Volume 73, Number 1 Jan-Feb-Mar 2012

Inside this issue:

CWC Spring Convention Whats Up? Dr. Larry Taylor Out of My Mind Over Bibles NAWCG National Convention Missions Seminar at Sloans Lake Vista Grande News IYC Golf Tournament Youth Camps Focus 40 This page 2 3 3

CHRISTIAN WOMEN CONNECTION

Spring Convention April 27-28, 2012
Theme Connections
Guest Speaker Worship Leader

4 5 5 5 5 6

Cindy Mansfield

TBD

Hilton Garden Inn Denver International Airport

Private Room $90 per person 2 Persons Per Room $45 each (breakfast included) Registration, Friday Banquet and Saturday Lunch: $60 per person Kids Kamp Registration Free of Charge

Convention Information:
Cindy Mansfield
Cindy resides in Albuquerque, NM where her husband Rev. Dr. Richard Mansfield is the Senior Pastor of New Beginnings Church of God. Cindy is Station Manager at KNATTV, a full power affiliate of the Trinity Broadcasting Network. She currently serves as the Desert Rocky Mountain Regional Director of The Christian Women Connection.

Convention Registration Table Opens Friday at 4:00 p.m. Friday Night Banquet Will Begin at 6:00 p.m. Book Exchange (bring your favorite books to share) For more information about CWC Convention: Please contact Lynda Shue @ jlshue@comcast.net or 719-948-2709 For information about Kids Kamp: Please contact Judy Lenardson @ 303-567-2032

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Whats Up?
The decision made by the General Assembly of the Church of God Colorado Conference during our Annual Meeting held last September 23-24, 2011 at the Vista Grande Church of God in Colorado Springs initiated an adventure for us structurally. The move to a "Leadership Accountability" model of governance was affirmed by a significant majority vote of the General Assembly members. What is a "Leadership Accountability" model of governance? Even though the shift was affirmed, I believe it is important for us to continue discussing what is involved with the change. Thus, this year's editions of the Chronicles will include articles by me (and others) re- Dr. Larry and Bonnie Taylor garding what this means for us as a Conference. The first step in any significant change is to identify where we have been, where we are, and where we are going. Conversations leading up to the Annual Meeting, especially the "town hall meeting" during the Summer Retreat, identified the fact that "what we are doing is not working." The "textbook" we are using (Winning On Purpose by John Edmund Kaiser) for the shift to the governance model defines where we have been: "Make no mistake--most North American congregations and denominations are broken, and many of the King's horses and the King's people are finding it impossible to put them back together again. . . Winning On Purpose is clear that any fixing of broken congregations and denominations must start with mission and vision" (p. 15). The "adventure" we have embarked upon is to facilitate effectiveness and efficiency as we strive to fulfill our mission: "The Church of God Colorado Conference exists to facilitate healthy new and existing congregations to advance the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ." Kaiser notes there are at least three factors that cause a faith group to get sidetracked from mission: (1) The Great Commission, to make disciples, is displaced by other good pursuits, (2) Putting the desires of insiders first leads to divisions based on opposing special interest groups, (3) In the absence of biblical mission, the congregation (Conference) suffers a lack of vision, which leads it to plateau and decline. The tipping point that flips a congregation (Conference) from the upward side of the life cycle to the downward side is not poor organizational structure, troubled relationships, or weak programs; it is the loss of vision (p. 31-32). It is our desire as a Conference to change the downward cycle of our churches by the following steps: (1) Church Planting, (2) Church Transformation, (3) Leadership Development. The journey of Leadership Accountability is a "tool" to help us with that mission; it is not an end unto itself. As a tool, the better we collectively understand what is involved in the adventure, the more effective we will be in the outcomes. May the Lord bless us as we journey together. To Him be the glory,
State Minister Church of God Colorado Conference

