Derek Staples

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2011-08-17T11:18:00.001-05:00

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The Hall of Fame

2011-07-26T09:08:00.003-05:00

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

Our citizenship is in heaven! Our home is His home. Just spend some time letting that sink in. And if you will stop and think about it: Our name is written there. Our citizenship is there. Our God is there. Our Savior is there. Our inheritance is there. Our deceased family and friends are there. So much of us is already there.

The Bible teaches us that the things we can see on this earth are only temporary. We look in the mirror and see our aging bodies, and realize that they are temporary. Our bodies get sick, hurt, grow old, and eventually die. Followers in Christ have the hope that life in this world is not the end.

Someday we will have a perfect body that will never die, like the one Christ has now. We will receive a body of glory.

How is this possible? What about martyrs burned alive, devoured by lions, and millions of others, particles of whose decaying bodies, through various stages of disintegration on land and sea? How? It is because God knows where every speck of human dust is hidden.

By the exertion, the energy of the power [dynamite] of the One that death, hell, and the grave could not hold! How great is our God! How awesome is He! How sad that anyone would miss eternal glory!

So, we can rejoice today that we have been inducted in a “Hall of Fame” that is much more valuable than the one in Cooperstown. We are in God’s Hall of Fame. Rejoice in His saving grace today.

Your name may not appear down here,

In this world’s hall of fame,

In fact you may be so unknown,

That no-one knows your name!

Our Halls of fame are only good

As long as time shall be;

But keep in mind, God’s Hall of fame,

Lasts for eternity!

To have your name inscribed up there

Is greater yes by far,

Than all the Halls of Fame down here

And every man made star.

Man on earth will soon forget

The heroes of the past;

They cheer you on until you fall;

How long will your fame last?

But God, He never does forget,

And in His Hall of Fame,

By just believing in his Son,

Proud, you’ll find your name.

Accepting His Son died for me

Was all it really took,

For God to take His pen,

And write me in His book.

For every famous name on earth

Or glory that we share;

I’d rather be unknown down here,

And have my name up there.

I tell you friend, I wouldn’t trade

My name, however small,

In His book, beyond the stars

...In His celestial Hall.

Until Next Week,

Derek

Come See, Then Go Tell

2011-07-12T15:51:00.001-05:00

“The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." (John 1: 43-46)

The following story appeared in Focus on the Family Magazine, September 2002. It was entitled "A Light in the Darkness" by Christin Ditchfield:

On the morning of Sept 11, Jeannie Braca switched on the TV to check the weather report, only to hear that a plane had just hit the World Trade Center. Jeannie’s husband, Al, worked as a corporate bond trader for Cantor Fitzgerald. His office was on the 105th floor of Tower One.

Al had survived the WTC bombing in 1993 and had even helped a woman with asthma escape from the building. Jeannie knew that Al would do the same thing this time, “I knew he would stop to help and minister to people,” she said, “but I never thought for a minute that he wouldn’t be coming home!” A week later Al’s body was found in the rubble.

Al’s wife, Jeannie, and his son Christopher were devastated! Then the reports began to trickle in from friends and acquaintances. Some people on the 105th floor had made a last call or sent a final e-mail to loved ones saying that a man was leading people in prayer. A few referred to Al by name. Al’s family learned that Al had indeed been ministering to people during the attack! When Al realized that they were all trapped in the building and would not be able to escape, Al shared the gospel with a group of 50 co-workers and led them in prayer. This news came as no surprise to Al’s wife, Jeannie.

For years, she and Al had been praying for the salvation of these men and women. According to Jeannie, Al hated his job and couldn’t stand the environment. It was a world so out of touch with his Christian values, but he wouldn’t quit. Al was convinced that God wanted him to stay there, to be a light in the darkness, and although Al would not have put it this way, to be a hero! Al was not ashamed of Christ and Christ’s words…and he paid the price of taking up his cross daily. Al shared his faith with his co-workers….many of whom sarcastically nicknamed him “The Rev.”

And on that fateful day…Sept 11, in the midst of the chaos, Al’s co-workers looked to him—-and Al delivered! At the same time, Al too tried to get a phone call through to his family. He asked an MCI operator to contact his family. “Tell them that I love them,” he said.

It took the operator more than a month to reach the Braca’s, but the message brought them much-needed comfort. “The last thing my dad did involved the two things most important to him—God and his family,” his son Christopher told a writer for Focus on The Family. “He loved to lead people to Christ. That takes away a lot of the hurt and the pain.”

John 1 reminds us that our calling is to introduce Jesus Christ to the world. In John 1:35-49 Andrew and John – the writer of this gospel – come to Christ through the faithful preaching of John the Baptist. Peter and James come to Christ through the compassion and faithfulness of their brothers. Later Jesus would win Philip, who would then witness to Nathaniel and bring him to Jesus.

The invitation “Come and see” is still the invitation of God’s grace. So, here is the process: “Come and See” leads to “Go and Tell!” They work together because it is the faithfulness of our testimony that leads to the fruitfulness of our testimony! That should be the primary objective of every one of us – they hear us and they follow Jesus!

John 1 reminds us that being an Andrew does not involve fancy evangelism methods are memorizing lots of Scripture so you never make a mistake. Being an Andrew means getting them to Jesus and then trusting Jesus to make the transformation. Al Braca knew his purpose in life was more than being stuck in a job he did not enjoy. His calling was to introduce Jesus Christ to his co-workers. And he took full advantage. Their lives will never be the same.

Until Next Week,

Derek

PRAISE:

Yesterday the power of the Holy Spirit was on display in our 11:00 service. We stood in awe of the power of God as people walked the aisle, professing faith for salvation. Please welcome these to our church family who were gloriously saved yesterday:

Jim Parris – profession of faith

Rita Parris – rededication

Richard Thomas – profession of faith

Elisha Smart – profession of faith

Melissa Stephenson – profession of faith

Derrick Bowen – profession of faith

James Dudley – profession of faith

Amey Dudley – profession of faith

JD Dudley – profession of faith

PRAYER:

As both praise and prayer, please lift up Will and Rebekah McGee, the unanimous recommendation of our personnel team as our College Pastor, who will be with us in view of a call on July 24. The personnel team will introduce Will and Rebekah on Wednesday, July 20, at 6:15 PM.

Made to Count

2011-06-07T10:12:00.002-05:00

“For me to live is Christ; to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

I wonder how many of us have prayed this verse, or quoted it as our life verse? It is one thing to quote it. It is another to live it! I wonder how many of us have lived it like BJ Higgins. Walker Moore started Awe Star Ministries in Tulsa, Oklahoma to help 14 - 17 year old kids go through a rite of passage into adulthood - through missions. Since inception fifteen years ago, Awe Star Ministries has placed thousands of young people around the world to share the gospel.

One of the young men was BJ Higgins. BJ went to minister to the people of Peru in the summer of 2005. During his time there over 5,000 Peruvians gave their lives to Jesus Christ. While ministering the gospel of Christ, BJ caught the bubonic plague.

When BJ's father asked him whether or not he was praying for God to heal him, BJ said that his prayer is that his life be used by God for the furtherance of the gospel, and if that means he lives, he is asking for healing. But, if the gospel is furthered through his death, he is asking God to take him home. BJ died in late summer of August 2005 of bubonic plague.

The story of BJ's life, written by his parents Brent and Deanna Higgins, with excerpts from the journals of BJ, is called I Would Die for You. It is #1 on Amazon's bestseller list among teenagers. BJ didn't talk about missions, he lived it. BJ wasn't concerned about his own legacy; he was captivated by Christ's legacy. BJ understood that a man is not really ready to live until he is fully prepared to die at any moment. It reminds me of a statement by martyred missionary to Auca Indians, Jim Elliott: “When it comes time to die, make sure all you have to do is die.”

BJ wrote these words in his journal before he died:

I will not be satisfied.

I will not let my passion be held in a bottle.

I will not let my light be hidden.

I will stand up.

I will let my voice be heard.

I will lead. I will serve. I will fight.

I will tell people about Christ.

I will unsheathe my sword.

It's time to raise a revolution.

God will give me the strength.

(BJ Higgins, 1989-2005)

You were made to count! Like BJ, invest in the lives of others and leave your unknown future in the hands of a known Savior.

