Applying The Truth

"I AM TOO BUSY FOR CHURCH!"

2011-12-16T12:38:00.000-08:00

Can we learn spiritual lessons from trees? Have you ever noticed how trees grow? Big strong healthy trees do not grow quickly. They take a long time to develop deep roots and strong branches. But once they become strong they survive difficult seasons of harsh circumstances and become even stronger. "Blessed are those who dwell in Your house..." (Psalm 84:4) In Psalm 84 we learn the importance of coming to worship God at the times He has called us to do so and the long-term spiritual growth that takes place as a result. Just like trees planted in good soil over time, Christians experience long-term healthy growth.

Many of us feel our lives are too busy for a consistent lifestyle of church participation. But just as a healthy tree grows big and strong while planted in good soil over many seasons, you and I must understand the value of coming to Worship collectively with God's people. In Psalm 84:7 we read, "They go from strength to strength". The nation of Israel was called to worship God on a regular basis. He put Himself on their calendar and they would make a regular pilgrimage for corporate gatherings. It was His requirement for their benefit. He knew they would be spiritually strong as a nation if they regularly gathered in His presence. After all, they were His people.

Often times parents see the need to take their children to church when they are growing up but forget about their own spiritual needs. Again in Psalm 84 in verse 10 we read "For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness." You see, the Psalmist understood the value of consistently showing up to Worship God.
Just look at the practical benefits of gathering to worship with God's people: (1) The praise and worship team have dedicated their gifts in assisting you in drawing closer to The Lord. (2) The fellowship of believers you gather with is moving towards the heart of God and asking Him to minister to us. (3) The pastor has worked hard in preparing a sermon from Holy Scripture to fill you with wisdom and understanding and will exhort you to apply it to your life. (4) Personal prayer opportunities are available to you to get prayer for anything you need. (5) Rich and wonderful fellowship is aggressively offered that could develop into meaningful relationships for the rest of your life. (5) Practical opportunities are provided for us to use our talents and gifts to worship God through service. (6) The church is Christ's body on earth, and your participation in it is your participation in Him. (I Cor. 12) (7) And most importantly, Jesus is worthy of all our worship and has called us to come together as a church and worship Him....(Hebrews 10:25). I think the obvious take home from this devotional is we can NEVER be too busy for church...What could be more important?

The Fable of the Porcupine

2011-09-24T21:37:00.000-07:00

It was the coldest winter ever – and many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together.

This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded

their closest companions even though they gave off heat to each other.

After a while they decided to distance themselves one from the other and

they began to die, alone and frozen.

So the survivors had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their

companions or disappear from the Earth.

Wisely, they decided to go back to being together.

This way they learned to live with the little wounds that were caused

by the close relationship with their companion,

but the most important part of it, was the heat that came from the others.

This way they were able to survive.

Moral of the story: The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people,

but the best is when each individual learns to live with the imperfections

of others and can admire the other person's good qualities.

The Gospel All Wrapped Up!

2011-07-22T13:47:00.000-07:00

G.O.S.P.E.L. from Humble Beast Records on Vimeo.

Walking With God...

2011-06-24T15:37:00.000-07:00

Just a few feet farther...

But knowing always seems a bit harder

You're right here and I always know it

Though my actions and thoughts don't always show it

Your continued company is far better than all this world

More than Gold, Silver, and precious pearl

More than fame and recognition

More even than any other true companion

Just a few feet farther...

But knowing always seems a bit harder

One day this veil will be completely removed

Before Your perfect face standing mercifully approved

My heart walks towards that day

With eyes of faith that guide my way

Just a few feet farther...

But knowing always seems a bit harder

Problem Visitor At Church

2011-06-22T10:08:00.000-07:00

Could This Be The Briefing Room For Wounded Christians?

2011-04-28T15:29:00.000-07:00

This Is Inspirational!

2011-04-27T14:12:00.000-07:00

I don't care what side of politics you are on seeing Gabrielle Giffords Board a flight at Ellington Field in Houston to see her husband take off at Kennedy Space Center is inspirational. If you don't remember Gabrielle was shot in the brain by a gunman as she held a small local political rally in her district.

My Logos Library

2011-04-19T17:26:00.002-07:00

I found this cool website that lists all my electronic books in my bible software.

Are Christians Required To Tithe?

2011-04-07T15:15:00.000-07:00

While the New Testament does not set a percentage amount, putting God first in our money is one of the ways to observe spiritual maturity. Many Christians say tithing (10 percent of our income) is an Old Testament law that we are not bound to and I would agree. But I would add 10 percent of our income is a good number to start with for those who love Jesus!

At the end of this article is a sad commentary to the observable spiritual maturity of most Christians...It says most Christians give less than 4 percent of their income.

Are you faithfully supporting your local church? Do you see a direct connection to how much you give for God's work and your love for Jesus? Comment please....

Save Your Predictions And Read Your Bible!

2011-03-01T18:03:00.000-08:00

Billboard In Sun Valley CA.....When will people ever learn not to set dates on the return of Christ? Read Mark 13:32 It is amazing what happens to our theology when we actually read the Bible.

My Almond Flour Muffins

2011-02-02T14:02:00.000-08:00

Well it's been a long time over due but I am finally going to post my recipe for those muffins I am always snacking on....

Yield 24 medium size muffins

Dry Ingredients:

1 Pound Almond Meal/Four (from Trader Joes)

1 Heaping Tablespoon of Cinnamon

1 Teaspoon salt

1 Teaspoon baking powder

1/3 Teaspoon nutmeg

1/3 Teaspoon cloves

Wet Ingredients:

1 Cup Agave Sweetener (Trader Joes or Costco)

1/3 stick butter

2 Tablespoon Vanilla

2 Large Eggs

Added Ingredients:

1 Cup Chopped Walnuts

1 Cup Raisins

Optional Ingredients:

1 Smashed Banana (Decrease butter and Agave slightly)

1/3 Cup Pure Apple Juice (Decrease butter and Agave slightly)

1/2 Cups chopped Pecans

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix Dry Ingredients into large mixing bowl until fully combined.

Put Agave and butter into microwavable measuring cup or bowl. Heat until Agave starts to boil (depending on your microwave should take almost 2 minutes). Warning! watch the Agave as it will boil over and make a mess if you don't watch it. Take heated Agave and butter out of the microwave and stir until butter is fully melted. Add Vanilla (will bubble when added if contains alcohol - no worries).

Pour Agave, butter, and Vanilla into Dry Ingredients and mix throughly. Add in 2 Eggs. Mix in Added Ingredients (Walnuts, Raisins, and other Optional ingredients). Again Mix throughly.

Spray Muffin tins (I use two 12 cup muffin tins) with Pam or spray on oil. You can use butter which is healthier but a bit messy and harder to work with.

With two spoons (I use the larger dinner spoons) scoop out batter into tins until just under the top of the tin. Often I place one Pecan on the top of each muffin for a roasted treat in each one.

Cook for 18-22 minutes depending on how thick your muffin tins are. Watch for burning (bottom of muffin will burn before top looks golden brown so keep checking).

Take out of oven and let sit for 3 minutes. If you use an older muffin tin without good coating they will come apart when removing.

Remove onto paper towel to soak any excess oil.

Email me or comment here on how they came out!

Enjoy!

Avoiding The Christmas Blues!

2010-12-21T17:02:00.000-08:00

I was listening to KKLA the other night and Frank Pastore was saying how he was fighting traffic and long lines earlier in the day and found himself loosing his Christmas MoJo. So he asked callers to call in with their most memorable or favorite Christmas gift.

As I listened to so many people talk about being thankful for blessings not purchased in stores my heart began to warm. Listening to testimony of God's hand of blessing in the lives of others began to do a Christmas miracle in my own heart. My MoJo was growing....

So I felt led to call and share my favorite Christmas memory. It was when we received my middle son back from a near fatal car accident. We spent 2 1/2 months in the hospital burn ward with him spending time sitting at his bedside. Then I will never forget spending that Christmas in the Arrowhead Burn Center with my family of five wearing blue gowns and being thankful for our family being together. Also, I will never forget how our church family supported us with gas money, food, prayer, time, shoulders to cry on, and anything we needed.

Come to think of it....The five of us have never spent one Christmas a part from each other...but it was that Christmas that will always come to mind when I start loosing my Christmas MoJo.

How about you? If you find yourself loosing your joy and forgetting about the Greatest Gift and the Reason for the Season...Think back on the one who gave you life and remember how He has blessed you with His Son Jesus Christ....and soon your heart will warm and you too will find your Christmas MoJo back in action....

God Is Inexhaustible By Trip Lee

2010-12-09T18:47:00.000-08:00

Lyrics to Inexhaustible :

Verse 1:

Hey, you crazy if you think you can grasp

The eternal ruler who is first and is last

Reigns in the present, and He reigned in the past

Who is perfect and has none to learn in a class

I seen a lot of dudes I don' think they get it

Got a picture in our brain but the King can't fit it

We got a lil box but the King ain't in it

He's way too complex, don't get this thing twisted

I could learn bout Him who's on the throne

But like Badu He goes on and on/I could spit a million rhymes till the song is long

But still not have enough bars like a broken phone

To tell all about the God of Romans known

Through the scriptures that picture should blow your dome

He's amazing behold Him, appraise Him He's golden

Inexhaustible, I'm amazed just to know him

Hook:

Hey what you know about this God?

He's way too great homie, I can't grasp Him

Hey what you know about this God?

He's too complex my mind can't fathom

What you know about this God?

He's amazing behold Him appraise Him He's golden

Hey what you know about this God?

