Genesis after years of betrayal, abandonment and abuse, Joseph is promoted to assist the Pharaoh and prepare the nation for the coming famine. That is fantastic, but it is not the only blessing that came his way! He also marries and that marriage produces two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Genesis 41:52, “The name of the second child he called Ephraim, ‘for God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.’” ESV

The name Ephraim sounds like the Hebrew word for “fruitful.”

Hi there,

Here we are right in the middle of the dog days of summer. The kids are back in school, which means that Bible study is just around the corner! 2020 is very different than what we are accustomed too by far. Many of us are still following the “Shelter in Place” order due to being in the vulnerable group. But we will not allow this pandemic to keep us from learning God’s Word.

This fall, we will study the book of Job by Lisa Harper. We can relate with Job can’t we? We are dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic! It seems like everything we have known has been taken away from us, our ability to do what we want, when we want, and how we want. Our lives have been turned upside down and it’s just not fair! How are you handling your suffering? Have you succumb to your human nature or are you like your servant Job?

In this 7-session study, we will discover the redemptive fact of Job’s suffering, to view pain as a way to strengthen our faith, point others to the gospel, and trust in the Lord. Because His providence will never take you to a place where His grace will not sustain you.

Dear Quail,

By now you are no doubt familiar with the British poster that says, “Keep Calm and Carry On.” Those words are presented over a graphic of the crown of King George VI. We even have all sorts of variations of that poster. I have seen, “Keep Calm and Go Shopping,” “Keep Calm and Look Busy,” “Keep Calm and Call Batman,” and on our Quail restrooms as a response to the Coronavirus, “Keep Calm and Wash your Hands.”

Dear Quail, I am sure that you, like I, have spent time in the various “waiting rooms” of life. For instance, let’s imagine the doctor’s office waiting room. You give your name to the nurse and she checks your insurance. You take a seat and wait to be called.

Dear Quail,

You are not alone!

For many the “aloneness” of these days is getting more than troubling, it is downright painful. If that is you, now is the time to hear and believe that no matter how empty our house feels, you are not alone.

David said it this way…

Dear Quail,

In a recent edition of the newsletter published by Church Extension Fund, Mark Etting wrote an article entitled “A Silver Lining.” Since I think it probable that many of you do not get that publication and I thought that his ideas were helpful, today I will share some of that article with you. He writes…

Dear Quail,
To stay positive in the Pandemic, engage in “tenacious prayer.”

In his book The Table of Inwardness, Calvin Miller writes of the day when, as a boy, he found in his attic an old fashioned wooden box labeled “danger - dynamite!” His young mind was filled with the explosive possibilities of the treasure he had discovered, a box full of dynamite! However, when he opened it, it was filled with everyday junk.

Dear Quail,

“Don’t be afraid” in some form or another is one of the most often repeated commands in Scripture. It makes sense once you begin to imagine all the scary stuff that is around us.

But the Bible is full of the stories of people that show remarkable courage. Many of them are remembered in Hebrews, Chapter 11.

Abraham showed courage in his leaving of Haran and going to land that God would show him. (Heb. 11:8)

This year's business meeting will be held on July 26, 2020. We realize that not everyone can attend services at this time, so this year we are giving you the ability to vote online. We have attached a proposed spending plan, and elder profiles for more information.

Online voting will be closed at noon on Monday, July 27.

Dear Quail,

Psychologist Eric Erikson was fond of saying, “The capacity to trust is the foundation of true emotional health.”

People who cannot trust are disturbed. And people who cannot trust disturb others. They are carriers of a disease of suspicion and cynicism that is a big part of the negative world we live in.

Trust interconnects us; it relates us to one another. Trust keeps us attached; it gives us a sense of dependence and, in return, a sense of value.

Dear Quail,

The time has come for us to open the campus up for limited numbers of people to attend live services starting Sunday, June 14, 2020.

Allow me to take a moment and extend a word of thanks to the staff of QLBC for their extra efforts over this time. I especially want to thank John Welsh, Brandon Smith and Genevieve Palafox for their “over and above” efforts as it relates to our media and the establishment of the new “live stream” capabilities.

Dear Quail, I think it is true for all of us that this time of restriction is dragging on, and the new requirements and restrictions are becoming a bit confusing. For some, this is causing conflict and frustration.

Recently, I have seen an uptick of the number of people who are talking to me about family squabbles and times of anger and frustration that have boiled over, sometimes causing tension in an otherwise happy home.

Dear Quail, 

Today I will share some thoughts about the ethnic tension that we are now witnessing in our land and then give you some programming updates.

I am not a community organizer nor an “activist” in the sense that I feel called to influence society in any way other than with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. However, I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most relevant thing that we can talk about in this situation. Here is why…

Dear Family of Quail,

The time has come for us to turn our attention towards coming together again for public service of worship. It has been a long and trying time as we have all had to change the way that we operate on many levels, during this unique era. I know that it has been difficult for us all, extra so for many. This letter will help us all understand the return process. It is lengthy, but important. Please read it in its entirety. 

Dear Quail,

This week I will take some time in this email, that I have normally been using from some devotional and inspirational thoughts, to address the issue of the status of Quail coming back for live in-person services. You have probably heard on the news that there are some churches and pastors in the southern part of our state who are declaring that they will worship “in person” on Pentecost Sunday (May 31), no matter the status of the restrictions called for by the State of California.