Until Next Week,

Dr. Derek

A Few Good Men

2011-05-27T10:22:00.004-05:00

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (I Corinthians 15:58)

On October 8, 1918, Sergeant Alvin C. York singlehandedly captured 132 German soldiers, a feat that earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor. Sergeant York displayed the kind of courage and selflessness that is required of heroes. One of the reasons I believe he stood out and became a hero to many is because of his faith. Listen to a quote he made in his diary of his experience in World War II.

On July 1st, 1918 he wrote:

I carried a Testament with me. I have the Testament I carried with me during all my fighting at home now. I read it through five times during my stay in the army. I read it everywhere. I read it in dugouts, in fox holes, and on the front line. It was my rock to cling to. It and my diary. I didn’t do any cursing, no, not even in the front line. I cut all of that out long ago, at the time I was saved. You see, a hero is someone who does much more than just an amazing thing. A hero is someone who reflects heroism in his life. A hero is someone who does heroic things, because his character demands it.

Ben Tomlinson, Leon Hardy, and Dwayne Williams are some of my heroes.

They are men with amazing character. Ben is currently in CCU at Bethesda Naval Hospital recovering from a gunshot wound he received in Afghanistan a little over a week ago. Leon Hardy lost a leg while serving our country in Vietnam. Dwayne Williams was killed while serving his country in the September 11, 2001 blast that struck the Pentagon. Today he walks the streets of glory.

These men have several things in common. They are believers in Jesus Christ. They have roots in Jacksonville and First Baptist Church. They have faithfully served their countries in military service. However, one thing in particular that they share in common: THEY ARE HEROES. They join a long list of men and women from our church and community who have put their lives in harm’s way for the cause of freedom. They join a long list of faithful soldiers who have done heroic things because their character demanded it. They are our heroes.

As you go through your week, remember those who have paid a heavy price for freedom. Pray for them. Remember their families. Show love and support. Any anytime you see someone in uniform, please give them the honor and respect due them for their service to our country.

Dr. Derek

PRAISE:

Welcome to the church family:

Lora Clarkson

Brenda Holt

Robert Holt Katie Harper Nathan Harper

Julie and I are celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary on Thursday and then on Friday, our family will be traveling to Mrytle Beach, SC for a week of vacation. I am so thankful for my family.

PRAYER:

Please continue to pray for Ben as he recovers at Bethesda Naval hospital. Today they will be removing the ventilator and putting in a tracheotomy. Please remember Chuck, Debbie, Dan, Sam, and all their family.

Please remember Brenda Downing and her family in the loss of her sister, Samantha Dobbins.

Pray for Jay as he prepares to preach this weekend in my absence. Pray for the Holy Spirit to provide clarity as he teaches on the importance of communication in the home.

Pray for our Honduras mission team as they make final preparations for their trip on June 25 – July 1.

Pray for our first team to China in August. Pray for our college students as they are in the process of raising funds for the trip. We are anticipating a cost of about 2700 – 3000 per person. I am convinced the Lord will provide. He is so faithful. I plan to walk about 20 miles while we are in China, and you can sponsor me per mile if you feel led. All resources I collect will be divided among our students. Call or come by the office if you have any questions.

Plugged In To Wonder Working Power

2011-04-12T13:54:00.000-05:00

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the

synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever

get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in

private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are

answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don’t be like them, for your Father

knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon.

May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us

our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but

rescue us from the evil one. If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will

forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matt. 6: 5-15,

NLT)

“Prayer is beyond any question the highest activity of the human soul. Man is at his greatest and

highest when he comes face to face with God.” (Martyn Lloyd Jones) You may be like me today.

You hold prayer with the utmost respect, yet you know your own prayer life lacks purpose and vitality.

There are many reasons why Christians struggle in prayer, but one overriding factor. Listen to Martyn

Lloyd Jones:

“It is the highest activity of the human soul, and at the same time the ultimate test of a man’s

true spiritual condition. There is nothing that tells the truth about us as Christians so much as our

prayer life. Ultimately, we discover the real condition of our spiritual life when we are alone with

God . . . and find that we have less to say to God when alone with him than when we are in the

presence of others?”

Alone With God – is that your greatest desire today? Do you believe that prayer is a vital part of

our Christian experience? What are you willing to do to experience God’s power? Are you willing . . .

To close the book of complaints and open the book of God’s praise? (Psalm 103)

To ignore what you feel life owes you and think more about what you owe others?

To cease unforgiveness that leads to bitterness and just once and for all – LET IT GO?

To stop looking for friendship and start being a friend?

To be content with the material things God has already given and stop fretting about the things you

don’t have?

To enjoy God’s simple blessings and stop striving for the artificial pleasures of the day?

To quit looking for someone to help you and begin devoting yourself to helping others come to know

Christ?

Alone with God! Is that your heart desire today? If not, why do you feel as if your prayer life is

nonexistent? What do you need to change this week to experience His “wonder working power”?

Will you get still enough to know that He is God? Find a quiet place and kneel before the Lord of all

the earth. Know that He loves you and that He desires intimate communication with you.John

MacArthur says prayer is as easy as “breathing.” Stop holding your breath? Just breathe.

Dr. Derek

The Fruitful Life: Faithfulness

2011-03-14T09:21:00.001-05:00

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its

passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

(Galatians 5:22-24)

Faithfulness is an internal attitude that has to do with faithfulness before

God, not faith in God. It is a picture of someone who doesn’t waver in

loyalty to God, someone who follows through with commitments regardless

of difficulty. Faithfulness is love hanging on; love saying “I will not quit!”

Faithfulness is spiritual stick-to-itiveness!

When Paul wrote to Timothy, he wanted to make sure Timothy understood

the importance of staying on track, moving forward, and standing tall, just

being faithful. When it came time for Paul to give a living example, he had

to look no further than himself (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Paul had already

reminded Timothy of the duties of faithful ministry, and he wanted to give

him another compelling reason to stay the course: Paul would soon die and

Timothy must carry on the work.

So, when Paul reviewed his life he offered three statements to Timothy

about the urgent necessity of faithfulness:

The Good Fight – He stayed with it, in spite of the rigors and sacrifices

that the ministry brought to Paul.

The Finished Course – Paul said he endured to the end. He successfully

completed his life before God. He remained true to the gospel. Perhaps

he was told of Jesus declaring “I have brought you glory on earth by

completing the work you gave me to do” (John 17:4).

The Kept Faith – In life and in doctrine, he stayed the course with integrity.

Paul’s charge to Timothy is ours as well. We need to faithfully finish our

own race. Someone once said, “God’s call upon each life is different in

details and specifics, but he desires faithful endurance from all of us.” God

wants us to stay with it, to stand tall for the cause of the gospel, to never

waver in our loyalty to our Savior. After all, we know what lies ahead: “the

crown of righteousness.” We know who will give it to us: “the righteous

judge.” And we know the future does not exist for us alone, but for “all who

long for his appearing.” How awesome is that!!!

Dr. Derek

2011-03-08T09:32:00.000-06:00

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to

Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the

Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22-24)

The fruit of the Spirit are not emotions. They are qualities determined by how we act,

not how we feel! For example, we may get angry (an emotion) but if we don’t act

unkindly, we can still display the fruit of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says “In your anger

do not sin.” (Eph. 4:26) It does not say that anger is sin. It does say we are not to let

our anger (an emotion) cause us to sin (an act).

For review, here is what we examined yesterday concerning kindness and goodness:

Kindness is the Imprint of God upon His Creation

Kindness is defined as “tender concern for others.” Kindness is the genuine desire of a

believer to treat others gently. Where did that inner yearning come from? Let’s allow

the Scriptures to answer that question:

“For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all

generations.” (Psalm 100:5)

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” (Psalm

106:1)

“For God so loved the world that he gave...” (John 3:16)

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of

God.” (1 John 3:1)

Josephus, a first-century historian, noted that the believers were so kind that many

people did not know whether their title was “follower of Christ” or “follower of kindness.”

May that also be true of us! Let’s remember God’s loving kindness toward us in

sending His only Son to be a sacrifice for our sin. May God’s kindness “imprint” forever

be stamped on our hearts.

Goodness is the Generosity that flows from a Kind Heart

Goodness is a rare word found only 4 times in the New Testament, and used only once

by Paul. It conveys the idea of generosity toward someone else, a going the second

mile. It has to do with moral and spiritual excellence that flows from a grace-filled heart.

