Quick Links
The Skinny on south Temple
What a great bit of information. The tabs on this website help us to see the zipcodes around our church and particularly our part of south Temple… which is the beginning place for our ministries. What stands out with meaning for you?
Sunday Evenings in the Spring
We are talking with various people about some options for Sunday evenings at Canyon Creek. Here are some guiding factors:
1. Options for all age groups some of which will include, mission preparation, discipleship class study, and need-based support.
2. Desire to connect to our neighborhood and make such a night welcoming to newcomers.
3. Belief that meaningful relationships can be fostered Sunday Evenings building deliberate bridges to those outside our church.
It is my belief that this can be the growing edge of our church if we can throw open doors to the traditional time for Sunday Evening discipleship.
We will still have a Pastor’s class for those who do not opt for one of the other tracks. The schedule will look like:
5:45 Begin worship time together
6:10 Start time with the group you choose
7:15 Dismiss group (Begin Business Meeting if 3rd Sunday of Month)
Video I have been eyeing…
I am giving a message Sunday about sharing the gospel. It feels confrontational and judgmental so many people avoid it. It is central, not just to the Christian belief, but core to the Christian’s existence. 2 Corinthians 5:17-20. I am showing a video that I have enjoyed for years from Sermonspice It is Evangelism Linebacker.Watch Evangelism Linebacker video Sermonspice is a great source for creative video arts. This is where we got the video clip for Facing the Giants.
My Prayers Through Haggai
You know I have been praying through the book of Haggai. (And no, those pages were not stuck together in my Bible.) I have to say that the book takes on special significance for me and I wanted to offer it to you for your thoughts and responses. Here is the text I gave to the staff last week. Below the text is some of my observations
I have been reading and praying through Haggai. I feel that I have been given permission to pray and claim promises from the book. I think it is profound that in the New Living Translation the dates have been ‘translated’ into the calendar we are more familiar with. That puts these events within the time frame of our prayers and UWB campaign. For me this was another confirmation. I am, as a general practice, careful the promises that were not intended for me, but in pray-reading scripture I feel I have been given permission to claim these promises. Would you pray with me through the chapters of this book. It doesn’t have to be your Bible study, but for your church, and for UWB and its leadership please commit to pray for the church and leaders as you read. I am working to create a list of promises I read in this book. I will let you know what I find.
I am praying for you as I read these things, that God will give you particular insight and a spirituality to see and bring the Kingdom and reign of God in your area of influence; praying also for you to be protected from the evil one.
TreyHaggai 1
A Call to Rebuild the Temple
1 On August 29[a] of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua[b] son of Jehozadak, the high priest.2 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the Lord.’”
3 Then the Lord sent this message through the prophet Haggai: 4 “Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? 5 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 6 You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes!
7 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 8 Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the Lord. 9 You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. 10 It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. 11 I have called for a drought on your fields and hills—a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.”
Obedience to God’s Call
12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of God’s people began to obey the message from the Lord their God. When they heard the words of the prophet Haggai, whom the Lord their God had sent, the people feared the Lord. 13 Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave the people this message from the Lord: “I am with you, says the Lord!”14 So the Lord sparked the enthusiasm of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the enthusiasm of Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the enthusiasm of the whole remnant of God’s people. They began to work on the house of their God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, 15 on September 21[c] of the second year of King Darius’s reign.
Haggai 2
The New Temple’s Diminished Splendor
1 Then on October 17 of that same year,[a] the Lord sent another message through the prophet Haggai. 2 “Say this to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua[b] son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of God’s people there in the land: 3 ‘Does anyone remember this house—this Temple—in its former splendor? How, in comparison, does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! 4 But now the Lord says: Be strong, Zerubbabel. Be strong, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 5 My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.’6 “For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. 7 I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 9 The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”
Blessings Promised for Obedience
10 On December 18[c] of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the Lord sent this message to the prophet Haggai: 11 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says. Ask the priests this question about the law: 12 ‘If one of you is carrying some meat from a holy sacrifice in his robes and his robe happens to brush against some bread or stew, wine or olive oil, or any other kind of food, will it also become holy?’”The priests replied, “No.”
13 Then Haggai asked, “If someone becomes ceremonially unclean by touching a dead person and then touches any of these foods, will the food be defiled?”
And the priests answered, “Yes.”
14 Then Haggai responded, “That is how it is with this people and this nation, says the Lord. Everything they do and everything they offer is defiled by their sin. 15 Look at what was happening to you before you began to lay the foundation of the Lord’s Temple. 16 When you hoped for a twenty-bushel crop, you harvested only ten. When you expected to draw fifty gallons from the winepress, you found only twenty. 17 I sent blight and mildew and hail to destroy everything you worked so hard to produce. Even so, you refused to return to me, says the Lord.
18 “Think about this eighteenth day of December, the day[d] when the foundation of the Lord’s Temple was laid. Think carefully. 19 I am giving you a promise now while the seed is still in the barn.[e] You have not yet harvested your grain, and your grapevines, fig trees, pomegranates, and olive trees have not yet produced their crops. But from this day onward I will bless you.”
