Faith Outreach Center Blogspot

Joy!

2010-09-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

Joy is a Christian benefit reserved specifically for the followers of Jesus. Happiness and fun are wonderful experiences that even the lost, unbelieving world can experience. An amusement park, vacation resort or favorite activity such as fishing, hunting or golfing can bring fun. A degree of happiness is experienced in accomplishments, relationships and even possessions. A new car or home brings some happiness. Marriage or the birth of a child and then a grandchild brings happiness.

But the negative aspect of happiness and fun is how fragile and temporary they are. The roller coaster ride ends, the vacation comes to a conclusion; then it’s time to come back to the real world. The glory of accomplishments fades, relationships get rocky, and a single dent in your car can change that happiness to a cloudy day.

You need a consistent, ever-abiding, positive experience that gives a sense of well-being. You need an overwhelming feeling that everything is going to be all right. Joy is the answer. One of the songs logged in my memory from children’s church proclaimed that joy comes from the priority sequence of Jesus and Others and You.

I think back to when our church conducted a Kids Camp missions outreach for Native American families. Ladies were in the kitchen preparing the next meal. Three men were outside repairing and spray painting the outside of the mission church. Across the camp our people were involved with Bible Quiz, recreation, nursing scrapes and bruises, clothes distribution and leading the different teams of children. Stan, our children’s pastor was leading the ministry outreach. Everyone was busy. You could hear laughter. People were enjoying other people.

Jesus was the reason we were there. Others needing Jesus was our motivation. Sacrifices were made. People back home gave financial support to underwrite the expenses. Vacation time was given as an offering to the Lord. Distance from family and loved ones was a sweet-smelling aroma offered to God. I believe even the cold showers and sleeping on a bunk bed were being received as an offering.

The overall outcome of it all was JOY! There was this overwhelming sense that we were doing something for the kingdom of God. Fulfillment flooded our souls, because Jesus was touching those kids through us. Joy is experienced when you place “others” after “Jesus” and ahead of “you.”

- Gary Rogers is senior pastor of First Assembly of God in Coweta, Okla

Reposted from pe.ag.org

Peace

2010-07-31T07:47:00.000-07:00

I like to sit quietly on a beach and look at the ocean and see the waves crashing and the sun shining down on me, or sit on my porch and listen to the birds singing and just look at the sky and the trees and the flowers. It brings me peace. I like to put on praise music and just sit with my eyes closed, listening to the words that bring glory and honor to my Lord and Savior.

Too bad all of life isn’t peaceful and serene. Things come into our lives that make us fretful or worrisome. Our children get sick. The bills keep coming. The cost of living gets higher. Hurtful words are said. Accidents happen. Death comes. And the list goes on and on. So in the midst of all these not-so-peaceful moments, what can we do?

The only thing I know that works is to spend time in prayer and communion with my Heavenly Father, to seek Him, to listen for His words of comfort, and I find them in His precious Word. His Word brings life and truth to us. Here are a few peaceful promises to consider:

“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you” (Isaiah 26:3, NIV).

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (Psalm 4:8)

“Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification” (Romans 14:19)

And some more for you to look up: Ephesians 2:14; Philippians 4:6,7,9; Psalm 29:11; John 14:27; Psalm 119:165; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Proverbs 16:7; James 3:17,18; Proverbs 14:30.

In the midst of a not-so-peaceful world, I encourage you to take a “time out.” Find a quiet place of rest, let God’s love fall over you, sit in His presence, rest in His arms. It is there we find the peace that we need.

by James and Dorothy Rugg live in Dalton, Pa., and pastor Mill City AG

re-posted from Pentecostal Evangel

Lightbulb Experiences

2010-05-08T07:03:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a light bulb experience? This is one of those experiences when the Lord shows you something, and it is like a light comes on. It doesn’t have to be something profound. It can be so simple that you wonder why you couldn’t see that a long time ago.

I had a light bulb experience recently. In the midst of a discouraging, frustrating time in my life, I began to cry out to God. All of my inadequacies, struggles, failures and responsibilities were weighing heavily on me. Several times that day, I had vented my frustration and discouragement to others, but not to God.

At the end of the day, the weight was more than I could bear. So, I cried out to God. As I was praying and seeking the Lord for answers and help, I cried out, “Lord, I am losing my grip!”

There went the light bulb, and the Holy Spirit in His gentle manner spoke and said, “It’s about time; I’ll take over from here.”

WOW! Can I say that again? WOW! As long as I tried to keep a grip on the situations and on the ministry God had entrusted to me, I lacked dependence on Him. Venting my frustrations was my way of keeping in control. God was waiting for me to let go of it all and let Him handle it.

In my desperation, I received a breakthrough. The lightbulb — His Light — came on, and the weight was lifted off my shoulders.

The battle is the Lord’s, not mine. The ministry is the Lord’s, not mine. I am a steward over what He has given me, but my dependence has to remain on God.

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7, NKJV).

The problem is that we attach strings to our cares. We cast them on God, but we hang on to that string. As long as we are hanging on to something, we feel more confident that God will work. The fact is, God works better without you hanging on to the string. I challenge you to lose your grip and place your life and circumstances completely within His grip.

— Danny and Sonya Cheney pastor Rogers First Assembly in Rogers, Ark.

Hitting a Wall

2010-04-16T18:46:00.000-07:00

A thought hit me at 4:37 a.m. on a recent morning — two thoughts actually. The first thought was, “Man, why do I drink so much water at night?!” I always tend to have this epiphany around 3 or 4 in the morning. I need to have it while I’m watching television the night before. I had another thought as I stumbled toward the bathroom doorway in the pitch black. I did not want to turn on any lights at this early hour and wake up my lovely bride. As a result, I smashed my face squarely on the door frame of the water closet.

(This isn’t the first time this has happened. Our laundry room has two doors incredibly close to each other. I’ve spent more than a few stinging moments holding my face over the years after a strong one-two punch from those doors! Now, Bauer, our 2-year-old, is getting familiar with them.)

When I woke up the next morning with a bump on my forehead in the shape of the bathroom door frame, I began to think about the things we smash into in life. Whether we are kids or adults, we often stumble through the dark and run into walls that we didn’t expect to be there. These walls can be in the form of a job loss, relationship struggle, financial turmoil or overwhelming stress. Different walls hit different people.

Each of us has a contrasting journey God has sent us on that teaches us valuable life lessons. When I hit a wall that gives me some trouble, I first thank God that my problems are usually temporary. Most circumstances of concern are over before I realize it. They usually end up being less painful than my worry had made them out to be!

Second, I am reminded of a verse from one of the Bible’s most prominent books. Psalm 23:4 says, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me” (NLT).

No matter how thick the wall is, how dark the air is, or how afraid I might be, the Lord knows my heart and He is with me. He knows what is best for me and wants me to succeed. Knowing that, I am excited to see what challenges lie ahead and how God matures me in the process!

— John Jackson is the principal at Calvary Temple (AG) Christian School in Concord, Calif.

originally posted at www.pe.ag.org

Easter Changes Everything

2010-03-29T16:43:00.000-07:00

On Easter Sunday, believers around the world will declare, “He is risen!” and friends will respond, “He is risen indeed!” These words echo the angel’s declaration in Mark 16:6: “He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him” (NIV).

This truth has transformed all Christians at all times and in all places. Easter is the event that forever changes history. Somehow the frightened followers of Jesus of Nazareth became the fervent witnesses of the risen Christ. The same Peter who denied his Master three times would be crucified upside down rather than deny Him again. Fearful men behind closed doors saw doors of ministry open to change the world in the courage of the Spirit.

Easter is a historical event

Every year skeptics question the historical validity of the resurrection of Jesus. They accuse the disciples of stealing the body. They suggest mass hallucination or wishful thinking created “Easter faith.” Some assert that Jesus was never killed and lived to an old age, starting some kind of mystery cult! These tired arguments will not stand the honest scrutiny of the facts.

The apostle Paul declared that the real events of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus are the foundation of our faith. Unlike any other religious system, Christianity rests on history. In fact, Paul says that if Christ is not raised from the dead, we are still enslaved to sin and our faith is worthless (1 Corinthians 15).

There are three reasons we can be confident that Easter was (and is) a real event.

First, the testimony of the New Testament writers affirms that the disciples were astonished by the appearances of Jesus. Jesus’ brother James and the apostle Paul had personal encounters with the risen Lord, and Jesus appeared to the Eleven together shortly after His resurrection (John 20:1-20; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8). The Gospels and Epistles were all written within a generation of the Resurrection, and their stories validate the testimonies.

Second, the rapid spread of Christianity authenticates the profound faith of the first followers of Jesus. Somehow whole communities responded in faith to the good news about Jesus! Within two generations of Jesus’ death and resurrection, Christian communities were planted from Great Britain to India, from Spain to the borders of China!

Third, non-Christian witnesses validate the impact of Jesus. We have first-century testimonies from the Jewish historian Josephus and the Roman writer Suetonius that Jesus was crucified under Pontius Pilate (who was later removed from office for incompetence) and that the message about Jesus was stirring up the Roman Jewish community and spreading throughout the empire.

As we enjoy our walk with the Lord and share our faith with others, we can have confidence that our beliefs are well-grounded and that our faith is not fantasy, but aligned with facts.