So, the kind goodness of God – poured out in our lives through the sacrifice of Christ –

is the ultimate display of what it means to reflect the glory of God to the world. Listen to

these Scriptural mandates:

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do

justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

“Be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave

you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

“So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those

who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)

Notice how loving kindness and walking humbly are connected to a forgiving spirit and a

desire for moral purity. John Wesley said, “Do all the good you can by all the means

you can in all the places you can at all the times you can to all the people you can as

long as ever you can.” Mark Twain said, "Kindness is the language which the deaf can

hear and the blind can see."

There are hundreds of ways you can show kindness and goodness. You can:

Visit the sick, the elderly, and the lonely

Call the discouraged

Do favors for others

Bear the burdens for others

Encourage the downtrodden

Give to the needy

So, rate yourself today? How kind are you to people in the world? How kind are you to

people who are close to you? What steps will you take today to display kindness and

goodness this week?

Dr. Derek

The Fruitful Life: Patience

2011-03-01T09:13:00.001-06:00

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to

Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the

Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”(Galatians 5:22-24)

Patience comes from macrothumia, a compound word. Macro means “long” and thumia

means “temper” or “explosion.” It is the exact opposite of a short temper of a short

explosion. Patience is defined as:

Self-restraint under pressure.

The calm willingness to accept situations that are painful or irritating without

getting edgy.

The ability to persevere when outcomes don’t develop as soon as we expected.

So, how patient are you? If you charted your life as a Christian, what would it look like?

Jesus said, “Abide in me and you will bear much fruit” (John 15:5). How is your day-to-

day existence with God? What situations has God placed you in to teach you patience?

You and I need to remember that God’s agenda is of “conforming us into the image of

Jesus Christ” (Romans 8:29). The purpose of God often develops slowly because we

are always in a hurry and God’s designs are never hurried. Phillips Brooks, the great

New England preacher, was feverishly pacing the floor one day when a friend asked,

“What’s the trouble Mr. Brooks?” His reply was, “The trouble is that I am in a hurry, but

God isn’t!” Haven’t we felt that same way many times?

Abide in Christ this week. Slow down your frantic pace. When you are tempted to

respond to difficulty with anger, restrain your anger. Develop the calm assurance that

God is in control and rest in his guiding hand. When you are in difficult situations that

tempt you to explode – remember Billy.

A guy stops in the grocery store on the way home from work to pick up some things for

his wife. He wanders aimlessly, searching out the needed groceries. While at the store

he noticed another father trying to shop with a totally uncooperative three-year-old boy

in the cart. The little boy was asking over and over again for a candy bar. He heard Dad say,

“Now, Billy this won’t take long.” As they paused in the next aisle the little tot’s pleas

had increased several octaves. Dad was quietly saying, “Billy, just calm down. We’ll be

done in a minute.”

Then the kid started screaming uncontrollably. Dad just kept his cool. In a very low

voice he was saying, “Billy. Settle down. We’re almost out of here.” The Dad reached

the checkout counter and Dad gave no evidence of losing control. The boy, on the

other hand, was screaming and kicking. Dad kept calmly saying over and over, “Billy,

we will be in the car in just a minute and then everything will be ok!”

The shopper was impressed beyond words. After paying for his groceries, he hurried to

catch up with this amazing example of patience just in time to hear him say again, “Billy,

we’re done. It’s going to be ok.” He tapped the patient father on the shoulder and said,

“Sir, I couldn’t help but watch how you handled little Billy. You were amazing!” Dad

replied, “You don’t get it, do you? I’m Billy!”

Dr. Derek

The Fruitful Life: Peace

2011-02-22T10:11:00.000-06:00

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22-24)

The Handbook of the United States Peace Corps says what a Peace Corp volunteer has to do if he is attacked by an anaconda snake. The anaconda is the largest snake in the world. You might think it was the boa constrictor. The anaconda is in the family with the boa constrictor, but it is larger than that. The anaconda snake grows to be 35 feet long and can weigh about 400 pounds. For the volunteers that are assigned to the Amazon Jungle, there is a section in the Peace Corp Handbook on what to do if you are attacked by an anaconda snake. There are 10 steps here that you are supposed to follow:

1. If you are attacked by an anaconda, do not run. The snake is faster than you are.
2. Lie flat on the ground. Put your arms tight against your sides, your legs tight together.
3. Tuck in your chin.
4. The snake will come and begin to nudge and begin to climb over your body.
5. Do not panic.
6. After the snake has examined you, it will begin to swallow you from the feet in, always from the feet in. Permit the snake to swallow your feet and ankles. Do not panic.
7. The snake will now begin to suck your legs into its body. You must lie perfectly still. This will take a long time.
8. When the snake reaches your knees, slowly and with as little movement as possible, reach down, take out your knife, & very gently slide it between the edge of the snakes mouth and your leg. Then suddenly rip upwards severing the snake’s head.
9. Be sure to have your knife with you.
10. Be sure your knife is sharp.

I don’t know if the person who shared this with me was stretching the truth a bit because I can’t really see something like this in the Peace Corps Handbook. But it does tell about the importance of a calm interior in the face of a stormy exterior. Let me remind you of our study yesterday:

Peace – A quiet interior that leads to a calm exterior. Peace is a verb that has to do with binding together and reflects the expression “having it all together.” Peace means everything is in place as it ought to be.

Someone said, "My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished two bags of M&Ms and a chocolate cake. I feel better already."

I. Peace is the benefit of salvation. (Rom 5: 1)

II. Peace is given to us by Jesus. (John 14:27)

III. Peace has no relationship to circumstances. (Rom 8:28)

IV. Peace means there is no reason to be anxious or afraid. (Phil. 4:6-7)

V. Peace is always present when our focus is on the giver of peace, not the trait of peace itself. I love this quote by Charles Spurgeon: “I looked at Christ and the dove of peace flew into my heart. I looked at the dove of peace and it flew away.”

So, keep your eyes on Jesus. Set your constant gaze on Him. Never forget: Jesus died on the cross to give you peace. Then you can experience inner calmness when walking through a storm.

Dr. Derek

2011-02-15T12:44:00.001-06:00

Love is the highest virtue of the fruitful life. Paul said, “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us.” (Rom. 5:5) Jesus reminded us of the imperative of love: By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) Love, agape love, always puts the needs of others before self. Agape love sees what people can be rather than what they are. Agape love is the proof of your Christianity.

Joy is the evidence of God’s presence in your life. Christian joy is a feeling of wholeness based on spiritual realities, a deep-down sense of well being that abides in the heart of a person who knows “God and I” are alright. Christian joy is the deep, settled peace that comes to live within your heart when you make Jesus Lord of your life. Joy is God’s gift to believers!

Joy comes when you let Christ live his life through you. Jesus said “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11) Joy is different from happiness. Bible mentions "joy" or "rejoicing" 330 times. But it only mentions "happiness" 26 times. Happiness depends upon what happens to you. So if all the circumstances are right, then you can be happy. But joy comes from inside. Happiness depends upon outward circumstances. Joy comes from inward circumstances. So, our joy is not dependent on outward circumstances, but an inward presence!

Real love and joy can be your mission this week if you are willing to do three things:

1. You Must Put Jesus First! Love and joy are the by-products of being intimately involved with the Lord Jesus Christ.

2. You Must Put Others Second! A perfect example is John 15:5-11. It’s the night before the crucifixion of Jesus. He is in the upper room with His apostles. Soon He will be going to Gethsemane. Soon He will be arrested, tried, and convicted of crimes He did not commit. Soon they will be laughing at Him. Soon they will put a crown of thorns on His head, and mockingly call Him "the king of the Jews." Soon they will slap Him, spit upon Him, and whip Him. Soon His body will be nailed to a cross, and He will die. And He knows that all of this is going to happen. It’s not a very joyful time, is it?

But listen to what He says in John 15:8-11, "This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." On the last night of

His life, facing the cross, Jesus talks about love and joy. And the next day

He goes to the cross and dies for us. That’s putting others second!

3. You Must Put Yourself Last!

Phil. 2: 5 says, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” What kind of attitude was in Christ Jesus? Hebrews 12: 2 says, “…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus emptied himself of the glories of heaven, became a man, made that man a servant, and took that body to the cross and willingly died. You see, the joy that was set before Jesus was doing the will of God.

