Pastor Erik's Blog

We Are Better Together

2011-03-08T10:38:00.001-08:00

"We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." - Acts14:22

Charles Spurgeon wrote:

God's people have their trials. It was never designed by God, when he chose his people, that they should be an untried people. They were chosen in the furnace of affliction; they were never chosen to worldly peace and earthly joy. Freedom from sickness and the pains of mortality was never promised them; but when their Lord drew up the charter of privileges, he included chastisements amongst the things to which they should inevitably be heirs. Trials are a part of our lot; they were predestinated for us in Christ's last legacy. So surely as the stars are fashioned by his hands, and their orbits fixed by him, so surely are our trials allotted to us: he has ordained their season and their place, their intensity and the effect they shall have upon us.

Isn't it true we sometimes fall into the "Why me" trap? (I know I have). We all do at one time or another. The secret to escaping this trap, I believe is found in the family. Whether it is your immediate, extended, friends or the family of God, you can always count on that someone has felt the way you feel (or they can make you feel as if they have).

I remember many years ago, Debbie and I found ourselves feeling like we were the only ones that have ever been in a situation we were in. We had to force ourselves to go to a marriage retreat that had been planned, but neither one of us felt like going. Little did we know that we had an appointment set for us by God. As we sat with other couples talking, suddenly one couple started sharing a difficulty that they were going through. As they spoke, I just remember Debbie and I sitting there, fighting the tears. "Imagine that! They were going through what we were." This event didn't "fix" anything but it did begin to mend our broken hearts. Just knowing we were not alone and not the only ones going through what we were going through brought us to a place of healing we never could of done alone.

This is just one of the many reasons I love the church and His people. We are built to live this life together - not alone. I hope that if you have found yourself alone, you will ask God to give you strength and direction. Don't give up! You might just have to fight to get around family... especially your perfect Father in heaven. You can do it!

It really is the best place to be!

2010-10-27T07:25:00.001-07:00

I love the works of Charles Spurgen. I f you ever have time for some really great sermons, read his. I received this as a morning devotional and I want to pass it on to you.

"It is a faithful saying." - 2 Timothy 2:11

Paul has four of these "faithful sayings." The first occurs in 1 Timothy 1:15, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." The next is in 1 Timothy 4:6, "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation." The third is in 2 Timothy 2:12, "It is a faithful saying--If we suffer with him we shall also reign with him"; and the fourth is in Titus 3:3, "This is a faithful saying, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works." We may trace a connection between these faithful sayings. The first one lays the foundation of our eternal salvation in the free grace of God, as shown to us in the mission of the great Redeemer. The next affirms the double blessedness, which we obtain through this salvation--the blessings of the upper and nether springs--of time and of eternity. The third shows one of the duties to which the chosen people are called; we are ordained to suffer for Christ with the promise that "if we suffer, we shall also reign with him." The last sets forth the active form of Christian service, bidding us diligently to maintain good works. Thus we have the root of salvation in free grace; next, the privileges of that salvation in the life which now is, and in that which is to come; and we have also the two great branches of suffering with Christ and serving with Christ, loaded with the fruits of the Spirit. Treasure up these faithful sayings. Let them be the guides of our life, our comfort, and our instruction. The apostle of the Gentiles proved them to be faithful, they are faithful still, not one word shall fall to the ground; they are worthy of all acceptation, let us accept them now, and prove their faithfulness. Let these four faithful sayings be written on the four corners of my house.

Have a great day!

Pastor Erik

Do you really want to comfort your child?

2010-05-05T15:22:00.000-07:00

Of course you do! We all want to bring comfort to our children when things get rough or when just something bad happens. When a child really hurts… you know when we hear that real cry or see that real sad face, we just want to make it all better. So, what does bring real comfort?

2 Corinthians 1:3 (NIV) “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.”

The word all comfort in this passage is the Greek word paraklesis. The idea behind this word for comfort in the New Testament is always more than soothing sympathy. It has the idea of strengthening, of helping, of making strong. The idea behind this word is communicated by the Latin word for comfort (fortis), which also means, “brave.” God in every aspect of His being is full of comfort, strength, and help for us!

How can I receive His comfort?

I know it can be very difficult to give away something you just don’t have. Some Christians are prone to forget how real and precious God's love and comfort were when they received the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. Friend, your heavenly Father does care, and He does comfort. Turn to Him and give Him the privilege of ministering to your need. You are His child, and He is there when you hurt.

How can I comfort others?

The next time your little one (or really anyone) falls down, we have been given the ability through Christ, to not only sympathize, but also we can help them back onto their feet, we can encourage and even strengthen them by coming alongside them, encouraging them and seeing them through what ever small or big hurt comes along. God has placed His power in us to bring His comfort to others.

What a great gift to pass along!

Pastor Erik

Start Now!!!

2010-04-15T17:43:00.000-07:00

As my girls are getting older, (Alycia 19 and Rebecca 17) I am finding that Debbie and I have to always be on the look out for those little opportunities to let them make their own decisions. They might ask us for “permission” when in reality they are looking for “approval”.

I guess it would just be easy to let them know how Debbie and I feel. But we have to make the effort not to do that (in some things). They are at the point where it has to be how they feel or think. Our prayer is that they will wait for God’s approval first then discern what His will is. Wow! Did that come from me? The Dad who just wants my kids to always ask me (or Mom) before they act?

The truth is, this is something we all have to work out with our kids from day one. We as parents need to constantly be looking for those times to let go and allow our children to find the voice of God in their own way.

Start now! Don’t wait! King Josiah became king of Judah at the age of eight and in the eighteenth year of his rule, Josiah ordered the High Priest Hilkiah to use the tax money, which had been collected over the years to renovate the temple. It was during this time that Hilkiah discovered the Book of the Law. Josiah encouraged the exclusive worship of Yahweh and outlawed all other forms of worship. (2 Kings 23)

Now, I’m sure as a young boy he had many people telling him what to do, but at some point Josiah learned to stand up for what was right in the eyes of God no matter what anyone else told him.

Parent, be encouraged today as you raise your children, they are capable of not only hearing God’s voice but doing His will. Our job is to help them identify His voice, help them discern His will and train them in the way God designed them. You can do it Mom and Dad! God handpicked you for the job!

Blessings,

Pastor Erik

It's Been A While

2010-03-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

It's just been a while since I have written a new post. That got me thinking. (And you know how dangerous that can be) There is probably a lot of stuff that I can say "It's been a while since..." so maybe the best thing I can do now is make a list of those things that I would like to do but haven't been able to get to "in a while".

I love list. When I can mark something off my list, I feel as if I have accomplished something. Lists keep me organized. Lists also give me goals I can hopefully reach. Then I can cross them off my list. (I just love that part.)

I’m sure I am not the only one who has some old business that I should get to, so I hope you are encouraged by this verse in the book of James chapter 4

14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. (New Living Translation)

So here are some of the things on my list:

1. 1 Take my wife out on a date.
2. Take each of my daughters out on a date.
3. Call some of my old friends and relatives that I haven’t spoke to “in a while”.
4. Go fishing.
5. Play a round of golf.
6. Spend a whole day just reading God’s word and being in prayer.
7. Have breakfast together as a family (we do well at dinners).
8. Give the dog a bath.
9. Spend a day in the sun.
10. Go through stuff in the garage to see what I can get rid of.

I hope you take time to get to your list before it becomes “A while”.

Blessings,

Pastor Erik

“Too Tired to Find Joy”

2009-07-07T18:06:00.000-07:00

I recently came across this post from a Christian website and thought I would pass it along with some comments after.

“I'm a stay at home mom to a 1.5 yr old and a 3 yr old. I'm sure you mothers know how it can be. When you're not getting sleep.

It is really doing a number on me. I haven't gotten more then 6 hrs of sleep in a night since September (it's either sickness, teething, etc...and if I even get 6 hrs, that's a good night)...I feel like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I pray about it and really try to control my attitude, but it is SOO SOO very hard. My husband tries his best at helping.

I get into these moods where I don't want to be around people, everyone annoys me, life just sucks, I serve others out of obligation when I really just want to go home and go to bed. When I get the extreme tiredness...Which is every day, I try not to show it, so I put on a fake face, but I don't want to think this way. I am regularly in the word, I pray, have others praying for me, etc.

How can I find joy despite the extreme lack of sleep? Is there a magic answer? I can't go through every day being so negative. I've got to figure something out because I know this is life and this is how it is as a mother.

"I just feel too fatigued to even TRY to find joy.”

I guess it’s this last sentence that really struck me. How many of us have been “too fatigued to even TRY to find joy”? I know I have. I just can’t imagine not having Christ during times like these. What do the lost do when this happens? How do get through the really tough times without Jesus?

The best part of our walk with Christ has got to be the HOPE that lies within us! “The faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven” Colossians 1:5

Sometimes we have look to the Lord to “fill us up!” Especially when we are like the Jackson Brown song says; “Running on Empty” (I know. I’m dating myself.) In this song Jackson Brown also writes:

“Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels

Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields”

So for me, I guess it’s always best to realize that this life will soon pass right before our eyes and we will only remember just how fast it really did go. I know. I blinked and my oldest daughter just graduated high school. For some reason I’m not remembering having to get up at all hours of the night, stressing out because I was so tired or fixing all the things that were troublesome. Instead, I smile and remember how beautiful she was as a little girl and now what an incredible (and even more beautiful) young woman she has become! Was she perfect? No. Neither was I. (her Mom can attest to that!). She’s just one of two of my little girls growing up.