He's inexhaustible, I'm amazed just to know Him

Verse 2:

For instance I just can't get this HeIs one but eternally exists in three

That's crazy our minds can grip this we

Need to realize we men so our pictures weak

Just try to understand how he came as a man

But remained I Am, all things in His hand

Say what? The King was slain as the lamb

When He came to the land that He made with His hands

Say what? Just try to make your brain understand

He's so big man's like a grain in the sand

That picture's too big for a frame but my plan is to grow

I pray my picture of the King will expand

I could study forever and read all day

But still wouldn't understand the King all the way

I got a long way to go, but I'm pleased to say

I get to live my whole life just to seek His face

Hook

From http://www.lyricsmania.com/inexhaustible_lyrics_trip_lee.html

Verse 3:

Hey it's not enough words in my speech to proclaim His greatness

Not in the whole English language

To exhaust this King, His past is blameless

I won't stop reppin 'till His name is famous

Among all nations, He still prevails

Praise the Lord that He chose to reveal Himself

When He could have just chilled and concealed Himself

Praise the Lord that He chose to reveal Himself

Now we can share in enjoyment, see more and more

The glory, the beauty of the Lord of Lords

Through Creation, or Scripture's the door to more

Can't get it all on this Earth, there's more in store

When we get to eternity, it'll be better

We get to see more of the Lord forever

A million years later, the joy is the same

Seeing still more and exalting His name

Hook

(Thanks to Adeoye for these lyrics)

Husbands and Fathers Watch This....

2010-09-14T15:05:00.000-07:00

Leaving For Swansea, Wales

2010-07-28T01:33:00.000-07:00

Almost all packed....leaving in the morning. Please pray the team (Allen, Joy, Misha, You-K, and I) is effective in all aspects of the mission and lasting fruit.

A Good Memorial Day Reminder

2010-05-28T11:01:00.000-07:00

A Good Satire Of Man Centered Worship

2010-05-25T02:27:00.000-07:00

http://vimeo.com/11501569

What Keeps Us From Telling Others About Jesus?

2010-05-16T08:08:00.000-07:00

When I read of the amazing things God did in the Book Of Acts I wonder why many of those same things are not happening in my life today.

Take for instance this partial list below;

Peter heals a lame man at Jerusalem 3:1-11

Apostles perform many wonders at Jerusalem 5:12-16

Peter heals Eneas of a palsy at Lydda 9:33, 34

Peter raises Tabitha, or Dorcas, to life at Joppa 9:36-41

Peter delivered out of prison by an angel at Jerusalem 12:7-17

Elymas, the sorcerer, smitten with blindness at Paphos 13:6-11

Paul converted to Christ on Road to Damascus 9:1-9

Paul heals a cripple at Lystra 14:8-10

Paul casts out a spirit of divination at Philippi 16:16-18

Paul & Silas's prison doors opened by an earthquake in Philippi 16:25

The list goes on.....

But one thing is obvious about this list, the church was involved in telling others about Jesus and as a result God showed up and did amazing things. Each situation brought an opportunity for God to be glorified...

So what keeps us from telling others about Jesus?

Fear, Confort Zones, Business, Culture Norms, and ..... Whatever our answer to this question is, it is keeping us from experiencing the amazing things God did in the Book Of Acts...IMHO

Police Officers Are Great Guys

2010-05-09T00:01:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me well enough knows that I like police officers...They are servants and have a very difficult job serving our country and protecting our lives. After working with them on many occasions I have grown fond of their committment to serve our society. When I see them on breaks in coffee shops or restaurants I try to take the time to thank them for choosing to serve people through their line of work.

Well, I was driving on the 101 Freeway to my office Yesterday, and as I was moving to slower lanes of traffic to get off at my exit, I noticed a Highway Patrol in the slow lane monitoring traffic.

After exiting the freeway and just before pulling into my office at church I saw those red lights that everyone hates to see right behind me. Aaarrrggg! Not a ticket! The thought of traffic school, traffic fines, cost of insurance increasing, and generally unpleasant feelings started knocking on my heart.....

But then a new thought came to mind...I could not think of any violation I had committed. I wasn't speeding and could not think of what I had done.

As the officer walked up to my car I started getting my documents out (you know the drill). As I handed him my driver's license and insurance I asked what I had done wrong. He said I had an expired registration on my license plate.

Just as he finished the sentence I found my registration (still in the envelope you get from the DMV) and there was my new sticker! I had received it 9 months ago but never put the sticker on my plate (duh!).

As soon as the officer saw my sticker he said "oh, there it is...please put it on when you arrive home sir and have a nice day."

So...I can say again with a valid experience "police officers are great guys!"

My Response To CNN feedback forum

2010-05-01T20:41:00.000-07:00

After viewing an article on CNN.com I was disheartened to read in the comment forum such Anti-American rhetoric. The one comment that moved me to respond is listed here

Copied From Forum Section Post #114 "Advice to Americans – sort your own backyard out before you try to work on someone elses. The quality of what you can offer the world is summed up in the southern states as the failure to respond to Katrina and your absolute FAILURE with the current oil spill. You "saved" the afghanis from the soviets only to be turned upon by them – go figure. America is the sickest country of the world because it cannot see how useless it is. Your 'democracy" fuels the arab rage – as it is the same "democracy" that feeds the hand of israel."

So I thought I would add my two cents....I thought I would share what I posted here on my blog....

"...I am saddend to hear you speak of this country that way. To hear you sit back and shout with keyboard and anonymity towards a country that allows this type of forum because of its foundations in freedom. BTW we give billions to Arab countries as well as Israel. Even President Clinton bombed Afgan training centers because he knew of their plans. Radical Islam is never going to be at peace with anyone who does not submit to it. They are taught to eliminate those who disagree! What was the difference between the responses after offensive drawings of Mohamed and the Urin on the picture of Jesus? People died and violent riots because of the offense against Islam. But what did Christians do? Prayed, commented in forums like this, voiced their oppinion in other ways because of the freedoms their communities have built. I am so glad I live in this country and served in the Army... I have been to Egypt and other places where freedom is just a desire that many don't even understand. Where real poverty exists.... If you don't like this country, do something about it through the wonderful system we have and the freedoms you enjoy... "

URL of Article http://afghanistan.blogs.cnn.com/2010/04/29/reminders-of-a-hell-for-1000-men/#comments

Automatic Response System?

2010-04-17T23:07:00.000-07:00

This week God reminded me of why we feel distant from Him sometimes....

As we studied Exodus Chapter 24 this last Wednesday I was reminded again of how God allowed Moses to enter into His very presence but kept Aaron, his two sons, and the Seventy elders at a bit of a distance. This always intrigued me because in John 4:23 Jesus said the Father is seeking Worshipers.

So what was it about Aaron, his two sons, and the Seventy elders that kept them from coming into God's presence with Moses? Well you probably are aware that in Exodus Chapter 32 Aaron makes a golden calf for all of Israel to worship (we assume the Seventy elders are included), and in Levitus 10 Aaron's sons offer strange fire (probably represents pride and self will) before the Lord and are judged.

KEY THOUGHT HERE: Often times we think of God as an Automatic Response System! We pray and he needs to respond. We seek Him and He needs to respond. We have needs and He must respond.... We forget that God is a person! We have a relationship with Him not an Automatic Response System....

Back to Moses and Exodus 24....Moses desired God! Moses loved God! Moses dedicated time for God and God revealed more of Himself to Moses than anyone else in Israel! Why? Because that is what Moses wanted and made time for! BTW just being in close to God's presence was not enough for Moses...later on he asked God if he could see His glory (Exodus 33:18).

So this week If we start to feel a bit distant from God we need to remember He is a person and not an Automatic Response System....He desires our love and devotion....And we need to respond to Him!

Be Blessed As You Respond To Him....Pastor David

His Mercy Endures Forever....

2010-03-22T12:23:00.000-07:00

"Oh, give thanks to The Lord, for He is good, and His Mercy endures forever." II Chronicles 16:34 When you come across something good it's worth repeating.... When King David brought the Ark of God into Jerusalem he wrote a song about how thankful he was and wanted to have all Israel learn to sing it. The second half of Verse 34 was then repeated 40 other times in Scripture. There is another song (Psalm 136) that used that verse as the repeating refrain. You see the experience of bringing the Ark of God close so touched King David he wanted to lead others into that same experience. The reason King David was so thankful was because on top of the Ark of God was a place called "The Mercy Seat." This was the place that God's mercy was extended to the nation of Israel after a sacrifice was offered in substitution for their sin. You see, the covering over the Ark (The Mercy Seat) was the place where a Holy God and a sinful people could meet after their sin was covered. While archeologists are still looking for the lost Ark, Paul in Romans 3:25 continues this Songs' theme by explaining to us that Jesus is our Mercy Seat ("Propitiation"). So Jesus makes it possible for a Holy God to meet with sinful people.... "Oh, give thanks to The Lord, for He is good, and "His Mercy Endures Forever!" Jesus is where God's mercy is to be found...Forever!

Pray For Haiti

2010-01-13T12:29:00.000-08:00

Lord Jesus we lift up the country of Haiti and ask that you would give strength to those in the rescue effort. Please be with those suffering the loss of loved ones and those suffering injury. We pray for Calvary Chapel Port-au-Prince and Calvary Chapel of Caneille. Please use our brothers and sisters for Haiti, even during this most difficult time.

El Pollo Loco And Merry Christmas

2009-12-18T18:21:00.000-08:00

The other day I was in El Pollo Loco and a guy came up to me and said “Merry Christmas!” with such excitement in his voice it brought cheer to my heart. As I returned the same greeting I reflected on his attitude in spreading Christmas Cheer. But what does Merry Christmas mean?

Merry Christmas – The word “Merry” means “to be full of cheerfulness or gaiety; joyous in disposition or spirit, laughingly happy; mirthful; festively joyous; hilarious.” You get the idea right? Think of the most cheerful time in your life, and well, you’ve got a personal experience with the definition of “Merry.”