Promises for Zerubbabel
20 On that same day, December 18,[f] the Lord sent this second message to Haggai: 21 “Tell Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth. 22 I will overthrow royal thrones and destroy the power of foreign kingdoms. I will overturn their chariots and riders. The horses will fall, and their riders will kill each other.23 “But when this happens, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, I will honor you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant. I will make you like a signet ring on my finger, says the Lord, for I have chosen you. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”
Promises from Haggai
1. God will speak specific messages to his people. (Haggai 1:1)
2. God will tell us when specific circumstances are caused by spiritual failures and invites us to correct them with obedient change in behavior. (Haggai 1:6-8, 10)
3. God responds to obedience to these instructions: “I am with you.) (Haggai 1:13)
4. God will give enthusiasm. (Haggai 1:14)
5. God will allow us to begin. (Haggai 1:14)
6. God will bring encouragement when needed. (Haggai 2:4-5)
7. God will ‘shake the nations’, but even world circumstances will not negatively affect these promises. (Haggai 2:6-7)
8. God will fill this church with glory. (Haggai 2:7)
9. God will provide us the resources we need. (Haggai 2:7-8)
10. Our future will greatly surpass our past. (Haggai 2:9)
11. We will have the ‘shalom’ of God. (Haggai 2:9)
12. God will call us back from sinful old habits and expect us to respond in this new way of obedience. (Haggai 2:14-15, 17b)
13. Seems that staff/leadership will have a choice before we carry through with commitment, in the face of what seems to be a critical time, but God gives promises that he will see them through. (Haggai 2:20-23)
If I had one message…
If I had one message about our election … it might read something like this. This is a message from the ivotevalues.com website, a Southern Baptist website also giving biblical values and a party platform comparison chart
How You Can Have Maximum Patriotic Impact - Brief
Introduction
On July 4, 1776, in Philadelphia, our Founding Fathers signed a document declaring our independence from the tyranny of those who would enslave the minds, the souls, the lives of men. But what many Americans don’t realize is that with the same document, we not only declared our independence from Great Britain, we just as strongly declared our dependence upon Almighty God. For the Declaration of Independence begins by proclaiming that we are subject only to the “laws of nature and nature’s God1.” Do you remember how it ends? It ends with these words: “With a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.” Do you know what the word reliance means? It means dependence. The signers of the Declaration were staking everything on God watching over them and seeing them through in their struggle for freedom: “With a firm reliance upon the protection of Divine Providence2.”Hear this statement well: Our Founding Fathers did not believe in the separation of God from government. They believed that this nation was founded by God, protected by God, preserved by God, and blessed by God. It all depends on God! And based on that belief, they were willing to pledge their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. They put it all on the line. Of those fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence, nine died of wounds or hardships during the war. Five were captured and imprisoned, and in each case subjected to torture. Several lost wives, children or entire families. One lost his thirteen children. Two wives were brutalized by the British. All were at one time or another victims of manhunts and driven from their homes. Twelve signers had their homes completely burned. Seventeen lost everything they owned. Indeed these men not only pledged but gave their lives, and their fortunes, and not one went back on his sacred honor3. The nation they sacrificed so much to help found is still intact for us to enjoy on her 228th birthday. May God bless America!
That brings us to you and me, here and now. If these patriots willingly laid it all on the line for this nation, don’t you think we should do more than simply sing patriotic songs, wave the flag, barbeque burgers, and watch fireworks? I think so. Not only that, but Jesus said so. Look at our text (Matt. 22:15-21): The religious leaders were trying to trap Jesus on the issue of paying taxes, but Jesus turned the tables on them. He asked them for a coin, and then asked whose portrait and inscription was stamped on it. They replied: “Caesar’s.” Jesus responded: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” (v. 21). His point: All citizens—including His followers—are obligated to support their government.
Unlike the Roman Empire, Americans are blessed to have, as Abraham Lincoln put it, a “government of the people, by the people, and for the people4.” Our form of government requires our active involvement. How can we “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” in America today? Well I want to mention 5 things that every Christian ought to give his government, 5 things that every Christian can do to have maximum patriotic impact as we think about what that meant then, what it means now, and what it means to you and me personally. First…
1. Seek God For Your Government
Scripture: (1Tim. 2:1-4). Notice Paul says: “First of all.”
Focus on praying for your elected officials at two points:
Pray for their wisdom to lead our nation according to the Judeo-Christian principles this nation was founded upon.Pray that they would come to know Christ and be saved (v 4). The only way our nation will be changed is through the Gospel. It is only through a relationship with Jesus as Lord that our elected officials will lead in such a way that we will be able to live “peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (v 2).
Point out that the biggest burden for the health of our nation does not rest on the White House, or on the State House, but on the Church House, it rests on you and on me.Scripture: (2 Chron. 7:14). If we do not pray for our nation and our leaders, not only will we continue to have little impact on the direction of America, but we are sinning against God. First of all, pray. Seek God for Your Government.
2. Support Your Government
There are a couple of ways we can support our government:
First, pay taxes to your government. Scripture: (Jesus teaching – Matt. 22:21 and example – Matt. 17:24-27; Paul’s teaching Rom. 13:6).
Point out that even though there is a lot of waste and questionable spending, we do benefit from the goods and services provided by the government, such as military defense, law enforcement, roads, schools, libraries, parks, etc.Take pride in your government. Scripture: Teaching – Rom. 13:7 and Example: Ps. 137:5.
Point out that it’s good to be patriotic. You can take pride in your country as well as pay taxes to your country and in that way support your government.
3. Submit To Your Government
Scripture: (1 Pet. 2:13-14, 17; cf. Rom. 13:2-5).
Point out that the Greek word for “submit” means to fall in rank under an authority. Government exists to keep order, and we must submit to the rule of law. Christians of all citizens ought to be model citizens. If we rebel against the rule of law, we are in fact rebelling against the God who ordained it (Rom. 13:1-2).
Point out that we are to show these authorities respect, even when they are less than perfect. Example: Nero. We may not have much respect for the man of the office, but we must respect the office of the man. Submit to your government. That said, sometimes you must –
4. Stand Up To Your Government
Point out that George Washington reportedly said that “Government… is a troublesome servant and a fearful Master5.” Sometimes, we must stand up to our government. There’s a time and place for civil disobedience, but it should come only as a last resort. However, if the government commands what God condemns, then you are obligated to disobey.
Examples: Midwives > Pharaoh (Exod. 2:15-21). Daniel > King Darius (Dan. 6:1-23). Christians > Imperial edict to swear: “Caesar is Lord” instead declared: Christ is Lord!” (Rev. 2:8-10; 2:13). Peter > Religious Rulers (Acts 5:29). They were all blessed by God for their civil disobedience.
Point out: As Citizen Christians, we need to use our freedom to defend our freedom or we may lose our freedom. Scriptures: Matt. 5:13-16; Ps. 107:2 Isa. 58:1. Examples: Examples: Moses > Pharaoh; Nathan > David; Elijah > Ahab; Daniel > Nebuchadnezzar; John the Baptist > Herod.
Point out: We must stand up and let our voices be heard in the same way. We must persuade our government of the truths of God’s word as they apply to the policies and laws of our nation. Sometimes we must stand up to our government and say: Enough is enough. Finally –5. Select Your Government
Point out: There are many ways we can participate in our government, such as helping with a voter registration drive, commenting on legislation and public policy, speaking out on moral and social issues, holding public office, campaigning for a candidate, volunteering for the election commission, etc. Perhaps the most basic form of participation is voting—selecting our government. Voting is a simple act with a significant impact. When we vote, we help determine who will lead our nation, make our laws, and protect our freedoms.
Quote: Founding Father Samuel Adams said: “Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote… that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country6.”
On iVoteValues.com you will find four action steps on voting.
Register To Vote: Statistics: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as many as 25-35% of the voting age population are not registered. That translates to between 45 and 65 million Americans! What’s worse is that less than half of those registered actually vote in a given election! Registering to vote is easy to do. Fill out the Voter Registration Form and return it to the county election office. We have people who are here to help.