Easter reveals God’s holy love

In his classic work Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis summarizes the Cross well: “Jesus’ death puts us right with God.” From the Scriptures we discover that Jesus’ death on the cross …

• Fulfills God’s love and satisfies His justice — our sins are covered, and we are in favor with the Lord (Romans 3:21-26).

• Cancels our sin-debt and defeats the powers of darkness (Colossians 2:13-15).

• Reconciles us to a loving Lord and releases us to a new life (2 Corinthians 5:18 through 6:2).

The Resurrection is God’s full validation of the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Easter demonstrates that …

• Jesus is the first-born among many brothers and sisters — we see our future as we gaze upon the living Lord (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15).

• Our Lord conquered death and liberates us from the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-18; 4:14-16).

• Jesus’ power is working in us today through the person of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-21; Romans 8:1-17).

Holiness and love come together as God fulfills justice through the atoning work of Jesus and welcomes humble believers into favor through His grace and mercy. No amount of moral or religious effort on our part could ever earn our salvation. Through Christ, we are adopted, forgiven, justified (placed in a position of favor), reconciled, sanctified (set apart for divine purposes), and will one day be glorified in heaven. What a wonderful God we serve!

Easter gives hope for living today

Easter gives us hope for our future — Jesus is the first to be raised from the dead, never to die again. When our Lord returns in glory, we will exchange our mortal bodies for immortal ones, our sorrows for joy, and the pain of death for the eternal pleasure of being united with believers of all ages in the presence of the King (1 Corinthians 15:51-57).

Easter is the sign that God’s future reign of righteousness, peace and joy (Romans 14:17) is already working in every believer and every community where Jesus is Lord and the Holy Spirit is welcome. Easter hope motivates our service for the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58) as we literally bring the future into the present!

Missionary Ray Bakke says it well: “God began with the Garden, and He will end with a city. He is not taking us back to Eden, but forward to the New Jerusalem.”

This means that all of our Christian life vibrates with eternity, and every act of kindness, every good word, every moment of service and witness is a signpost to the future. As we offer ourselves wholly to the Lord (Romans 12:1,2), we see that …

• When someone receives Christ, a radically different future begins for that believer as faith, hope and love start transforming from the inside out (1 Corinthians 13).

• When we pray for healing, we are anticipating the day when all will be healed. When God touches our bodies today, the power of the future is working so we can serve Him with joy (Isaiah 53:5; James 5:14; Revelation 21:4).

• When we minister in compassion, from the cup of cold water to the rescue of those who are impoverished and oppressed, we are walking in Jesus’ steps of liberating grace (Micah 6:8; Luke 4:16-21).

Let’s live with confidence in our living Lord, knowing that our belief in the Resurrection is well-founded. Let’s live with conviction, humbly grateful for the salvation Christ bought for us. Let’s live with compassion, welcoming the future reign of Christ into every present moment in the power of the Spirit.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!

Dr. CHARLIE SELF is associate professor of church history at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Mo.

originally posted at www.pe.ag.org

Palm Sunday Promises

2010-03-21T04:34:00.000-07:00

Jesus’ triumphal Jerusalem entry holds blessings for your life

A celebration took place 2,000 years ago that changed the history of the world and the lives of billions of people. It was the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a young colt. We call it Palm Sunday because crowds of people lined the roadway and waved palm branches to honor the Lord Jesus.

Though many in that same crowd would call for Jesus’ death only days later, their initial welcome was a prelude to the day when Jesus will reign as King of kings. He came to Jerusalem to fulfill God’s great plan of salvation, and He will one day return to earth to forever see that salvation fully expressed.

Jesus never did anything just for show. He had a purpose for every word He spoke and each move He made. So why did the Lord Jesus ride into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday? What life lessons does Jesus desire to teach each of us through the events of that original Palm Sunday?

Palm Sunday shows Jesus has a clear plan for you.

Matthew 21 records the true account of that day. Verse 4 informs us Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem was a fulfillment of prophecy. Just as God had a clear plan for His Son’s life then, He also has a good plan for your life today.

Polls tell us more than 40 million people in America read their horoscopes at least twice a week. Imagine, trying to plan your life around some charlatan’s predictions based on the date you were born and the positions of some stars and planets. In contrast to that, when you confess Christ as Savior, here’s what happens: He moves into your life, He forgives your sin, and He establishes an incredible plan for your life. (See Jeremiah 29:11 and Romans 8:28,29.) Forget your horoscope. The very One who created the stars and brought about your birth has a wonderful plan for your life.

There are times I wonder where God is, but that’s due to my lack of faith, not God’s lack of faithfulness. Please remember there may be times when you don’t know where God is, but there’s never a time He does not know where you are.

Before my two sisters were married, they shared an apartment in Colorado Springs, Colo. From their kitchen table, they could look out and see Pikes Peak, all 14,000-plus feet of that towering mountain. On foggy, cloudy days, the giant mountain was totally shrouded from view. But people in that city didn’t go around saying, “Oh no, where’s Pikes Peak? I wonder if it’s gone?” Of course not. Although the mountain was blocked from view, nobody doubted it was still there.

So it is with God. There are times you won’t see Him, but I promise you He always sees you.

Palm Sunday shows Jesus desires real purity in you.

When the Lord Jesus entered Jerusalem that first Palm Sunday, where did He go? He went into the temple and looked around. What He saw appalled Him. Jesus saw a place that was designed for prayer and purity, but unholy people had turned it into a place of merchandise and impurity. The next day He returned, driving out the moneychangers and their unholy activities.

When you’re a believer in the Lord Jesus, God desires purity in your life as well. Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers and asked them this pointed question: “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19, NKJV).

When I was a boy, my mother canned tomatoes every September. Do you know the first thing she did? She took the jars and sterilized them in boiling water. Mother didn’t want to put her prize tomatoes in unclean jars. God doesn’t want to pour His precious Holy Spirit into dirty lives either. Just as Jesus cleansed the temple that first Palm Sunday, now He wants to cleanse your life in 2010.

Not long ago a man said to me, “I want to be a better follower of Jesus, and I want Him to use me more. However, I know there are things in my life that displease God, and I have some priorities way out of line. What should I do?”

I reached in my desk drawer and pulled out a small calculator. I said, “Suppose I want to add some numbers, but I enter a wrong figure. Can I correct my problem? Sure, because there’s a red button on the keypad marked ‘C.’ It stands for ‘clear.’ When I push it, I have a fresh start.”

I continued, “When you fail, and impurities get into your life, there’s a red ‘C’ button. It’s called ‘confession.’ It’s red because the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin (see 1 John 1:9). Can I pray for you right now and ask Jesus to help you?”

He wisely agreed, and God began cleaning up his life that day. My friend, what God did for him that day, He can and will do for you today.

It is not God’s will that you live in some twilight zone of unholiness. Right now, ask God to cleanse you. Holiness in your life is important to the Lord Jesus, and it’s found by trusting Him more than trying to live a holy life on your own.

Palm Sunday shows Jesus can release His power to you.

In Matthew 21, crowds of people were asking, “Will Jesus come to Jerusalem for Passover? Is He the Messiah or not? Will He perform another miracle?” Then, suddenly, Jesus appeared and rode into the city on a donkey. Matthew 21:10 says, “All the city was moved.” From the Greek word translated “moved” we get our English word seismic. Today we would say the city rocked. Jesus’ presence that day released so much divine power that it was as if a spiritual, seismic earthquake occurred.

Is God’s power real? Well, ask Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead just days before the first Palm Sunday. Lazarus would quickly and personally tell you Jesus has real power.

Not long ago I read through the four Gospels and was amazed again at the life and supernatural power of the Lord Jesus. No disease was greater than His touch. No demon could stand up to His authority. No disaster was beyond His ability to rescue. Not even death could out-muscle the Lord’s might. You can be absolutely certain that Jesus had genuine power in His day, and He retains that same divine ability in our day.

Do you need Jesus’ supernatural strength in your life and home? It’s available! Peter was an eyewitness and close friend of Jesus. He said, “We were not making up clever stories when we told you about the powerful coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We saw His majestic splendor with our own eyes” (2 Peter 1:16, NLT). Palm Sunday was a powerhouse event, and the Lord has not lost one ounce of His divine ability.

I want to encourage you right now. Instead of focusing on your problem, focus instead on Jesus’ promise and power. Remind yourself today that everything over your head is under His feet.

Palm Sunday shows Jesus deserves praises from you.

Normally, the Lord Jesus avoided attention and praise from people during His ministry. He often silenced it. But that original Palm Sunday was altogether different. On that day He both accepted and encouraged the praise from people. What a lesson for us today.

Let me ask you a question: What’s your home address? God’s home address is P-R-A-I-S-E. The Bible says the Lord dwells in the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). Let me illustrate it this way: Moisture is everywhere. But when conditions are right, moisture distills as dew. In the same way, God is everywhere. And when conditions are right (when you offer Him your praise), His presence seems to distill.

Is God receiving your praise? I ask you, as Palm Sunday approaches, to make a commitment. Say, “O Lord, as for me, I will give praise to You.” That’s a commitment the Holy Spirit will enable you to keep, and you’ll be glad you made it — I guarantee it!