And, the word “Christmas” signifies “Christ’s Mass” meaning the festival of the Nativity (birth of Christ). That is, God become human flesh and was born in a manger to save the world from sin and death. In “The Franklin’s Tale” Chaucer alludes to “Nowel” (Noel) as the “festive cry” at Christmastide. And we have that same festive cry in our culture today. We say “Merry Christmas!”

But I am sure you’ve heard many people struggle with loneliness during holidays. Holidays often bring back painful memories of family failure and broken relationships. Maybe even you are struggling with feelings of lonliness during this Christmas…

But if we take the time to remember the true meaning of Christmas, we will understand how much God loves us. And God’s love, will overshaddow any temporary feelings of lonliness.

So use a merry attitude and festive shout to proclaim the Joy of Christmas. And look for opportunies to explain why Christmas is a Merry time of celebration…even while eating at El Pollo Loco…

Online Church Instead Of Face To Face Fellowship?

2009-11-16T00:17:00.000-08:00

Now that we are offering live streaming from our internet site I found the latest article on CNN interesting....

My next post will be my thoughts on this but before I share what do you thing about replacing face to face fellowship with online church?

Online churches draw believers, criticsBy Anne Hammock, CNNSTORY

-- Hjalti á Lava was searching his iPhone for a Bible app when he stumbled across Church Online, a service of Web site LifeChurch.tv. Soon he was regularly logging into the Oklahoma-based cyber-church -- some 4,100 miles away from á Lava's home in the Faroe Islands, west of Norway.

"It allows me to connect with others and have conversations about the message," says á Lava, who shares his faith with other believers in the site's live chat room. "Technology allows us today to have fellowship across borders and cultures."

In doing so, á Lava joined growing numbers of Christians worldwide who are migrating from the chapel to the computer. A map on the Church Online site showed users from 22 countries logged into a recent service.

Online religious services offer convenience to those who are too isolated or infirm to attend a real-world church. But can worshipping via a computer offer true spiritual fulfillment? Internet pastors and parishioners cite their 24-hour access to interactive tools and social-networking platforms to show their online experiences are as meaningful as those that take place with face-to-face congregations.

"We were blown away at how people could actually worship along [online]," says Craig Groeschel, senior pastor at LifeChurch.tv. "The whole family will gather around the computer, and they'll sing and they'll worship together. Instead of trying to get people to come to a church, we feel like we can take a church to them."

But critics believe virtual worship separates followers from a trinity of spiritual essentials found in brick-and-mortar Christian churches: community, Communion and connection with Christ. "Online church is close enough to the real thing to be dangerous," says Bob Hyatt, a pastor who leads the brick-and-mortar Evergreen Community Church in Portland, Oregon. In a blog post for ChristianityToday.com, he writes that calling it virtual church "gives people the idea that everything they need is available here."

The debate is an extension of a wider argument over social interaction in virtual environments versus the physical world. But because practices of faith are involved, both sides are deeply invested in the outcome, seeing it as a statement on the nature of the Christian person's relationship with God.

Supporters of online churches have a common response to their skeptics: Try before you criticize. The virtual experience goes far beyond using live chat rooms to exchange emoticons instead of hugs and handshakes, they say.

Links allow congregants to "raise their hand" and publicly commit to Christ, while prayer requests and one-on-one guidance are a click way. Sermon notes can be shared and discussed. And many online churches are aided by volunteers, allowing them to hold services several times each day.

The Internet campus of the Flamingo Road Church in Cooper City, Florida, pulls in more than 2,000 congregants from around the world during its Sunday services. Pastor Doug Gramling said his three children are part of the Internet generation that will eventually decide the future of worship. They use Web tools to stay in constant connection with friends over vast distances, which Gramling says "gives me confidence that it can happen in online church." But the disconnect from physical closeness is what Hyatt said he's "fighting hardest against." His own church offers online extensions such as podcasts and forums. But he believes "the computer screen is a supplement, not a replacement."

Hyatt and other critics are particularly distressed by the online offering of traditional sacraments, such as Communion and baptism. He believes it is "ridiculous" that someone can grab grape juice and a cracker from the fridge and watch a computer screen, thinking they are truly participating in a gathering of the faithful.

"Something about the physical presence, breaking the same bread, is what Communion is meant to be," he says.

But Church Online participant Donna Coledisagrees. "Knowing that others are also celebrating Communion, regardless of location, makes it an especially wonderful time," says Cole, who believes real-world Communion can ring hollow. "When I've taken Communion in live surroundings, I often got the sense that it was ritualistic and without meaning."

Matthew Bailey, a arishioner in the Franktown United Methodist Church in Virginia, believes that the meaning of the ritual is what matters. "If people are willing to go to the trouble of giving their own Communion, then it is quite probably 'real' for them," he says. While Bailey chooses to remain at his face-to-face church, he believes any person "faithfully attending an online church service, is being more proactive, and thus probably more attentive, than many longtime churchgoers." Douglas Estes, lead pastor of Berryessa Valley Church in San Jose, California, andauthor of "SimChurch," a book about Internet church services, would like to see this debate go away. "The Bible sees church not as a man-made building but as a people gathered to glorify God with their lives," he says. Estes believes the quality of a community should be judged by the spiritual fellowship it offers.

"There is only one substantive difference between an online church and a brick-and-mortar church: The place where they meet."

I’ve Received Christ—What Now?

2009-10-28T16:55:00.000-07:00

By Bill Holdridge

Calvary Chapel Santa Cruz

You may be asking yourself the question: So what do I do now? What steps should I take, now that I’ve received Christ into my life?

Read and Study the Bible

The first step every new believer should take is to begin digging into the Bible. Begin reading it, and then study it. The Bible is God’s inspired word to us … every word was literally breathed by Him for our spiritual benefit (2 Timothy 3:16-17). The Bible also tells us to study it, that we might be approved workmen who understand how to rightly divide its message (2 Timothy 2:15). By reading and studying the Bible, you will grow spiritually, just as newborn infants grow by drinking their mother’s milk (1 Peter 2:2).

We would strongly recommend that you begin by reading the gospel of John. It’s the fourth book in the New Testament. It presents a very clear message about Jesus Christ, and is written that we might know Him better, and experience the life that is in His name. After reading John, then just read right on through the rest of the New Testament! Then read the Old Testament. Then do it all over again! Don’t worry about understanding everything at first. Everything will become clearer as time goes on.

After reading, then learn to study the Bible. Coming to Bible study is an important part of learning the Word, so do that frequently. Then take whatever classes you can to improve your study skills. There is no single step you can take that is more important than developing the lifetime habit of immersing yourself into the scriptures.

Pray

Don’t be intimidated by the idea of prayer. Prayer is simply talking with God, and having Him talk with you. You can pray at any time and anywhere, because prayer is not limited to being in church. You can pray on your knees, standing up, or with your eyes open or closed. The eloquence of your prayers is not important—all that matters is that you’re sincere and that you trust God, as you pray in Jesus’ authority.

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13) is an excellent pattern for prayer, given to us by the Lord Jesus Himself. Many have used it as an outline for their own prayer life.

It may also be helpful to remember the following acronym as an aid to prayer:

A: Adoration (Worship)

C: Confession (Of Specific Sins)

T: Thanksgiving (Gratitude)

S: Supplication (Specific Requests)

Do not neglect this vital part of your Christian walk. As someone has said, “Prayer is the breath of the newborn soul, and there can be no Christian life without it.”

Attend and Become Part of a Local Church

One of the keys to spiritual growth is to become part of a healthy local church. In its biblical form, the church should provide biblically-sound teaching, genuine worship, an atmosphere in which Christians are able to use their God-given gifts and abilities, and spiritual leadership that will help keep believers accountable.

There are those who might say, “I don’t need to go to church. I like to spend my time alone with God, and I don’t need to be around other Christians.” The reality is that no Christian can endure or prosper long if he or she lives in isolation without the support of a church. No matter how many Christian books, magazines, CDs, and movies you have, they can’t replace the experience and fellowship you get from attending church and being with other believers.

In the book of Hebrews, it says, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25, NKJV). This passage is as valid today as when it was first written.

A healthy church will focus upward (worship), inward (spiritual growth and edification), and outward (outreach). It will believe that the Bible is God’s inspired, infallible Word, authoritative in all areas of faith and practice. It will also focus on the teaching of the Bible, Biblical fellowship, prayer, and breaking of bread together (Acts 2:42).

Witness

One of the greatest blessings of the Christian life is to tell others about Jesus Christ, and lead them to Him. It is a real joy to see someone else experience the same things you did when you became a Christian.

God tells us that it’s important to share your faith with other people (see Matthew 28:20). In fact, it’s not just something He wants you to do; He commands us to do it!

Sharing your faith can sound like a scary thing to do, but it doesn’t have to be. One of the best ways you can do that is by telling them your story. When you share how God has changed your life, it lets people see that you were once in their shoes, but have now been changed by the power of Christ. A changed life is one of the best evidences of what Jesus can do.

Remember the actual message of the gospel as you share with others: “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (NKJV).

1 Adapted from the website of Harvest Christian Fellowship. The address is http://www.harvest.org/knowgod/first-steps/four-keys.html. Please go to this site for a more in-depth treatment of each of these four steps.

Modern Day Proof For Evolution, Or Media Hype?

2009-10-17T03:14:00.000-07:00

The Big Ida

The Rise & Fall of Another Missing Link & Other Media Hype

by Casey Luskin

This past May 20, there was a good possibility that your day started something like this: You crawled out of bed, logged on to the internet, and soon discovered that Google had changed its banner graphic to display the image of a small, long-tailed fossil primate.

Being the internet-savvy user that you are, you immediately recalled that it’s not uncommon for Google.com to change its design to observe holidays or honor famous historical figures. Nonetheless, you wondered what this cute brown mammal was doing on Google’s home page, so you clicked on the link.