Step 2: Vote Your Values: Statistics: In 2000, a little over half of eligible Americans voted (53%). In 2002’s mid‑term elections, the numbers were even worse when only 39.3% of eligible Americans voted!
Saying: Old proverb that is still true: “Bad politicians are elected by good people who don’t vote.”
Point out: simply voting is not enough, you must vote your values. Every candidate has his or her own set of values and positions on important issues.Questions to ponder: Don’t you think that where a candidate stands on the issues is far more important than the party he or she belongs to? Shouldn’t we vote for candidates who share our values?
Point out: Many believers don’t even consider their values when voting, often choosing candidates whose positions are at odds with their own beliefs, convictions, and values. Statistic: A recent study by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life shows that nearly two-thirds of Americans say their faith has little to do with their voting decisions.
Action Points: Jesus expects us to let our faith influence every part of our decision making—including the democratic process (Matt. 5:13-16).
• Be informed on the issues.
• Study the party platform statements.
• Know what the candidates stand for.
• Check out the candidate’s website.
• Find out their friends and their enemies.
• Weigh the candidates’ values against biblical values.
Quote: Our nation’s first Supreme Court Justice, John Jay, said: “It is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation, to select and prefer Christians for their rulers7.”
Caution: Aligning ourselves too closely with a political party or a politician is unwise, because we need to be free to call all political parties and politicians to repentance when they step outside of biblical morality and principle.
Quote: Founding Father Benjamin Rush is quoted as saying: “I have been alternately called an Aristocrat and a Democrat. I am neither. I am a Christocrat8.”
Point Out: Our loyalty needs to be with the Lord Jesus Christ. Strongly consider voting for candidates who believe like you do. Don’t just vote—vote your values!
Question: Examine your core values as we approach Election Day 2008. Would your list include the Economy? National Security? Health-Care? Education? As important as those issues are, think about what your core values should be as a follower of Jesus and how they apply to your patriotic impact on the leadership and laws of our nation. Mention three: Life, Family, and Freedom.
Life: Life is precious. Miraculous. Delicate. Created by a loving God who makes every human being unique (Ps. 139:15-16). Life made in the image of God is a fundamental, God-given right. According to the Declaration of Independence, “All men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. Among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness9.” Therefore, human life should be protected. Defended. Rescued10.
Scripture: Prov. 24:11. Statistics: 1.3 million Abortions per year; 25% of all pregnancies end in Abortion11.Action Points: Find out where the candidates stand on the value of life. Ask what their position is on abortion, cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and euthanasia. We value life. Second, we value –
Family: Family is essential. Basic. Necessary. The family is the basic building block of society, and the first institution created by God (Example: Gen. 1-2). As goes the family, so goes the nation. Unfortunately, the family as God intended it is an endangered species in America.Statistics: U.S. Census figures from 2000 show that the traditional family is in a statistical free-fall12.
Families consisting of a husband and wife in their first marriage with children dropped below 25% percent of all homes13.
Households with unmarried partners grew by 72%14. In fact, cohabitation has increased by close to 1,000% from 1960 to 199815.
A third of all babies were born to unmarried women, (33%) compared to only 3.8% in 194016.
The number of same-sex homes skyrocketed over 400% since 199017.Point Out: Last year, the U. S. Supreme Court declared state laws against sodomy illegal and essentially established homosexuality as a constitutionally protected lifestyle18. The Massachusetts Supreme Court followed by ruling that same sex “marriage” should be legalized, and that state has been issuing marriage licenses by the thousands.
Problem: If gay “marriage” is legalized in one state, the “full faith and credit” clause of the U.S. Constitution would dictate that the rest of the states must recognize gay marriages as legal. Result: The time-honored definition of the family in general and of marriage in particular is in mortal danger.Action Points: Find out where the candidates stand on the issue of family. Find out how they voted on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Ask for their position on the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) defining marriage as only between one man and one woman. Christians ought to stand against any and all efforts to undermine and redefine marriage, which is the foundation for a healthy society. We value family. Third, we value –
Freedom: Freedom is priceless. Cherished. Fragile. Scripture: Gal. 5:1. Freedom must be nurtured, defended, and protected, which is the original intent of the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof19.”
Point Out: The Supreme Court has ignored the original intent of the Founding Fathers, trashed three centuries of America’s Judeo-Christian heritage, and turned a statement in one of Jefferson’s private letters on its head in declaring a two-way “Wall of Separation” between church and state.
Result: All religious influences must be removed from public institutions. The Court outlawed public prayer in the schools in 196220, out went public Bible reading in 196321, and in 1980, down came the Ten Commandments from school house walls22! This agenda of radical secularization has not only been zealously prosecuted by the activist courts, but by extension, the various public entities, school boards, educators, and teachers.
Action Points: Find out where the candidates stand on religious liberty issues. Find out if they are aligned with groups who seek to remove our freedoms. Find out which candidates are in favor of protecting and even restoring our Judeo-Christian heritage. Reminder: If we don’t use our freedom to defend our freedom we will lose our freedom. Find out where the candidates stand on our First Amendment right to public religious expression. We value Life, Family, and Freedom!
Step 3: Tell Your Friend
Take your friend a Voter Registration Form and help them fill it out and send it in.
Send your friends an e-Card from iVoteValues.com where they can fill out their form online, print it, and mail it in.
Help organize a voter registration drive in your service club, school, place of business, etc. Reminder: Be sure to get permission.Step 4: Pray for the Election and Our Nation
Scripture: Prov. 29:2.Conclusion
After our Founding Fathers unanimously approved the Declaration of Independence, on July 8 they said, “Let’s celebrate! Let the cannons fire! Let fireworks fill the sky! Let the bells ring! And the very first bell they rang was in the belfry of the very hall where they approved the Declaration of Independence to summon the people to hear the first public reading of our founding document. They rang that bell—we know it as the “Liberty Bell.” Where did it get its name? From July the fourth? From the Declaration of Independence? No. The name comes from the Scripture imprinted on that bell (Lev. 25:10), which says: “Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof!” Proclaim liberty throughout the land. Let Freedom Ring!Freedom will ring louder, freedom will ring clearer, if Christians all across America will do these 5 things and “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” Just imagine the impact Christians could have on the direction of our government, the character of its leadership, and the moral health of our nation if we all simply applied biblical principles to every aspect of our lives—including our patriotic duty as Citizen Christians. Make a commitment today to register to vote, register a friend, vote your values, live your values, share your Savior, and pray for God to bless America!