I hope you daily fill yourselves up with the Holy Spirit and run full of Him.

Enjoy every minute because the good (and the bad) times will rush quickly by.

Blessings,

Pastor Erik

Where are the Heroes?

2009-07-01T15:16:00.000-07:00

When I was kid I loved Mr. Rogers. He somehow had the ability to allow me to take my time and whatever I was thinking was…well, ok. Maybe I didn’t have the perfect answer, or even the right answer, but it was ok for me to say out loud what I was thinking.

I’ve always been drawn to people who stood up for what was right even in the face of great criticism, opposition or persecution. I guess that’s why I grew up loving the television and movies. I could always find a hero. No matter how bad things got, I could always find a hero. As a result, I assumed the world was full of heroes, and I wanted to be like them some day.

I have to admit that a big part of my motivation was probably the fact that every hero I saw on the screen was ultimately celebrated in the end, hoisted on the shoulders of the people he or she had fought for, or awarded a medal (I love medals!).

Now that I’m older I’ve come to terms with a few disappointing realities. First, there aren’t that many heroes around. Second, and this is certainly the cause of the first, many people who stand up for what is right are never really celebrated. Some even suffer the consequences of their heroism and are forgotten.

The truth is, heroism is rare. And while it’s tempting to say that this is a sign of our times—and perhaps it is—I’m guessing that there weren’t all that many hero-like characters running around throughout history as movies might have suggested.

While this might not seem like much of a revelation—news flash, heroes are rare! What I find particularly interesting is that the nature of being a hero in the world where I live, and the cost of being a hero, is relatively minor compared to what others have had to endure in the past.

Few of us today, and especially here in America, are faced with physical harm, imprisonment or brutal discrimination for speaking out against something that needs correcting. George Washington would have been hanged had the British won the Revolutionary War. Jackie Robinson was the target of very real threats for breaking the color barrier in baseball. Today, we are more often faced with having to stand up to a boss, a teacher or a fellow parent in the carpool line, and the worst cost we can expect to bear is personal rejection or a behind-our-back criticism. Nothing to sneeze at, but a far cry from the guillotine or an angry mob. And yet, we hesitate. When it comes time to speak up, to take an unpopular stand, we are so easily paralyzed by consequences that are ultimately insignificant. “What if I’m wrong?”

The more I think about this, the more I think that as a society, we have become soft, afraid to suffer even a little for a cause that is controversial. And as we prepare to celebrate the founding of the United States and the sacrifices that were made then to bring this nation about, it’s worth asking ourselves the question: Have we had to shed on drop of blood for the cause of Christ?

Of course, ideally we could all come to the realization that the world needs more heroes and that it’s time to develop a stronger collective backbone. But that doesn’t happen overnight. In the mean time, maybe we could do something a little more realistic: the next time we witness someone taking a difficult stand for what is right, whether it is in the workplace, at school, in church or at little league, let’s take the time to give them an “Atta-boy!” or a pat-on-the-back for what they did. Not only will that reinforce their heroic behavior, it will also increase the likelihood that the next time we are faced with a moment of truth, no matter how small it may seem, we may choose to be a hero, too.

It’s No Wonder about those “Little Wonders”

2008-09-30T13:51:00.000-07:00

“Even So, It is not the will of your Father which in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.” Matt. 18:14

Have you ever been in a discussion about what is God’s will? There is quite a bit of ignorance about what the Bible actually states about God’s will. There are a few places in the Scriptures that are as clear, as our reference here (a negative positive).

Jesus chose to illustrate his own mission in coming to "save that which was lost" by telling of a shepherd who leaves his ninety- nine sheep to find just one errant lamb. He tells of the shepherd’s exuberant joy when the lost lamb was found. Upon this parabolic story, Jesus makes a new declaration, one, never before declared to the disciples.

Here is a reference with a panoramic view. Just like a clear view from the top of the mountain; you can see forever here. See! Over there is heaven and on the other side is Hell, were people perish. There is a great gulf fixed between them. In the middle are millions of children from the ages past, but from throughout the earth. Then Jesus appears and with thunderous voice pronounces His Father’s will, in no uncertain or conditional terms–“Not one of thee little ones should perish.” Hear it?

You almost get the drift here that God made Heaven for children. Or at least, children were made for Heaven! Jesus elsewhere referring to the children, “of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Mk. 10:14, Mt. 19:14, Lk. 18:16)

The disciples needed this revelation to know the Father’s will clearly about the children. To hear this they must have been in shock! They probably would not have guessed this truth.

If the creation of Heaven was up to them, they would probably have omitted the children, or at best, they would be forgotten them, like an “after thought,” maybe they would finally be missed.

Through Jesus words, one could see the whole plan, the deliberate plan–the plan of heaven, included the kids from the beginning to the end. It is clearly God’s mercy and love to make a provision for the little ones. It was no “after thought.” It was the “first thought,”–the “original thought.”

This is not about how these “little ones” were so innocent, so dependent, so trusting, so nice, or so cute–as though there is something inherent within the child that qualifies them for heaven. Rather, this is more about God and His character–who He is! He is both just and loving. He is both the Creator and the Father. In His eternal plan He made provision for these “little ones” and Jesus came to tell us all about it.

What a comfort that is for a grieving parent of a “little one.” We actually know what the will of the God of Heaven and Earth is – that the “little ones” will not perish!

Such assurance is deep, such certainty is surely refreshing, such announcement leaves little wonder that those “little wonders” will not perish, by God’s plan and design. There is no wonder, it is certain, Jesus said it. “It is God’s will that the little ones will not perish!”

He removed the “wonder.”

Fighting The Good Fight!

2008-09-02T15:25:00.000-07:00

Recently, I read an interesting passage of scripture from the New Testament in the book of Acts--the trip made by Paul and Barnabas to the cities where they had found churches and made converts to the Lord Jesus Christ.

In one of these cities, Lystra, Paul had been stoned and left for dead but the disciples had gathered around him and prayed and sang and he got up and went back into the city. Paul has the courage with Barnabas to return now to these cities so they can strengthen the disciples.

The passage is Acts 14:21. They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples.

21b. 'Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium, Antioch strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.'

This is a strange advertisement for the Christian religion that Paul and Barnabas give to the new converts in these cities, converts who are very precious to them. In the country we live in with the pressure of marketing and trying to make everything look appealing and make it very gratifying to the senses, we would not hear very many ministers talk to there new converts the way the apostles did. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." That sounds like a turnoff to me, something I would not want people to be thinking about, but it just so happens to be the truth. The word used there for hardship in the New International Version is a derivation of a word that means 'to break,' and it means previous affliction or distress. It actually comes out of another word, which is also the connotation of crush, press, and compress or squeeze. So this word, the experts tell us, refers to being in crushing circumstances and difficulties and hardships and Paul says that God has ordered things that we must go through these hardships to enter the kingdom of God.

The Bible tells us that Jesus said in John 16:33, "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."

Romans 5:3 tells us "not only so but we also rejoice in our sufferings because we know that suffering produces perseverance."

So let’s summarize what God is trying to teach us here. There is no escape from hardships in the Christian life. They come in different forms and shapes and sizes, but the realty of spiritual warfare and living for Jesus Christ in a hostile spiritual environment is that you and I will go through difficult moments but the Lord has promised never to leave us nor forsake us. He has overcome the world and he wants us to rejoice in that fact, even though in the world we will have trouble.

Who Would Get the Kids?

2008-07-09T12:17:00.000-07:00

In any classroom of 25 kids, only 4 have a legal arrangement outlining who will care for them should both of their parents die. That leaves 21 children vulnerable to feuding relatives, the social service system, and the courts, should they become orphans. Are your kids among them?

As parents, we're careful about screening babysitters, providing good medical care for our children, and considering the content of their entertainment. In every way we are eager to protect our kids. However, until an unexpected death in the news—a dad in his early 30s—I hadn't given much thought to making a will and checking it twice.

Choosing a guardian is a decision no parent should put off. As you choose a guardian for your children, make sure to consider these crucial guidelines:

Put Faith First

Parents frequently focus on who would be a good money manager for the assets left to minor children, but this is a mistake. The management of the assets can be left to a professional money manager or institutional trustee. The most important role of a guardian is to serve as a "substitute parent." For Christian parents, then, the primary consideration in choosing guardians will be whether the person will help your children know and love the Lord. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Will your potential guardians do that?

Balance Age and Experience

Because guardianship is a long-term commitment, it's important to look down the road 10 or even 20 years to consider what life might be like for your children. Try to narrow down your field of choices, by considering levels of experience, energy, and willingness.

Debbie’s and my parents are seasoned parents, but we had to consider how old they would be 21 years from now, when our youngest child would be finishing college. Would they have the health and energy required to care for our children until the kids reached adulthood?

There will rarely be a perfect choice of guardians; after all, no one can duplicate you!

You can also gain some peace of mind by having a second set of guardians in place to help support your primary choice.

Make Your Decision Clear

Choosing a guardian is often a deeply personal decision, and yet it's essential that you make sure to discuss your decision with the potential guardian before you sign them up. Once you have their permission, your choice should be something that is openly discussed with those who will be the most heavily impacted by your decision: the guardians themselves, your children and your families (both yours and your spouse's). It's also important to inform someone that they've been removed as guardian so they won't try to assume responsibility if you die. When the will is read it should not be a shock or surprise to anyone.