Little did you know that this innocent fossil graphic was not just any link. It was a lure that had successfully led you into a carefully orchestrated PR campaign involving leading paleontologists, top TV networks, the internet’s most popular website (Google), and numerous other media outlets in a coordinated effort to promote evolution to the public.

The fossil, dubbed “Ida” by her discoverers, was introduced to the media as the “eighth wonder of the world” whose “impact on the world of palaeontology” would be like “an asteroid falling down to Earth.”

Famed BBC broadcaster Sir David Attenborough got involved, making a documentary titled Uncovering Our Earliest Ancestor: The Link, to explain why Ida is “the link that connects us directly with the rest of the animal kingdom.” Co-sponsored by both the BBC and the History Channel, the program attracted a massive audience.

For those who don’t get their information from cable TV, Ida’s promoters also held a press conference generating a flood of news stories:

Good Morning America and Nightline covered the fossil.

National Geographic called her the “critical ‘missing link’ species.”

ScienceDaily and a Discover magazine commentator praised Ida as our “47-million-year-old human ancestor.”

Skynews told the public that “proof of this transitional species finally confirms Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution.”

With Google’s eager assistance, Ida went viral: One of the leading search terms that day was “missing link found.” Even the Drudge Report was reeled in by the media frenzy, briefly featuring Ida as the headline story.

Continue Reading at http://www.salvomag.com/new/articles/salvo10/10luskin.php

Cell Phone Tools - Old Info By Maybe New To Some....

2009-09-18T12:43:00.000-07:00

Here is an old article with some cool tools for your cell phone....All Free!

Michele Schwartz February 2006 issue Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Travelers have more reason than ever to bring along a cell phone, thanks to new text-messaging tricks--all of which are free (excluding your provider's fees). Google, Yahoo, and a company called 4INFO are making accessible all sorts of information that travelers will love having at their fingertips. Basically, you send a text message to the company's five-digit "short code" to request info. Yahoo's code is 92466 ("Yahoo" spelled on a keypad), 4INFO's is 44636 ("4INFO" on a keypad), and Google's is 46645 ("Google" without the "e").

Portable phone book

Type whatever you're looking for, along with a city or zip code--such as "museums Chicago" or "seafood 20815." Google, Yahoo, or 4INFO will do a search, and then send the results and the contact info to your phone.

Weather

All three companies use "w" as shorthand for "weather": Type in a "w," along with a zip code or city and state, and Yahoo, Google, and 4INFO will give you a three-, four-, or five-day forecast, respectively.

Translation

Google has a cool language feature, with "t" standing for "translate." If you text-message "t ticket to spanish," you'll get back "boleto." Or try it the opposite way: "t il pleut from french" yields "it rains." It works with words and simple phrases, and between English and five languages: French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Flight updates

Send 4INFO a message with an airline and flight number for updates on the day's arrivals and departures. If you don't know the flight number, use the airline name, plus the airport codes or the departure and arrival cities.

Directions

For driving directions with mileage, text-message Google "san diego ca to la ca," "wash dc to bwi," or whatever your basic itinerary is. Turn-by-turn directions will appear within a minute.

Currency conversion

Send a message to Google using currency codes ("65 eur in USD") or plain language ("5 british pounds in american money") for the day's exchange rate.

Trip planning

Here's one that doesn't involve dialing short codes. Yahoo has a feature called Search Local that lets you transmit info from a computer to your cell phone. Say you locate driving directions, or a restaurant that sounds good, on Yahoo: Click on Send to Phone and the directions or the restaurant's contact info pops up in a text message a few seconds later, free of charge.

An Update On My Health...

2009-09-11T11:18:00.001-07:00

Funny...the reason blogs (web logs) were created was to give others a detailed daily log of your personal life (sorry I think that is TMI for the WWW). But I did want to get those who are interested and concerned with my health issues a bit of an update.

As some of you know I have been diagnosed with Crohn's Disease for a little over six years. It is an auto-immune disorder that is, according to the medical professionals, incurable. I have been taking the advise (various medications) of the medical professionals, as well as trying to eat right and take various holistic approaches. Both of which have had limited success.

Many of you have noticed the ulcers in my mouth and lips within the last 4 months to a year. This has been the latest symptom along with constant Colitis.

My Doctor has placed me on Steroids again. Steroids temporarily fix all of the symptoms but are not a good long-term solution. As a matter of fact, you can not stay on them too long because they are dangerous to your body and when you get off of them your symptoms often get worse. So it is used as a bridge drug to take you to a longer solution.

So I am now trying a new Drug (about 10 years on the market) call Remicade next week. They must run various tests (all of which I past this week) before you start. Remicade is a biologic infusion that takes about 3-4 hours through IV. I start this Tuesday and ramp up in two weeks. After two weeks I will get them every 4-5 weeks for as long as it helps (the plan is the rest of my life).

So thank you for praying for me (for those of you who knew about it). And if you know the Lord Jesus Christ would you agree with me in prayer for strength and healing? Thank you.....

Here is what God has spoken to my heart during the six years of this of this journey and it still is true to my heart today;

Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (12) Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. (13) And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

A Summary Of Wales From Misha Townsend

2009-08-30T22:45:00.001-07:00

Forwarding this along from Misha Townsend who was on the team to Swansea Wales..... Hi Everyone! So since we only got 2 minutes to share at church this morning (impossible!), I wanted to share some of what God did through our trip to Wales. Our main purpose was to support Calvary Chapel Swansea, through various events and outreaches for the community. We did three days of VBS for the kids, a movie night, women's luncheon, youth club, family festival, international food festival, talent nightl, and helped with Sunday service and Sunday school. It was a very busy several days! But it was so awesome how God gave us strength and pulled everything together even when things got hectic. One of the biggest blessings was teaching and loving on the kids. So many of them were needy for attention, acting out, or trying to be tough, but God truly did a work in their hearts through His love. All of us on the team could tell so many stories about each one of the kids...the ones who felt safe to open up to us, whose behavior changed because of loving discipline, who received the gospel with an open heart, the ones who simply were able to come to church and hear about God's love for the first time. It was eye-opening and sobering for me to see how little these kids knew about God. Many of them have such a skeptical attitude, they've been raised not to believe in God. But at the same time they are hungry for Him, even if they don't know what it is they hunger for. All we could do was seek them out, bring them to the Father, and show them His love. For me one of the biggest challenges, and greatest blessings, was the worship. I was really nervous to be leading worship and leading the music for VBS. But God kept my fingers from hurting (yay!) and totally blessed it. Especially the music with the kids--I felt like I was just standing there singing and doing some weird silly movements, and God just filled the room with His presence. I hadn't expected the music to make such an impact on the kids, but it did. And to see those kids singing about Jesus, about God's love for them, even if they didn't fully understand it yet, was so awesome. It provided so many opportunities to reach out to the kids personally, too; one little boy was fascinated by the guitar and kept asking me to teach him. It was an opportunity to show him love, attention, security. We got to sing worship songs with some of the teen girls, who were otherwise pretty closed-off to hearing about God. It provided an opportunity to build relationships. We also held a luncheon for the women--Pastor Dave and Pastor Clint prepared all the food, it was awesome! ;) It was such a blessing to fellowship with and minister to the ladies there. We also had a "toddler time" on Saturday, an opportunity for moms to come and hang out while we played with their kids. Joy, Sharon, and I did a puppet show (and then our stage fell over lol). We really wanted to just reach out to the community and make them feel welcome and comfortable in the church. One boy who had recently been placed in a foster home came to help us out, and ended up coming every single day during our stay. He had never really been to church before, but he totally dived in to serve in any way needed. He would come in the morning for our team devotions, and stayed most days all day to help out with all our events. His heart is definitely open to the Lord--keep him in prayer that he will receive salvation and grow in his faith. There's so much more I could say...so many small miracles, small blessings. But nothing is small in God's eyes. It was awesome to see how each person on our team contributed their part and filled a special need. Sharon helped to keep us organized and really reached out to the women and parents, You-K provided discipline and love to the kids, Pastor Dave taught the word faithfully and was willing to dress up like a crazy professor (lol!), Aydde was faithful to organize and prepare snacks every day for VBS, and served us with her awesome cooking, Lisa taught the kids with love and was always available to talk to them individually, Sylvia reached out to the parents in an awesome way, Joy was always ready with fun games and to teach the youth. And then there was Pastor Clint and Sol, who were amazing hosts and helped us out in so many ways. And then the wonderful people who opened their homes for us to stay with them (Becca, Dan & Sam, Sol, thank you so much!!), and those from the church there who came to help out as well. God worked through so many different peoples' lives. Ok well I've written a lot, but I just wanted to give you guys an idea of what happened on our trip--especially those of you who were praying for us! We definitely needed the prayers, and God definitely answered. Please keep praying for CC Swansea; pray for Pastor Clint and Sol as they now follow up with discipling and teaching the kids and their families, pray that God would grow and strengthen the church there, pray that the kids would keep coming to church and that the seeds planted would grow into genuine faith. And pray about going yourself, next year! :) Thank you for reading. :) God bless!

Ministry In Wales....WOW!

2009-08-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

Well sorry for the lack of posts here yesterday....we have been busy! Finished Holiday Bible Club, Finished the Saturday Festival, Sunday Service and International Food Fellowship, and Sunday Night Talent Show! WOW...what a week. More pics to follow but here are some new ones....

The Ignite Holiday Club is Growing!

2009-08-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much for praying! We had 32 kids today at Ignite Holiday Bible Club and 20 returned for Evening Film Night (we showed "Inkheart"). As promised here are "some" pics....