Dear Quail Family 

This week I ran across a quote by Eric Liddell, the British Olympian and missionary whose life was the subject of the movie, Chariots of Fire.  He writes,

Circumstances may appear to wreck our lives and God’s plans, but God is not helpless among the ruins. Our broken lives are not lost or useless. God’s love is still working. He comes in and takes the calamity and uses it victoriously, working out His wonderful plan of love.

This is our last installment of our SOAR series. The article by Michael Bradley, “Traits of the Eagle and How It Pertains to Our Christian Walk,” has helped inspire us to learn to SOAR throughout the year. Many of the creatures God has created have color patterns that blend in with their natural surroundings to protect them from other predators, but not eagles.

What Gain will this pain bring?

Dear Quail,

Recently I read an article written by David Mathis in which he reminded me that the slogan “No pain, no gain” does indeed communicate a truth that can be observed both in everyday life and in the Bible itself.

Memory Verse:
Philippians 2:4

Well, this week our allergies have just sent us to the moon! I don't know about you, but when the wind comes and my allergies are at their peak, my nerves get on edge! It feels like they are vibrating nonstop and nothing can get them under control. Usually when this happens, I tend to be a little on edge and get a little more angry at the people that are around me. Right now, I am around my family ALL the time, and we are playing a lot of games. When we play those games and I don't have my allergies under control, that is a bad mix! I tend to become a VERY SORE LOSER and not very easy to be around -- a little selfcentered, if you will.

Dear Quail, 

So far, 2020 has been a year in which we have been reminded how uncertain and out of our control things can be. We have been reminded that the only predictable thing about life is that it is unpredictable and we have very little authority over the events of life.

As I considered this, I was reminded and strengthened by Jesus’ words in Matthew 28:18-20

Memory Verse:
Philippians 1:18b

The weather is getting warmer and we are yearning to get outside, to go swimming in that frigid water or meander about shopping malls. These are the things we do when it gets warmer -- we go out and enjoy the warmth. Get outside, sit in the shade with your family, and talk about the first things you're going to do when this is all over. Speak on the positive things that the future will hold. In the meantime, try a new recipe, learn a new verse together, and keep your spirits lifted and focused on Jesus!

Dear Quail Family,

A Prayer in Isolation.

This season of physical distancing and self-isolation is abnormal and disconcerting for most of us. However, for some of us the difficulty is great. Family members in hospitals cannot be visited, neither can those in retirement facilities and nursing homes.  Also, the center of our social lives, our church fellowship is occurring virtually with our interaction taking place and chat boxes and through emoji’s.

Memory Verse:
Philippians 1:4

This week after Resurrection Sunday has been a fun one, reflecting on Jesus' gift of salvation and peace! I pray that you are doing well during this time and are getting some fresh air, as the weather is bright and sunny. I know many of you are missing your friends and that physical relationship with them. I just want to say that we are here for you. Send us a message so that we can pray for you. We are in this time together. Though some have different circumstances, we are all a part of this uncharted journey. I know some are having a hard time with missing students and friends. Remember, we are here for you!

When baby eagles are first born, the mother eagle will build the nest in which to raise up her newborns in the wilderness, away from mainstream society. This is done so she can raise them up without any type of harm coming to them. In the same way, the Lord will sometimes build up His eagles in a wilderness-type setting. Moses was in the backside of the desert for 40 years before God called him out to complete the greatest deliverance mission of all time. David was in the caves of the wilderness for a number of years, possibly 13-15, before he was called out by God to become the greatest king that Israel has ever had. (Taken from: Traits of the Eagle and How It Pertains To Our Christian Walk by: Michael Bradley)

Dear Quail,

"Bloom where you are quarantined," that was the title of an article I read recently.  I loved the title! The article author (Clarissa Moll) says the following,

As communities around the world close down because of COVID-19, I suspect I’m not alone in my loneliness.  Indeed, Jesus will come to our lonely places. He promises to meet us in our deserts, our quarantined spaces, to renew our souls, bring us joy, comfort our hearts, and give us peace.  In the midst of this companionship our loneliness still gnaws at us…This lingering loneliness reflects a deep longing for communion, one that will only ever be satisfied when we see Jesus face to face.

The eagle is the strongest animal in the kingdom, and has an eyesight estimated 4-8 times stronger than a human. Did you know that the eagle has two sets of eyes and three eyelids? Eagles’ eyes have very sharp focus and accurate perception, especially when they are about to attack their prey. Not even a storm can affect the sight of the eagle. As Christians we also have two sets of eyes. The first set is our normal, natural eye, which we use to see the world as it is. Our second set of eyes is the eyes of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the trinity. (Acts 5:3-4) He dwells inside of us, as we are the people of God. He is our helper, our comforter and our counselor. HE is our gift from God.

Memory Verse:
John 14:6

It's Resurrection Sunday, and a DIFFERENT one at that. We can't meet with our families, our traditions might look a little different this year, and maybe we didn't have to dress up in that stifling shirt and tie that we don a couple times a year for those special occasions. And that can create a feeling of insecurity. When things change so drastically so fast, we begin to feel insecure about what we know. Pastor Marc discussed that doubt in today's message. He talked about how doubting is part of the true nature of being human. But WHEN we have doubts, we need to give them to Jesus, because without a doubt, HE IS RISEN!! In John 14:6 Jesus says HE is the only way to the Father, because HE IS RISEN and sacrificed himself for us, showing us that nothing -- NOT even death on a cross -- can overcome Him