You'll also need to tell your children about the plans you've made for them. While this might seem like a morbid conversation, it can actually be quite comforting for children to know what would happen to them if you weren't around to care for them. Give your children as many details as you can. Explain where they would live and go to school, how often they would be able to visit their old friends, and your reasons for choosing your guardians. Give them permission to ask questions anytime, and make sure they spend regular time with the guardians throughout their lives.

Thinking about the possibility that someone else may raise your children is unpleasant. But once it was arranged, I didn't feel sad; I felt relieved. My husband and I want to take care of our children in every important way, even if we're not around.

How To Raise A Spiritual American

2008-07-01T14:21:00.000-07:00

228 years ago, on July 4, 1776, representatives from 13 of England's colonies signed the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This day marked the birthday of the United States of America and a clear separation from the country of their origin: England.

Ever since that historic day, Independence Day has been celebrated as the birthday of a free country and the severance from an oppressive way of being. From old records we see that the traditions of the celebrations, i.e. parades, picnics, and fireworks, were well established by the early 1800s.

As Christian parents, we are commanded to pray for our country, to be subject to our rulers (Titus 3:1) and pray for them (1 Timothy 2:1-2), and not to speak evil against them (Acts 23:5). Since we are also admonished to teach our children about God's commands, by extension, this means that we are to bring up our children with a healthy respect for governing authority, the offices of such authority, and for the country in which we live. This July 4th is a great opportunity to begin putting these Scriptures into practice. To this end, here are some practical suggestions on how to raise a proud, and spiritual, American child:

Purchase some flour, salt, water, red & blue food color; three squeeze bottles (like mustard bottles) and heavy paper or cardboard. If you help your children to mix equal parts of the flour, salt and water, you will create some puffy paint. Assist your children to use the food coloring to color one batch red, another blue, and leave one white. Fill each of the three color mixes into its corresponding squeeze bottle and then use the bottles to squeeze the puffy paint onto the cardboard or heavy paper. The children can make any designs they like, such a flags or stars which they can then cut out and give away, or they can work on one really big design, such as an American Flag, you could then proudly display on the 4th of July. Once dry, the designs will be slightly raised and sparkle.

Help your child to tear up a total of 50 red, blue and white small pieces of paper. Then help your child to write the name of each State of the Union on one piece of paper. Take a big piece of black cardboard or construction paper and put a big aluminum foil cross in the middle. This cross symbolizes God's sacrifice for each and every person who lives within each State. Next, help your child to glue the small pieces of paper all around the cross. Make it a bedtime ritual to pray for one State each night. This will help your child to learn compassion for those s/he doesn't know personally, and also to learn a little bit about each State as s/he prays for/about it. Purchase some strawberries, bananas/pears, and blueberries. Also purchase some toothpicks and several disposable plastic trays. Allow your child(ren) to help you to clean and slice the fruit (if it is age appropriate for them to handle a knife). Ensure that each of the slices are about the same size. The child(ren) can now place a strawberry, a piece of banana/pear, and a blueberry each on a toothpick. Make enough such toothpicks to fill up the trays you bought. Then make arrangements for you and your child(ren) to take these plates to visit the senior citizens at the local nursing home. This will teach children not only compassion, but also will teach them to be giving of their time and resources to others.

Craft an Independence Day card for the President, your Senator or Representative, or member of your local government. It is unimportant if the person will read the card or respond. What is important is that you and your child together will think about the name of the person, you will be able to tell your child a bit about the person and her/his job, and together you will seek for a way to encourage this person, thus truly living out the scriptures. Preparing the craft, putting it in an envelope, and taking it to the post office will get your child in the spirit of her/his God-given civic duties, and thus will make this 4th of July very meaningful!

Have You Ever Seen a Whale?

2008-06-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

Either you've gone on a whale watch, or been to an aquarium like Sea World, or you have seen them on television. I think most of us have seen whales and know that they are among the largest mammals on the earth. They live in the deep seas and oceans of the world, and although they used to be hunted for the oil that could be made from their fat, they are now protected by most nations.

There is a whale of a story in the Bible. It's the story of a prophet named Jonah. Jonah was chosen by God to be his spokesman. He was told to go to a wicked city called Nineveh to tell the people to repent and turn to God. But Jonah decided he didn't want to do what God told him so he got in a ship to run away. Jonah was disobedient. Are you ever disobedient?

Well, as disobedient Jonah was running away, a great storm came up and threatened the boat in which he was traveling. It was decided after much debate that the sailors should throw Jonah out of the boat, and when they did the storm stopped.

God prepared "a great fish" (we believe it must have been a whale) to swallow Jonah, and then when Jonah was sorry for his disobedience, the fish spit him out on dry land. That must have been a terrifying ordeal to have to go through in order to learn to be obedient to God?

Hopefully, we won't have to be swallowed by a whale to learn that God wants us to be obedient to him. We can learn obedience by the little things we are required to do, so that when God speaks to us about what He wants us to do, we will obey.

A whale is a reminder for you of Jonah and how he learned to obey.

He Pointed The Way For Us, Too

2008-05-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

"This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him’"." (Matthew 3:11)

The immortal words of John the Baptist, "Repent… for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,"

The Bible tells us that John the Baptist was a little different from the mainstream Jew of his day. Think about it. He lived in the wilderness, clothed himself in camel’s skins, and ate a diet that mainly included locusts and wild honey. The truth is he looked and acted more like a 1960’s hippie than a preacher.

But that’s not all. Apparently, John the Baptist took a special vow sometime around the age of 14. This vow, known as a Nazarite Vow, was for people who wanted to devote themselves exclusively to God. It could be taken for as little as 30 days or as long as a lifetime, and it was always voluntary, with one exception: Parents could take it for their young children, making them Nazarites for life. (Numbers 6)

The Nazarite Vow included three unusual restrictions: The hair could not be cut and the beard could not be shaved; wine and strong drink could never be tasted; and touching a dead body was taboo.

So you see, John the Baptist wasn’t as weird as we might think. He was just devoted to God and willing to live without the trappings of privilege and wealth, even if it meant that he might stand out.

And stand out he did. People traveled for days to see him, not in the towns, but out in the wilderness around the towns he frequented. In fact, history records that in just fifteen months of active preaching, John baptized more than 100,000 believers, including Jesus.

He was one of the most charismatic preachers of all-time and then some, which is why John MacArthur once wrote: "He was the valedictorian of the prophets. The most dynamic, articulate, confrontational, and powerful spokesman God had ever called. As the last prophet, he would not only announce that the Messiah was coming, but that he has arrived."

If that’s not enough, listen to what Jesus said of him: "Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist." (Matthew 11:11)

You know what? We need more men and women like John the Baptist. Godly people, who are not ashamed of the Gospel, willing to carry on the tradition that John the Baptist started.
They’re out there if you look closely, in our modern-day wilderness, among the lost, pointing the way to Jesus.

That is who I believe we are. Are we just out here doing a show? Or are we all modern-day John the Baptist? There is no difference in my eyes between this stage and the river Jordan. Let’s invite people to receive Christ no matter how we look or sound to the world.

God's Word is for Kids!

2008-05-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

The power of the word of God will work for kids. We often quote Paul from 2 Timothy 3 about the power of God’s word and rightfully so. We forgot, however, the context of Paul’s statement is in reference to Timothy having learned the word as a child. Let’s see the whole text from 2 Timothy 3:15-17:

“And that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Encourage your child to trust the word of God. Build Faith in your kids. Tell them about a God who will come through for them. When you tell a Bible story, emphasize the faithfulness of God.

Don’t major in minors.

David picking up five rocks is not the point of the story of his victory over Goliath. Walking in the power of God’s covenant is the message from David and Goliath. David believed he had a covenant with God while the adults weren’t so sure.

The lion’s den is not the message of the story about Daniel. It wouldn’t have mattered if the king had chosen to throw Daniel into a rattlesnake pit. The point is that Daniel stood up every day and declared his trust in the Lord by praying with his window open. God blessed him by prospering all that he did. Daniel is a story about the supernatural protection of God for people that serve Him in a pagan environment.

Your child needs to know that God is just as alive and trustworthy as He ever was.

Never forget that "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). If you don’t teach your kids the Word, they won’t have faith unless they get it from somewhere else.

As the Children’s Pastor here at VCC, my objective every week is to send our kids home talking about what they learned in children’s church to the extent that parents are saying to themselves, "Dear Lord, I wish I was in children’s church. My kids are learning more than I am!"

But this will never replace the child’s greatest pastors... Their Parents!

The Life of Power to Follow

2008-05-14T08:53:00.000-07:00

"Jesus answered him, 'Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward' " (John 13:36).

When I was a kid I followed my friends. I did what they did and they did what I did. If you what to see how you child is doing… see what your child’s friends are doing (You are who your friends are). It took a lot of growing up for me to follow Jesus and not the crowd.

And when He had spoken this, He said to him, 'Follow Me' " (John 21:19). Three years earlier Jesus had said, "Follow Me" (Matthew 4:19), and Peter followed with no hesitation.

The irresistible attraction of Jesus was upon him and he did not need the Holy Spirit to help him do it. Later he came to the place where he denied Jesus, and his heart broke. Then he received the Holy Spirit and Jesus said again, "Follow Me" (John 21:19). Now no one is in front of Peter except the Lord Jesus Christ. The first "Follow Me" was nothing mysterious; it was an external following. Jesus is now asking for an internal sacrifice and yielding (see 21:18).