We must be like John who said, “I must decrease and he must increase.” (John 3: 30). How do you put yourself last? Try visiting the nursing home, or mowing someone’s lawn who is not physically able, or serve in our preschool and children’s ministry. These are just a few examples of what it means to put the needs of others above our own.

Until Next Week,

Derek

The Fruitful Life

2011-02-09T13:03:00.000-06:00

The fruitful life is the only life to live. When you repented of sin and placed personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the third part of the Trinity took up permanent residence in your life (Eph. 1:13). So, the Holy Spirit is a gift from God to you. The Holy Spirit is living in you. You have a divine guest living within you whether you realize He is there or not. So, there is a vast difference between a person who has the HS and the person who does not? At least there should be!

A few years ago Julie and I bought an older house and it was not very attractive. It was pale green, covered on the inside with nicotine, and the bathroom countertops were black. So we painted and cleaned and replaced all we could afford to update. The house, physically speaking, was much the same. But once we moved in we saw it from a different point of view. Becoming a Christian is very similar. Even though our earthly house remains pretty much the same, a new tenant moves in, the Holy Spirit, and we begin to see life from a different point of view!

So, as you begin a new week, ponder these questions:

·Do you desire the fruitful life? (v. 16) Remember that “walk” is a present tense verb denoting a continuous, regular, habitual way of life). What we have here is not an option. We have a command: walk by the Spirit. Let His power guide you and go where he leads. Don't ever cut yourself off from the Holy Spirit.

·Have you denounced sin in your life? (v.17-21) Let me remind you of what the martyred Nazi war prisoner said: "When Christ calls a man, He bids him, 'Come and die'. To follow Christ no matter what the cost, that is the way of the cross."

·Have you died to your own ambitions? (v. 24) Have you willingly nailed your sinful nature to the cross? If not, why not lay aside your corruptible flesh and declare total allegiance to the fruitful life today?

Derek

Slaves of Christ

2011-02-01T08:53:00.001-06:00

“Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:1)

“For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a slave of Christ.” (Galatians 1: 10)

“James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (James 1:1)

“Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ…” (Jude 1)

Over the Christmas holidays I read “Slave: The Hidden truth About Your Identity In Christ” by John MacArthur. A must read for every Christian who really wants to understand their true identity. He reminds us that the designate “Christian” appears only three times in the New Testament (Acts 11:26; 26: 28; I Peter 4:16) while a whole host of other terms are used to portray the followers of Jesus (children of God, citizens of heaven, lights of the world, etc.). However, one word is used more frequently than any of these: SLAVE.

MacArthur reminds us that time and time again throughout Scripture believers are referred to as “slaves of God” and slaves of Christ.” He states, “Whereas the outside world called the earliest believers Christians, these first believers repeatedly referred to themselves in the New Testament as the Lord’s slaves.” Read the following texts as examples:

Rom. 1:1; I Cor. 7:22; Gal. 1:10; Eph. 6: 6; Phil. 1:1; Col. 4:12; Titus 1:1; James 1:1; I Peter 2:16; 2 Pet. 1:1; Jude 1; and Rev. 1:1.

Listen to MacArthur’s analysis of what it truly means to be a Christian:

We don’t hear about this concept in churches today. Slavery is a distasteful concept to modern sensibilities. So we hear that God loves people unconditionally and wants them to be all they want to be. Personal ambition, personal fulfillment, personal gratification – these have all become part of the lexicon of evangelical Christianity – and the essence of what it means to have a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” Truth be known, the gospel is not simply an invitation to become Christ’s friend, associate in the battle, or companion on the journey. The Bible includes an unmistakable mandate to become His slave. That is what it means to be a Christian.

So, MacArthur’s teaching on the subject of our true identity in Christ is a Biblical portrait of anyone who would truly follow hard after Christ. It may not resonate in much of today’s seeker-sensitive “me” driven society. But it sure took up root in my life. It will take root in my preaching as well. He reminds us, “True Christianity is not about adding Jesus to my life. To be a Christian is to be Christ’s slave.”

I hope that brief synopsis whet’s your appetite enough to get to your local bookstore and purchase the book. Slave: The Hidden Truth About Your Identity in Christ may revolutionize your life as a devoted follower of Christ.

Dr. Derek

Sanctity of Life

2011-01-25T09:12:00.000-06:00

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." (Jer. 1:5)

“He set me apart before I was born, & called me by his grace.” (Gal. 1:15) (Eph.2:10)

The following is an article that was published by Baptist Press last week. I want you to read a portion of the article and then I will make a few observations.

Staggering: U.S. passed the 53 million abortion mark in 2010

Jan 14, 2011, by Michael Foust

At some point in 2010 -- 37 years removed from the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision -- a doctor in the United States performed the nation's 53 millionth legal abortion, a sobering stat that ethicists say should drive the public to speak up for the unborn. The statistic is based on data compiled by the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-choice organization whose studies are acknowledged by most major pro-choice organizations.

The nation's abortion rate reached a peak of 1.6 million in 1990 and has steadily fallen in most years ever since, although Guttmacher's latest data, from 2008, showed the abortion rate had risen slightly to 1,212,000 million from 1,206,000 in 2005, the most recent data point. Because Guttmacher no longer releases abortion data every year, the 53 million figure is based on assumptions that the abortion rate remained relatively unchanged in 2009 and 2010.

The 1973 Roe decision, coupled with the companion Doe v. Bolton ruling, legalized abortion nationwide for effectively any reason during all nine months of pregnancy. "Fifty-three million is the population of a medium-size country. Imagine the outcry if the people of Spain (46.1 million people) were destroyed by another nation," C. Ben Mitchell, professor of moral philosophy at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., and a consultant to the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, told Baptist Press. "Yet most of the world is silent about the destruction of the unborn. Christian love demands that we weep compassionately for the unborn, pray fervently that the killing would stop, work urgently for alternatives to abortion, and become the voice of the unborn in the public square.”

The last part of Dr. Mitchell’s statement provides our four-fold challenge concerning our love for the unborn:

· Weep compassionately for the unborn

· Pray fervently that the killing would stop

· Work urgently for alternatives to abortion

· Be the voice of the unborn in the public square

Now, let me share with you one exciting new ministry that will begin at our south campus as soon as the renovations can be done. Sav-A-Life will be opening a branch in Jacksonville at our south campus. Please pray for Michelle Payne as she leads this great ministry. Sav-A-Life provides some wonderful alternatives to abortion and will allow us to be the voice of the unborn in the public square. I am excited for this ministry to come to Jacksonville and I know God will use it for His glory.

Dr. Derek

Deep in Sleep

2011-01-18T08:51:00.000-06:00

“Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you earnestly contend for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” (Jude 3)

Yesterday I spoke of Richard Wurmbrand, the voice of the Underground Church in Romania, who was imprisoned on two separate occasions, finally being released in 1964. Why? Because he did not fall asleep, he was not Biblically ignorant, and he was not a coward when it came time to “contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). When one million Russian soldiers walked into Romania and brought Joseph Stalin’s godless communism into the country, Richard Wurmbrand chose truth over error, love over hate and conviction over cowardice. He refused to sit in silence like so many in the church have done when the evils of our world ran rampant through a society.

Richard Wurmbrand, a leader in the Underground Church of Romania both in and out of prison, declared the power of the Gospel in a godless time. He spoke out against communism when other pastors in the church were saying “communism and Christianity were fundamentally the same and could coexist” (Tortured for Christ, p. 15). He, along with many others in the Underground Church, chose to endure all things for the sake of Christ.

In his book “Tortured for Christ” he dedicated a chapter to today’s “Western Christian.” His message to us is simple:

“Don’t abandon us!”

“Don’t forget us!”

“Don’t write us off!”

“Give us the tools we need! We will pay the price for using them!”

He shares how you and I can help the Underground Church that exists around the world.

1. Pray for the persecutors that they may be saved.

2. Send Bibles and Bible portions to our brothers and sisters in the Underground Church. Thousands of Christians have not seen Bibles in Communist nations such as China or North Korea.

3. We must also join hands with the Underground Church in financial support as they continue one-on-one evangelism. One way you can do that is through the ministry “Voice of the Martyr’s.”