1 As found in One Nation Under God: Our Founding Documents (Nashville: For Faith & Family Publishing), 10.
2 Ibid., 18.
3 Summarized from Paul Harvey, Our Lives, Our Fortunes, Our Sacred Honor (Waco, TX: Word Books, 1976). See also, D. James Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe, What If America Were a Christian Nation Again? (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2003), 37-40.
4 Abraham Lincoln, “Address at Gettysburg,” delivered on November 19, 1863 as found in The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, edited by Roy P. Basler (Rutgers University Press, 1953), 7:22.
5 Attributed to George Washington by Frank J. Wilstach, A Dictionary of Similes, 2d ed., (New York: Bonanza, 1924), 526.
6 Samuel Adams, The Writings of Samuel Adams, Harry Alonzo Cushing, editor (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1907), 4:256, originally in the Boston Gazette on April 16, 1781.
7 John Jay, The Correspondence and Public Papers of John Jay, Henry P. Johnston, ed. (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1890), 4:365.
8 David Ramsay, An Eulogium upon Benjamin Rush, M.D. (Philadelphia: Bradford and Inskeep, 1813), 103.
9 Founding Documents, 10.
10 Obviously those who are justly sentenced to death by Capital Punishment are another story (See Genesis 9:5-6).
11 2003 Statistics from the Alan Guttmacher Institute. See http://www.agi-usa.org/pubs/abslides/abort_slides.pdf .
12 See http://www.census.gov .
13 Eric Schmitt, “For First Time, Nuclear Families Drop Below 25 Percent of Households,” The New York Times, May 15, 2001, A1.
14 Barbara Kantrowitz and Pat Wingert, “Unmarried, with Children,” Newsweek, May 28, 2001, 46.
15 David Popenoe and Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, “The State of Our Unions 2000,” The National Marriage Project, Rutgers University. See http://www.marriage.rutgers.edu .
16 “Unmarried, with Children,” 46.
17 Genaro C. Armas ”Census…most comprehensive count yet of gays and lesbians,” Associated Press, August 21, 2001.
18 Lawrence et al. v. Texas, No. 02-102 (U.S. Supreme Court, 2003).
19 Founding Documents, 46.
20 Engel v. Vitale 370 U.S. 421, (1962).
21 Abingdon School District v. Schempp 374 U.S. 203, 220-221 (1963).
22 Stone v. Graham 449 U.S. 39 (1980).
Who Would Have Thought It Was Possible
From the very beginning, nobody gave this bunch much of a chance to succeed. After all, it had been quite a while since they had any success whatsoever. As a matter of fact, some might say that the only success they had was simply in being created. They hadn’t been around for very long, especially compared to most of the other groups that do what they do. This particular group has a few veterans helping guide the way and a stable of youngsters who have dreamed of this for a long time. Their accomplishment to this date is amazing and yet they still have a long way to go to be “on the top.”
Congratulations to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for an amazing baseball season. Last year they were in last place in their division. No body gave them a chance to win anything at all, much less an American League Pennant. Yet, with the careful guidance of their manager, and with the tender care by the trainer of many of their young hitters and pitchers, the Rays now see themselves with a chance to win won of sports most heralded championships, the World Series. Just as the Texas Rangers how difficult it is to make it all the way.
Maybe our church is a bit like this. Could this small bunch of believers do something that no one has thought possible? Yes we can. Yes we can, if we place ourselves in the hands of God. Yes we can, if we commit together. Yes we can, if we be sure to take care of one another along the way. Yes we can, if we keep our eyes looking forward and upward.
Who thinks it’s possible?
The initial Faith Promise commitments show excitement
Let me be the first to say how much fun last night’s banquet was. Highlights of the day for me were Kim Reid’s commitment to the Preschool / Childrens building as a single mom and Blanche Bearor’s answers to Jon Mark’s questions about what she saw God do in those early days at Canyon Creek along with what she expected God to do in the future. Blanche showed confidence saying that she expected God to do great things because he had already done so much.
Jon Mark had the great privilege of announcing what the deacons, staff, and United We Build leadership had promised to give. I hope the congregation is encouraged that before any of the rest of the church receive their faith promise cards, these leaders have promised $138,000. To God be the glory.
GFPF-God Focused Reflection
Time to be God Focused
Take a moment to remember when you were first able to see God with corrected focus through Jesus. (This would be when you became a believer.)
Take some time to read over the following Scriptures about God. Feel free to read some of your favorites as well.
Psalm 27:1
Psalm 3:5-9
Psalm 18:1-3; 28-31
Job 38:4-38
Psalm 71:19
Psalm 89:5-14
Psalm 103
Psalm 111
Psalm 113
Psalm 136
Psalm 145
Isaiah 6:1-4
Hebrews 12:28-29
I John 1:5
I John 4:8-10
Revelation 21
Ask God to show you any sins in your life. Agree with Him that it is sin. Repent/choose to turn from that sin. Thank Him for His forgiveness.
Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Read Ps. 24: 3-6; 139:1-18; 23-24
Spend a few moments asking the Holy Spirit to help you focus only on God alone.
Psalm 25:4-5 “Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”
Psalm 33:20-22 “We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.”
Hebrews 4:14-16 “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Now be quiet for 3-5 minutes. No requests, no plans, no agenda. Just allow God to speak to you as you focus on Him. Write down what He tells you…big or small.
GFPF-People Focused Refelection
Time to be People Focused
Take a few moments to “de-plank”. Is there any sin in your life that will keep you from seeing people the way God does? Ask God to help you die to yourself and look at people like He does. Ask Him to give you a heart that cares for the people around you no matter who they are.
Believers
Read the following passages:
Colossians 3:12-14; I Peter 3:8-9, 4:8; I John 3:16-18, 4:7-21.
List some believers in your life that are easy to love and ways you chose to focus on them:
List some believers that are harder to love (for whatever reason) and ways you can choose to focus on them with the love so they experience the verses above:
Nonbelievers
Read the following passages:
I Corinthians 10:31-11:1; Luke 15; 19:1-10; I Peter 2:11-12; Romans 12:9-21
List some nonbelievers in your life that are easy to love and ways you chose to focus on them:
List some nonbelievers that are harder to love (for whatever reason) and ways you can choose to focus on them with the love so they experience the verses above
Carnal Believers
Read the following passages:
I Thessalonians 5:14-15; Romans 12:9-21; Luke 15
List some carnal believers in your life that are easy to love and ways you chose to focus on them:
List some carnal believers that are harder to love (for whatever reason) and ways you can choose to focus on them with the love so they experience the verses above
From the ‘Country of the Blind’
Lee Eclov takes a piece from H. G. Wells short story called “The Country of the Blind.” The story is about an inaccessible, luxurious valley in Ecuador where everyone is blinded by a particular disease. Fifteen generations of blindness has erased the memory of sight or color. Finally a sighted man from the outside fell from a high cliff, survived, only to stumble into their forgotten country.