Between these two times Peter denied Jesus with oaths and curses (see Matthew 26:69-75). But then he came completely to the end of himself and all of his self-sufficiency. There was no part of himself he would ever rely on again. In his state of destitution, he was finally ready to receive all that the risen Lord had for him. ". . . He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit' " (John 20:22).

No matter what changes God has performed in you, never rely on them. Build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives. Maybe you have to get to point where no one is in front of you but the Lord Jesus Christ.

All our promises and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to accomplish them. When we come to the end of ourselves, not just mentally but completely, we are able to "receive the Holy Spirit." "Receive the Holy Spirit" -- the idea is that of invasion. There is now only one who directs the course of your life, the Lord Jesus Christ.

So follow Him today. See what the Lord has for you and go for it!

God’s School of Friendship

2008-05-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

While in my early school years, one of the first lessons I learned was that being part of a group isn’t the most important thing. Though I wanted acceptance, being part of a group proved disappointing — in my case, destructive:

4 Even a man who has many companions can be destroyed. But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. - Proverbs 18:24.

Real friendship can rarely be created in lots of relationships. Only with time can a true friend be found. As I was hurt I began to separate myself from the group and instead, spent most of my time in only a couple friendships.

The more we hung out, the more I saw their character. And even though we once had a fight in the cafeteria (over something neither of us can remember), our friendship had grown deep enough to overcome that silly fight.

So what made this friend different from the others?

He was honest and trustworthy. Not only did he tell me about his life and share his struggles, but also I could trust him enough to share my own hopes, fears, and sins. And I could accept his “wounds from a friend” — his advice against poor decisions and suggestions about my spiritual walk — which helped me grow and stay on a straight path

Proverbs 27:6 (New Living Translation) - Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.

Proverbs 17:17 (New Living Translation)- A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

I could count on him to be there when I needed him —

We can’t help but be like by the people around us, and the influence of a friend who was pursuing holiness and wisdom could only bring good things in my life. No, he wasn’t perfect, but he was growing in wisdom, and I was “[walking] with the wise” that I might grow wise as well (Proverbs 13:20).

Proverbs 13:20 (New Living Translation)- Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.

“Bad company corrupts good character” (I Corinthians 15:33).

But this growth isn’t always easy. Proverbs 27:17 describes it this way: “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

Iron against iron means metal is being chipped away. What’s left is being refined for effectiveness – but that certainly isn’t always painless or fun.

It’s never too late to choose iron-sharpening friends.

Don’t settle for fool’s gold when you can have the real thing.

THE FRIENDSHIP THAT CHANGED THE WORLD!

2008-04-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

PART 2

Jesus had influence because of his relationships with his friends and the ultimate relationship with his father.
Jesus was able to define people by their strengths not weaknesses.
Jesus was able to be the kind of friend who thinks people are a little more wonderful than they actually are.
We need to be the same!
We need to be as happy for others success as they are.
Be a cheerleader.
Celebrate with them.
Be straightforward. Say what you mean.
Don’t let them guess what you are trying to say.

God designed Friendships to be a “Search and Rescue Team”

Mark 16:7
7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.'

Jesus’ messenger told the woman “Go tell his disciples and Peter.”
Jesus saw his friend fail. You know Peter was torn apart. Jesus searched Peter out.

This is how Jesus treated His circle of friend.
We all have a circle of friends.
These are people we’re called to reach.
Some of us have large circle of friends.
Some of us have small circle of friends.
It doesn’t matter how many people are in your circle, it matters what you do with it.

1. Your circle of friends is your entrance to fulfilling God’s calling!

2. Your circle of friends increases when you work at it.

3. Your circle of friends gets bigger and so does your heart for your friends.

Matt 4:23-25-
23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. 25Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

See how the circle expands?
Care about the people around you.
It isn’t a powerful pastor that is going to change a city.
It’s not going to be some great program.
You know what is going to do that?
A CHURCH OF FRIENDS!

THE FRIENDSHIP THAT CHANGED THE WORLD!

2008-04-22T09:59:00.000-07:00

Part 1

Jesus used His friendships to change the world.

He was a friend to his followers.

This is how he set up the church.

He chose to reveal who God is in his friendships

Luke 24:13-19 "13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. ¹⁴They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. ¹⁵As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; ¹⁶but they were kept from recognizing him. ¹⁷He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. ¹⁸One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?" ¹⁹"What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied."

Jesus only has 40 days left on earth and he reveals himself to two walking along the road as friends do. It doesn’t seem to be the best method. He didn’t’ reveal himself with a lecture and white board…He didn’t hold a conference…He did it in his friendships

Verse 28 says: “As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.” He acted as if he was going further

(I think he was just messing with them) He knew they would laugh about this later.

Later in Verse 36…

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

And then in verse 41…”And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?”

He doesn’t give a big sermon. He just says, “Got Food?”

In John chapter 21

We learn about the miracle that happened when Jesus told the disciples to throw the fishnets on other side of boat.

We find Jesus the man who had just raised from the dead after defeated Satan, giving man access to God. (Ultimate Victory) was on the shore making breakfast for His friends!

He designed a church of friendship.

Jesus had influence because of his relationships with his friends and the ultimate relationship with his father.

Let’s all be challenged to be the kind of friend that Jesus is!

2008-04-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

Setting Limits

2008-04-15T12:47:00.000-07:00

"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve … But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15, NIV

"Unbelievable!" I thought to myself as I drove down the highway the other day. "If this guy in the car behind me gets any closer, I'm going to have to invite him over for dinner! I mean, I'm going the speed limit, but he thinks he's racing in the Indy 500! At first, I had just ignored the guy. Before I knew it, though, my pragmatic side was threatening to get the better of me: "Well, maybe I could go a few miles faster," I thought. "What's the difference? I mean, it's better than having this guy ride my back bumper all the way home!" Thankfully, he turned off before I had to make a decision.

Has this situation, or one like it, ever happened to you? If you live in even a semi-urban area, I'm sure it has. As Christians, we know that we have to obey the law and not set our own speed limit, but it's hard not to notice that other people on the road are driving like Jeff Gordon on a victory lap. And the worst part (for me, at least) is that they don't ever seem to get a ticket. You might be forgiven for thinking that going a little faster and pushing the limits isn't such a bad idea, but as Christians we still should do the right thing.

The rest of our lives can also follow this pattern. Most of us pray, read our Bibles, and go to church regularly. But we can't help but see non-Christians around us eating, drinking, and being merry — and it can be so tempting to go along. A little sin here and a little sin there. What's the difference?

SETTING LIMITS PROVIDES SECURITY  Testing the limits of our environment are in our nature as human beings. We want to drive just a dab over the speed limit. Children can feel the same about pushing the limits: they want to stay up longer, play one more game, or eat one more piece of candy.

PICK YOUR BATTLES!  Decide as a parent what issues are important to you.

LIMITS PROVIDE A SENSE OF SECURITY.  Some limits are non-negotiable. For example, sitting in the car seat, holding hands in the parking lot, and keeping our hands to ourselves keep us safe. Remind children of these limits often, and praise them when they behave appropriately.

LIMITS DEVELOP A MORAL COMPASS  Limits can also support children as they learn what is appropriate in the “real world.” Such as teaching children that lying or stealing is inappropriate will prepare them for life outside the security of your home. If your child starts playing “verbal volleyball” with you when questioned about something, simply tell him, “Until you’re ready to tell me the truth, you can hang out in your room.” (Make sure you remove any entertainment items). We need to remember as adults who direct children’s lives, that limits give children the opportunity to take responsibility.

God has our best interests at heart, and he has told us in Scripture that all sin is destructive. When the temptation comes, think about Paul's words of encouragement: "No 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" (1 Cor. 10:13).

EVERYTHING CHANGES

2008-04-09T13:03:00.000-07:00

No matter what we do everything changes. Our jobs change underneath us. Our children grow up and sometimes that involves incredible celebration. We get older. Illnesses come and go. Accidents happen. It gets exhausting. Change takes something out of us and we need to think about change because change is inevitable. Change surrounds us everywhere and sometimes, in fact very often, God is calling us to change.

Genesis 12:1-4
"The Lord had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." So Abram left, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Haran.”

Here's Abraham; he's a real person, he is comfortable, he's growing in wealth and he's at the age where he does not expect new adventures. Let's just admit it. He's 75-years old. And God comes and says, "Leave." Leave your country, the place where he knows the land. He knows where the fresh water is. He knows where good pastures are and what the shortest routes are to important places and what the best trails are. Leave all of that. Leave your people; the customs and languages that you already know. You know who to trust. You've got friends. You are respected and comfortable. Leave all of that. Leave your father's household. Leave your family. Leave the companionship that they afforded you; the support that comes from them and the common memories. Leave all of that.

And what does God give him in return in terms of direction? He says, "And go, go to the land that I will show you." In a time before satellite photos and GPS maps and encyclopedias, what does he really know about something that might be 400 miles away that he has never been to, in a different culture, surrounded by people he has never interacted with? " God calls for massive change in Abraham's life. It's God who has taken this settled down person, interrupting his life and saying "I want you to change." And then he gives a promise. "I will bless you" Verse 2; "and you will be a blessing." Then a few verses later, "all the nations on earth will be blessed through you." What an amazing world embracing promise that he gives to Abraham. I am asking you for some massive change, but I am promising that this is purposeful; it's not by accident. The kind of faith we see Abraham showing us here involves three major things that you see right in the text. He's got to believe. He's got to leave, and then he receives.