Dr. THOMAS LINDBERG is senior pastor of First Assembly of God of Memphis (Tenn.).

Re-posted from The Pentecostal Evangel

What Will My Quilt Look Like?

2010-03-13T17:24:00.000-08:00

Grandpa passed away on Aug. 17, 2008, leaving a huge vacuum in our tight-knit family. Grandpa was not just any “grandpa” to me. He was the best man in my wedding, my roommate for 14 years as I grew up, and my mentor and friend who taught me that there has never been a better golfer than Tiger Woods.

Eight of us sat around the Christmas tree that year, remembering that on Christmas 2007 there were nine of us. Mom and Dad had special gifts for us three pairs of “kids-and-spouses” to open at the same time. We all seized the gifts and opened them promptly. Then we froze as each of us, along with our loved ones, began to cry. Inside the beautiful wrapping was a quilt with a note that said in part:

“This quilt, made of Grandpa’s shirts, pajamas, bathrobe and jeans, was made with our love and tears for all of you to treasure and remember. -Mom & Dad”

Every time I look at that quilt, it is like looking at different parts of Grandpa’s life. I can remember different experiences and memories with him in each square. The brown and yellow plaid shirt is one that I left at his house one time. He liked it, so he adopted it as his own. The bathrobe reminds me of our last Father’s Day together, lying in Grandpa’s room watching Tiger Woods dominate the U.S. Open on one leg and listening to Gramps share 81 years of life with me. The gray wool shirt is the one he would often wear to church to dress up. Grandpa loved God, and everyone knew it. The jeans are tired and worn out. He mowed, painted, nailed and built. Grandpa was a hard worker all of his life.

Grandpa’s quilt represents a life well lived by a godly man. Each fabric is woven with years of experience and godly wisdom that my family and I can model. When I get old, I wonder what my quilt will look like. The decisions I make today is the yarn that knits those squares. If I am to pass on a beautiful legacy and heritage to my children, my choices happen now. I just pray that my quilt is as rich, full and inspiring as Grandpa’s.

— John Jackson is the Principal at Calvary Temple (AG) Christian School in Concord, Calif

Originally posted March 9, 2010 on pe.ag.org

Message in the Garbage

2010-02-20T08:42:00.000-08:00

By Randy Mantik

I’m amazed at what people throw away. I’m always keeping an eye out to what people might have left on the curbside on garbage day. Sometimes I find TV’s. Actually, I found the TV we are using in our living room in someone’s trash.

That gets me thinking about my sister-in-law, Becky. She and Steve used to live in a 40-foot fifth-wheel trailer. Becky would often cover up whatever she had thrown in the garbage. Why? Because “Handy Randy” would always have an eye out for what had been thrown away.

“Hey, who threw this away? I can use this!”

When so many seemingly big things with unknown outcomes crowd my mind, it’s actually quite nice to do something like taking out the garbage. Before you start thinking I’m crazy, consider these lessons …

1. Taking out the garbage is easy. There’s not a lot of mind work involved, except maybe in deciding how to tie the bag. (I go for the double-tied technique. I despise twist ties.) You pack it up, carry it out, and later on in the day someone comes to take it all away. Don’t you wish all life’s problems were like that?

2. Taking out the garbage marks time. The passing of time can be comforting. The meaning of life is not just what you’re doing but how you are doing it, and maybe more importantly, whom you are doing it for.

3. Taking out the garbage is a small but important way to express my love to Debbie. She makes a big to-do about how much it means to her that, right as rain, I put out the garbage on Tuesdays. I’ll use any small ways that I can to make her feel special!

Wise Solomon said this about being happy in our daily experiences: “When God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work — this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart” (Ecclesiastes 5:19,20, NIV).

I believe that contentedly going about our tasks is one of the best ways we can praise God. In taking out the garbage, I’m expressing thankfulness to God for the gift of our home, the gift of my wife and son, and the gift of our life.

— Randy Mantik is lead pastor at CrossPoint AG in Portage, Wis.

The Pagent: A Public School, a Christian Teacher, and a Life Long Lesson

2009-12-19T09:32:00.000-08:00

By Don Detrick

In December 1965 I was about to turn 11 years old and a fifth-grader at Dundee Elementary School in Dundee, Ore. It was a tradition for the fifth-grade class to recite the Christmas story from Luke 2:1-14 in the annual school Christmas program. Harold Wilson, our teacher, instilled in us a belief that our recital of these 14 verses from the King James Version would be the highlight of the evening’s festivities.

At the appointed hour, the school gym — where hours before we had played basketball or “Red Rover” — became a Nativity scene. With anxious parents looking on from their folding chairs in neatly formed rows on the floor, we took our places on the stage. I have many memories of Sunday School and grade-school Christmas pageants where I alternately played a shepherd, Wise Man or Joseph while wearing my bathrobe and sandals as a costume. But none stands more clearly in my mind than that particular night as we stood before that audience. Hours of memorization paid off as we began to recite the familiar words: “And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. …”

As we finished with, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men,” the audience rose to their feet with thunderous applause. Mr. Wilson beamed, our parents glowed, and we were all thankful that we had completed our assignment without missing a word.
Looking back, that evening was a highlight of my young life. I had quoted many great authors from that stage — Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech and various works of prose and poetry. But none seemed as inspiring as quoting from the greatest story ever told.

It was no secret that Mr. Wilson was a born-again Christian and a member of the First Baptist Church. Nor was it a secret that he was an excellent teacher, devoted to his craft and to his students. I knew him as an engaging teacher, a caring coach, a volunteer vacation Bible school leader, and a man who impacted my impressionable young life by showing me that the world was bigger than the humble environment of our family farm.

I remember the bulletin board he prepared for our school that year. In those days it seemed fashionable to abbreviate Christmas as “Xmas.” Mr. Wilson would have none of that. In capital letters his bulletin board message boldly proclaimed “Keep Christ in Christmas.” No one protested or ridiculed — at least not publicly. Deep in our hearts, we knew that the message was true. Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ, not just another “happy holiday.”

A lot has changed since then. The freedom to express his Christian faith that Mr. Wilson enjoyed as an American educator has slowly eroded over the last 44 years. Most would agree that the erosion of that freedom has coincided with an erosion of values. Courts and school boards in many jurisdictions have decided it is illegal to promote public expressions about the real meaning of Christmas, and that is a shame.

The truth is, you really can’t remove Christ from Christmas. After all, it is His birthday. It would be politically incorrect to try to distance most holidays from the birthdays they commemorate. For example, to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day without a discussion of his life, death and accomplishments would be unheard of in the 21st century.
Jesus Christ was a real Person cutting a far wider swath in history than any contemporary human being. We even count the years on our calendar from His birth. So why shouldn’t we allow the historical details of His birth, life, death and resurrection to be publicly proclaimed? D. James Kennedy wrote:
“The truth is this: Had Jesus never been born, this world would be far more miserable than it is. In fact, many of man’s noblest and kindest deeds find their motivation in love for Jesus Christ; and some of our greatest accomplishments also have their origin in service rendered to the humble Carpenter of Nazareth.”*

For the past 30-some years, our family has gathered around the tree on Christmas Eve. These days, that circle includes our children and two granddaughters, often joined by other assorted family members and friends. Before opening our presents, our traditions include my recitation of the Christmas story. Those timeless and familiar words from Luke’s Gospel entered my mind in 1965, but they also entered my heart. They never left, and I hope they never do.
About 20 years ago I wrote a similar article on this theme that was published in the Pentecostal Evangel. I sent a copy of it to Mr. Wilson, thanking him for the impact he made on my young life. Later I met with him, and we reminisced about those days.

Since then, we’ve lost track of each other. I’m not sure if he is still living, but if he is, I’d like to say, “Thanks, Mr. Wilson. Thanks for taking an interest in children and devoting your life to helping them learn and become better citizens and better people. Thanks for helping us remember to ‘Keep Christ in Christmas.’”
It was good advice back then, and it is good advice today. In fact, it always will be.

* D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc. 1994), introduction.

The Ones and Twos

2009-12-07T16:17:00.000-08:00

By Rose McCormick Brandon

“Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:19,20, NIV).

During the 10 years I spent in leadership with a Christian women’s organization, I attended large international conferences with thousands of women from around the world. Many voices singing praises to our Lord gave me a strong sense of belonging to the global community of Christ. I always came away from these gatherings enthusiastic about sharing Jesus with others and encouraged in my personal walk with Him.

When Billy Graham visited a city near us, my husband and I attended the meetings. A strong urge seemed to permeate the stands. It drew people to leave their seats and walk to the front of the stadium to respond to the invitation to receive Christ.

On the other hand, when that same urge had touched my life it was not in a big meeting but in a tiny prayer room in the presence of only one other person.

In the Gospels we see Jesus speaking not only to the masses but also to the ones and twos. His conversation with the woman at the well changed her life. His one-on-one with the Gadarene demoniac and with Mary after the Resurrection are other examples of Christ’s personal touch.
Often we hear invitations like, “Come to this great conference, and God will meet you.” Christians who say these things mean well, but their words leave the impression that God only attends big meetings. That makes others who can’t attend feel left out. We forget that the power of God’s presence dwells with the ones and twos as much as it does with the multitudes.
Prayer: Lord, I’m thankful that You don’t reserve Your presence for crowds or speak only to important people. In fact, You enjoy the company of ones and twos, a category that includes me.