Dr. Larry C. Taylor

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OUT OF MY MIND OVER BIBLES

A question in the mind of many book lovers, including Bible collectors, is the future of the printed book in light of the increasing popularity of electronic books, especially some recent reports that e-books are now outselling paper ones. I personally doubt (and certainly hope) that the book in printed form will never go away. Scholars generally agree that the codex (Latin for book; plural codices) was a big factor in the rapid spread of the gospel in the first century. Other factors, of course, were a common language (Greek), a network of good roads throughout the Roman Empire, and the Pax Romana, a period of peace enforced, often brutally, by the authoritative Roman Empire. There is not much documentary evidence of the exact date of the invention of the codex, but it is generally believed that it was probably in the late first century. It appears that it was first used to bind such things as receipts and school papers between boards, bound on one edge with cords. Although the Romans used the codex made of wood for taking notes and other informal writings, the first recorded use of the codex for literary works was when Martial experimented with the format. At that time, the roll (also called a scroll) was the dominant medium for literary works and would remain dominant for secular words until the fourth century. As far back as the early 2nd century, there is evidence that the codex was the preferred format among Christians. The Christian codex was made of papyrus, more compact and better suited for people on the move than parchment. Unlike the Jews, who preferred the roll, the early church saw the great value of using the codex form of the book to distribute Pauls letters to the churches as well as what we know as the Old Testament scriptures. They saw that the codex had the advantage of a smaller size and also being able to be written on both sides of a sheet of papyrus or vellum. Its size made it more portable than the roll. It was many centuries before Jews began using the codex in addition to the roll. Actually, early libraries, such as the great one in Alexandria, stocked both the codex and the roll. In 642, when Islamic armies captured Alexandria, a Greek scholar asked the commanding general if he might take possession of the famous library. The request was referred up the chain of command to the Caliph Omar, who replied, If these writings of the Greeks agree with the book of God, they are useless and need not be preserved; if they disagree, they are pernicious and ought to be destroyed. The librarys consignment to flames gave the citys baths fuel for six months. But, what of the future of the book now? There is no consensus over how much longer books can last. MIT futurist Nicholas Negroponte says that digital books will be the dominant form in five years. Other experts give the physical book another eight to ten years, suggesting that printed books today are where Kodak film was in the mid -1980s. Still others say booksparticularly now that they can be published on demandwill be around for a long time, perhaps as a niche product for an increasingly small reading class, such as Bible collectors. The scariest thing about all of this is how little it matters to an increasing number of people. Let us hope that the future of bound books will not be that of Ray Bradburys vision of a time when books will be burned, as he wrote about in Fahrenheit 451! -Submitted by Dan Decker

Registration Fee includes banquet and one continental breakfast and is nonrefundable but transferable upon written request. Early Bird (through May 1, 2012 - $135 Regular Registration (May 2-Oct. 1) - $150 Late Registration (Oct. 2-Nov. 1) - $175 Final Registration (Nov. 2-Onsite) - $200 Optional Tours-Must Pre-Register Shopping Spree - $12 Atlanta Black Historical Tour (includes box lunch) - $30 For more information, please contact the Registrar (Donna Roddy) at (314) 961-2326.

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We at Sloan's Lake Community Church will be offering a Missions Seminar on April 21, 2012 featuring material from the book "When Helping Hurts." Rev. Gordon Garrett, President of Heart to Honduras and former pastor at SLCC will be the presenter. The registration and a continental breakfast will begin at 8:15 A.M.; the teaching will begin at 9:00 A.M. We will conclude with a lunch at 12:00 noon. There is no fee, however, a free will offering will be taken to cover the expenses of the meals and seminar. Please share this announcement with your churches. If you and or some of your parishioners plan to attend, we ask that you call the church office, 303-458-8186, to let us know how many people will be coming with you. This will help us in planning for the meals. I certainly hope that you will consider joining us for this important conversation on how we can best help the hurting people in our communities. If you have questions please feel free to give me a call. Pastor Ed Nelson Senior Pastor, Sloan's Lake Community Church