God might be calling you to change; be calling me to change. We believe as Christians that God is unchanging, but let's never let that blind us to the fact that the creation that God has made is always changing. God has created a universe that is constantly expanding. It's never the same size twice. No tree or river ever remains exactly the same. The courses of the rivers change. The trees grow. They add leaves. They drop leaves and they die. Change is part of the fabric of everything we encounter. So we can't escape it. God is unchanging, but we are not. And God has promised to care for us in this change like he does for Abraham.

When God calls us to change it doesn't mean that it will make us look good. Some of the changes God calls us to won't make us look good. It won't be immediately evident: I have obeyed God, therefore, POW something happens. It does not work that way. It didn't work that way for Abraham. When God calls us to change it doesn't mean that all of the results of that change will come fast. Abraham had to wait for another generation to inherit things and then that generation had to wait 400 years before more of the promise happened. It does not mean that we will look like a success immediately and it does not mean that everything will work out the first time. We, just like Abraham, might make some real mistakes because God is calling us out of the comfort zone in to something we have never done before.

What is it God is calling you to leave? Confirmation is a leaving. It's a smaller one, but it's leaving being a kid in the church behind and taking a position where you say I will now be a responsible adult member of the life. As parents our kids grow up and as our kids grow up we as parents have to leave one stage of life and move in to a new stage and when we get to points like this no matter what they are, we can fight and try to hold on to it. We can complain and say "I don't like this change" or we can cooperate. That's the heart of leaving. What leaving means for us is cooperating with God in what he is doing in our lives; to stop fighting it.

My prayer is that we can all ask God to do a great work in us… and then here's the hard part… BE AVAILABLE TO GOD’S CHANGES.

Blessings.

Power In Unity!

2008-03-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

John 17:20-21 -- Jesus prayed, “My prayer is not for them alone.
I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

Of all the many things that Jesus could have prayed about for us, he chose to pray for our unity with each other. When Jesus prayed this prayer he knew he was about to die on the cross. When a person only has a short time left to live, trivial things don’t matter. They think of what matters most to them. They think of the loved ones they are leaving behind. Jesus prayed about being united once more with his Heavenly Father, whom he loved. He prayed for protection for his closest earthly friends – his disciples. He then prayed for us – those who will believe. His most important prayer on our behalf was for unity - unity of all who will believe in Christ and unity with God through Christ.

Unity is a hard thing to achieve. Look at the unity of a man and a woman, as they become one flesh. The divorce rate gets higher every day. Then think about the unity of your church. To glorify God, the leadership must show unity. For a positive loving atmosphere, where God can be worshipped and praised, there must be unity among the members.

Look at the first church and its beginnings. When God sent the Holy Spirit into their lives there was an excitement and unity of purpose. God used their unity and devotion to bring others to Christ.

As I reflect back to the events this past Easter weekend, I can’t help but be in awe of how God take a family willing to serve and creates love for the lost! I believe God is pleased when He sees His children giving. This Easter was such a great time! Isn’t it amazing that just saying yes to loving people with a servant’s heart can unify everyone?

Luke tells us this in Acts 2:42-47. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

The bottom line can be summed up with Philippians 2:1-4 – “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, have the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interest, but also to the interests of others.”

Life changes...

2008-03-11T14:50:00.000-07:00

In the past year and six months my job has changed, my wife’s job has changed, our location has changed, where my daughters attend school has changed and it just seems like my girls are changing everyday.

They say change is the only constant in life. I pondered all my changes. Some of them I like, others I don't care for, but all of them are simply part of life.

I recently came upon an old picture of my youngest daughter Rebecca. It was a team picture of her first soccer team 11 years ago (so little and so cute!). I realized that life has been full of change and change has not always been easy. But for the most part as a family, we have thrived on it and loved it.

I realized that there were principles I put into practice that served me well and that I needed to dust off and remind myself of now in this period of new change...

Invite God into every change.

Some changes are hard, and we struggle against them. Ask God to give you the strength and wisdom you need. He can be counted on when no one and nothing else can! Hunger after Him... He promises you will be filled. He is the sure source of a grateful heart. Choose joy.

Maximize the pros and minimize the cons.

Every change in life has both positive and negative aspects to it. Sometimes the balance isn't equal. But in every situation of change, we choose where we will dwell... maximize the positive points and don't linger on the negative ones. Choose to smile.

Enjoy the moment.

Change is inevitable and this particular space in time is a treasure, even if it is hard. Don't wait to enjoy life. Engage in this moment in life. Choose to laugh.

Cultivate a thankful heart.

Never doubt the goodness of God toward you. Find the little things to raise your heart in thankfulness. Gratitude puts softness in your eyes and is tonic for the soul. Choose thankfulness.

Appreciate people.

Without people, life is empty. God created us as social creatures. We need each other. Dare to reach out.

As I think back over the changes of my life and realize how these five conscious decisions have helped me in the past, I am determined to look to the future with eager anticipation. Stopping to ponder has confirmed the track record of God in my life as I called on Him to be my source when these decisions were difficult.

You cannot always choose the changes that come your way. But you can always choose your response. And you always have access to a God who loves you and will carry you through. I know, for He has done it for me many times.

Chosen By God

2008-03-04T15:36:00.000-08:00

John 1: (1-9) 10-18

Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own, through what Christ would do for us; he decided then to make us holy in his own eyes, without a single fault, we who stand before him covered with his love.

Aren't cookies wonderful? I love different kinds of cookies.

As a matter of fact, when someone makes a cookie for me, or when I can choose my cookie, I always pick out the one with the most icing. It is fun to have a choice. Most of the time we do not have choices. Someone tells us when to get up, what to eat, what to wear, when to go to bed, what time to be in school and almost everything else that we do.

I guess that is why we like the times that we get to make choices. We usually choose our friends, our TV shows, and some things like that, but we don't get to choose everything.

That is why it is so great to be a Christian!

Did you know that God chose you? God had a choice, and he chose you. Just like you choose your friends and your TV shows and even what cookie you want, God chose you. He didn't have to make you his friend.

God chose you right in the very beginning to be his friend. That is true of all of us. The Bible says that God knew, right in the beginning of the world, that he was going to choose you and make you one of his followers. The Bible says that God covered his people with love. Isn’t that neat?

He covered us with love in the very beginning so that it didn't matter if we live now, or a hundred years from now, he would know us because he covered us with love.

Maybe the next time you see a cookie all covered with icing, you will think about the way that God just covered you with love, and then chose you to be one of his very own followers.

You are one of God's people and that means a lot!

Everything I Learned About Listening To My Children…

2008-02-26T12:14:00.000-08:00

I Learned From Jesus

Part 2

What would Jesus’ reaction be when He sees you and me interacting with our children?
When He sees you at the dinner table eating and talking on the phone at the same time, when He sees you at the grocery store, where the price of a can of peas is more important than your son’s latest Spiderman story (the one he made up himself!), when He hears you tell your child, who is belting out her favorite song, to be quiet so you can watch the news, when He sees you type away on the computer keyboard while your child is desperately seeking you attention, etc.? What would Jesus feel? Would He be livid? Furious? Or do you think He would look at you and say “well done, good and faithful servant?” The latter is doubtful. Deuteronomy 6:7 exhorts parents to talk to their children about God anytime and anyplace. This involves having a close relationship with your child(ren). If you don’t listen to them when they talk to you, at some point the communication will break down to the extent that they may not listen to you anymore either. This gets us back to the start; God gave us two ears but only one mouth. There is a reason for that.

So...what are you saying?

If you truly desire to learn how to listen to your child, here are some practical ideas:

1. Don’t second-guess what your child will say and don’t finish her/his sentences for her/him. You don’t like it when people do it to you, so odds are your child will not relish it either.
2. Face your child and look her/him in the eyes. This speaks loudly that whatever it is they communicate is important to you. Don’t watch TV when they’re talking, and don’t keep r eading or hacking away on the keyboard. You don’t like it when your spouse does it, and your kids don’t like it when you do it.
3. Encourage your child(ren) by asking questions such as “what else did she say”, “what did he wear”, “what did you do after that”?
4. When your child is in the middle of a conversation with you and the phone rings, finish the conversation and return the call later. When a grown-up interrupts your conversation with your child, at a store for instance, please ask the person to wait for a moment while your child finishes her/his thought.
5. And never, ever, even once, glance at your watch and sigh while your child is talking to you.

Other than your relationship with God first, and your spouse second, there is nothing more important in this universe than your interaction with your child!

Everything I Learned About Listening To My Children…

2008-02-19T12:52:00.000-08:00

I Learned From Jesus

Part 1

Is there anybody in there?

Is there anything more heartbreaking than seeing a little child trying to get her/his mom’s attention, only to have her give a quick “uh-huh” in response while scanning the shelves for a can of peas? Is there anything sadder than a little child attempting to talk to dad about her/his day only to have him wave her off while he is talking on the cell phone?

Many of us have call waiting on our telephones; I am here to break it to you that our children do not come equipped thusly. Our children are constantly “on”, and they do not “hold” very well. Granted, there are times when you will have to ask them to wait for a moment, but in reality, these times are few and far between. More often than not the musings of a child take the backseat to whatever activity we are currently engaged in. Shame on us! Are we busier than Jesus was? Did He not have one or two things on His plate? While He was preaching the good news, raising people from the dead, teaching His disciples, keeping a busy public speaking schedule at the local synagogue or mountaintop, healing a few incurables, and single-handedly cleaning out a temple, it appears that He still made the time to interact with children...and they weren’t even His!