— Rose McCormick Brandon writes personal experience essays, Bible studies, news articles, profiles and devotionals from her home in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada.

from http://tpe.ag.org/Daily_Boost/index.cfm

30 Days of Thanksgiving

2009-11-13T16:34:00.000-08:00

With Thanksgiving season upon us once again , it is easy to get caught up in football , turkey, and family. Those are certainly not bad in any way, but we thought this article could remind us to give thanks all the time! Try it!!

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Cultivating a Thankful Heart

One of my favorite holidays is Thanksgiving! While great food, friends, family and football make for a wonderful day, taking time out of my fast-paced life to think through the many blessings and to express gratitude to God and to others is really why I love this holiday so much. An attitude of gratitude, of course, shouldn't be a once-a-year deal, and hopefully cultivating a thankful heart goes beyond that one special Thursday in November for all of us. Still, it doesn't hurt to rev up our gratitude "engines" as we get closer to Thanksgiving Day. So, here is a simple 30-day plan for you and your family that can help do just that!

Thanksgiving Season 2009

Day #1 - Sunday, 11/1 – Thank God for Today. All we really have is today. Thank God for giving us this day. “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

Day #2 – Monday 11/2 – Floral Thank You. Express your thanks to someone buy giving them flowers. This doesn’t have to be expensive – you can cut them from your own garden, if you have one.

Day #3 - Tuesday, 11/3 – Thanks for Freedom! Thank God for allowing us to live in a democracy where we are allowed to vote. Sure, we don’t live in a “perfect” country, but we can certainly be thankful for the many freedoms we enjoy that many countries don’t.

Day #4 - Wednesday, 11/4 – Thank God for Silence. Due to the fast pace of our lives these days, most of us have forgotten the gifts of silence and reflection. Take a few minutes sometime today, find a quiet spot and think of things you are grateful for.

Day #5 - Thursday, 11/5 – Thanksgiving Invitation. Find someone you are thankful for and invite them to your family’s Thanksgiving Day celebration. If you’re not going to be home for Thanksgiving Day, invite them over for coffee and pie sometime around the holiday.

Day #6 - Friday, 11/6 – Thanks for the Encouragement! Today, think of someone in your past who has helped you to know God better. Mail them a note, send them an email or tell them in person that you are thankful for their help along the way.

Day #7 - Saturday, 11/7 – Thanks for the Pain? We all have hard times, but God is with us even in the worst circumstance. Thank God for His presence, comfort and strength that has helped you get through a rough season in your life.

Day #8 - Sunday, 11/8 – Give Thanks for God’s Word. Offer up thanks to God today, for giving us the Scriptures. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

Day #9 - Monday, 11/9 – Laughter Day. There’s just something about laughter that makes it easier for us to be grateful people. So, make today laughter day in your home. Tell funny stories, jokes, watch a good comedy together and thank God that He gave us the gift of humor.

Day #10 - Tuesday, 11/10 – Reminder Day. Have a hard time remembering to be thankful? Put reminders up around your house, a note on your refrigerator, for example, that says “Give Thanks”.

Day #11 - Wednesday, 11/11 - Thank a Veteran Day. Regardless of your views on war, there is no doubt that in our country we are surrounded by brave men and women who have served their country with honor. Find a veteran today, and say thank you. If you know of a World War 2 veteran, call one up to say thanks. These WW2 veterans are dying at the rate of over 1,000 per day. So, take advantage of saying thank you to them while you still can!

Day #12 - Thursday, 11/12 – Wake Up and Smell the Coffee Day. We all get so busy that we can ignore the wonders all around us – like the smell of coffee when we get up, the roses in the backyard, or a friend who drops by to say hello. Today, take time to notice your surroundings and thank God for the things we often take for granted.

Day #13 - Friday, 11/13 – Little Things Make a Difference. We often ignore the little things in life that make life easier and better for us. Today, make a list of ‘little things’ that you appreciate. For example, my list will include indoor plumbing, refrigerators and my laptop computer.

Day #14 - Saturday, 11/14 – Positive Thoughts Only! Okay, this one will take some work, but strive today to think only positive thoughts about other people and the situations you find yourself in. You’ll be amazed at how this improves your day – and you’re likely to find how your positive attitude affects others as well!

Day #15 - Sunday, 11/15 – Knowing Jesus. I cannot explain to you how thankful I am that I have been blessed with the opportunity to know Jesus. The difference He’s made in my life – through knowing Him as Savior and Lord – cannot be measured. Today, give thanks for knowing the Savior!

Day #16 - Monday, 11/16 – Quick Thanks. Today, jot a quick note, email, or text to someone in your life whom you wish to thank for something they’ve done.

Day #17 - Tuesday, 11/17 – Thank Therapy Day. Make a list of 10 people you are thankful for. Call, email, or text one of them and tell them they are on your top 10 list!

Day #18 - Wednesday, 11/18 – Prayer Path Day. Today, say a quick prayer of thanks for everyone who crosses your path – like the cashier at the Burger King or the person delivering your morning paper.

Day #19 - Thursday, 11/19 – Experience the Moment! Too often, we focus more on what we need to do tomorrow or next week than we do on what’s happening today. Today, live in the present and be thankful for it – from raking the leaves to planning your Thanksgiving dinner.

Day #20 - Friday, 11/20 – Thank God for Learning! Something often overlooked in our lives is that God created us with the ability to learn. So, whether you are in school now, are learning a new hobby, or have learned a lesson from a poor decision, thank God today for the capacity to learn.

Day #21 - Saturday, 11/21 – What I Like About You… Today, take a few minutes and make a list of the things you like about your immediate family members. Share your list with your family sometime during the day – and thank them for those things!

Day #22 - Sunday, 11/22 – Heritage Sunday! Today, thank God for the long line of Christ-followers who have gone before us as well as those who share in and encourage our faith these days. Their faith and faithfulness to share it with us is a tremendous heritage!

Day #23 - Monday, 11/23 – Thanksgiving Phone Call. Call a relative or friend who will be away from you on Thanksgiving Day. Thank them for their presence in your life.

Day #24 - Tuesday, 11/24 – Food, Food, Food! As you begin to think about that great Thanksgiving Day meal you’ll be eating in a couple days, take some time to thank God for food and the abundance most of us experience. Pray for those who will go without this Thanksgiving Day. Do something for someone less fortunate than you, if you are able.

Day #25 - Wednesday, 11/25 – The Blessing of Family and Friends. Tomorrow is T-Day! Make a brief list of why you are thankful for these people. Thank God by name for each person you will be spending tomorrow with. Tomorrow, tell each person why you are thankful for them.

Day #26 - Thursday, 11/26 – Thanksgiving Day. Enjoy your celebration! Take time to reflect on the meaning attached to this day. Perhaps you can read one of the ‘Thanksgiving Proclamations’ that were written by our past Presidents, such as George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. They are easy to locate on the Internet. In fact, they are posted on HomeWord.com.

Day #27 - Friday, 11/27 – Take a Trip Down Memory Lane. You probably have photos or videos from Thanksgiving celebrations from the past. Take some time today to remember Thanksgivings gone by and thank God for the loved ones you’ve spent these holidays with.

Day #28 - Saturday, 11/28 – Exercise! After the past few days, you’re probably in need of burning off some calories. Enjoy a walk, take a hike, or do whatever you can do and like to do. Thank God for your physical abilities. We might not be in the best physical condition, but we can still give thanks for the capabilities we do have!

Day #29 - Sunday, 11/29 – God’s Work in You. It’s not uncommon to overlook the difference God is making in your own life. Take a few moments to make a list of things you appreciate about yourself. Remember, God is at work in your life – so thank Him for it! “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

Day #30 - Monday, 11/30 – Thanks for the Service! Today, make a special effort to say thank you to anyone who provides you with a service. The barista at Starbucks, for example, might be pleasantly shocked when you tell him or her how great a job they’ve done preparing your pumpkin-spice latte.

Jim Liebelt is Senior Editor of Publications for HomeWord, and the Senior Writer, Editor and Researcher for the Center for Youth and Family at Azusa Pacific University.

This article posted from

http://www.homeword.com/Articles/ArticleDetail.aspx?iArticleId=430

Speaking Truth with Love

2009-11-09T17:44:00.000-08:00

In the late 1980s the “political correctness” movement began on college campuses to combat prejudice and injustice toward certain groups. Today, this way of avoiding possibly offensive language has spread to everyday speech and situations. Unfortunately our speech is now so “safe” people avoid speaking the truth or taking a stand on issues for fear of offending someone. This makes life seem more peaceful—but it’s false peace.

Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?” (John 6:61).

Jesus did not fear speaking the truth. Instead, He spoke it openly with confidence. He wasn’t concerned about what people wanted to hear. He said what they needed to hear. While some found this offensive many others received it because they recognized He spoke out of love for them. He loved them enough to die for them, and He loved them enough to speak the truth to them. May we, His disciples, imitate Him by courageously speaking the truth with love.

Thought for Today: If you honestly love others, you must be honest with them even if they don’t like what you say.