When he realized that everyone else was blind, he remembered the old adage: “In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.” Wells writes:
He tried at first on several occasions to tell them of sight. “Look you here, you people,” he said. “There are things you do not understand in me.” Once or twice one or two of them attended to him; they sat with faces downcast and ears turned intelligently towards him, and he did his best to tell them what it was to see.
But they never believed him. They thought he was crazy. The man fell in love with a girl there and the girl’s father, Yacob, went to talk to a doctor about him. A conversation ensued:
[The doctor said]: “I think I may say with reasonable certainty that, in order to cure him complete, all that we need to do is a simple and easy surgical operation—namely, to remove these irritant bodies [his eyes!].”
“And then he will be sane?” [they asked].
“Then he will be perfectly sane, and a quite admirable citizen.”
“Thank Heaven for science!” said old Yacob.
Wells goes on to point out that the man would not be allowed to marry Yacob’s daughter unless he submitted to an operation that would blind him. So what would the man do? Wells writes:
He had fully meant to go to a lonely place where the meadows were beautiful with white narcissus, and there remain until the hour of his sacrifice should come, but as he walked he lifted up his eyes and saw the morning, the morning like an angel in golden armour, marching down the steeps…
It seemed to him that before this splendour, he and this blind world in the valley, and his love and all, were no more than a pit of sin. And the man who could see escaped the country of the blind with his life.
Christians will live differently from other people. Jesus makes a new creation out of the old. The old and new still have some things in common, but they are not the same. Not all will welcome the invitation to see. Not all who want to see will go through the trouble, but will be content to live among the seeing without the foggiest idea that they do not see.
I want to ask you to pray, some Christians do not see that there is spiritual warfare regarding the progress churches want to make. May God’s kingdom come and may the enemy be thwarted. Lord, hear that prayer.
Pastor talks about giving to the new Children’s building
Psalm 33:11 says, “But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” This is our church’s prayer. We trust that God has laid a great plan on our hearts. The Turner family has prayed just as you have about what we are to give. We still have not decided on an amount, but are listening to the Lord.
There were two scriptures which spoke to me during the Spiritual Preparation Weekend. The first one I identified with because the people were being brought out of slavery from Egypt. They were slaves with slave habits. They would have had nothing except the Lord provided for them everything they needed, even providing for an extensive worship center in the wilderness. Right now, I feel that our family does not have much extra to commit. Like most families, we have committed money to school, insurance, up keep on houses and vehicles. Still I know that the Lord will provide. The second scripture is 2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he be came poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (NIV)
Lea Ann and I have prayed about the amount we are to commit for these three years. We anticipate that whatever it is, God will provide because this is the project he has laid on the heart of his people at Canyon Creek.
Perspective Matters
Two mothers were talking about their sons. The first said, “My son is such a saint. He works hard, doesn’t smoke, and he hasn’t so much as looked at a woman in over two years.”
The other woman said, “Well, my son is a saint himself. Not only hasn’t he not looked at a woman in over three years, but he hasn’t touched a drop of liquor in all that time.”
“My word,” the first mother said. “You must be so proud.”
“I am,” the second mother replied. “And when he’s paroled next month, I’m going to throw him a big party.”
How we choose to see things matters. Not sure what God has been doing in your life lately, but remember His perspective allows for Him to know the entire outcome. There is so much going on in the families of The Creek, some “off-the-chart” exciting and some so tragic as to cause your heart physical pain when you hear about it. I encourage you in either circumstance and every one in between, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Message).
“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree. Jeremiah 29:11-13 (The Message).
“Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.” I Peter 5:8-11 (The Message).
“My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.
God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.
Glory to God in the church!
Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus!
Glory down all the generations!
Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!”
Ephesians 3:14-21 (The Message).
In greatest joy or deepest fears, like Paul, my prayer is that God’s Spirit will be at work “deeply and gently within us.”
Ministries that go to work
Sunday we saw a video about how the Mary Hill Davis offering goes to help churches begin the Christian Men’s and Women’s Job Corps ministries. I wanted you to be able to see some more and visit links to the program. I know we have some people for whom this kind of service is their passion. Tell me what you think.
Tom Henderson’s Note about Ministry Opportunities in Bell County
Dear Pastors, Staff, and Church Leaders;
First I want to thank the Lord for His protection for our area during Hurricane Ike. As you know, the southeastern part of our state sustained a lot of damage. We also have a lot of evacuees in shelters in Bell County from Brazoria County. As you may know, after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005, the Texas Emergency Preparedness Team linked up coastal counties with inland counties in the event that evacuations were implemented. This was the first time that this plan was used. I have received a Situation Report from Brazoria County and the following section gives information regarding the evacuees in Bell County shelters:
The Bell County Evacuation Shelters reported that their guests appeared to be in good spirits. There are 988 registered evacuees in Bell County. They report 925 were transported by bus and 63 went by private vehicle. Of those, 20-30 of the private individuals have left the shelter. There are no plans yet to return the evacuees due to the fragile infrastructure
We appreciate all that FBC Belton and Miller Heights BC are doing to provide shelter. I also want to thank Randy Carder and the FBC Salado family along with Lowell Coates and the Immanuel BC for assisting with meals and ministry over the weekend. There were others involved as well and many have been praying for the safety and encouragement of the evacuees and volunteers.
The devastation was widespread and the evacuees will not be able to go home anytime soon. We have had one estimate that they may not be able to return until September 28th. This gives us opportunities to minister to visitors to our county for two weeks. We have several opportunities for you and your church family to help;
1. We need people who would be willing to help the Salvation Army prepare food for the evacuees in Temple. They are serving 1,200 meals three times a day. We need people who are willing to help prepare meals and clean up in three shifts. We need people from 10am to 1 pm; from 1 pm to 4 pm; and from 4 pm to 7 pm. This can be youth and adults from your church. It can be Sunday School classes, small groups, youth groups , committees, teams, etc. Even if you can only staff one shift once a week, this will be a big help. You can also make monetary donations to the Salvation Army for the food. They are asking for people to send money and not food since they are buying the food in bulk. The address to send you checks is: P. O. Box 1884 Temple, Texas 76503. The Salvation Army is the only national organization providing food in our county. I have worked with Captain Martha Burtchett and the Salvation Army in our area and know that this group does a great job and is deserving of our support.