The disciples, ever ready to open mouths and insert feet, rebuked the parents who brought their children to Jesus. Yet instead of simply waving them off, and making a few blessing hand gestures, Jesus was upset! The NIV refers to Jesus as being indignant; the KJV calls Him displeased; this is the only recorded time that the Bible refers to Jesus as being displeased or indignant. Roget's Interactive Thesaurus defines “indignant” as an adjective conveying the concept of anger. It suggests alternates such as “boiling, furious, heated, and livid“. Jesus then proceeded to rebuke his disciples but turned to the children and took them in His arms.

Take the time to stop and remember you are at the center of your child’s life and we as parents need to affirm to them that they are precious in God's sight, fearfully and wonderfully made! Over the course of the next few weeks I want to challenge all of us to re-examine how we interact and are perceived by our children.

God’s not done with us yet!

The Unlimited Power of Jesus

2008-02-12T14:01:00.000-08:00

Matthew 8:1-17

I love the miracles of Jesus. Every time I read the gospel accounts of how He reached out to touch the lame, the blind, the diseased, the dying and the dead, I am moved. The miracles are my favorite part of biblical pageants.

The miracles show how Jesus changed lives. A man who has been blind since birth suddenly sees. A woman who was terribly sick for twelve years who spent all her savings on specialist after specialist is healed by touching his robe. A grieving widow in a funeral procession sees her dead son rise to life again at His word.

The miracles exhibit the love and mercy of the Lord Jesus. I imagine His eyes as He told weeping parents that their daughter was not dead but asleep. I believe He laughed with joy when a lame man who was lowered through the roof jumped up and danced, carrying his bed with him! How Jesus must have loved these people. How their misery must have been His misery.

The miracles are displays of Jesus' awesome, unlimited power. With a word He stills the raging, stormy sea. With a touch light shines into eyes where there was only darkness. At His presence the demonic powers of hell trembled.

Matthew records for us nine miracles. It is important to remember that the Holy Spirit led Matthew to select these nine out of hundreds, perhaps thousands of miracles performed by Jesus during His three-year ministry. The Apostle John concludes his account of Jesus' life by saying in John 21:25, "And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written."

Why did the Holy Spirit inspire Matthew and the other writers to include them in Scripture?
The answer is rather simple. The miracles of Jesus showed His unlimited power, confirmed His deity and His claim to be the Messiah, the Son of God.

Jesus still responds with compassion.
You may not be a leper, but you are a sinner. Like leprosy, sin is a disease that invades your life. You can't do anything about it, but Jesus can! Whatever your situation, if you will be like that leper, come to Jesus in confidence, reverence, humility, and faith, He will heal you!

We desperately need to remember that God's love and power is not just for you and me but for the whole world.
Longfellow could take a worthless piece of paper, write a poem on it, and instantly make it worth thousands of dollars -- and it's called genius. Rockefeller could sign his name to a piece of paper and make it worth millions of dollars -- and it's called riches. A mechanic can take material worth only five dollars and make it worth five hundred -- and it's called skill. An artist can take a fifty-cent piece of canvas, paint a picture on it, and make it worth thousands of dollars -- and it's called art. Jesus can take a worthless, sinful life, wash it in His blood, put His Spirit in it, and make it valuable to God -- and that's called salvation.

Sharper Than a Double-edged Sword

2008-02-05T16:26:00.001-08:00

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword . . . (Hebrews 4:12 NIV).

An important rite of passage toward manhood was receiving my first pocketknife. It was bright red (probably so I wouldn't lose it) and was the sharpest object I had ever been allowed to touch in my eight years.

I watched in awe as my dad showed me the proper way to open it, how to always cut away from myself, and how to sharpen it to a razor edge. With great fear and respect I whittled my first stick, carefully following my dad's warnings and instructions . . . until I started becoming familiar with it.

I discovered I could shave off the peach fuzz on the back of my arm with it. And, if I held it by the blade just right, I could flick it into a board--just like on the late-night spy movies. I also learned it could send you to the emergency room for stitches.

Paul warns Timothy to the "correctly handle the word of truth." After all, it's a "double-edged sword" capable of "dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow." Unfortunately, some have used the scalpel of Scripture to slice and dice their listeners' fragile faith into julienne fries.

Some questions we need to ask as we wield the Word are: What did these words mean when they were written?

Who was the audience for these words?

What were the circumstance that prompted these words?

And most importantly, what does the Bible, as a whole, say about this issue?

And watch where you point it!

God gave us His Word, not so that we could know it but that we could know Him.

Looking for a Miracle

2008-01-31T08:48:00.000-08:00

John 2:1-11
From Water to Wine
1-3 Three days later there was a wedding in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there. Jesus and his disciples were guests also. When they started running low on wine at the wedding banquet, Jesus' mother told him, "They're just about out of wine." 4 Jesus said, "Is that any of our business, Mother—yours or mine? This isn't my time. Don't push me." 5 She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, "Whatever he tells you, do it." 6-7 Six stoneware water pots were there, used by the Jews for ritual washings. Each held twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus ordered the servants, "Fill the pots with water." And they filled them to the brim. 8 "Now fill your pitchers and take them to the host," Jesus said, and they did. 9-10 When the host tasted the water that had become wine (he didn't know what had just happened but the servants, of course, knew), he called out to the bridegroom, "Everybody I know begins with their finest wines and after the guests have had their fill brings in the cheap stuff. But you've saved the best till now!"
11 This act in Cana of Galilee was the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

Have you ever prayed for a miracle? I'm not talking about a really big miracle – like praying for a loved one near death. I’m talking about little miracles like, "Oh Lord, please let that traffic light stay green "God, please let my team win!"

Very often I hear kids saying “that’s not fair!”. They feel that because they are good and weren’t doing anything wrong – everything should work out well for them.
Bad news is exempt from the laws of the universe. You can follow the rules, eat right, exercise daily, sleep well, love your neighbors, go to church, be honest, give blood, remember your mother’s birthday, tell no ethnic jokes, promptly write thank you notes, recycle, read the Bible, serve dinner at the shelter, wear clean underwear, go for your six-month teeth cleaning – and still have bad news happen.
Isn’t that totally unfair?

That’s the wrong attitude toward miracles. Prayer is a daily offering of our concerns to God, then giving our best to God and trusting that he will handle the rest. That kind of prayer allows us to relax and focus on the things we need to do.
In order to play the game of golf you need to relax. If you were to hit a golf ball with all your might it wouldn’t go where you want. Just relax. Take it easy. Let the club do the work and then your ball would go where you want. Maybe.

If we look at our prayer life and compare it to golf, they are very similar. In both, you can sometimes feel the need to be in control. We pray for results, but we sometimes tell God what those results should be. Likewise, when we pray for action, we sometimes tell God what action to take. We have to learn a valuable lesson that instead of relying on our own abilities, we need to begin trusting God. Many of us fill our lives with unnecessary stress, worry, and aggravation because we will not trust our lives to God. Do the best you can, open your heart to God in prayer, and then let go.

In today’s miracle story, it was not the party trick of turning water into wine, but the willingness of the wine stewards to do what Jesus told them to do that is critically important. The miracle that God works in our lives is the understanding of what he is and what he says deserves my attention. When we discover that what God says is important, then miraculous things happen.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus turned water into the finest wine. The Bible tells us why he performed this miracle. He did not do it to save the bridegroom embarrassment. He did not do it to please his mom. The Bible tells us "This is the first of his signs that Jesus did at Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him."
You see, Jesus wanted to build up the faith of his disciples. He did this so they would know who he was.
By the same power by which Jesus turned water into wine, he can turn our lives – into something beautiful and good. All we have to do is to trust him and do what he says.
The real purpose of miracles is to remind us of God’s care and presence. Our job is to do what he says – then, relax, and let go, and trust him.

Life Can Be Like A Puzzle

2008-01-22T07:08:00.000-08:00

Zephaniah 3:17 (New International Version)
17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

When things get really busy it can be so hard to be quiet.
And why are there times when God wants us to be quiet?
Because God has an order of doing things.

His way may not look right alt the time to you. Maybe it looks like a bunch of pieces to a puzzle. Maybe your life can look like an undone puzzle. This is when you don’t understand someone. You don’t know why something bad happened. Or maybe you just don’t know what is going to happen in your life.
Life can look like a puzzle that is not put together.

Just like there are times when we put something together like a puzzle, God wants to help us make all the pieces fit so we can see God’s big picture of what He has for our lives.
Isn’t it great when you put that last piece of the puzzle in and it all makes sense?

That is what God wants your life to be like, but we have to trust that God knows where all the pieces go and how they look. We don’t always know what it is going to look like unless we have a picture of what it is supposed to be like but God does.

Sometimes there is just too much going on for us to see or hear what God wants.
God wants us to stop. Make sure you are listening to Him and his way is being done.
When there is so much going on it can be hard to decide what to do.

Like walking into Disneyland the first time.
There is so much to do it can be hard to decide what to do first.
We need a Map in order to have the best time possible.
If we use the map we don’t waste our time.
If we use the map we don’t get lost.

So how do we know what God wants and is saying?
God gives us a Map with His words in His book and with his voice.
Then, as we grow in Him, the puzzle will start to come together, we will begin to see God’s “Big picture” and life can make more sense to us.

It’s Never To Early For Wisdom!