Devotional brought to you by God's Word For Today.God's Word For Today is available from Gospel Publishing House

Joseph - an undying faith!

2009-09-14T15:20:00.000-07:00

Joseph is such an example of faith in the Bible! We think we have issues - here's a guy whose family tried to kill him, his boss threw him in jail for something he didn't do, his friends forgot about him, and still his faith in God was strong!

Think about it - we can turn to God's Word for inspiration and motivation today, but there was no Bible in his day! The guy was incredible!

Here's two things to remember about Joseph

1. Joseph had faith despite adverse circumstances!!

Look at this list

family tried to kill him , then sold him into slavery

falsely accused

put in jail

forgotten by friends who said they would help him

2. Joseph had a faith that acted despite the impossible

In the end he told the Hebrews to make sure his bones left Egypt when they did! 400 years later they did when the Pharoah let them go!! Not even Moses made it into the Promised Land!

Genesis 50:24-25

Take a look in the book of Genesis to see how his life was a life of undying faith!

God wants to use what we got!!

2009-08-03T19:47:00.000-07:00

Ever feel inadequate , read this recent blog post from

Christianity.com

Are you in a situation where you feel inadequate? Do you feel like you have nothing to offer? Have you tried every human solution possible, only to realize you have no further options? If so, you can rejoice because your brokenness can be the foundation for God to do great things in your life. If you surrender to Him, God can bless you and fill you with the joy that only He can give.Whatever we go through, whether small or large, God wants us to surrender to Him. When we lie our problems at the feet of Christ - truly place His will above ours - God is able to work fully in our lives.Read 2 Kings 4:1-7.

In this passage we read about a woman in a place of bankruptcy and shame. Her husband had died and left her a debt she could not possibly pay; the only thing she could do was throw herself upon the mercy of Elisha.Elisha did not offer to pay her debts. He instead asked her, "Tell me, what do you have in your house?" (2 Kings 4:2) God's plan for our lives always begins with what we have.

The widow did not have much--only a little oil. Yet she offered it to Elisha, hoping he could use it to help her. She did not try to hoard it or hide it from him. She surrendered the little bit she had.Likewise, God does not want us to hold back from Him. He wants us to surrender whatever we have left. He wants us to come clean with Him and confess whatever we are trying to hide from Him. When we give God everything, He can use the tiniest jar of oil to bless us.Elisha told the widow to borrow as many empty jars as she could, then to pour the oil into the jars. These borrowed vessels showed the woman's capacity to receive from God. The more vessels she had, the more she was going to receive. The more empty the jars were, the more oil that would fill them. The moment she ran out of empty vessels, the oil stopped flowing.God will only bless us as much as we make available for Him to bless us.

We cannot pick and choose areas of our lives to allow God to work--we must surrender everything to Him. Like the widow's jars, if we are filled with other things--bitterness, a critical spirit, greed, selfishness--then God's Holy Spirit cannot be poured into us.Elisha also instructed the widow to close the door when she was pouring the oil: "Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side" (2 Kings 4:4). We need to get into our prayer closets and shut the doors. We need to shut out all distractions, anxieties, and worldliness that prevent us from surrendering to God. We need to put our focus on Him, and Him alone.The widow did as Elisha told her: "She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring....She went and told the man of God, and he said, 'Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left'" (2 Kings 4:5,7). God multiplied her few drops of oil into a great blessing.When we are broken before God, He begins to pour great blessings into our lives. When we repent and yield completely to Him, He can transform our lives. Daily pray for the Holy Spirit's help to let go of that and allow God complete control in your life.

Step into the faith zone!

2009-07-11T18:23:00.000-07:00

In Exodus chapter 3, Moses finds himself standing before a burning bush with God telling him that He is calling him to go back to Egypt to set the Hebrews free. Our image of Moses is often Charlton Heston as Moses parting the Red Sea, but before he got to that point he had to step out of his safe zone into a faith zone where he was totally depending on God.

When Moses tried to help the Hebrews on his own , he made a mess of the situation and killed an Egyptian man and the other Hebrews then wanted nothing to do with him..Exodus 2:11-14

11 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. 12 Glancing this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, "Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?"
14 The man said, "Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid and thought, "What I did must have become known."

Moses fled to the desert where he had a good comfortable life with a wife, son, and lots of sheep!

He spent 40 years there trying to get away from his past!

Before he could do what God was calling him to do he had to...

He had to overcome the experiences of his past

He had to overcome the comforts of his present

He overcame the Insecurity of his future

Moses gives God a whole list of excuses and and finally ask God just to get someone else!!

Exodus 4:13 But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."

Finally Moses had to humble himself and allow totally depend on God and then he had that break through that got him to the place where he was talking face to face with God!

Here are some things we can learn from Moses about getting into the faith zone with God..

It's not easy to leave our safe zones!

Real growth begins when we leave the safe zone!

The safe zones rob us of our greatest moments!

Moses stepped out into a faith zone and God used him in a mighty way!

adapted from Running with the Giants by John Maxwell

On May 30, Austin Wood a pitcher for the University of Texas, accomplished something that will be remembered for a long time. With his team's chances for making it to the College World series on the line, he pitched 13 innings of his team's 25 inning game against Boston College. In the longest college game ever, his team would win 3-2 as a direct result of his willingness to go the extra mile ..

His coach Augie Garrido said of his performance..

“When a player breaks through to that level, it changes his life. He’s now shown the courage that we want in all of our players. He showed the respect for the game, he showed confidence in himself and he did it. And now he knows something not many people know — you really can be anything you choose to be. You just have to have the confidence to take what belongs to you. That game belonged to him.”

Austin Wood will leave a legacy for future Texas players to look to , just as Moses left a legacy for us a result

So when you think of Moses, don't just think of the man of faith parting the Red Sea, think also of the man , who like us , felt like he couldn't do what God called him to do. And he couldn't , unless he stepped into the faith zone and put all his trust in God!

Call to Fall 7.05.09

2009-07-01T21:23:00.000-07:00

On Sunday July 5, our church will be participating in Call to Fall. The idea is very simple, set aside some time in your church service on July 5 to pray for our world and our nation. July 4 is often looked at as the birthday of the United States , so there is no better time then this weekend to pray for our nation and its future!

Click here to read about the basics of Call to Fall and sign up to be a part of a time of prayer for our nation!

Thursday

2009-06-25T10:14:00.001-07:00

God moved in a powerful way at the Wednesday night service. Many very filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues!! It is very exciting to see a generation fo young people going after God and wanting to see the presence of God in their youth groups and churches!!

Today was the Bible quiz finals and our girls team made it to the semi finals!! Way to go. There room also recived the prize for the best decorated room of the day! It looks like their team is going to win the points contest and get to go to Sheetz tonight!!

It's another beautiful day as we prepare to head to the pool for some water fun!

Wednesday PM

2009-06-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

A great week is continuing here at the Penn Del campground as Driven youth camp continues on! Early this morning Christine A memorized the entire chapter to 1 Corinthians 12. She earned 1,000,000 points for her team - nicknamed the Rusty Mufflers!!

Rob, Mac, and the Josh made an exciting video for the team competition "documenting" Mac and Josh's mission trip to the Dominican Republic!! Awesome!!

The morning saw exciting game where Mac chugged a glass of all different kinds of "WONDERFUL" FOODS!!

All the students won their Bible Quiz competitions and are hoping to make it to the finals on Thursday!!

The weather is awesome and we are looking forward to another powerful service tonight!!

Tuesday AM

2009-06-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

Nothing like waking up to the smell of Spam! That's what we did at camp this morning for our opening game - making a scultpure out of Spam!

An eventful night passed as we had a skunk hit by a car in the camp parking lot - which left quite an impression on the camp and the skunk!

This moring was all about Bible quiz. The students worked to study 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 and then competed against each other in a quiz format!!

The girls were big winners !!

Rock a Bye Believer

2009-06-23T05:59:00.000-07:00

The first service of Driven Youth Camp started off on a high note with an exciting message from our communicator , Mike Holt.

His message was a wake up call to teens and adults alike - to wake up from our spiritual slumber and stop hitting our spiritual snooze buttons!

Using the scripture text of Romans 13:11-12, Mike challenged all of us to go further in our walk with God and to truly experience all that God's presence can be!

We must overcome our invisible enemies! Here are five to overcome...

1. Enemy of Unbelief

Sometimes we say "It's okay to go almost, but not all the way!"

If we don't believe we will miss what God wants to do - He still performs miracles!!

2. Our flesh

We have to put to death our old sinful selves and move forward with God.

Mike used the example of Aron Ralston, a climber who had to cut off his own hand

when stuck in a cliff to live!

If you don't take sin seriously, you will seriously sin!!

3. An Attitude of Mediocrity

We have a spirit of "Uhh" instead of "Awe"

4. Unbiblical ministries

Too many times churches and youth groups looks for attendance, not discipleship!

5. Our Culture

Truth is not relative - God is the truth! Don't fall into the world's trap!

After a powerful time at the alter where students where breaking free from old attitudes, we had a great time at late night games - involving tug of war and a tire!

Blogging from Youth Camp

2009-06-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

All this week we will follow the events going on at our Pennsylvania -Delaware Youth District Camp in Carlisle, PA. It is an exciting time of fun , fellowship, and ministry. Be sure to read hear each night to find out all the goings on!!