2. FBC Belton has asked for small groups to come and work with the children. They have approximately 10 children and need help providing activities. They have approximately 80 evacuees in their shelter. They also need either two married couples or two men and two women to stay and assist the evacuees during the evening shift from 10 pm until 6 am.
3. Miller Heights BC has approximately 40 in their shelter and needs two couples or two men and two women from 6 pm to 10 pm. They also have needs for others to assist at various times.
4. We have also been asked to help at First Methodist Church in Belton. They have 80 evacuees and need help at night.
I appreciate Nan Shannon calling to help coordinate this list of needs. Our Good Neighbor Team will be coordinating our response. Please call Wayne Spinn from FBC Holland at (cell) 718-5329 or (home) 657-2462. He is our Good Neighbor Team representative.
The Lord have provided an opportunity for us to share His love in very tangible ways over the next two weeks. I want to challenge each of our churches to get involved with this ministry. I keep thinking how I would feel if the tables were reversed and I was in a strange place wondering when I would be able to go back to my home. I know I would appreciate someone ministering to me and showing me God’s love in tangible ways. Let us know how you can help.
I look forward to hearing from you. If you would like to help coordinate the effort, we are meeting with Wayne Spinn and the Shannons on Tueday morning at 8 am here at the BBA Mission Center.
In Christ’s Love;
Tom Henderson, DoM
Bell Baptist Association
1-254-493-0545
I Thess. 1:2-3
New Way to Tell Old Old Story
What can I say to James Choung except, thanks. I am much more happy with the opportunities that the Four Circles presentation gives me for sharing the gospel with people. My opportunities to share Jesus sometimes involve a revulsion of the church establishment. People are polite with their, “Thanks but no thanks” responses. I have to admit that I am often not creative enough to make the leap from people’s disinterest (at least) with the established church to a presentation of, “Don’t you want to be a part of it?” The Four Circles help me to address what is wrong in the world while inviting people to be a part of the solution. If you are interested in learning how, here is a link to how to present the Four Circles.
Wednesday Evenings at the Creek
Wednesday nights in adult Bible Study we will start a new focus called The Jesus Prayer. It will be a close look at his prayer in John 17. We will also be back in the Fellowship Hall to share space between cleaning and the special friends class. The transition to the choir room was not as good an idea as hoped… you understand…
Below is a sample of the types of questions we will ask and the discussion of Jesus Prayer in John 17.
In John 17:4, Jesus says the work the Father gave him is completed. What work was completed when he had yet to go to the Cross? Could it be that he was speaking of God’s will in his own life as though it has already happened? Do we determine that we will obey God to that great degree. When we get a glimpse of what God is doing we are obedient so that it is a an accomplished fact. Lord, let my obedience be swift and total.
Really? Jesus not the only way?
Isn’t it a definition of Evangelical that people who call themselves Christian believe the words Jesus spoke? “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” (John 14:6; NIV) Still, Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life reports that 57% of evangelical church goers said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life. 70% of Americans with any religious affiliation hold that view. What do you believe? Why do you hold that view? 68% said there are different ways to interpret the teachings of their religion. (adapted from On Mission Magazine)Only way
I Double Dog Dare You…
Our students are headed back to school last week…many of them with renewed passion for Christ. They are going to face opposition, frustration, and even defeat. One student encountered this experience even before school started.
“Today I had a volleyball tournament, and well as me and my friends we’re having a good time… talking, and joking around, somehow we got on the subject of reading the bible. Sadly one of my friends doesnt read the bible, so the rest of us tried to explain it to her so she would be able to understand what we were talking about. All she had to say was ” dang why is the bible so bossy?” wow really makes you think about this generation, doesnt it? As the day went on i sat and watched everybody buying chocolate bars, and i was reading the labels to see the brands. My friend had got a mars brand bar. So i got the nerve to tell them ” you know.. um that chocolate isnt free trade, its slave trade” she took a bite and said ” well i think the forced labor makes its all the much better” it made me want to cry. Another friend replied saying ” ….shutup, your so depressing” im thinking to myself.. no your the depressing ones, how could you not care? your the people i thought i could talk to about this because all i ever hear from ya’ll is ” man i want to go on a mission trip to africa one day” and ” i think you should support invisible children, its the right thing to do” Ya i guess its true that people can be deceiving.”
Make it a point to begin praying for them if you don’t already. We have a great group of students. They exist in a world that most often sees things differently than you or I. They are doing their best to be light in a very dark place…to be different in the midst of indifference. What would it be like if maybe thirty or forty of our adult, seasoned church members agreed to pray daily for our students for the entire upcoming school year? In the old days this might be considered a double dog dare…so I double dog dare you… Choose to make a difference on a global scale because you never know where these students will go and who they will encounter in the coming days. And one day, they may tell stories of the 2008-2009 school year and how it lead God to use them to influence the world.
What does 100 new families look like?
100 new families… what does that look like? We have an extremely large challenge before the congregation– that is, by the end of 2010, give 100 families a new church home. Simply stated, but not simply done, this means every family will help welcome another family into our fellowship. One of our most immediate problems will be the need for parking. It is the ceiling the church has bumped for 12 years or more. We have parking for 230 people on this property at one time. That capacity is reached every time we have a big event… I have always wondered if anyone has circled through our parking lot, not finding a place and then driving home. If every age group will have growth then every Sunday school class will have to make plans for new people. What will that mean for the choir? For worship services? For Wednesdays?
What do you think will be the best part of reaching a goal like this?
What do you think will be the hardest part of reaching this goal?
Up a Creek?
How do you know what you have been created for. One person describes where someone fits in the kingdom of God in this way:
* Your walk motivates you for ministry.
* Your spiritual gifts enable you for ministry.
* Your passions give focus to ministry.
* Your personality expresses itself in ministry.
* Your experiences help develop you for ministry.
How should a church family care for one another?
The sermon series we are in is called Family Days. We talked Sunday about a threat to being family. The ancient church listed one of the seven deadly sins as acedia. The English translation of that word is sloth. It might better be understood as “I don’t care.” Apathy keeps a church from being the family it should be. So how should love be demonstrated in a congregation? What does it look like when a church or church members do not care? (Oh, this probably isn’t a place to go and name names. Let’s talk in the realm of hypothetical.)