2008-01-15T08:08:00.000-08:00

Bill Gates is worth $56 billion. Warren Buffet commands $52 billion. Yet, if accounts of the ancient king Solomon are accurate, his riches would have dwarfed the wealth of today’s richest men, topping the modern-day equivalent of $1 trillion, or $1,000 billion! In The Richest Man Who Ever Lived, author Steven K. Scott looks into the writings King Solomon to find lessons from history’s wealthiest man.

King Solomon ascended to the throne of Israel around 974 B.C. when he was only twelve years old!
According to the Old Testament, God appeared to Solomon and offered to grant him one desire. Solomon, concerned about his inexperience and ability to rule, asked for wisdom so that he could judiciously lead the people of Israel. God was so impressed with Solomon’s selfless request that He decided to bless him, not only with wisdom, but also with wealth. God promised to bestow upon Solomon greater riches and honor than any king before him or any king that would come after him.

What was promised was delivered. Solomon’s wisdom, success, and wealth increased beyond imagination. His gold reserves, holdings of land and livestock, and royal palace were immense. Rulers of nations throughout the world sought his sage advice. During his life, Solomon penned the book of Proverbs in the Bible. Surviving from generation to generation, his writings have influenced the world for thousands of years.

If we ask God, He will provide!

Matthew 7:7
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

What A Change!

2008-01-08T14:03:00.000-08:00

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.

Have you ever noticed how many different things it takes to make a big meal? When I go in the kitchen at home, I am always amazed. There are spices, and packages of ingredients, and cans of soups, and other things. All of them can be mixed together to make great food.

If you stay in the kitchen long enough, you will notice that sometimes you don't have to work quite that hard all the time to make something good. Sometimes all you have to do is to add water to something and it becomes a food that we enjoy eating.

Can you believe how easy it is to just add water to some foods and then pop them into the microwave and “WAMO!” you have turned it into something we can eat! Now let me ask you something else about these “Instant” foods. Do you think we can turn them back again? After the water is added and all the necessary preparations are completed, could we change them back to what they were? No, we can't do that. Once the change occurs, they have become something new.

The Bible tells us that it is also true with our lives as Christians. When we know Jesus in our hearts, and begin to follow Him, we are no longer the same people we were before. Jesus starts to work within us to change us day by day so that we become more and more like Him. That is what is so exciting about being a Christian! God always has something more in store for us in knowing and following His Son!

Get Out Of Your Rut!

2007-12-31T16:04:00.000-08:00

Praise the Lord! How blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed! --Psalm 112:1-2

Let's admit it. Most of us are creatures of habit. We live like the sign on the rugged Alaskan Highway:
CHOOSE YOUR RUT CAREFULLY; YOU'LL BE IN IT FOR THE NEXT 200 MILES.

We like ruts...especially comfortable ones. We settle into a predictable routine in our lives, and we find security in that routine. Like a numbing narcotic, however, ruts can cause us to waste a large portion of our lives.

Adults don't ask enough questions. Daily we climb on the treadmill of life and ritualistically get off. We continue searching for happiness and significance in all the wrong places. As one man put it, "Most live a lifetime looking for the pot at the end of the rainbow, only to find a pot of salty liver soup."

Do you want to know some of the questions I wrestle with on a regular basis?

How well does my daily schedule reflect my beliefs?
What brings satisfaction to my life?
How will my present lifestyle affect my family in 20 years?
What does God want me to do with my life, my family, my possessions?

Questions like these cause me to refocus on my true priorities in life -- my relationship with God and my relationship with my family. I realize that, as Psalm 112:1-2 tells me, my life will be blessed only when I walk with God and obey His commands.

When was the last time you took a hard look at the ruts in your own life?

Discuss With Your Family:
Which of the above questions is begging to be addressed in your life or family? Discuss that question with your family. Why do you think we often go so long without answering questions like these?
Pray:
Read Psalm 112:1-2 again and spend a few minutes praising God for who He is. Ask the Lord to not only bless your family's daily time with Him, but also to help each family member obey Him.

Taking Time

2007-12-18T08:10:00.000-08:00

Time, according to the dictionary, is a way that human beings measure the change that happens all around us, and the connection of events to others - seasons, age, events, stories, and generations. Time is a vital biblical idea, and for 2000 + years the faithful have regarded "time" as an essential an ingredient in our worship - as important as the songs we sing or the stories we tell.

If we use "time" to season our worship meal, we will begin to recognize that certain seasons in the Church's story are celebrated just once a year, and we will creatively prepare for them each time they come around. Just as time comes and goes in our family’s daily lives, so too we should use time to make memories, highlight important ideas and create a sense of expectation in the hearts of those in our community.

Let's take Advent (from adventus, meaning "the coming") for example. According to the historic Church calendar, this season is the beginning of the Church year. Advent anticipates what theologians call "the Christ event" (the incarnation). The Advent season is like a song that is a picture, a worship reflection, about the human longing for deliverance that led up to the first Christmas morning.

In our family and church, we make a big deal out of Advent. Music, candles, stories and events all play a part in causing us to yearly remember important truths we may have forgotten along the journey of life.

In this "time" Christmas, recognize that your entire year, your every moment, is about to be guided by this amazing reality: God, in time, has acted. Your year can now begin fresh and God can redeem anything that happens, because Christ has come. The incarnation is transforming your world and mine. As Paul says in Colossians 1, "...In everything, he has supremacy."

Welcome to the beginning of our year, to the reality that God acts in our everyday moments, and welcome again to the Christ event that changes... everything.

Holidays and Sibling Rivalry — Minimize Competition

2007-12-11T09:38:00.000-08:00

Christmas is a beautiful time of year with smiling children opening presents under the tree — but that’s not always the case. Check out this scene.

Mom: Mark, since you’re the oldest why don’t you hand out presents? Then we can open them one at a time and see the happy expressions on each other’s face.

Tom (6-year-old): Why does he get to do everything? I never get to do anything.

Mom: Okay, Tom, you can help your brother.

Mark (8 years old): I don’t want his help.

Dad: Boys, please get along. It’s Christmas.

(General huffing and grumbling, but no fighting, can be heard as presents are handed out—until …)

Tom: Hey, look! I got more presents than Mark. Ha! Ha!

Mark (pausing to count presents): Mom, why did Tom get more presents than me? That’s not fair.

Mom: Well, Honey, your presents cost more because you’re bigger.

Mark (gloating to Tom): Did you hear that? I’m the biggest, and you’re the smallest.

Tom (pouting): I’ll always be the smallest. It’s not fair.

* * *

Dr. James Dobson says brotherly bickering is as old as the human race. “The underlying source of this conflict is old-fashioned jealousy and competition between children,” Dr. Dobson explains. “It was responsible for the first murder on record (when Cain killed Abel) and has been represented in virtually every two-child family from that time to this.”

But don’t be discouraged. While sibling rivalry may be a problem difficult to avoid, its effects can be managed and minimized. First, it’s a good idea to make sure that the presents coming from you are equal in number. Quantity matters more than quality to young children. You can’t control what other family members give your kids. But wrapping up a pair of socks or a ball to make the number of presents equal can save a lot of hurt feelings.

Second, Dr. Dobson says parents should try to avoid circumstances that compare children unfavorably with each other. When the mom in the above scene said Mark was bigger, Tom immediately became defensive about his size. Boys are especially sensitive about their physical stature and athletic ability.

Finally, Dr. Dobson and his wife made some house rules about sibling rivalry as they reared their children, Danae and Ryan. Some of these concepts could really help Mark and Tom’s parents.

* No. 1: Neither child should ever be allowed to make fun of the other in a destructive way. Period! This is an inflexible rule with no exceptions.
* No. 2: The older child is not permitted to tease the younger child.
* No. 3: The younger child is forbidden to harass the older child.

Obviously, Mark and Tom have mastered the art of teasing and harassing each other. Siblings do tend to have an uncanny knack of pushing the right buttons. However, their parents shouldn’t let this behavior continue. Dr. Dobson says that if children respect the leadership of the parent and the parent is willing to mediate and enforce the rules, even a harried holiday can turn into a happy one.

Have a “Happy” Christmas!

Parent …Decide.

2007-12-06T12:41:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow, Friday, December 6th, the movie “The Golden Compass” opens in theaters everywhere and we as parents have a decision to make. Does it matter if our children see the movie or not? I have included links to an article by Focus on the Family’s “Plugged In” as well as a CNN article regarding this movie that we will I’m sure, be talked about and seen by many over the course of the next few weeks. I have not seen the movie yet and I don’t plan to, but I pray that as parents you (and I) will come to an informed decision for your children. Many kids will be wanting to see it just because they have heard it is “Anti-God” or they have seen the previews and figure it is just like “Narnia”. Some parents won’t care as long as its PG-13, PG or G. My thinking is just “You make the call” “Be informed”. I believe this movie is deceiving and that is why I have included links to articles written by much more informed people than myself. Please take time to educate yourself and make the call based on what you feel is best for your child. I hope you have found this to be helpful and if you have any questions please feel free to call me at the church at (925)-560-6200 or email me at ehansen@dublinvcc.org.

God bless you,

Pastor Erik

Here are the links:

Focus on the family’s Plugged In:

http://www.pluggedinonline.com/thisweekonly/a0003516.cfm

CNN Associated Press Article:

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/03/golden.compass.religion.ap/

CALL ME CRAZY

2007-12-04T13:20:00.000-08:00

That’s the power of the gospel. It’s like a grenade — if you pull the pin, it’s going to explode.