Communion - A time to make things right

2009-06-20T08:25:00.001-07:00

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

Communion is one of the essential things we do as Christians. It can be seen as a ritual when performed without much thought, but when we realize all that Communion means it is no longer a ritual. When something becomes a ritual we do it over and over without realizing the significance, but Communion can be a time to make things right with others and with God.

Why are Christians perform Communion?

Remember the death of Jesus Christ and the blood He shed on the cross and how His body was broken for us.

To cleanse our own lives!

To forgive one another.

Communion demonstrates the act of love that God did for us, sending His son Jesus to die for our sins so that we might have eternal life.

Through this demonstration and reminder of God's love for us, we should take the time to show His love to others. Forgiveness of the wrongs done to us can be a great place to start.

There is hope in the act of Communion when we make things right with God and with others. We must be remined of Jesus' sacrifice for us, as we make sacrifices for others. That sacrifice could be forgiveness , our time, or own wants and desires.

God will honor that sacrifice and Jesus' own words remind us to continue in Him for He will return someday!

John 14:1-3

1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

A New Beginning

2009-06-08T17:57:00.000-07:00

It's the beginning of June so that means graduation season. The excitement that this time of year brings to many is unmistakable. Even of you aren't graduating or know someone that is, the thought of a new start and moving forward with life is something that we all can relate to. Many of this year's high school graduates were born in 1991. Do remember some of the events of 1991:

The First Gulf War began in January.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average closes above 3,000 for the first time ever, at 3,004.46.

Los Angeles Lakers point guard Magic Johnson announces that he has HIV, effectively ending his NBA career.

The Supreme Soviet meets and formally dissolves the Soviet Union.

Wow - it was an amazing year, in the midst of that God was in control.

We have seen incredible things this past year as well, from a stock market bust, to the election of our first African American president. Again , God is in control.

Genesis 1:1-5

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 Now the earth was [a] formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day

God began everything and nothing caught Him off guard, He has not changed!

God always offers us a chance at a new beginning, like a graduate. He knows the plans that He has for us and loves us!

2 Corinthians 13:11

Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you

Paul wrote this goodbye to the ancient church at Corinth. Paul writes for us to aim for perfection and live in peace and God will be with you. That' s so exciting - God will be with us!!

Be faithful and remember God's invitation to us for a new beginning, just as the members of the Class of 2009 are set for a new beginning, God offers us a chance at a new beginning with Him. All we have to do is chose to believe !

That's so symbolic!

2009-04-30T18:49:00.000-07:00

Recently , we had a water baptism service at our church . Over 30 people were baptized in a very moving service. Adults, teenagers and children declared their belief in God and His son Jesus in an outward declaration. One man called it one of the greatest days of his life. That's special!

Water baptism symbolizes the death and resurrection of Jesus. Romans chapter 6 discusses what being baptized in water symbolizes.

3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

If we do not take this symbol to heart , then it is just like being in the bathtub or pool. I think of the American flag, to me as an American, it symbolizes all that our nation is about. A person from another country may not feel the same way about the what the American flag symbolizes, but I do see it as an important symbol.

When we are baptized in water whether it is in tank such as we had in church or the Susquehanna river, the Bible declares that we are "joining"Jesus in his burial. Just as the stars on the American flag represent the 50 states of our Union, the water in the baptism tank represents the tomb . Just as the thirteen stripes represent the thirteen original states, when the individual is lifted out of the water it symbolizes the resurrection of Jesus after three days and our sinful nature is symbolically left in the water.

If the citizens of a nation do not take what their flag symbolizes to heart and realize how important or take the time to understand the colors and shapes are on the flag are, the flag is meaningless. If a person is baptized in water and does not take what the dunking under of water means then the act might is not symbolic. A symbol taken to heart can be very meaningful and can represent a milestone in a person's life.

Water baptism is is the outward symbol of an inner, spiritual work that has occured in a believer's life. This outward symbol represents a person's death to their old life and a rising to new life in Christ. We are baptized in water to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ and because He has instructed us to do so as well.

Water baptism is the outward symbol of an inner, spiritual work that has occured in a believer's life. This outward symbol represents a person's death to their old life and a rising to new life in Christ. We are baptized in water to follow the example of our Lord Jesus Christ and because He has instructed us to do so as well. text from http://www.sanmarcoscommunitychurch.org/beliefs.php

Saving Private Ryan

2009-04-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

The other night I was watching one of my favorite all time movies - "Saving Private Ryan". The movie tells the story of a group of soldiers in the United States Army during World War II. These soldiers are given the task of finding a James Ryan whose 3 brothers had been killed in the war and he has been given chance to go home because of the sacrifice that his family had already made.

The opening scene of the movie is very powerful as it shows and old man visiting a cemetery in Europe with his family. It becomes quickly obvious that he is visiting the graves of the men who saved him and sacrificed their lives so that he might live. They didn't ask for thanks or even know he was, but their efforts saved his life and allow him to live a happy and fulfilled life.

It remined me of Jesus during this Easter season. He came to save us before we even knew Him, before we were even born. God sent His son to dies for us so that we may live a life fulfilled and happy through a relationship with Him. As we celebrate this Easter, remember that God sent His son Jesus to rescue us from our sin just as the soldiers came and rescued Private Ryan in Steven Spielberg's award winning film.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Let the Redeemed of the Love Say No!

2009-04-02T19:05:00.000-07:00

24Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

Matthew 16:24-25

Put yourself in the shoes of Jesus' disciples as they heard Him speak these words to them for the first time. Maybe they were expecting a king, a savior, a messiah who would be a conquering ruler over all who opposed Him. Instead they were hearing that to join Jesus and be a follower of Him meant sacrifice. No one was looking for a suffering Savior and they were not ready to hear what He had to say..

21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Jesus' death was necessary so that we could have eternal life. One of Jesus' disciples, Peter tried to tell Jesus that it would never happen, but Jesus let him know clearly that it had to be that way, even though it would not be an easy road.

That's when Jesus looks at all the disciples and tell them that if a person wants to save their life , they must lose it. If I was standing there with the disciples , I would not have totally understood what Jesus meant.

Jesus call us to deny ourselves of the things that the world tries to offer to us. We need to say no ourselves, because God won;t force us to. It's all about a choice. If we truly are redeemed by Jesus, we will choose to follow Him and follow him completely. God rewards us when we make the choice to give up the things we may value and seek after what He values.

26What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

The things of this world will pass away. The things of God will last forever and Jesus values our soul more then anything...

There is a song that goes "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so" maybe we could change the words to "Let the redeemed of the Lord say NO " !! No to things of the world and yes to the things that the Lord values..love , patience, peace, joy..against such there is no law!

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

2009-03-26T18:08:00.000-07:00

When Pharaoh changed his mind about letting the Israelites leave Egypt, he sent his best chariots and soldiers after them. The Israelites could see them coming in the distance when they saw the dust clouds on the horizon.

Put yourself in the Israelites shoes for a moment, most of them weren't soldiers and they were certainly not prepared to go to fight. Terrified parents grabbing their children and not knowing if the small children they were holding in their arms would make it to be old.

The Israelites were , to use an old cliche, between a rock and a hard place. Pharaoh's army was behind them and the Red Sea was in front of them . The people cried out to Moses in Exodus 14 and asked him if he had brought them their to die!

In verse 13 and 14 of Exodus 14, Moses declares to the people:

"Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

The people of Israel were saying to Moses what we often say when we are faced with crises in our lives - "Where is God in all of this?"

Our uncertain times raise that question - where is God in all of this war, recession, job losses?

Moses' word from the Lord holds true today. The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still. The Lord calls us to be still and know that He is God and that we don't have to be afraid of the future.

When we choose to stand firm and not be afraid, God will deliver us. He may not do things in our time frame, but He will do what He promised to do even thousands of years ago for us today.

The Israelites saw the deliverance of the Lord when He caused the Red Sea to swallow up the Egyptian army!

When you feel like you are between a rock and a hard place, remember what the Bible says in Psalms 46:10:

Be still and know that I am God.

A man of integrity

2009-03-19T19:41:00.000-07:00

This weekend , I will be attending a performance of the musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat " . Even though the play may not be completely Biblically accurate - the guy in the Elvis costume in the second act should be a dead giveaway - the story of Joseph can be one that can remind us that when we live in integrity, God will reward us.

If there was anyone who could be bitter and lose focus on God, it was Joseph . The Bible tells us he was sold into slavery by his own brothers, became a slave in Egypt, after becoming the captain of the guards' most trusted servant , he was falsely accused of wrong and thrown in jail. Joseph's integrity - a firm and faithful belief in a moral code of conduct kept him strong. He never lost faith in God even in tough times. Eventually, he will be brought out of jail and become an important government official. When he had the opportunity to get revenge, he chose to take the high road

Read his story in the book of Genesis starting in chapter 39

When our actions match up with our words, we are showing integrity.

We can receive blessings of integrity by following God's way.

The book of Proverbs mentions in several places how integrity brings blessing to us.