First Day Of Ministry In Wales

2009-08-19T15:33:00.000-07:00

Well thank you for praying (if you did). Today's events were totally amazing! Started with a morning devotion from You-K on trusting God in difficulty or challenges (Daniel 3:19-25). So we went out on the streets to get the Word out for the Holiday Bible Club later in the afternoon. Door to Door and one on one here in this village (neighborhood here in Wales). Met some kids and played Football with them in the park. Later that day all three boys came to the HBC at the church! Also others that we met around in the village came as well. We had about 20 kids show up (great turn out here in Wales). They made me wear a wig and a white coat (pictures are coming I promise). The Holiday Bible Club was well received and when really well. Our team from CCMV team works so well together. The younger kids had such a blast! We are going to re-think the program for the older ones tomorrow. The 12-14 year olds just wanted to go outside and smoke fags (cigs). So tommorow we are going to break out the water balloon sling-shots and start a fun little war with the older ones....bring it! Promise Pics tommorow! Well the day concluded with a great devotion from Joy on being Joyful at all times from Philippians 4:4...Solomon and I didn't even pick up on the Joy ReJoice thing until this evening!!!! From those here to you there.....Thanks for sending us with your prayer and support! promise pics tommorow..

We Are In Wales!!!

2009-08-19T00:28:00.000-07:00

The travel was long (28 Hours)but not one problem or challenge we could not easily take to prayer. So today is street evangelism and Ignite Holiday Bible Club for the kids here around the church! The team is ready and excited to see many kids come! Please pray for a great turnout of children (hoping for at least 40). I am staying with Sol about a block from the church. All the comforts of home and time for devotions with The Lord! And internet so updates should be regular. God is good....all the time! Continue to keep us in prayer...We need what DL Moody called Holy Spirit Love Motive. We want this place touched by Jesus Christ through our lives! Quick story before I let you go....On the Bus ride from London (4.5 hours), older couple sitting next to me. Praying "Lord use me to speak to them about You!" So I say "How's the weather here?" Quick and short response...."rain." "OK Lord, help me break the ice here." So I pull out my blue and red evangelism track. Both seem interested! The woman reads it afterward front and back! I tell them a couple of jokes (they totally laughed!) Got to share about what we are here for and the churches planted here by Calvary Chapel....God you are so good! Pray for this wonderful couple that they would trust Christ through His gospel (even as detailed on my small blue and red cards). This trip is starting off in the Holy Spirit... Just they way God likes it! So keep checking back here as I hope to update you on the first day of ministry here at Calvary Chapel Swansea!!!!!

Going To Wales!

2009-08-15T17:20:00.001-07:00

Well after 11 years of supporting our Friend and Partner in Ministry, CCMV is sending out a team to come alongside Clint Pickens in Wales. We are doing a Vacation Bible School for the church he pastors and various neighborhood outreaches. I am so excited! I will be updating this blog with the details so check back!

Immediate details: Leaving monday August 17th at 8:00am.

Ministry Location: Swansea, Wales, UK

Church Website: href="http://www.calvarychapelswansea.co.uk/"

Please Pray for us and for those in Swansea, Wales

What God Can Do With One Man

2009-06-26T13:25:00.001-07:00

A friend sent me the following in an email; When James Buchanan was President of the United States, there was a sudden downturn in the economy. Like our current recession, the Panic of 1857 hit almost every industry. Banks and businesses failed. The stock market plunged 66% from 1852-1857. Thousands of people were out of work. The economic meltdown spread to Europe, South America and the Far East. In New York alone, 30,000 out-of-work people protested and caused civil unrest. A quiet, zealous forty-six-year-old businessman named Jeremiah Lanphier saw the spiritual needs of those days. He started a noon-time weekly prayer meeting in New York City. Lanphier printed some flyers that invited people to a prayer meeting with the title, "How Often Should I Pray?" He left these leaflets in some offices and warehouses. The agenda was simple: Pray for a few minutes or for the entire hour. Prayers were to be brief. Lanphier's group met on the third floor of the old North Dutch Reformed Church on Fulton Street in New York. The first day, September 23, 1857, Lanphier prayed by himself for half an hour. But by the end of the hour, six men joined him. The next Wednesday there were twenty. On October 7 there were nearly forty. The prayer meeting grew so much that they decided to meet daily. The next week over one hundred came. Many of them were not even believers. They came because the Holy Spirit had spoken to them about their sin. Soon pastors who had attended the noon prayer meetings on Fulton Street started morning prayer meetings in their own churches. Soon these prayer meetings were overcrowded too. Men and women, young and old were praying too. The presence of God was felt in these prayer meetings. Then, the newspapers began to report on these prayer meetings. In just a few months, there were prayer meetings across America. Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Richmond, Charleston, Savannah, Mobile, New Orleans, Vicksburg, Memphis, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago, and most of the large cities had prayer meetings. In rural places, the revival spread too. Thousands and thousands of people across the United States were praying at these services and at home too. Spiritual revival spread like wild-fire across the nation. The revival went to the high seas too. As one ship neared port, the captain signaled the harbormaster "Send a minister" because revival had broken out on board. On the ship, people began to sense their own need for God, and began to pray. When another small commercial vessel arrived in the harbor, the captain, and every member of the crew had pledged faith in Christ within the last 150 miles of their voyage. Ship after ship arrived in the US with the same story, telling of passengers and crew who were convicted of sin and turned to Christ. History records that the U.S.S. North Carolina, a navy battleship, was anchored in New York. There were four Christians who agreed to meet together for prayer. They knelt on the lower deck. They were so filled with joy that they broke into song. Some unbelieving sailors on the top deck heard the singing, looked down, and saw the boys kneeling. These men ran down to the lower deck to make fun of them. But the conviction of the Holy Spirit so overcame them that by the time they reached the bottom deck they fell on their knees in repentance. The revival spread through the Union and Confederate armies. One historian claims that the Civil War may have been shortened because of the revival. This time in American history is called the Second Great Awakening. God moved because people were open to the leading of God. It is estimated that 6.6 percent of the total population of the United States came to faith during this time. Think of it, all this happened in an economic downturn, while war and social upheaval was going on. And one lone man, Jeremiah Lanphier, was one of God's tools to bring about this great revival. We live in similar times to the ones in which Jeremiah Lanphier lived. In times of economic, social, and spiritual upheaval, God often works the best. But God has no hands but our hands. God needs people like you and me to bring about the renewal and revival.Will you be just like Jeremiah Lanphier? Will you be open to God's voice in your life? Will you be God's person for our nation and our world? Will you be open to be used of God to change the world?

Salad Bar Christianity

2009-06-23T16:36:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been down the cereal isle at any grocery store? Unless you know what you are looking for you very well might find yourself captured by the color of the boxes instead of the ingredients inside...I am so glad that my ministry is not the only one that God has given to the San Fernando Valley. I am so glad that my style of ministry is not the only one that is available to God's people. Variety is a wonderful thing, and within the Church of Jesus Christ God has put together so many different people who all love and follow His Son. But one of the problems the Church has experienced is what someone once called "Salad Bar Christianity." That is, going from local Church to local Church, and never becoming part of a fellowship of believers. Never investing your life into a "home" fellowship and never giving others a chance to invest into your life. Let's face it, The Kingdom of God is all about relationships. First a relationship with Jesus Christ, then with each other in the Body of Christ, and finally with our outreach through relationships into the World. In God's Word three main metaphors are used to illustrate the Church of Jesus Christ;

The Church As A Building - Ephesians 2:19-22
The Church As A Body First Corinthians 12
The Church As A Bride - Revelation 19:5-9

In each of these metaphors there is a clear picture of long-term relationships. A building, a body, and a bride are never to be temporary or transient. Even the Human Body, while temporary in this world will be the seed by which our new Resurrected bodies will be formed. So, why would anyone who is part of Jesus' Church not "plug in" and develop long-term relationship. Why would anyone who is a follower of Jesus Christ not invest his or her life into others who are following Jesus as well.... Well, just a little something to challenge our Salad Bar attitudes.....

When Life Doesn't Seem Fair

2009-05-07T11:58:00.000-07:00

Last night I spoke at Calvary Chapel Living Water in Corona. What a wonderful fellowship they have there. Pastor Jerry asked me to teach for him as he was away on his anniversary. Well I decided to teach on Hannah's life from 1st Samuel chapter one. She had a life that did not seem fair. She was childless in a culture that saw infertility as a curse by God. She had a rival between she and her husband (Elkanah married a second wife for kids) who mocked her to the point of tears. She had a backslidden spiritual leadership to guide her (Eli and his sons). She was accused of being a drunkard by Eli the High Priest. What did she do with all of this "unfairness?" She waited on the Lord! She took her problems to God! She made a deeper commitment to God's plan for her life! She made a vow to give the child back to God should He open up her womb.... Well she did have that child and others as well. But do you know what she named that first son? Samuel, which means "God hears!" So, what are we to do when life doesn't seem fair? Wait upon The Lord! Isaiah 40:2-31

Congradulations Miss California!

2009-04-22T14:51:00.000-07:00

Well Carrie Prejean is in my opinion one of the biggest winners in all of the beauty padgends ever! She kept her own convictions even when it cost her the Miss USA title. When asked her oppinion regarding Prop. 8 she affirmed civil unions but unashamidly answered that marriage is between a man and a woman. Clearly Perez Hilton (the one who asked the question and is a gay activist) wanted to eleminate anyone in the contest that does not agree with his oppinion. Talk about eliminating tolerance! So many who have opposed Prop. 8 have shouted "intolarance!" at those who hold a different view. And now we see such a backlash at Carrie because she has her own view. Perez Hilton said that Miss USA needed to be more "inclusive and politically correct." Well because she disagreed she is not included and is incorrect....go figure... BTW Carrie Prejean's oppionion is in full agreement with President Obama and Secretary Of State Hillary Clinton on the issue of Same Sex Marriage...But where's the backlash against them from Perez Hilton. Carrie Prejean in my oppinion has the strongest character than most people her age and came out the real winner of the Miss USA Contest. She did not lose her integrity and character for fame and fortune....You go girl! Check out the article on foxnews http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,517137,00.html

A Post Christian Nation?