Turning 30 means…
It is a privilege to be at Canyon Creek and celebrate the 30th anniversary. Maybe we can ask those who were part of the charter group what their hopes were in 1980 as the church constituted… no longer a mission of Immanuel Baptist. Doubtless members would include elements of our mission statement to make disciples. Doubtless they would talk about reaching Temple for Christ. They would be proud of the steps we are taking toward the next 30 years.
AWANA Enlistment and More
This summer has been a whirlwind of fun, discipling, and fellowship. As we look forward to a new school year, it is my prayer that these kiddos remember all that we have been doing this summer and all that they have learned at WorshipZone and FUNdamentals. We have finished our FUNdamentals bible study over the first eleven chapters in Genesis. We are also closing up our WorshipZone sessions concluding with the study on Fellowship. Both of these programs have been very meaningful to our kids, and it is my prayer that we can look forward to more great events and programs during the school year.
We have a back to school and AWANA enlistment event on August 20th from 6pm - 8pm. This will be a great time to get questions answered about the AWANA ministry, to celebrate the conclusion of the summer and the start of a new school year, and to preview some events going on during the school year. Everyone is invited to celebrate with us!
Let us all continue to pray and seek God’s guidance in the growth and program opportunities for this children’s ministry in preparation for the upcoming children’s and preschool building. Thank you church for allowing me to be apart of this wonderful ministry.
God in Us Musical This Sunday Evening!
Please make time in your schedule for the musical this Sunday evening. Our choir has been working hard this summer and we want to share this time with you. It promises to be an exciting time of worship for all ages. Even if you do not regularly come to evening worship, you will not want to miss this evening.
Our choir loft will be full of singers from Canyon Creek and First Baptist Church, Salado. We want all of our pews to be full as well, so we are asking our Creek family members to come out and support our choir and music ministry. The congregation from Salado will be gathering with us as we celebrate and worship together. Following the musical, we will have a time to gather in the fellowship hall allowing us to meet the members from Salado.
If only I could answer tough questions
Have you ever wondered where you could get good information about tough questions. Some people might be scared to ask questions, afraid they will get reasons not to believe. Here is a trustworthy site that, in the years I have used it, has always given me answers to tough questions. www.probe.org is a ministry connected to Kirby Anderson. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
Next Step Toward Building
Let me give you a letter by Jon Mark Allen about the fall schedule which will take us closer toward building:
Last month we voted to move ahead with building a new children’s building. How very appropriate as we approach our 30 year anniversary as a church! To that end, we have enlisted the help of the United We Build a ministry of the BGCT. Ivan Potter and Jeremy Austin are consultants who will assist us through this process.
We have already created a Campaign Leadership Team, which is composed of Tom Buckner, Ken and Brenda Camp, Marcine Chambers, Robert Knepp, Mary Beth Morris, Julia Walker, Michelle Wolf, myself, with the pastor and staff. We have already met together and are excited about the events coming up in the next few months.
Please mark your calendars now for the Spiritual Preparation weekend on September 6-7. This time together will be for laying a spiritual foundation for the big plans ahead of us. Ivan Potter will talk about God’s plan for financing his work and practical advice for the Christian looking at money as an area of spiritual discipleship. Soon you will be hearing about a Prayer Vigil and for later in the fall, a church-wide Banquet to celebrate God’s great blessing of Canyon Creek.
I truly believe at the conclusion of this process we will have a better idea of God’s view on finances and we will have grown together in a significant way, both spiritually and in our commitment to Canyon Creek’s mission to make disciples. Please begin praying now about how God would have you participate in the next 30 years of ministry, especially in the raising of this new preschool and children’s facility.
Jon Mark Allen, United We Build Campaign Team Leader
Destroying a National Treasure
Recently, my family and I had the privilege of spending nine days in Washington, D.C. It was an amazing adventure. I saw so many things that I had only read and studied about in my history classes in school. I experienced history, art, tradition, national pride, family, and a whole lot of walking. As great as it all was, one of those experiences caused me great embarrassment.
After waiting in line for what seemed like forever, my wife, our moms, and our four children finally made it into the National Archives. We wanted to see the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution among many other amazing documents from our history. Of course by we, I mean I pushed pretty hard to go there knowing full well my kids were not interested at all and I would cause my wife and our moms to have to endure their constant reminder of how boring it was and questions of how much longer. We finally get to the front of the line, along the way seeing a golden version of the Magna Cartaway cool. We get into three lines as we prepare to enter the dimly lit area. We are given a few rules, but one most important one. Under no circumstances at all, ever, in any way, shape, or form, are we to use flash photography. This is of course because light will hasten the deterioration of paper. No problem. I had my wifes camera and had turned the flash off, but was now adjusting the camera to try to let more light in so I could get a better picture than a tan fuzzy image that I would have to later explain was the Declaration of IndependenceI promise. So we make our way around the room looking at all kinds of other documents from our history. I take a few pictures of the Declaration of Independenceno lucktan fuzzy. So as we come to the Constitution, I decide to just go back to the default setting. This was not big deal the picture would be darker but at least it would be focused. I zoomed in on the words We the Peopleman what a cool picture this was going to bethen FLASH!!! AAUUGGHHH!!! What in the world happenedI was just trying to get a clearer picture? But in my haste to change the settings, I had forgotten to go back and turn off the flash. Everyone in the room probably had the same thoughtIDIOT! I am thinkingWant to get away? (Southwest Airlines commercials). Immediately (as in can reach out and beat me with his baton kind of immediately) to my left was a security guard. He calmly but firmly asked me if that was my camera. I sheepishly replied, yes. He told me to turn it offwhich I had already done almost immediately anyway like that would make it ok. I stood there in that moment as embarrassed as I have felt in a long time, and that is saying a lot for one who regularly finds ways to look stupid. What was I to do now? I just put the camera in my pocket and walked out trying not to make eye contact with anyone. I could not get out of that room fast enough. I had just hastened the destruction of a National Treasure. Good thing Nicholas Cage wasn’t around. It took me 15-20 minutes to get over how embarrassed and stupid I felt in that moment.
I knew the rules and was even trying to obey. The guard knew I didnt do it on purpose. He knew I had just made a mistake, but man I just felt terrible. In thinking about this experience, I began to examine how I respond when I dont obey God. He has given me clear rules and guidance in how to live the life that Jesus describes in John 10:10 as abundant, overflowing, beyond what I can imagine on my best imagining day. And unlike my unintentional rule breaking in the National Archives, I do it on purpose most often. Most of the time, I respond the same way though. I run away, but not out of embarrassment. Probably it is more just a lack of not wanting to deal with it. I really just want to get on with things when I should be totally embarrassed by the fact that I just selfishly rejected Jesus for my own plans and desires.
