When Life Doesn't Seem Fair

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!

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?

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

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

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/ ).