I want to encourage you to start praying today for the Underground Church and examine ways you and your family can support our brother and sisters who are declaring the greatness of Christ in countries hostile to the Gospel. I leave you with the words of Richard Wurmbrand:

“When I was beaten on the bottom of the feet, my tongue cried. Why did my tongue cry? It was not beaten. It cried because the tongue and the feet are both part of the same body. And you free Christians are part of the same Body of Christ that is now beaten in prisons in restricted nations, that even now gives martyrs for Christ. Can you not feel our pain?

The early Church in all of its beauty, sacrifice, and dedication has come alive again in these countries.

While our Lord Jesus Christ agonized in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter, James, and John were a mere stone’s throw away in the greatest drama of history – but they were deep in sleep. How much of your own Christian concern is directed toward the relief of the martyr church? Will you sleep while your brethren in Christ suffer and fight for the gospel?

Will you hear our message: Remember us! Help us! Don’t abandon us!”

Dr. Derek

A New Heart

2011-01-11T12:31:00.001-06:00

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)

A story appeared several years ago (Jan. 7, 1986) in the Dallas Morning News of a 14-year-old girl named Donna Ashlock, who lived in Patterson, CA. She was a bright girl, very popular in school, athletic in nature, with a charming personality. But there was one thing wrong with Donna Ashlock. She had a very diseased heart.

The doctors decided that a heart transplant was the only thing that could save her life. And if there was no heart available to transplant, she would probably die. The story gets more involved. There was a 15-year-old boy by the name of Felipe Garza who fell head over heels in love with Donna. He loved the way she looked. He loved the way she talked. For a long time he just sort of swooned every time she walked by.

One day he heard that she might die, and he told his parents that he wished that he could take his heart out and put it in Donna so that she would live, even though it meant that he would die. The story goes on. One day Felipe Garza, the picture of health, had a blood vessel rupture in his brain, leaving him brain dead, but all of his organs healthy. In their grief, his parents decided to give his organs away.

Among the organs that were donated was his heart, and it now beats inside the body of Donna Ashlock. His parents said, "He gave his heart to his girlfriend. I know that is what he wanted to do. The way we look at it he gave her his heart twice, and both times he really meant it."

Ezekiel tells us in chapter 36 of God’s promise to restore Judah to Its rightful place of prominence. Judah’s neighboring nations devoured the Lord’s people, and God pledged to restore and vindicate his people. The pagan nations possessed Judah’s land and devoured its inhabitants. Yet God, in his holy jealousy, swore that he would bring shame upon the nations and restore Judah to her former glory. Despite her sin, God will revive Judah. God will gather them and bless them for the sake of his own glory. He will cleanse them from their sins (v. 25), give them a new heart (v. 26), place his Spirit within them (v. 27-28), deliver them from their uncleanness ( v. 29-32), and reverse the desolation of the land (v. 33-38).

What I love about this text is the picture of God giving them a new heart. As he has done for Judah he has also done for his new creation, the church. He has removed our stone heart and replaced it with one that reveals his incredible love for us. Just as God restored Israel for the sake of His holy name, He has redeemed us with precious blood for the sake of His holy name.

The Lord has given us a “new heart” and a “new spirit” so that we might walk in newness of life. His Spirit we receive at conversion enables us to follow His leading in our lives through the application of His Word. In essence, our every step is to be an indicator of His control over us. We are the exclusive ownership of a new Master, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Why would God take such drastic, bloody action to restore us to a right relationship with Him? 2 Corinthians 5:15 says we have been given a new heart so that “we should live no longer for ourselves, but for Him who died and rose again on our behalf.” We live for the sake of Christ. We love others for the sake of Christ. We grow to spiritual maturity for the sake of Christ. I don’t know about you but that sure makes me thankful for my “new heart.”

Dr. Derek

A New Year

2011-01-04T10:50:00.001-06:00

As I look back over 2010, I stand amazed at God’s faithfulness to our faith community. Here are my Top 7 ministry highlights for 2010:

· Conducted our very first “Ministry Fair”

· Trained more servants than ever for ministry

· Blessed with a record attendance of 1350 at Easter

· Saw 654 profess faith in Honduras

· Raised $15,000 to clothe 216 kids in Santa Elena, Honduras

· Overwhelmingly adopted our 10-year vision plan

· Baptized more teenagers than in any year since 1993

Wow!! Our God is so faithful. Like you, I realize that we cannot sit back and rest while the lostness of humanity grows. We must hear Paul’s advice to the Philippians as if he were speaking directly to us:

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 3:12-14)

I am making this passage my life verses for 2011. I want to “press on.” I want to be a man who, like Paul, is expectant and positive about the things which are before him. Most people are afraid of the future. Uncertainty and insecurity about the days that lie ahead fill the heart with fear and anxiety, but you and I need not fear! Jesus is on the throne. He is in control. He is powerful enough to do anything.

Let’s look to the future with expectancy and excitement. Let’s Look to the future in a positive light, because we know that there is a God in heaven who says, "If He be for us, who can be against us", who gives us the confidence to say; "I can do all things through Christ Jesus which strengthens me."

Let’s “press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." What greater achievement in life can we have than to give our all in this life, knowing that one day we will be crowned by Christ on that day and hearing Him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant" (2 Tim. 4:7-8) This is the high calling of God in Christ. I look forward to our journey together!

Dr. Derek

A Christmas Prayer

2010-12-28T11:24:00.000-06:00

"At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, "Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!" Jesus' parents were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby's mother, "This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul." (Luke 2: 25-35)

I enjoyed digging into Simeon's life and thought his example would be a great way for us to end this year and prepare for an incredible year of ministry ahead. As the story opens, we see Mary and Joseph obeying the Law. The Law said that when a mother gave birth to a male child, that on the 8th day, the child was to be circumcised. On the 40th day after his birth, the parents were to take the child to the Temple and present him to God and offer a sacrifice of consecration with 2 turtle doves or young pigeons.

But Mary and Joseph didn't know that when they arrived at the temple there would be an old man waiting for them. His name is Simeon. He has waited all his life for this moment. Simeon is a part of a group of Hebrew men who were called the "quiet of Israel." They devoted their lives to praying, meditating on God's Word, and to waiting for the coming of the Messiah.

What are you waiting for as you approach a new year? A man was sleeping when his wife shook him, "Wake up, someone is breaking in!" He had gone through this almost every night for 20 yrs, and he knew that the only way he would get any rest was to go and check it out. This time, however, there was a man with a gun who had entered to rob the house.

As the thief was about to flee, "Wait, you have to come with me and meet my wife." The thief said, "Why would you want me to meet your wife?" "Well, she's been expecting you for 20 years."

Well, I would loved to have been in the Temple when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus in to be dedicated. Simeon knew God's promise to him was being unfolded before his very eyes. He had seen salvation with his own eyes. Joseph and Mary were amazed when an old man took their son into his arms and spoke such powerful words. Simeon reminded them that Jesus was indeed a gift from God; the Messiah who would be a light to the world. He told them that God had indeed provided a Savior, but salvation is not automatic. Those with faith and those without faith would be clearly distinguished. He concluded by reminding Mary that she would be grieved by the widespread rejection Jesus would face.

Simeon knew that Jesus was not just going to be the Savior of the remnant - believing Israel. He was going to be the Savior of the world, "a light of revelation to the Gentiles…" - the only way of salvation, the one name whereby a man or a woman comes to God.

He says how every man, woman, boy and girl responds to Jesus will determine his or her fate both now and forevermore. He says, "You reject Jesus and He is appointed for your fall, but you embrace Jesus and you will rise with Him like the dawn. Accept Him and find eternal life; reject Him, and live in death forever.

Remember as you approach 2011 that Jesus is the issue and that you and I are called to tell everyone we meet the good news of the glorious gospel. Like Simeon, let's live each day in obedience so that when the time comes God can use us. Like Simeon, let's never lose our hope that one day we too will see the Messiah!

What a way to go out …….

Dr. Derek

The Advent of Peace

2010-12-20T10:45:00.000-06:00

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." (Luke 2: 14)

“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”

(John 14:27)

Jesus is not to us as Christmas is to the world, here today and gone tomorrow. That is the true meaning of his coming. That is the meaning of our Savior, Christ and Lord. “Glory to God in the highest” is a descriptive word of heaven. The dwelling place of God and on earth brings perfect peace as Christ comes to dwell among men.