I dont know about you, but I need less callousness and more brokenness, humbling, and embarrassment over my sin before God.
But then, as 1 John 1:9 reminds us, I need to move forward in grace and restoration and not wallow in my embarrassment as I did at the museum. Thanks Lord for the freedom You give through Christ.
How to love someone just a little different…
There is a great free resource if you always wanted to see the love language materials but just haven’t. Some sessions are online and some online handouts are there. Beyond that, the church library has Love Language books and video study materials available. I would expect that learning to love others better makes you more love-ly.
Biblical Budgeting?
According to Crown Financial… most people spend 10% more than they make. That puts us in a real bind. Click here to enter access a free spreadsheet to begin a family budgeting process.
The righteous scare me
I had one of those encounters any of us could have had. Mine just happened to be at the gym. A man who works out at the same time I do has become one of those acquaintances you just speak to periodically. I crossed the gym to go to my next machine and passed him, he quoted some verse of poetry appropriate to his exertion level… knowing no poetry apart from that which I read at funerals I came back with a verse of scripture. “The righteous are as bold as a lion.” (Pro. 28:1; NIV) To me that meant… keep it up, you are not as old as you feel. But this man reacted to all of his pent-up anger at the church. He said, “The righteous scare me.”
Well, if I try to defend the institutional religious I am going to put on a bit of a false front myself. Though I am a part of institutional Christianity, I remember that Jesus used some of his sharpest challenges to the religious. I am equally sickened when religious leaders use and enjoy political footsies. My friend in the gym was calling them righteous. The Old Testament and New Testament both speak of internal quality and standing with God as righteous. I hope for the opportunity to both agree with the man in the gym and nudge him toward a biblical look at the righteous.
Four-Eyed Christians
For lack of a better metaphor right now… let me explain to you my vision (no pun intended, but still kinda funny…). It is crucial for Christians to acknowledge our time-pressured society. I do not want to make people feel guilty for not participating with everything the church does. Anyone can see that some people already feel guilty and back off from any further participation, dropping out. It becomes that much more important for Creeksters to be deliberate about their own participation level. 1. They must have a worship service they participate in. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another– and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25; NIV) People do not have to come to all of our worship services in order to be good church members, especially noting three other responsibilities of a Christian disciple. 2. They must participate in a small group for support and accountability. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42; NIV) 3. They must find a ministry service. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.” (Romans 12:6; NIV) 4. Develop and bring another person into faith and into maturity where they are doing these four things as well. “…So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people…” (Acts 11:26; NIV) Discipleship will be having an eye on each of these four areas.
In a Christianity Today article John R. W. Stott is quoted concerning the problem of the church having numerical growth but not corresponding growth in discipleship. Stott says, “God is not pleased.” May God find Canyon Creek faithful making disciples!
… this is your captain speaking…
These are words we are going to hear way too soon after our alarm goes off Friday morning. No doubt we will all be excited and adrenalin will pulsate through our bodies until we get to Morelia… or at least get to Houston. Church family, thank you for your prayers. We are praying for Pastor Danny and Pastor Abraham, they and their churches are making preparation so that we can have about 150 children at a local neighborhood site in the areas their churches have a vision of planting a new church. Can a church of about 30 people have the vision of planting a new church? Yes, and may God bless that vision with workers.
Sunday Morning, the last Sunday in June, those who gave, served, packed, brought or bought materials stood up with those who were going on the trip. It was encouraging to pray for the work of all those hands. So we pray that new churches are planted and that the team can see a number of nationals come to know Jesus Christ personally during the time we are in country July 4-11. Lord, bless this great city, Morelia! Amen!
England Day 8- York
We spent the day in York with the rest of our whole team. It was a beautiful day to be there. We celebrate all the birthdays on the trip, including Talyor Davis. We went all through the minster this time because Fiona hooked us up to go throughout the whole church for free. All in all it was a good day.
This evening Ryan, Daniel, Kasia, and Kimberly joined Ryan and Daniel’s hosts for coffee with their neighbors as an outreach event. It went well.
Pray again for us today as we are in the Bishopsgarth school and then for the 4th Wednesday of the crusade with J John tonight.
Thank you for your prayers. They are making a difference.
England Day 7- I “Pledge” this church with allegiance to Christ
What a day! We spent almost all day in an old Anglican church called Stockton Parish. It was a beautiful old, old church with a new vicar. He is very evangelistic and has a desire to help this church grow again. It probably has room for 500+, but only about 25 or so attend. They can’t even meet in their main sanctuary during the winter because the heater went out and it will cost them a small fortune to have it replaced. We spent a lot of time with Nikki, the vicar’s wife. She is great and has such great hope for the church. Dorene, a member for 41 years was also of great help.
We cleaned out lots of cabinets and compartments to help get rid of things that are not any use and are just rotting for two hours before lunch. After lunch we polished as much of the wood work as was possible. We became very attached to our Pledge cans. We also reset all the pews to look nice and swept and mopped the entire floor. It truly looked and smelled beautiful like a church with this rich history should. The team did a great job and worked very hard to serve Christ by doing the lowest of jobs for a place many have forgotten.
Later that night Ryan, Daniel, and I were given a tour of St. John’s Church, built in the 11th century. The vicar’s wife gave us and one of our host home dads an amazing and rich tour of this church that looks like a castle looking out over the area known as Yarm. It was truly enriching to see it all and spend time with such a lovely saint.
England Day 6- Church, church and church
Our team was split up today. Four attended an Anglican church and the rest Tabernacle Baptist, fondly known as “The Tab”. The first group was able to celebrate Pentecost with their church, but spent a majority of their time at church working with a small group of kids/youth. It was an interesting experience for them. The Tab group spent the entire worship service time working with the youth, something new their youth leaders are attempting. One of our girls, Jena Coulson, taught about Esther. A story many of them had never heard. She did a great job! We closed that time with a discussion dealing with had they ever been in a situation that seemed small/insignificant at the time but later God showed them that it was actually something big as a part of His plan. It was a very good discussion. We then filled them full of sugar and sent them on their way.
We split up to go to lunch with different families. Ken and Fiona, my host home, took us to lunch at the Beefeater…need I say more. The restaurant was by the Tees River and directly in front of the restaurant was an Olympic style competitive kayaking course. It was impressive, but even more impressive were those in it…the water had to be freezing. The girls went in pairs to