2009-04-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

I read this nice article on http://www.foxnews.com/

BILL SHULER: Ten Ways America Can Become “Post-Christian” By Bill ShulerPastor, Capital Life Church

Newsweek magazine’s sensationalist cover story, headlined, “The Decline and Fall of Christian America,” was, in my view, the result of an underlying agenda that caused the article to draw the wrong conclusion.

The article did, however, prompt me to consider the fact that Christians must never be complacent about their faith. We must continue to nurture , and, of course, share it. Posted here are some thoughts on how we could lose a standard of faith–how American christianity could possibly decline and fall. Such a decline and fall would start with the individual. Here are some examples of what each of us could do to make America “post-Christian”:

1. Reduce your prayer life to blessing your meals.

2. Embrace a form of religion over Jesus.

3. Win arguments but lose people.

4. Choose which parts of the Bible you want to believe — and discard the rest.

5. Don’t share your faith so as not to offend.

6. Dilute the message to gain a wider audience.

7. Embrace success and forget the poor.

8. Get uncomfortable around the unchurched.

9. Keep the Bible on the shelf.

10. Keep Jesus in stained glass.

Through the generations Jesus’ followers have established schools, hospitals and orphanages. They have reminded the world that man is not an end unto himself. The call now goes out to a new generation. The Scriptures declare, “You are the salt of the earth…the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men that they will see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”

Spending Time With God

2009-04-03T11:57:00.000-07:00

This week someone sent me a great devotion. Thought I would share it with you....The language is a little older English but you'll figure it out!

I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word. My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word. -Psalm 119:147-148

Briefly, the way to escape religion as a front is to make it a fount. See to it that we pray more than we preach and we will never preach ourselves out. Stay with God in the secret place longer than we are with men in the public place and the fountain of our wisdom will never dry up. Keep our hearts open to the inflowing Spirit and we will not become exhausted by the outflow. Cultivate the acquaintance of God more than the friendship of men and we will always have abundance of bread to give to the hungry. Our first responsibility is not to the public but to God and our own souls. A.W. Tozer, God Tells the Man Who Cares, p115-116.

Fireproof Marriages

2009-03-01T22:40:00.001-08:00

Tonight (March 1st) we kicked off our first "Fireproof Marriages" couples ministry. What a blessing to see so many people taking the time and investing into their marriages. Often we think the only time to go to a couples ministry is when we are having diffculties in our marriage. Nothing could be further from the truth. If we invest into our relationship we will have a much to draw from during times those difficult challenges that always come...

We discussed how our love for each other must be unconditional and persisten. Also our attitude must be one of sacrifice with joy as we serve Jesus by loving our spouse...Come out and join us next month if you are near by...(Check Out Our Church Calendar at http://www.ccmv.us/ ).

Reflections On Egypt, By Dan Nelson

2009-02-21T19:16:00.000-08:00

As we walked down the steps from the Air France jet liner onto the cool tarmac, there was the ominous sense that this was going to be a long two weeks. The bright city lights shone a warm glow against the dense smog laden Cairo night sky. As the heavily armed soldiers directed us onto the bus that would bring us to our luggage and the forbidding immigration line, we tucked in tightly together and tried not to talk or draw unnecessary attention to ourselves. We were tired after almost twenty-four hours of travel and already facing a time zone crisis. Nobody wanted surprise delays in the airport. Cash and passports were collected and we waited as the line pushed closer and closer to the first of many checkpoints we would encounter during our time in Egypt. Just in time, our passports were returned with visa stamps in place and we proceeded through to the next officer. Luggage was inspected randomly. Smiles were non-existent. AK-47’ s were. After what felt like an eternity but was probably only a matter of minutes, a door opens and we walk through. On the other side were familiar faces gleaming with sunshine. Friends. Christians. Smiles. Greetings were shared, with kisses from cheek to cheek, as is customary on that side of the world. Once outside the airport, it became increasingly critical that we remained together and avoided added notice. We had friends but also we have enemies. We merely didn’t know who the latter was. Then we saw a familiar face beaming from beside his van. It was “Tom”, as we call him (his real name is a bit more difficult to say), our driver from the last two years, and as far as we are concerned, the best one Egypt has to offer. After all, the rules of the road here are quite different than anything I have ever experienced anytime in my life. Cairo makes Tijuana look as tame as Autopia at Disneyland. For the next two weeks, our life would be in the hands of the moment-by-moment decisions that Tom, surely skillful enough to win Nascar if he would ever be allowed into our country, would make. In reality, our dependence would be upon God. I am telling you the truth when I say that if you didn’t come to Egypt believing in the power of prayer, you will be a fervent prayer warrior once you experience what the streets of this metropolis conundrum has to offer. And that is where I want to focus this installment as I chronicle my spiritual adventure during this missionary trek: on becoming a person of prayer. One thing that is very striking to me about my many friends that serve Christ as Africans is their strong commitment to prayer. It is as though they understand something that most Americans have forgotten: the critical element of personal communication with God. Somewhere lost in our luxury and plethora of conveniences, Americans have seemingly sidetracked from their source of greatness. I am convinced that we live in the best country in the world and the untold myriads of people on lottery lists that can only dream of coming here is proof of this. And, while there will always be those who want to bash us and others who want to give the credit for the greatness of the USA to anyone or anything other than the glory of God, I believe that the prayer of faithful men and women has a whole lot to do with our success. Many of these prayers are recorded in the annals of American history and in our official Congressional records. Our time was invested with Christians from throughout Egypt and refugee leaders from Sudan, Eritrea, and Ethiopia. By far, the most common request among all the people we were with was for prayer. Why prayer? Many of them are very poor. Their lives are difficult. They have experienced things that most Americans will only see in movies or on late night World Vision child sponsorship pitches. And for many of them, the closest they will get to an American lifestyle experience will be to watch Hollywood imports on television. They live in a Muslim controlled environment and shutter at the naiveté of the world regarding what the experience is like for them. Despite their circumstance and poverty, and for many, minimal opportunities for a bright future, they seem to understand something that so many Americans would be greatly benefited to learn: only the hand of Jesus can help where it is needed most. As Americans, we are caught in the “I want more” mentality, and we tend to presume that others pray like we do: selfishly. In our pluralistic society, almost all of the religious diversity has the common element that “self” is at the center. Christianity is meant to be different. Jesus modeled for us something more than what every other religious thinker could ever be. I don’t want to frustrate you but I don’t want to tell you what they prayed for most of the time. I want to encourage you to spend a bit of time pondering this. You may find that your own prayer today is heightened as a result; a little less mud and a bit more glory. If only I can find a way to bring back some of the sweet and Spirit-filled worship from the people following Christ in North Africa. As we ponder the challenges facing our country, I wonder if God’s people will once again become people of prayer in America. For a long time we have been “people of plenty”. What would it take for us to become “people of prayer”? Dan Nelson is pastor of Calvary Chapel Christian Church of the Ojai Valley.

We Are Back Home From Egypt!

2009-02-05T08:34:00.000-08:00

Well, Rubios fish tacos, Starbucks, and Trader Joe's... OK so maybe these are not the most important things on my mind but they certainly caught my attention. But the most anticipated is family, friends, and our Church family at Calvary Chapel Mid Valley. It was wonderful to be back home and worship Jesus with the fellowship of those who sent us.... We will have a slide show and presentation of the details of our trip this Sunday at church. I hope you can make it...If you can not make it, we hope to post the slide show online at our website (http://www.ccmv.us/). Thanks again for sending us. We both share in the fruit equally!

Have You Ever Gotten 15K Emails?

2009-02-04T16:10:00.000-08:00

Well I have been vandelized by an email bot.... I have gotten over 15 thousand emails in the last 5 days.... So, while I wanted to keep my dcuff@ccmv.us email address, the tech folks who support us are telling me it is impossible. I must give up my old email address... So, if you would are one of the people who think I am a flake for not replying back to your email to me, I am sorry. Please forgive me.... Also, if you would like my new email address please call the church office and let me or my staff know. We would be glad to give it to you. For obvious reasons we can not publish it online....

On Our Way Back Home!

2009-02-02T12:32:00.000-08:00

Well we have had a wonderful trip here in Egypt! We have been to Luxor doing leadership conferences, marriage counceling, prayer for various believers, and made many wonderful friendships.... We have been to Assuit and preached at Soul Salvation Society. They welcomed us into their hearts and made us feel like family. We met servants who have gone to Syria, Iraq, and Sudan for our boss. They are the heros of the faith!!!!! We just finished a meeting with a married couple who serve our boss in Yemen! WOW! These folks are on the cutting edge for our Master! We have met earlier today with a team from Brazil who serve OMB here in Cairo! They are such wonderful people and have gone where many of us only pray.... Our trip home (we leave for the airport in 15 Minutes) will take us about 24-28 Hours... We are looking forward to coming home to tell you all of what our Master has done for you through us! Thank you for sending us....There is much fruit and exiting opportunities for the future.... He and He alone Gets all the glory!

Ministry In Mina

2009-01-29T15:16:00.001-08:00

We had a wonderful time in Mina! Church services, leadership training, visiting the sick, meeting with local church leaders, and renewing old friendships! We are now in Luxor...our train ride and taxi ride was about 7+hours. We had a great service with Soul Salvation ministry here in Luxor. Leadership training is in the morning...Oh and we are having dinner right now (1:45am) Egyptian style.... I have been trying to upload photos but the connection here is difficult... we will keep trying!

Cairo Conferences - Wow!

2009-01-22T12:57:00.000-08:00

We have finished the leadership and outreach conference in Cairo. What a blast! The people are wonderful and the Spirit of God was there to meet us and them as we gathered in His Name! Topics for leadership - Serving Our Savior, Fruitfulness In Ministry, The Importance Of The Word Of God, Sharing Your Faith, Kingdom Relationships....

We should have a little video we made during our first few days in Egypt up soon!