The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.
Proverbs 10:9

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
Proverbs 11:3

Righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
Proverbs 13:6

Tying your shoes isn't complicated once you know how

2009-03-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

Learning to tie your shoes when you are young seems hard, but once you get the hang of it you tie them without thinking (or get those Velcro things!). Learning to love others can be a little more complicated. Choosing to love others doesn't always come naturally!! The final part of our recent series of posts is to find a better way of loving - not just in a marriage relationship - but in all of our relationships with our friends, family, and maybe those who we don't call friends...

When we know how to love, we can grow and it will come naturally to us. Often times we think we know how to love, but we are doing it our way, not God's way.

Here are three types of love....

Eros - where we get our word for erotic. It is a sensual love, which focuses on what I can get out of this...

Phileos - brotherly love - Philadelphia the city of brotherly love - what can we get out of this...

Agapae - unconditional love -what can I do for you? what can I give to you?

The extraordinary thing about the word agape is there is no English word that translates into agape , it stands alone!!

Eros loves when we like things.

Phileos loves because of something.

Agape loves in spite of what is done or not done

In the movie Fireproof, Caleb's relationship with his wife changes when he chooses to love his wife in spite of all the things that have transpired between them in their marriage. Without his wife's knowledge, he pays for medical supplies that his mother in law needed with money he had been saving for a boat. That is when the change starts to happen in their relationship...

Jesus shows us a way of loving better in Luke chapter 5....

1. Better love thinks about others more then self.

2he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

In verse 2 Jesus is teaching and He decides to sit in a boat floating in the water to let the people hear Him better.

Think about how different our world would be today if more people put others first.

2. Better loves makes the first move. Jesus didn't heal and forgive sins of others after they had done something for Him.

12While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy.[c] When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."
13Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.

Jesus reached out to the sick man and touched him, when most others would have been afraid to . If we reached out in love to our enemies, what a difference it would make.

3. Better love takes risks.

18Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

The man's friends in verse 18 were willing to take the risk of lowering their friend into the room with Jesus and He responded not only by healing the man physically, but forgiving his sins as well, taking care of the whole person!!

4. Better love goes the last 10%.

Even when it might be hard , true love presses on and doesn't give up.

A baseball team can't say they won a game if they were leading for the first 8 innings, they have to take it all the way to the end for victory!

Not love when,

not love because,

but love regardless of

This week, try to make loving others as automatic as tying your shoes!

We need more macrothumia!

2009-03-02T16:46:00.000-08:00

It's not a word you hear everyday , but it has an important meaning! Macrothumia is a Greek word meaning "put aside your anger". Putting aside anger and hurt to forgive someone who has wronged you can sometimes feel nearly impossible.
In the movie "Fireproof", Caleb apologizes to his wife Catherine...

For Catherine , forgiveness does not come easy. Forgiveness is never an easy thing.

In Matthew 18, when the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him how often they should forgive, His answer was 70 times 7.

Why should I forgive?

1. To keep Satan out of my life. When I don't forgive I give Satan a chance to have a foothold in my life.

2. For myself. When I do not forgive, i give that person who I am not forgiving a hold over me. God does not have ownership over me and can't fully use me!

3. I am not perfect!! How can we expect overs to forgive us , when we cannot forgive ourselves.

4. Christ forgave me! Jesus' death on the cross was the ultimate act of forgiveness. He paid our debt in full and rose again so that we might have life eternally with Him!

Okay so I understand why I should forgive, but how should I do it...

1. Make a decision to forgive. It's a hard choice, but when we make the choice to forgive, Satan does not have a foothold anymore in our lives.

2. Say the words "I forgive you" at least out loud to yourself.

3. When you forgive, forgive for real.

4. Forgive completely as the Lord forgave us.

5. Forgive repeatedly.

6. Forgiving doesn't mean forgetting. We can never completely forget the hurt that has been done, but we have to try and move on.

7. Forgiving doesn't mean trusting. Use wisdom and don't set yourself up to be hurt again by the same person.

Ultimately, forgiving is about us. No one can control anyone but ourselves no matter how much we might try. Forgiveness isn't about the other person , it is about what we will do.

God will bless our efforts and renew us each time we make the difficult choice to forgive.

Colossians 3:13 states:
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Let's forgive just as the Lord has forgiven us today!

More Macrothumia will make this world a better place for all of us!

What's your temptation?

2009-02-24T19:46:00.000-08:00

Walking into the local mini mart can be a sugar-a-holic's paradise! From the Krispy Kreme's staked high into the air to the 3 for a dollar candy bars by the counter, the tempation can be too hard to resist.

It can be that way when we are dealing with sin as well, but God has made a way out for us! The Bible declares it!

Often we can think that to understand the Bible fully we need a type of theology degree, but that is not the case. Take the verse in 1 Corinthians 10:11-13...

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! 13No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

This passage tells us 3 things about tempatation:

1. Every temptation you faced has been faced by others

2. You have never been tempted by something you didn’t have the power to resist

3. God provides a way out! – we must chose to accept

Jesus defeated the temptation of the Devil in Luke 4 by being full of the Holy Spirit, even when He was empty of physical food. Without the Holy Spirit's help, we will never be able to resist the enemies attacks.

Temptation can be like a parasite, sucking the life out of us and our relationships. The thing about a parasite is that it takes a while for a person to realize they have one. Sin can be that way too, the effects of it may not be felt until it is too late.

Here are 7 steps to resist temptation:

1. PRAY THAT THE LORD WILL KEEP YOU FROM TEMPTATION.

2. MAKE A COVENANT WITH YOURSELF.

3. LOOK FOR A WAY OUT.

4. DIVERT YOUR THOUGHTS

5. REMOVE YOURSELF.

6. EVALUATE WHEN YOU FALL DOWN.

7. ASK FORGIVENESS, RESOLVE TO DO BETTER, AND START AGAIN.

God has made a way out for us- it's Jesus , His only son!

Examine these steps to beating temptation and see where God would have you start!

Here is your Love Dare for this week:

IS THERE A PARASITE FROM WHICH YOU NEED TO BREAK FREE?

Valentine's Day is once a year ...

2009-02-17T14:01:00.000-08:00

The first time you tell that special someone you love them , it can be a scary experience. What if they reject me? What if they don't hear me and I have to repeat myself? What if they laugh? When we find out someone loves us back it becomes easier to say "I love you" to that person. As time goes on, instead of that big build up to "I love you", it becomes a "Love you" shouted on the way out the door or a " Love ya" as the phone is hung up.

Truth be told, the words I love you really don't mean a whole lot unless there is action behind them.

Love itself is what is left when being in love has burned away.

Once a year we give that special someone a card , candy or flowers to remind them that we love them, but really we could hand a card to a person on the street that says "I love you" but it doesn't mean anything because there is no action behind it. No caring words, no quality time, no listening ear...

God calls us to love the way He loved - unconditionally. God doesn't need Valentines Day to show His love to us. He does it all the time, maybe not the way we always want, but in the way that is best for us!

Likewise a marriage is a lifetime commitment. Loving someone for who they are - faults and all - is an action and a choice.

Our message last Sunday reminded us of that fact...

Here are 3 skills of those who love for a lifetime

1. Remember we are different and adapt accordingly.

2. Asking for and granting forgiveness.

3. Decide to love and keep on loving!

Just as Jesus doesn't abandon us when we reject or "hurt" Him. so we should not reject or hold a grudge against those we have said the words "I love you".

God's love for us is not a once a year thing, and our love for others - whether it be a spouse, family member, or friend should not be either.

Practice the skill of a lifetime lover you'll "feel the love" in a way you have never felt before!

This week's Love Dare

Marries Couples: Renew your vows to each other

Singles:

1. Affirm differences in the opposite gender.

2. Be forgiving

3. Decide to love and keep on loving a close friend.

You can't give what you haven't got

2009-02-11T02:49:00.000-08:00

The Bible calls us to love one another , just as God loved us. That can be hard when we may not have experienced love in our own lives. Trying to show love to others on our own can lead to failure, but loving with the love of God will lead to success!

Here are five principles about relationships from this week's message

1. When people have profound experiences , they want to share them with others.

2. An encounter with God is a profound experience.

3. Those who live close to God find that their love for others is always increasing!

4. Love eliminates fear.

5. We can love others because God first loved us!

1 John 4: 7-10 (Message version )

My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn't know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can't know him if you don't love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.

That is the true essence of love, that it is done without expected anything in return. That is the example that God gave to us, He sent His son Jesus for us to save us from our sins, even before we knew it , God loved us first!

This week's Love Dare:

SINGLES:

MAKE A LIST OF 6 FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS OR CO-WORKERS AND ASSIGN A DAY TO EACH OF THEM. THEN, EVERY DAY THIS WEEK, ASK THE LORD TO SHOW YOU ONE WAY TO LOVE THE PERSON OF THE DAY, THEN DO IT.

HUSBANDS:

EVERY DAY THIS WEEK, ASK THE LORD TO SHOW YOU ONE WAY TO LOVE YOUR WIFE, AND THEN DO IT.

WIVES:

EVERY DAY THIS WEEK, ASK THE LORD TO SHOW YOU ONE WAY TO LOVE YOUR HUSBAND, AND THEN DO IT.

It's my right!