Today, men everywhere are talking about peace. In Washington, in the Middle East, in Iraq, many are trying to produce peace. There is no peace on earth except among men in whom “God is well pleased.” That’s the basis of God’s peace.

This little boy passing from babyhood, from childhood, and youth will stand about thirty years of age on the verge of his Messianic mission. He is baptized, and follows his baptism with a great teaching and healing ministry, calling men to repentance. He marches to Calvary and sheds his blood. He becomes the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I would be made pleasing to God. He conquers the grave and triumphantly returns to the Father as our victorious King.

He leaves us with a precious gift: His personal peace. This is the end result of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives – a deep and lasting peace. Christ’s peace ensures us that, despite any and all circumstance, we have no need to fear the present or the future. Let’s make sure this is the message we proclaim.

In the Indian Ocean there is a Christmas Island; an almost lost, isolated speck of land. There is another Christmas Island, an equally isolated speck of land almost lost in the Pacific Ocean. Christmas is always an island; an island of hope in a world of despair, an island of love in a world of indifference, an island of giving in a self-centered world.

All we could ever imagine, could ever hope for, He is.... He is the Prince of Peace whose first coming has already transformed society but whose second coming will forever establish justice and righteousness.

Dr. Derek

The Advent of Joy

2010-12-14T08:14:00.000-06:00

“In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2: 8-11)

“Joy to the World” is Isaac Watts’ interpretation of Psalm 98, which says, “Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth” (verse 4). I suspect as Isaac Watts studied Psalm 98, he pondered the real reason for shouting joyfully to the Lord. The Messiah has come to redeem us. The “good news of great joy” is that we have a Savior, and he is Christ the Lord!

The angels of Heaven are teaching us about joyful expression as they announced the birth of Jesus to shepherds in the fields. They were terrified, their fear quickly turned to joy. They ran to see the baby and then they ran to spread the news of great joy to the world.

C. S. Lewis said, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” The angels direct the shepherds, and in a way to us as well, to declare the joy of a Savior to the world. Janet Stuart surmises: “To be a joy-bearer and a joy-giver says everything, for in our life, if one is joyful, it means that one is faithfully living for God, and that nothing else counts; and if one gives joy to others one is doing God’s work; with joy without and joy within, all is well . . . I can conceive no higher way.”

Today we have “Good News of Great Joy.” A Savior has been born. He is Christ the Lord. He is Christ Our Lord. He is Christ MY LORD!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

(Isaac Watts, 1719)

Dr. Derek

The Advent of Love

2010-12-07T08:31:00.000-06:00

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity." (Micah 5:2)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Why Bethlehem? Why a seemingly obscure town to display the greatest measure of love the world has ever known? Bethlehem means “House of Bread” and is the birthplace of the Davidic dynasty. Eprathrah is comparable in today’s culture to the name of the county inclusive of the town (Jacksonville, Calhoun). Here we have a seven-century old prophecy explicitly fulfilled by Christ. At the “House of Bread” the Bread of Life was born into the world!

Micah decrees that this “Ruler in Israel” is “of old, from everlasting.” Though the Messiah’s lineage could be traced back to his royal ancestor (David), his roots go all the way back to eternity. The love displayed in a manger over two-thousand years ago has eternal beginnings and endings. Jesus echoed Micah’s prophecy in John 3:16 by revealing the kind of “love” that carried eternal marks.

“Agape” love is unconditional love that reveals the sacrificial heart of the Savior. And what was God’s motive in the birth of Christ. “For God so loved…” There you have it! God’s love was turned into an act of giving. He gave his very best for a specific reason: “…that all who believes in him would never perish.” WOW! Now that’s LOVE.

God’s deepest desire is to have depraved, sinful man restored to himself. God, out of love for us, became like us, so that we might become like him in eternal heaven. I pray this thought captures your heart and your every thought this holiday season. God loved me so much that he gave his only Son. He gave to me first. He is my role model for giving.

Dr. Derek

Yesterday’s worship was in a word: INCREDIBLE! What a great way to kick off our Christmas offering and our new message series. Our goal this year is the largest in our church’s history: $30,000. I can’t wait to see what God does through his people. Our “Change the World” globes have paid for themselves many times over. Our volunteer counters spent over three hours yesterday counting all the change. Hallelujah!!

To have the Andersons here from Honduras was a special treat. They are our missionaries in Honduras and are on furlough until December 22. All three services were very emotional for us. We wept several times as they shared about delivering all the clothes to over 216 children at the school in Santa Elena. I will never forget two of the experiences Michael and Alba shared with us. I can picture it this morning:

*A mother carries her crippled son three miles to school every day, stays to carry him from classroom to classroom, and then the three mile trip home. I can see the look on her face when her son is given a new wheelchair. I can see the tears streaming down her tired cheeks as emotion swept over her. I can see the look on her child’s face. PRICELESS!!

*A dad receives a ride from Michael and Alba as he goes to the clinic with his baby. When asked if he is a Christian he responds: NO. They stop at the apex of the mountain as Michael and Alba share the good news of Jesus Christ. He prays to receive Christ as his personal Savior in what Michael described for us as a “mountain top experience.” PRICELESS!!

Our Family Friendly Christmas message series and the website designed to support it started off with a bang! As a reminder, go towww.familyfriendlychristmas.org and see all the helpful resources designed to help us keep the miracle of the manger in focus. Invite someone to be with you for worship in the remaining three weeks of the year. Together let’s declare to the world: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased.” (Luke 2: 14)

The Advent of Hope

2010-11-30T08:14:00.000-06:00

“The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.” (Isaiah 9:2)

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." (John 8:12)

We marked the start of our Advent celebration yesterday by celebrating the message of hope through the prophets’ declaration that the Messiah would bring the “Light of life” to the hearts of men. Jesus proclaimed that he was Isaiah’s “great light.” He is our hope. That is a promise we must cling to because there are going to be things happen to you in this life that will make you cling to that eternal hope because there is no other.

Wally and Barbara Rendel know that’s true. Wally was minister at the Southern Acres Christian Church in Lexington for over 20 years. But a few years ago, they got the phone call that every parent dreads. Late one night an Ohio State Trooper told them their 21 year old daughter Jill was killed when the van that she was riding in, with the rest of the girls’ basketball team from her college, had overturned.

Jill was vivacious, on the dean’s list, popular, and was selected by her student body as Homecoming Queen just several days before she was killed. She was a Daddy’s girl. The week before she died, she was home in Lexington and sat on her Dad’s lap for an hour just joking around. When Wally and Barbara received the news that Jill had been killed they were devastated. But within minutes, because of his faith, this Dad through tears said, "The Queen has gone home to be with the King."

There is something markedly different about the way Christians face death. Paul said, "We grieve, but not as those who have no hope." The funeral for Jill was packed. Over 1000 came. It was not a service of sadness, but a celebration of Jill’s ultimate victory in Christ and our promise of life eternal.

Toward the end of the service a young man sang a most moving song. It’s entitled, "I fell on my knees and cried Holy." The song says,

"I dreamed of a city called glory, so bright and so fair. When I entered the gates I cried holy, the angels all met with me there. They carried me from mansion to mansion. Oh, the sights that I saw. Then I said, "I want to see Jesus, for He’s the one who died for all."

Hope is Heaven Offering Peace Eternally to all who will trust Christ!

Dr. Derek

A Thanksgiving Blessing

2010-11-22T10:17:00.000-06:00

“Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.”

(Colossians 1: 12-13)

I cannot believe Thanksgiving is upon us. This is my fourth Thanksgiving in Jacksonville. As Julie and I finished our connection group bible study last night, I was sitting there thanking God for the precious people he has brought into my life. We are so blessed to live in Jacksonville and to serve alongside an incredible staff and church family.

Many of you asked about the Thanksgiving Proclamation by George Washington that I shared in the message yesterday. I am providing the full text of Washington’s proclamation for you. As you read the text, please note how our nation’s leaders were totally dependent upon God and his constant provision. And as you gather this week with your family for Thanksgiving, remember the blessings so graciously bestowed upon you. Acknowledge His power, protection and presence over your life and home. Remember where he has brought you and where he is leading you. Praise him. Serve him. Glorify him.

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and

Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed;-- for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been able to establish Constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted;-- for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge;-- and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;-- to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wife, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us); and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.