Psa 138:1-8 [[[A Psalm] of David.]] I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, [and] strengthenedst me [with] strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth. Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great [is] the glory of the LORD. Though the LORD [be] high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The LORD will perfect [that which] concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, [endureth] for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

First Day Of Cairo Ministry

2009-01-21T12:31:00.000-08:00

Taxi ride to the conference center....

The first day of ministry in Cairo went very well.....Leadership training and outreach went very well. Thank you for praying...We taught on "Sharing Your Faith," and "Relationships In The Kingdom" and explained the long-term vision of our new website (http://www.ccmv.us/).

In the evening we had some wonderful Sundanese worship and Dan Nelson preached on John chapter three. I gave a message on personal revival from Isaiah 60:1 and 2nd Corinthians 4. Dan and I led a man named Hanni to our Boss....

Made It To Cairo!

2009-01-20T23:51:00.000-08:00

Well we made it to Cairo! Our flight from Salt Lake City was two and a half hours delayed so we missed our connection in Paris to Cairo. So we then flew back to Amsterdam then to Cairo. Just an extra half day (total 30 hour travel time). Here is Lester sleeping in Paris, France.... They lost our luggage (please pray) and hope to get it back to us on Thursday! A huge Thank You to all of you who sent us. Today is our first conference with the Refugees in Cairo. Should be about 200 people coming tonight! Also, leadership training during the day this afternoon. Pray that The Lord touches and teaches the people through us for you all! David, Lester, Amir, Dan, and Manal

We Are Going To Egypt!

2009-01-03T17:06:00.000-08:00

Well most everyone already knows but I forgot to post the announcement on my blog...go figure... So, here is the skinny....After canceling this year's trip to Egypt because of financial concerns at CCMV God had other plans and has opened a door for us to go again (fifth time) to Egypt. Our costs are about half and some key people have funded large portions of the mission.

Here is the current ministry plans: Jan 19-Feb 3rd 2009

Leave LAX Jan 19th

Arrive Cairo Jan 20th

Jan 20th-Jan 23rd

Ministry to Sudanese, Eritrean, and Ethiopian refugees in Cairo

Daily Leadership Training Sessions (30-40 Leaders from various churches)

Including a two night outreach / conference for 150-200 people

Jan 23rd -Jan 28th

4 Hour Train to Mina

Ministry to Soul Salvation Society Church

Leadership and Evangelism Training Sessions

Jan 28th - Jan 30th

3 Hour Train to Luxor (Assut)

Ministry to Soul Salvation Society Church and village church members Leadership and Evangelism Training Sessions

Church Services In Luxor / Assut

Feb 3rd

Flight Back To USA / LAX

So....Please pray!

So far those going are Myself, Lester Avendano, Dan Nelson (CC Ojai), Amir, Manal, and Abigail.

Much appreciation to those who have made this possible and to you who are praying for us!

Thank you.....

2008-12-26T12:07:00.001-08:00

Have you ever stopped and thought about how messy that first Christmas was? If you have ever spent time in a barn with animals you understand and know the smells, noises, and overall dirt that comes with them. Have you ever stopped and thought about why God would bring Jesus (His Only Begotten Son) into the world that way? I believe one of the many reasons that first Christmas was messy was because God wanted anyone at any level to understand how approachable Jesus really is. If God came to us by way of a messy barn I believe He understands the messy life I live. And if He understands the messy life I live, He must be able to do something about it...

Post Thanksgiving Thoughts

2008-12-02T15:28:00.000-08:00

Well, we all have much to be thankful for and this year I am full. While my children have all grown up and are moving on out to become the people God has called them to be, they still enjoy being with my wife and I on special occasions. Truly our home was a "good-time" for this holiday in the lives of my kids and for that I am truly Thankful. When I think of how our Heavenly Father must feel when we count it a "good-time" to be in His house every week I am reminded of my thoughts from last Thanksgiving. And the cool part of it all is we had some visitors over with us and it only increased my joy! I have walked with Jesus for almost 24 years and I still have a "good-time" in His house with His people and it is a great joy when visitors come to check things out! Just some Random thoughts of God's house and mine...

Are People Born Gay?

2008-10-30T16:30:00.000-07:00

Recently while reading a blog on myspace.com I responded to this discussion. Here is what I posted.... Just a couple of thoughts on the whole gay, straight, ??? issue; First - I applaud you for thinking for yourself! Most people who have strong opinions have not taken the time to reasearch, reflect, and respond the the truth. Remember having an opinion does not mean we are thinking. But taking the time to understand the facts and forming our own thoughts is essential to having understanding. Second- According to Genesis 1 Mankind is created in God's Image... That is we have a conscience, we know right from wrong, we can reason, relate, and respond. Also what makes us different from all the other animals is the knowledge of being created. Although The Bible teaches us that most have suppressed that truth (being created) because of unrighteousness (Romans 1). So if we are going to believe that we are created in God's image (Genesis 1) then we must believe mankind can not be created Gay because God is not Gay nor does He encourage you and I to be Gay. Third - People are created in wonderful and unique ways but we all have the same basic hardware (with the exception of birth defects and accidents). Basic human biology shows us that Homosexuality can not reproduce. The basic idea is that the fruit or results of homosexuality is not good. And in the book of Genesis when God saw all of His creation He declared it was Good. So I do not believe God would create someone wanting what is not good. Fourth - All of mankind have been created with a sexual drive which produces desires (except for the unusal case of those called/created to be single). These desires (as well as all desires) should be fulfilled according to God's design. For example a married man who is attracted to another woman needs to control his sexual desires even though it may be difficult and require lifestyle changes (ie not hanging out with that person). A woman who receives comfort and advise from another man and finds herself attracted to him, if she is married, she needs to end that relationship and find other means for that comfort and advise. These are normal ways of handling God given desires. The same is true for someone attracted to the same sex. These are unhealthy temptations that need to be controled. When people learn to control unhealthy desires a healthy lifestyle is produced. Fifth - And Most Important...God created sex and all that He created was good and for our blessing. But...we now live in a society that is given over to sensuality and sex. We are being bombarded with sexual messages constantly. This I believe is producing a very harmful farmland of sexual expression and lifestyle. Within this harmful farmland of public sexual expression some people are growing up with the wrong idea of sex. God created sex to be expressed between a man and a woman with a lifelong relationship. But with our current malfunction of sex in our socienty, and poor examples of those we admire, our culture has produced damaging ideas regarding the wonderful gift God gave us. This I believe, has cause many to doubt their God given sexuality. Esspecially within our youth of today. Well, there is much more to this discussion and I certainly am not the expert. But what I believe is that God's Word has given us the proper use of this God given gift. That is, that sex should be is within the lifelong marriage commitment between a man and a woman. Also, I am in no way bashing Gays. Having compassion and not becoming part of the problem when reaching out with the Gospel to people who have decided to be Gay is essential. I was addressing the theological question "Does God Create people Gay?" I think it is a good question in light of our current cultural battle in Prop 8. my 5 cents....

What Is Biblical Stewardship

2008-10-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

“…He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 Biblical stewardship involves the faithful managing of God’s Kingdom. All that we are, all that we have, and all that we do should be viewed from this sense of stewardship. Our lives have been purchased by Jesus Christ and His work on the Cross. We are God’s servants and how we use that which we have (mind, will, possessions, money) is how we steward for God’s Kingdom. Author Lynn A. Miller says “Stewardship is the act of organizing your life so that God can spend you.”

Often times God’s people see stewardship from either guilt or pride. While those who have a feeling of guilt often give out of unbiblical compulsion, God tells us to purpose in our hearts and lay aside each week as we prosper (1st Corinthians 16:1-2) for the support of the local ministry we belong to. And on the other hand, there is a temptation to feel a sense of pride when we have made a commitment to adding our finances to that which we steward for God.

So, the path to Spirit led stewardship involves understanding the Grace of God. God’s Grace is His divine influence in our lives. His transformation is from the inside all the way out to our day to day living. God’s Grace causes us to understand the importance of prayer, holiness, service, and fellowship. God’s Grace works in the Fruit of The Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). And God’s Grace causes us to see the importance of faithful stewardship. The Bible tells us to abound in this Grace of giving (2nd Corinthians 8:9) as well as the rest of our spiritual life with God.

A Critical Spirit

2008-10-03T13:35:00.000-07:00

Most of us, if we are honest, can be observed at times having a critical spirit. We also can be found evaluating others by our ideals rather than our actions. In Luke's Gospel chapter 20 we see many different religious rulers confronting Jesus by what they think is right. If we read that chapter and we are honest, on occasion we can see ourselves in acting just like them.

Often times our ideals become the litmus test upon others and, if we are honest, we don't even measure up to our own ideals. We as God's kids rely upon His grace and mercy for ourselves, but relagate others to our bad attitudes and opinions. We should repent of this critical spirit and remember where we came from and how Jesus treats us.

But, if you think this critical spirit towards others is bad, what about when we are critical towards God and His Word? "Oh", you might say, "I would never do that!" If we can again put ourselves in the same shoes as those opposing Jesus in Luke's Gospel chapter 20, we would see a ourselves from a whole new perspective. You see, I believe by our own lifestyles we often prove a critical spirit towards God and His Word. For example, how we spend our money, the types of entertainment we enjoy, they types of people we date, the decisions we make. These actions all reflect a critical view towards God's Word and His will for our lives.

So, how can we see this problem before we find ourselves critically putting Jesus and His Word to the test? Well, I believe it is as basic as any relationship. Just like in marriage, as you spend time with that special someone you begin to trust them more. As you listen to their heart you embrace what is important to them even if it doesn't seem important to you at first. As you place their desires above your own you find devotion replacing that critical spirit and love guiding your thought and actions.

So the antidote for a critical spirit towards God is love and devotion towards Jesus Christ and His Word...Yep you guessed it...Falling more in love with Jesus allows His love to consume our critical spirit...