That doesn’t mean that we’re careless in the way we share this potent message. We must be strategic, creative and relational. But it’s not the strategy; the creativity or the relationship that saves . . . it’s the message of the Cross. Sound fanatical?

ME, CRAZY?

Christianity needs crazy. I’m talking about ordinary people with excitement a magnificent obsession with the Cross of Christ.
In our pursuit coolness, have we forgotten that at the center of Christianity is a scary and bloody event that we are commanded to tell everyone about? This message is our one thing to live and give in our lives on Earth.

The crazies of the early New Testament wouldn’t shut up about it. Perhaps the biggest crazy of them all was Paul. He was so committed to preaching this one message that for the 18 months he ministered in Corinth, his one message was Christ and Him crucified. Paul knew that preaching this powerful message would change the church from the inside out. It can do the same for you and me.

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Paul tells us to come and join him in his craziness. In 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, he promises that the telling others of the Cross will bring together and change our world.

1. Get-Alongness

The Corinthian church was struggling with get-alongness. There were several groups of friends within the church. Some were followers of Paul, others of the Apollos, and still others followed the apostle Peter. Arguments had started from within the church. This church that was supposed to be working together to tell others about Jesus had been divided. They were more concerned about their own feelings than with the Lord Jesus Christ and what He wanted for them.
Paul had a special gift of cutting through the junk and getting right to heart of the matter. Paul didn't try to take sides. He simply pointed them to the Cross and Jesus.You see, something about the Jesus erases all of our differences.

2. Decide what is Important.

Paul understood the most important thing was to tell people about Jesus. He understood the power of that simple message. As an apostle he had many important responsibilities: to baptize new believers into the faith and to teach Christians to use their spiritual gifts. All of these duties were very important. But to Paul, job No. 1 was to tell people about Jesus!

Maybe we could put it this way, “Christ sent me not to ______ but to tell people about Jesus!”
You fill in the blank:

• Be in the church

• Attend Wednesday nights

• Go on a missions trip

These things should never keep us from job No. 1. So, here’s a question: When was the last time you actually told someone about Jesus?

3. CHANGE OUR WORLD

Never underestimate the power of the message of Jesus Christ to change a life. God loves to use the foolish and crazy people to change lives. He loves to use kids to do great things for His kingdom. Maybe that’s why every big spiritual thing in America has had young people starting it.

"Be Prepared"

2007-11-26T09:05:00.000-08:00

We spend a lot of time preparing for things to come. Each morning we prepare for work or school by washing, dressing and getting the kids in the car in time for us to be able to stop for coffee on the way. We spend years in school preparing for our future jobs and lives. Some spend their lives working unbelievable hours to get ahead in the company they work for.
We also prepare our homes when guest come over to visit. Right now people all over the world are getting ready for Christmas. We call this time of getting ready “Advent”. The word advent means arrival. Jesus is the king we serve, and Jesus is the king we welcome at Christmas. A lot of our preparation for Christmas includes stuff like buying gifts for others, decorating our homes, and baking goodies. But none of that really prepares us to welcome Jesus into our hearts.
In Bible times, God promised that He would send a savior. That savior is Jesus. At Christmas time we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Jesus was born about two thousand years ago. But in Bible times, people were still waiting for Jesus to come. You see, thousands of years before the first Christmas, God promised he would send a Savior. People who were faithful to God waited and trusted God for years and years before Jesus was born. God told them what Jesus would be like long before Jesus was born. Listen to what the Bible says about Jesus. This was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born.

ISAIAH 9:6-7
6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness
and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!

Christmas is about welcoming this wonderful Prince of Peace into our lives. God kept His promise. God sent Jesus to be the Savior of the world. God sent Jesus to love us. Because Jesus is such a wonderful Savior, we love Him, serve Him, and honor Him with our lives.
Sometimes when we welcome people into our homes, we say, “My home is your home.” In Spanish we say “Mi casa es su casa.” Does that mean we give people our home when they come to visit? Kind of. We do give people our home to use while they are visiting. When we say, “My home is your home.” We are saying “You are a welcome guest. We hope you will feel at home here.”
We say the same thing to Jesus sometimes. But we don’t say “My home is your home.” Instead we say, “My heart is your home.” We want Jesus to feel welcome, to feel at home with us. I hope this month you will take time to tell Jesus you want to welcome Him in your life and in your heart and in your home.
May God bless you all this holiday season!

What is "Thankful"?

2007-11-20T09:57:00.000-08:00

I recently looked up the definition of “Thankful”. One of the definitions I found was in the American Heritage Dictionary and it said: “Aware and appreciative of a benefit”. Wow! I just think as Christians, we are so blessed to have the Holy Spirit reveal the “benefit” we have received from what Jesus did for us! Look what the Bible says in Matthew 16:13-17 (New International Reader's Version)

Peter Says That Jesus Is the Christ

13 Jesus went to the area of Caesarea Philippi. There he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"
14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. Still others say Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."
15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ. You are the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah! No mere man showed this to you. My Father in heaven showed it to you.

It is so exciting to know that the Lord has chosen us to reveal who He is and now we can have eternal life if we accept the benefit! Praise God! It is all about Him and we have a choice to reap from the benefits, or just accept the knowledge. What I mean is, we have to tap into the power that the “awareness of the benefit” in order for Jesus to release the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. When we realize just how much Jesus has done for us and how much God loves us, we can then walk in a kind of faith that moves mountains (Matthew 17:20).

I hope we can all remember to be aware of all we have received from our giving Father in heaven ("For God so loved the world that He gave"). This week as we all gather around the dinner table with our loved ones, take a look around. See what is good and give thanks.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Thankful in Christ,
Pastor Erik

Obey All The Way

2007-11-13T11:47:00.001-08:00

There is nothing better than seeing people at their best. I think one of the reasons I love the ministry, is because it give us the opportunity to see people go from their worst to their best, then as we see their growth in Christ, we can continue to point them to a God that will level off their rollercoaster ride of life.

Last week in our SURGE lesson, we learned to “obey all the way”. How many of us (or have known people) who walk with the Lord daily, only to find ourselves still struggling and not growing and not seeing fruit in our lives? I know that it has been true for me! When I “obey” but not “all the way” I struggle instead of seeing God do His miraculous. Someone will come to me and share their heart about how they are going through an incredibly difficult time for example, financially. They are sincerely hurting and my heart breaks for them, but at the end of the day we also can look back at the situation and find that most of the time this is a problem that would not have occurred if they had been tithing or been good stewards of the resources God has given them. Maybe they just “obeyed” instead of “obeyed all the way”.

When we look at the story of the Good Samaritan, here is the story of someone who “obeyed all the way”. The bible tells us in Luke 10 verses 25-29

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" 27 He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

The “expert of the law” wanted to justify himself. How sad we can sometimes look to do the minimum instead of our best. (I think the expert was looking for the minimum).

All I have to do is see what Jesus did on the cross to see that he “obeyed all the way”. God sent His best and Jesus went the distance for us. John 3:16 says; “For God so love the world that he gave”.

I like to stop there because it tells me to be a giver. I just think when it comes to how we live, how we treat people and how we can help them; we need to “obey all the way” and go the distance with them. We need to give them what Jesus gave us – more than we deserve.

At the end of the parable, Jesus asked in verse 36:
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Let’s go give our best, God’s love, “all the way”.

Getting Closer

2007-11-06T12:11:00.000-08:00

Lately, I have found myself trying to just get “closer” to God. But it just doesn’t make sense in some ways. How can I get "closer" to a God that Proverbs 18:24 says is “closer than a brother”? The Psalms also point out over and over again that He is with us always (Ps. 23, Ps. 46, Ps. 118). God also tells us in Deuteronomy 31:6 “He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

So what does it mean when I find myself wanting to get “closer” to God? The Hebrew word for “closer” in Deut. 31:6 is “debeq” (pronounced “dä·bāk”). This word means to “cleave” or “adhere”.

Isn’t it amazing that the Lord knows even or innermost cravings! It may be that I just want to know Jesus in a deeper way or I am running to God…needing Him right now or, God knows that I am heading for something that I need to get ready for. Either way, I feel the need to get "closer" to Him.

Intimacy with Jesus is a funny thing. I know that I can take it for granted that He is always there waiting for me to come to Him and because of my humanity, this varies in degrees or seasons of my life. I do know this…EVERY TIME I seek more intimacy with the Lord, I am the one who benefits! I am the one blessed! God truly knows me… and still wants an intimate relationship with me! AMAZING!!!

"It is a joy to Jesus when a person takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be a visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ." - Oswald Chambers

I encourage you to seek intimacy with Jesus today…Get "closer"...God will bless you!

In Christ,
Pastor Erik

Take a Look!

2007-10-26T11:56:00.000-07:00

I don't think I have ever been more aware of God's blessing and favor in my life than when I look at my family. God has given me a home that is filled the the beauty and wisdom in Debbie my wife, as well as two incredible daughters Alycia and Rebecca. We have a home that is a place of fun, safety as well as a place of worship. This is not as a result of anything but God. Debbie and I were not born with the "How to book" on having a family. But we do center our home on Jesus. We don't always have the answers for life's questions and we still make a mistakes but God has seen us through it all. Psalm 37:4 says: "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." I just pray that we can all just stop once in a while, and take a look at what God has done (and is still doing). When we do, I believe God reveals to us His incredible work. I know I'm looking... and I am thankful...everyday!