GIVEN under my hand, at the city of New York, the third day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.

(signed) G. Washington

Happy Thanksgiving,

Dr. Derek

Super-Human Forgiveness

2010-11-16T10:44:00.000-06:00

“So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so that you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” (Colossians 1: 9-14, NLT)

Albert Tomei is a justice of the New York State Supreme Court. He has been a judge for twenty-nine years and presently sits in the Criminal Term of the Supreme Court in Kings County, NY. A few years ago a young defendant was convicted in Judge Tomei’s court of gunning down another person execution style. The murderer had a bad record, was no stranger to the system, and only stared in anger as the jury returned its guilty verdict.

The victim’s family had attended every day of the two-week trial. On the day of sentencing, the victim’s mother and grandmother addressed the court. When they spoke, neither addressed the jury. Both spoke directly to the murderer. They both forgave him.

"You broke the Golden Rule – “loving God with all your heart, soul, and mind.” You broke the law – “loving your neighbor as yourself.” I am your neighbor," the older of the two women told him. "You have my address. If you want to write, I’ll write you back. I sat in this trial for two weeks, and for the last sixteen months I tried to hate you. But you know what? I could not hate you. I feel sorry for you, because you made a wrong choice."

Judge Tomei writes: "For the first time since the trial began, the defendant’s eyes lost their laser force and appeared to surrender to a life force that only a mother can generate: nurturing, unconditional love. After the grandmother finished, I looked at the defendant. His head was hanging low. There was no more swagger, no more stare. The destructive and evil forces within him collapsed helplessly before this remarkable display of humaneness." (www.preachingtoday.com)

In choosing the path of forgiveness, that grandmother unleashed a power that could not be tapped in any other way. And that power was what caused the defendant to hang his head for the first time. You never know how the power of God will be put on display when you choose the path of forgiveness.

Derek

Here is the link to the meal schedule for the Medlins, if you would like to participate in that.
http://www.TakeThemAMeal.com/meals.php?t=LCVR3501

Thanks!

Full Forgiveness

2010-11-10T10:39:00.002-06:00

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

Her name was 66730, or at least that was the name she went by. Her father had died in a German Concentration camp as did her sister. Her freedom, her dignity, her humanity had been stripped away by those who imprisoned her and yet she survived. They had robbed her of everything she ever possessed, but they couldn’t rob her of the one who possessed her, Jesus. She saw every day in Ravensbruck as a chance to minister to someone more needy then herself, and then one day she was released. As suddenly as she had become a prisoner, she was freed and her solitary aim was to minister to others.

When the war was over she began traveling and speaking while sharing her Savior and the vision that He had given her. And then one day, something happened, something that shook her to the very center of her being. By the way, you don’t know her as 66730. You know her as Corrie ten Boom. Listen to a portion of her story:

"It was at a church service in Munich that I saw him, the former S.S. man who had stood guard at the shower room door in the processing center at Ravensbruck. He was the first of our actual jailers that I had seen since that time. And suddenly it was all there, the roomful of mocking men, the heaps of clothing, Betsy’s pain blanched face.

He came up to me as the church was emptying, beaming and bowing. "How grateful I am for your message Fraulein," he said. "To think, as you say, He has washed my sins away!" His hand was thrust out to shake mine. And I, who had preached so often to the people in Bloemendall the need to forgive, kept my hand at my side.

Even as the angry vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them. Jesus Christ had died for this man: was I going to ask for more? Lord Jesus, I prayed, forgive me and help me to forgive him. I tried to smile. I struggled to raise my hand. I could not. I felt nothing, not the slightest spark of warmth or charity. And so again I breathed a silent prayer. Jesus, I cannot forgive him. Give me your forgiveness.

As I took his hand the most incredible thing happened. From my shoulder along my arm and through my hand a current seemed to pass from me to him, while into my heart sprang a love for this stranger that almost overwhelmed me.

And so I discovered that it is not on our forgiveness any more than on our goodness that this worlds healing hinges, but on His. When He tells us to love our enemies, He gives, along with the command, the love itself."

Forgiveness is to be once and for all. In Isaiah 43:25 God says, “I will not remember your sins.” Sometimes we feel like saying, “I can forgive, but I can’t forget.”

Forgiving doesn’t mean instant amnesia. The more we try to forget, the more we remember. Just decide not to remember. You can’t erase what happened in the past, but you can choose not to keep it current and replay the tapes daily. If it’s forgiven, it’s final.

Until Next Week,

Derek

Giving Glory to God

2010-11-02T08:59:00.001-05:00

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36)

In his book Dropping Your Guard, Chuck Swindoll tells of Flight 401 bound for Miami from New York City with a load of holiday passengers. As the huge aircraft approached the Miami Airport for its landing, a light that indicates proper deployment of the landing gear failed to come on. The plane flew in a large, looping circle over the swamps of the Everglades while the cockpit crew checked out the light failure. Their question: Had the landing gear actually not deployed or was it just the light bulb that was defective?

The flight engineer fiddled with the bulb. He tried to remove it, but it wouldn't budge. Another member of the crew tried to help out...and then another. By and by, if you can believe it, all eyes were on the little light bulb that refused to be dislodged from its socket. No one noticed that the plane was losing altitude. Finally, it dropped right into a swamp.

Many were killed in that plane crash. While an experienced crew of high-priced and seasoned pilots messed around with a seventy-five-cent light bulb, an entire airplane and many of its passengers were lost. The crew momentarily forgot the most basic of all rules of the air -- "Don't forget to fly the airplane!"

The same thing can happen to us today. We can get so busy doing “church” that we forget the fundamental calling our life: Do everything for the glory of God! We can get so busy spinning our “ministry plates” that we miss that which is of eternal significance – Giving God Glory!

Many churches are like that impressive invention which had hundreds of wheels, coils, gears, pulleys, belts, bells and lights which all went around and around and flashed at the touch of a button. When the inventor was asked about the function of the weird machine, he replied, "What does it do? Oh, it doesn't do anything, but doesn't it run beautifully?" Let's not be like Flight 401 or the invention that doesn't do anything! Our primary objective is to magnify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Never forget this fundamental truth: God’s Glory Should Be Your Sole and Constant Desire! Here are some verses that will help guide you in giving God glory this week:

“Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.” (I Cor. 8:6)

“And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all.” (I Cor. 15:28)

“For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.” (Heb. 2:10)

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 24-25)

Derek

For Mercy's Sake

2010-10-26T08:26:00.001-05:00

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” (Matthew 5: 7)

A young boy was sent to the corner store by his mother to buy a loaf of bread. He was gone much longer than it should have taken him. When he finally returned his mother asked, “Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick about you.” “Well,” he answered, “There was a little boy with a broken bike who was crying. So I stopped to help him.” “I didn’t know you knew anything about fixing bikes,” his mother said. “I don’t,” he replied. “I just stayed there and cried with him.”

This fifth beatitude forces us to ask a very difficult question. The pressing question of the hour and of this beatitude is "Are we merciful?" Perhaps there's no greater virtue that provides genuine salvation and conversion other than mercy.

It is one thing to quote this verse; it is another thing to practice what it says. It is one thing to preach about mercy; it is another thing to practice it. How does the subject of mercy apply to your life? How do you treat your wife, family, waitress, boss, co-workers, etc? The world will tell us to look out for number 1: Self, but the Lord tells us to look out for number 2: Others.

The Greek word Jesus employs comes from a Hebrew word meaning "the ability to get right inside another person's skin so as to feel with his feelings." Mercy identifies with the miserable in their misery. Mercy is the spirit of kindness. It is a propensity to pity.

Mercy is sometimes defined as sympathy. Sympathy means experiencing things together with other people; to suffer with them, literally going through what they're going through. This type of virtue Jesus is talking about here is that it looks for the opportunity to suffer and to hurt with others.

You may ask “Why is it so important that I extend mercy to others?” Jesus said, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36). God is the author of mercy and because I have received his grace, it makes me merciful as well. If I am not merciful, there is only one explanation. I've never understood the mercy and grace of God.

Let me give a practical suggestion as to how you can show mercy today.

Walk out of your house, open your eyes, and look! Just through the normal pattern of your life keep your eyes open. Be sensitive to the needs of others as you look out for #2 instead of #1. This beatitude forces us to look inside ourselves. It forces us to ask some hard questions.