Enoch And His Message

2008-09-11T12:39:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been teaching through Genesis and the Gospel of Luke. While exploring the life of Enoch and his message in Genesis 5:24, I was amazed with the statment that he "walked with God" and also in Hebrews 11:5 that Enoch "pleased God". Elsewhere in Scripture we understand that "Walk" is a metaphor for lifestyle and actions. So Enoch had a lifestyle that was all about God. Well, I began to realize that Enoch had an intimate fellowship with God and began to know the heart of God in the midst of "wicked, evil, and violent" times (Genesis 5:5,11). Well, that is when Jude 14-15 made sense to me. You see when Enoch knew the heart of God he followed the will of God for his life. And God's will was for him warn the world of impending judgement for sin. So Enoch had a prophetic ministry proclaiming the judgement of God during the times before Noah's life. Even though Enoch (according to Jude 14-15) was prophecying about the return of Christ or the event we call the 2nd Coming of Christ, the warning was still the same. Get right with God before His judgement for sin comes. Because Enoch believed this message he preached, he named his son Methuselah, which means "death then judgement." We can assume his name more fully meant "when Methuselah dies God's Judgement will come" because upon Methuselah's death God judged the world with a great world-wide flood. Well while this topic may not be one of those "WOW" things to read, I would like to make two points that I found were a "WOW" during my study. First, Methuselah was the oldest man to ever live. He lived 969 years. That demonstrates God's abundant mercy and longsuffing toward those living in sin. Second, in Luke's gospel we read that Jesus will come again when the times and culture get as bad as it was during Noah's time. Well, if you ask me we are not far from the return of Christ and the Judgment of the world...

Spiritual Discipline

2008-08-09T10:21:00.000-07:00

Recently our men's fellowship group has been reading the book "Disciplines Of A Godly Man" by R. Kent Hughes. While this has been an old favorite of mine, each time I pick it back up I am challenged by the topic all over again. While many see the spiritual disciples as a "as I have time" kinda thing, I am of the opinion that God's Word instructs us to have a directed spiritual life. Jesus calls us to follow Him and the primary path of discipleship is to be directed with a goal in mind. The goal is to experience all that we have been given in Christ and to be used in the lives of others. I am reminded of how when I would go surfing my lifestyle would either help or hinder my performance upon the waves. I could always surf when the size was three to four feet. But if I had been staying too long at the dinner table and sitting around watching too much TV then when the waves were six to ten feet I would not be ready and barley make it out past the impact zone (beyond where the waves break). I learned some hard lessons when the surf was big. One of them was that you need a life of preparation to be ready for strenuous situations. In following Christ, spiritual disciplines will prepare us for challenging situations where God is needing a prepared servant. I always wished I had been in better shape when the surf was pumping and that motivated me to prepare even when I wasn't in the water... Spiritually I know discipline in following Christ will change my everyday life, and when the waves of life get a bit bigger....

How God Measures Success

2008-07-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

I have been reading a book called "Experiencing Leadershift" by Don Cousins. In chapter 3 called "The Success Heresy" he asks and answers the question "How God Measures Success? I thought I would share some of what ministered to me. Don asks four questions every believer should be asking themselves; Question 1: Are you being faithful? In the parable of the Talents in Matthew Chapter 25 each servant was given Talents from the Master and were held accountable to what they did with what they were given. So, the first dimension of faithfulness is knowing what has God given you. This could be in the form of natural talents, material assets, educational training, relationships, passions, and anything else. This list also includes spiritual gifts that He has given you. Once you understand what God has given you (natural and spiritual talents and gifts), they are then to be invested into The Kingdom. Question 2: Are you bearing Fruit? Jesus said, "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so be My disciples" (John 15:8). He also told us that God prunes every fruit-bearing branch "that is my bear more fruit" (John 15:2). God is into fruit... But often times (as Don Cousins points out) we see fruit as represented by numbers (how much and how many). In church we see nickels and noses (budgets and people). But if we understand fruit as coming from the Holy Spirit then we are drawn to Galatians 5:22-23 to find our answer to Question 2. So read this list and ask yourself the Question 2 again; "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. " Question 3: Are you fulfilled? Is your life, is your ministry, making you full? Full of what? Joy! Jesus continued in John 15:11 to tell His disciples "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. Is your life full of Joy? If not remember that is what God has and wants for you as you serve Him. Question 4: Are you making God famous? This is the bottom line, the ultimate measure of your life and ministry. Is God becoming famous through you? "f anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. " 1 Peter 4:11 While numbers in our culture is the benchmark of success I agree with Don Cousins that God has other more important ways to evaluate our lives. If you want more details on these four questions I suggest you get Don Cousins book "Experiencing Leadershift."

Christopher Laurie In His Presence

2008-07-24T16:20:00.000-07:00

July 24, 2008

I just found out that Christopher Laurie was killed in a car accident this morning.
Below is the information from http://www.harvest.org/

Christopher Laurie, son of Pastor Greg Laurie and Cathe Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California, died this morning in a car accident in Riverside. A resident of Huntington Beach, Laurie, 33, served as the art director at Harvest Christian Fellowship for the past three years.

In addition to his parents, Christopher is survived by his wife, Brittany, and daughter, Stella, as well as his brother Jonathan. Christopher and his wife are expecting another daughter in November.

Memorial plans for Christopher are pending. More information will be posted to the Harvest website at www.harvest.org as details become available.

A Joyful Life With Christ

2008-07-09T11:03:00.001-07:00

Enjoy your relationship with Jesus Christ each and every day! While we all struggle with our time spent with Him (not enough), the normal response is to feel guilty, discouraged, and defeated. But if we understand His love for us, and how He is for us and not against us it will change our motivation to spend more time with Him. Romans 8:31-35 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For example: When you think of your favorite activity (or something you really enjoy) you don’t need to feel guilty or discouraged when you don’t do it. You just need to remember how good it is to motivate you to do it again. When you are enjoying The Lord, you want more! So how do we enjoy The Lord? Well, first we need to remember Romans 8:1 (He does not condemn us) when we are struggling. And then remember How much He loves us (Romans 8:35). This is what opens the door to real joy (that is, reflecting upon His love and concern for us). Then, when we do spend time with Him we have a real commitment of love and devotion for Him…Thus causing real Joy! Really this is moving from a heart that is motivated by guilt or shame to one of love and joy… Hope that ministers to you in your busy schedule this week!

The Cost Of Discipleship

2008-06-27T16:39:00.000-07:00

Luke 14:25-35 It is possible to be a follower of Jesus without being a disciple? Well I think the obvious answer is yes... So then, what is a disciple? Well during the time Jesus was ministering in Israel there were many teachers or rabbis. One of the keys to understanding this relationship between Jesus and you and I as His disciples is to understand the way discipleship worked back then. You see back then all Jewish boys were taught from the Scriptures at a young age and looked forward to one day becoming a disciple of a rabbi. If they were good enough in school and found favor in the eyes of a rabbi they were called to a discipleship program. The "internship" if you will, consisted of living with the rabbi 24/7 and learning all you could from him. The goal was to become just like the rabbi. When we see Jesus choosing His disciples from lessor stations of life (fishermen, tax collectors, zealots, and the like) we realize it's not so much our ability but our availibility that is attractive to God (my own opinion here but you get the idea). But if the key to discipleship is a 24/7 committment to being like the Rabbi Jesus Christ then discipleship would be a bit different then our current idea. Which is why the cost of discipleship is one to be considered first before we apply... If this concept of discipleship interests you then check out the audio message "The Cost Of Discipleship" on the recent sermons section.

Redemption

2008-06-21T16:00:00.002-07:00

This is one of the best dramas describing God's redemption from our dangerous culture...

The Need To Feed

2008-06-21T16:00:00.001-07:00

The Bible is the primary source of spiritual food for the health of Christians. While my physical body reminds me of the need to feed it constantly, my spirit unfortunatly is not as persistent. So, we need to be aware of our spiritual need for the Word Of God... Someone once said "Seven days without the Word of God makes one weak/week." I believe without daily food in God's Word we are going to be empty spiritually speaking. And if we borrow from yesterday's meal too often we are going to be spiritually malnurished...

The Need To Lead

2008-06-21T15:58:00.001-07:00

While leadership as a focus is not for everyone, all of God's people are leaders. We have as our calling the task of bekoning others to receive Grace and Mercy through Jesus Christ. If we are genuinly experiencing this Grace and Mercy often we will be leading others in the same as a bi-product of our lifestyle. So let me encourage you to walk (have as a lifestyle) in the Grace and Mercy of God through Jesus Christ and watch others take notice. And you will find yourself leading others to God. And if you are given the opportunity use words...

Receiving Not Seeking Honor

2008-06-21T15:46:00.000-07:00

Receiving Not Seeking Honor Jun 12, 2008 Luke's Gospel in the fourteeth chapter details a dinner party where Jesus is being tested by some religious leaders of His day. They watch Jesus to see if He would break their understanding of the Mosaic Law by healing a man with dropsy on the Sabbath day. After turning the challenge back upon them by questioning them on basic human compassion He then heals the man with Dropsy. But then He warns them regarding seeking to be honored by others. He tells them not to sit down in the best place because someone may come after you and the host tell you to move down to a less honorable seat. Now in that culture as in ours sitting next to the host was an honor. Jesus told them to sit in a less honorable seat first and then when the host offers them a more honorable seat they will have receive honor by the host when not seeking it. Here is a practical lesson for us. It is clear from this passage we are not to seek after honor from others. The Bible says in Proverbs 15:33 "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility." And in 1st Peter 5:6-7 "...humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. So keeping humble and allowing God to promote us is godly wisdom. Even when we are not recognized for our accomplishments Peter tells us to cast all our care upon Him, for He cares for us... So Receiving NOT Seeking honor is the Word for today....