2009-02-05T17:08:00.000-08:00

Our sermon focus this month is on "fireproofing " your marriage, keeping it from being destroyed by the "fires" of life. The series doesn't limit itself to just marriage relationships. The challenge for this week is :

IN YOUR WORK, SCHOOL, OR HOME ENVIRONMENT, WHOSE LIFE WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD VALUE TO BY GIVING THEM GREATER LOVE OR RESPECT? WHAT CAN YOU DO THIS WEEK TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

Often times we feel we have the "right" to say something to someone or to do something to someone that we feel is within our "rights". Sometimes, even though we might have the “right” to do something, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the “right” thing to do. For example, choosing to follow through with something we may very well have the “right” to do, even though it’s not best for others is not what truly brings honor to God.

In the Love Dare for this week, think about how you can give up your "right" to do or say something. Jesus can be our example of giving up His rights for what God wanted Him to do...die for us on the cross.

At any moment when He was the cross shedding His blood for us as sinners, He could have called angels down to free Him from his suffering, but He didn't!

Why didn't Jesus stop and say - "It's my right to choose not do this!" ??

It was because of His great love for us. His love can certainly be an example in a marriage for husbands and wives to follow, but also in friendships and other relationships. Giving up our rights for the benefit of others can lead to relationships that are built to last!

Who can you show Christ's love to today?

Which report do you believe?

2009-01-27T16:50:00.001-08:00

Well it's winter again here in Pennsylvania and that means bad weather - or maybe bad reports! A few weeks back, we were told by the weather experts to prepare for snow and ice. As a result, events were cancelled and many stayed in for the day. While we waited for the snow that never came we realized again that weather forecasting is not an exact science.

Once again, snow and ice are predicted for tonight and Wednesday. How much will we get? When will it start? Will I be able to make it to Turkey Hill for bread and milk?

A few years ago before a storm , we were literally out of bread and milk and I was going to run down to the Sheetz near my house anyway. When I got to the counter the clerk looked at me with a smirk and I told him I wasn't panicking about not being able to get out, he just looked at me and smiled as if to say - sure buddy I believe you!

So whose report will you believe before a storm? 4 to 6 inches? A light dusting? The jet stream will keep the storm south of us? Who knows? This time of year reminds me of a song we used to sing:

"Whose report will you believe?"

"We shall believe the report of the Lord!" 2X
"His report says I am healed!"

"His report says I am free!"

"His report says victory!"

When God told the Israelites it was time to take the Promised Land, spies were sent in to scout out the territory. Most came back bringing a report of large cities that could not be conquered easily. But Caleb and Aaron said "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." (Numbers 12:30). The people believed the evil report and were afraid and didn't reach all that God had for them!

First John 5:5 tells us :

"For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."

In a time where weathermen and other forecasters aren't always accurate, let's keep our focus on the God who cares for us and overcomes the world! Believe His report and live!!

What's on your ipod?

2009-01-24T10:29:00.000-08:00

Often today, when people share information about themselves, one of the things on their list of things about themselves is "what's on my ipod" (translated - what are you listening to?) What you are listening to shows a lot about who you are and what type of "voices" can influence you!

Romans 12:2 encourages us to “... not CONFORM any longer to the pattern of this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind.” God can transform us by:

Time spent with Him in prayer
Time spent reading the Bible

Often it can be a challenge in our lives to find time to read the Bible or to spend personal time with God. A new and exciting way to spend time with God is through podcasts. Listening while driving or working around the house can begin that process of "renewing " our minds. Pop the headphones to scripture or a teacher of the Word and connect with what God has for you! Many are available if you have iTunes and from many church web sites. Connect with God and He will transform your mind!

Here are a few to check out:

Assemblies of God podcast list

Dino Rizzo – Healing Place Church, Baton Rouge, LA

Greg Surratt – Seacoast Church, Mt. Pleasant, SC

Brian Houston – Hillsong Church, Sydney, Australia

Stovall Weems – Celebration Church, Jacksonville, FL

Steve Kelly – Wave Church, VA Beach

Rick Bezet – New Life Church, Conway, AR

Daily Audio Bible

Greg Laurie – Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA

Check out iTunes under podcasts for more ...if you need help to subscribe, leave a comment here!!

Feed your heart and your soul and be transformed!!!

What are you listening to? If you listen to others post a comment and share it!

2009-01-19T19:24:00.000-08:00

“Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.”

This quote comes from a famous President on his first day in office. Presidents taking office have faced many challenges, but this one faced a crisis the world had never seen. After a time of financial prosperity, the bottom fell out. Many people had lost vast sums of money , their jobs, and their homes.

Franklin Roosevelt said these words on March 4, 1933. In today's world it rings with irony as we face financial uncertainty. His challenge to the nation to stop hoping to ministered to them, but to minister to "our fellow man" was a great call to action then and it is a call to action now as well. These words could be spoken by our new President on Tuesday or by a pastor in a church on a Sunday.

Service to our fellow woman and man is central to the Jesus' teaching. Jesus lived out the meaning of servant hood. At the Last Supper, Jesus took the position of servant and washed His disciples feet. Humbling Himself as the lowliest servant calls us the do the same.

President Roosevelt issued a challenge to a nation at a crossroads in 1933 , just as we stand in a place of uncertainty in 2009. Our new president is calling people to serve, but we should not need a government official to remind us that , when all worldly things are stripped away that the greatest thing we can do is serve our fellow man, following Jesus Christ's example.

Quote source: www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,745290,00.html

Who is carrying your back pack?

2009-01-11T18:10:00.000-08:00

I always make a point to carry my children's backpacks when I pick them up at the end of their school day. I want to help them after their busy day because I want them to not be burdened by the work that they are bringing home with them. They have to do the homework themselves, but I want to help them and support them in their efforts and help them be the best they can be.

Just like a parent who wants to help her child carry a heavy load, God the Father wants to carry our burden.

1 Peter 5:6-7 reminds us to cast our cares upon Him for He cares for us. It doesn't get any simpler then that. God cares for us and wants to help us.

In uncertain times, God can be our rock and safe haven in a storm. God stands before us and wants us to hand Him our "backpack" full of our cares and concerns. Just as my children still must handle the work inside the backpack, we must still deal with the concerns and issues in our "back packs" , but we do not have to deal with those things on our own.

I know tomorrow I will pick up my kids and carry their backpacks to the car, and when I do I will be reminded of the Lord Jesus standing there with me that He cares for me and wants to assist me to fulfill the plans that He has for me. It takes me first being willing to give up my "backpack" and trust in the Lord of all Creation!

1 Peter 5:6-7 (New International Version)
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you.

Work in Progress

2009-01-05T19:32:00.000-08:00

Success often comes after a string of failures. Many great people have experienced failures in life, but have not been stopped by those failures.

Take this list taken from the life of a famous American...

Lost job, Defeated in election for state legislature

Failed in business

Sweetheart died

Defeated in election for Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives

Defeated for nomination for Congress

elected to Congress, not renominated after one term

Rejected for the job of land officer

Defeated for U.S. Senate

Defeated for nomination for Vice President

Again defeated for U.S. Senate

Elected President

click here to read more about Lincoln's "failures"

In between the failures of his life, Abraham Lincoln still kept working to overcome the setbacks he exerienced in his life and learned from each. His experiences molded and made him into the leader he would become when our nation needed him most.

Paul encourages us in the book of Philippians chapter 1 verse 6 :

"that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus"

Part of growing is failure. Often God puts challenges in our path to see how we react and to test our resiliancy to face what life has for us. No real achievement in life have taken place without some level of failure.

Remember

God's great love for us. Luke 15:8

He gave the most important thing, His son Jesus, to us . If He was willing to do that how much more does He want to bless us!!

2. God's is working in you!

God desires your relationship with Him to go beyond just a salvation experience. When we understand God is contiually working in us, then we can move forward with confidence.

3. God doesn't see failure when He looks at you!

God looks at your heart, not your outside or what you have or don't have!

Take a lesson from Lincoln and let God show you things when you experience what you think is failure and in 2009, let Him work in you and grow in new and exciting ways!

Click here for an article on Florida Gator quarterback Tim Tebow's faith in action!

Keeping Christmas All Year

2009-01-02T19:27:00.000-08:00

Recently , our Pastor completed a Christmas series entitled "From Humbug to Hallelujah". Using clips from "A Christmas Carol" Pastor challenged us all to look at our past , present , and future just like old Mr. Scrooge in the story was forced to on that Christmas night. The new year has arrived and the holidays are over, but can we truly keep the spirit of Christmas alive in our hearts and actions all year long?

My favorite part of "A Christmas Carol" is when Scrooge awakes that Christmas morning and throws open the window and asks a boy in the street what day it is and the has the young man go buy the Goose to share for Christmas dinner. I love to see the change in Scrooge as he realizes what Christmas and life are truly about.

The challenge is ..can we keep the "spirit" of Christmas alive in our hearts throughout 2009 and behind???

Here is a poem I read today with my daughter as we took a break from putting away gifts and playing with new toys..it reads:

The Joy of Giving

John Greenleaf Whittier

Somehow, not only for Christmas

But all the long year through,

The joy that you give to others

Is the joy that comes back to you;

And the more you send a blessing

The poor and lonely and sad,

The more of your heart's possessing

Returns to make you glad.

After reading this poem together, I asked her what the true gift we can give to others is, and she responded "Love"...