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News From Across Colorado

Teens Serious About Learning Gods Word!
Teenagers from the Vista Grande Church of God in Colorado Springs have been showing just how serious they are about learning the Word of God. They meet every Sunday afternoon for 3 hours with their faithful Coach, Julie Kennedy to learn the scriptures and to rehearse for their regional contests in Bible Quizzing with outer churches. In a recent Quizzing Match held at Vista Grande church quizzing groups from all over Colorado and Wyoming met at this regional match. Vista Grande teen Morgen Cash, daughter Vista Grandes worship pastor Emily Cash, won 1st Place among all the teens participating during the all-day event held on Saturday, February 18. Brittany Stringer, daughter of Vista Grandes children pastor Deanna Stringer placed 3rd among all the teens competing. The Quiz Meet was focused upon the Book of Hebrews and I & 2nd Peter for this particular match. Congratulations to these two young ladies and all the other teens for taking Gods Word seriously and for finishing so strong in the competition.

PUEBLO FIRST CHURCH OF GOD ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

JUNE 1, 2012 WALKING STICK GOLF COURSE PUEBLO, CO
Registration7:00 a.m. Tournament8:00 a.m. Cost$75 per Person $100 to Sponsor a Hole

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT DANNY BRYANT AT

(719) 250-0963

CHILDRENS/YOUTH CAMPS
The Colorado Conference of the Church of God is excited to offer the children and youth of our churches a wonderful camp experience this summer. We are promoting three camps at Golden Bell Camp and Conference Center in Divide, Colorado. Activities at Golden Bell include swimming, crafts, archery, mini-golf, a climbing wall, campfire worship services and lots of fun. We will be helping to fund these camps when you register through the Colorado Conference. The costs listed below reflect the scholarships and are valid if you register by April 20, 2012. Registrations received after that date will have a higher fee. If you have questions, please contact Tami Mills at 303-987-2415 or millsntrm@msn.com.
Trailblazers Camp (Entering or exiting grades 1-2) July 11-13 Cost$59

IYC in Denver, CO July 4-7, 2012

If you are interested in volunteering at this event, please contact Rev. Bobby Washington at gsidem@msn.com. We need the following volunteers: Prayer Counselors: People to pray with students after the Wednesday and Thursday night and Saturday morning services. There is a meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 4 at 5:45p.m. - 6:15p.m. Safety People: People to provide safety 1-1/2 hour before each service and 1 hour after each service. Services are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday evenings and Saturday morning. Hotel Greeters: Hosts at the hotels on Tuesday, July 3 and Wednesday, July 4 from 1-5 p.m.

Itch-ee-ow-ee Camp (Entering or exiting grades 3-6) July 23-27 Cost$144

Velocity Camp (Entering or exiting grades 7-12) June 25-29 Cost$154

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Gods Church United in 40 days of Prayer and Fasting

February 29April 8, 2012 The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47 Let us unite in 40 days of fasting and prayer February 29 to April 8, 2012 for 25,000 individuals to become disciples of Jesus Christ. Imagine the victory we can celebrate on Easter Sunday, knowing these new Christians have committed themselves follow the Lord! This can truly be a time of

Transforming HeartsTransforming Lives Go to www.chog.org/focus40 to register yourself or your congregation.

To guide and support you on this 40-day journey with God, Church of God Ministries Transformation Team Refresh & Cultivate has assembled resources that will enhance your spiritual focus, including daily prayer and devotional calendars:

FREE Resources for Focus 40 www.chog.org/focus40

Colorado Conference of the Church of God PO Box 26179 Colorado Springs, CO 80936-6179 (719) 5971818
Email: coconfcog@aol.com Dr. Larry Taylor, State Minister Check out our website:

WWW.COGCC.ORG
WITH MANY THANKS TO LAURA NONTE.

The Colorado Chronicles is published quarterly for the Colorado Conference of the Church of God. Mail pertaining to this publication, please address to Debbie Mahuron, 6430 W. 82nd Drive, Arvada, CO 80003 or email: mahuron1@yahoo.com. Deadline for next issue: June 1, 2012.

Dated Material