· Am I gentle and compassionate, or hard-nosed toward the hurting, or those who have hurt me?

· Am I sensitive to the needs of those around me?

· Am I oblivious and preoccupied with my own little world?

· Do I care about the lost?

· Who am I sitting down and crying with today?

Derek

Taming the Tongue

2010-10-18T09:44:00.000-05:00

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (Proverbs 18: 21)

“Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, But Names Will Never Hurt Me.” I am sure you’ve said or heard that little children’s rhyme. Is there any truth to it? There are countless lives that have been scarred by the choice morsels that have fallen from the lips of other people. Kids at school call children names that leave permanent scars. People never hear words of encouragement at home, or maybe even at church, and it causes low self-esteem and a feeling of isolation. Maybe the rhyme would be better stated: Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but they can soon be mended. Names and Words have hurt my feelings, and the damage never ended!!

Words do hurt, and the pain can linger for years. This verse from Proverbs hits home to every one of us. It is a verse that relates to everyone. None of us can say we do not have anything to learn in the realm of tongue management. I want you to allow God’s Word to teach and convict today. If someone paid you ten cents for every kind word you said about people, and collected five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?

The power of speech is one of the greatest powers God has given us. With the tongue, man can praise God, pray, preach the Word, and lead the lost to Christ. What a privilege! Yet with that same tongue he can tell lies that could ruin a man’s reputation or break a person’s heart.

Remember these truths as you pray today:

· What you say and what you don’t say are both important.

· Before you speak, ask, “Is what I want to say true?” “Is it necessary?” “Is it kind?”

· It takes a child two years to learn to talk--it takes a man all his life to learn how to keep his mouth shut.

Derek

2010-10-04T12:35:00.002-05:00

Monday:

Reading: Romans 12: 6-8, I Cor. 12:8-1, and 1 Peter 4:10-11

Reflecting:

Write down the spiritual gift/gifts God has given you.

Are you exercising the gifts God has given you?

How is God glorified when we use our gifts and abilities?

Wednesday:

Reading: John 13:1-17

Reflecting:

According to John 13:1, Jesus knows the sins we have committed and will commit. Still, he loves us.

How do you respond to that kind of love?

Are you willing to follow Christ’s example of serving?

Who is God calling you to serve today?

Friday:

Reading: Romans 10: 14-15

Reflecting:

According to v. 14, what must be added to our good example in order for the what and the how of the gospel to be shared?

Is God calling you to take a part in making his message known in your community?

SEVEN THINGS TO FOCUS ON

· God has begun a mission in us that’s larger than life! (Phil. 1:6; Eph. 2:10)

· God will build HIS church HIS way! (Matthew 16:18)

· God will join us in the difficult days! (Daniel 3:25)

· God has more in store for us than we know. (Jer. 29:11-13)

· God wants us to stand firm, be courageous, and not back down from what He has called us to do! (1 Cor. 16:13)

· God did not call us because of our greatness but because of HIS greatness! (II Cor. 4:1)

· God has guaranteed us victory. (Romans 8:31-39)

2020 VISION PLAN: SEEING CLEARLY NOW!

The support of our 2020 Vision Plan was overwhelming. I am amped up (and I have not had an energy drink) this morning as I think about the components of our 10-year plan. Over the next decade our efforts will focus on:

· Reaching the students of Jacksonville State University

· Implementing our Growth Track

o Loving God

o Growing Together

o Serving Others

· Adopting an Unreached People Group

· Develop a Great Commission Budget

To get the full details on each of these components, you need to go to the web site and listen to the “2020 Vision” messages, and if you were not in any of our three services yesterday I hope you will pick up a commitment card and join the rest of your church family on what promises to be the journey of a lifetime. We know in the months ahead we are going to have to step out in crazy, insane obedience even before we know how God might pull it off! But, that’s what makes the faith journey so much fun.

PRAISE:

Welcome to the church family:

Megan Mohon

AWANA – Let me tell you what the Lord is doing in AWANA and where you are desperately needed. One of the reasons we purchased our bus was to pick-up children that need the love of Christ. The great news is every Wednesday night we bring in about 25 kids that desperately need our love and care. These are kids in great need. It reminds me of our ministry to the “Lenca” Indians of Honduras. These kids are right here in our backyard! They need AWANA in a major way! And AWANA NEEDS YOU!

We need at least 25 more volunteers with 15 of those being MEN. We need volunteers who can help in the fellowship hall at 5:00 PM when the children arrive and we provide them with a meal. Many of the kids we pick up are very hungry when they arrive. So, we need table hostesses to help us feed them prior to the start of AWANA. We need men that will love on these kids and help them discover Christ through the scriptures. Some of these kids may not have a dad at home and need to know that there are men who can teach boys how to be men.

In short, we need more help as AWANA grows. This is an opportunity for you to serve others in a big way. This is an opportunity for us to fulfill the Great Commission right here at home. This is an opportunity for you to invest your life in little ones who desperately need you. Why? BECAUSE KIDS MATTER TO GOD!!!

World Hunger-We are asking our church family to bring one or more canned good items for the JCOC next Sunday, October 10, to emphasis the need to step up and help feed hungry children here and around the world.

2020 Vision: Devotional Guide, Week III

2010-09-27T12:46:00.000-05:00

Monday:

Reading: Philippians 1:27-30

Reflecting:

What does it mean to live on earth as a citizen of heaven?

Write down a definition of conduct that is “worthy of the Good News of Jesus Christ.” Does that definition describe your life?

How do I protect the unity of the church by “standing side by side, fighting together for the faith?”

Wednesday:

Reading: Acts 2:41-47

Reflecting:

According to Acts 2:42-47, what ingredients make up a small group?

Are you seeking out other believers for fellowship, prayer, and teaching?

A healthy, loving church will grow in numbers. What are you doing to make your church the kind of place that will attract others to Christ?

Friday:

Reading: Romans 14:17-19; Hebrews 10:23-25

Reflecting:

What should be the “aim” of your life when it comes to your involvement in your church family?

Write down the names of some people in your small group and in your church family that need encouragement. How can you best encourage them? Pray for them right now?

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE EXPECT FROM A SMALL GROUP

· People will accept you for who you are.

· People will pray for you to become what God wants you to be.

· People will support you with kindness and love.

· People will rejoice with you in good times and care for you in hard times.

· People will welcome you into the Christ-centered community of faith.

· People will help you apply the unchangeable truths of the Bible to your life.

Devotional Guide, Week II

2010-09-20T12:37:00.001-05:00

Monday:

Reading: Mark 12:30-31 and Revelation 4:11

Reflecting:

Why were you created according to Rev. 4:11?

How do you summarize all God’s laws?

How does Jesus’ command to love God and others rule your thoughts, decisions, and actions?

Wednesday:

Reading: John 4:1-26

Reflecting:

Why is God more concerned about the attitude of worshippers than he is the location of worship?

How do you worship in spirit and in truth?

Conclude your devotional time today by telling God all the reasons why you love and worship Him today.

Friday:

Reading: Psalm 95 and Psalm 100

Reflecting:

How do you acknowledge before a watching world that the Lord is God?

How does your attitude of worship compare with Psalm 100?

Ask the Lord to help you lay aside worship styles and preferences this week in order to truly experience His presence in genuine worship?

On His worship CD Michael W. Smith sings of the Heart of Worship. That is what unites us. Worship is the gathering of hearts that have been fully transformed by the power of the eternal gospel of God. How’s your heart this week? Is it about you, or is it about Jesus? Let’s make it all about Him!!

Heart of Worship

When the music fades

All is stripped away

And I simply come

Longing just to bring

Something that's of worth

That will bless your heart

Bridge

I'll bring You more than a song

For a song in itself

Is not what You have required

You search much deeper within

Through the way things appear

You're looking into my heart

Chorus

I'm coming back to the heart of worship

And it's all about You

It's all about You, Jesus

I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it

When it's all about You

It's all about You, Jesus

Words and Music by Matt Redman

2020 Vision: Devotional Guide Week 1

2010-09-13T13:10:00.002-05:00

Monday:

Reading: John 20: 19-21 and Matthew 28: 19-20

Reflecting:

What did Jesus mean when he said, “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you”? What is he sending you out to do?

How would you define success when it comes to the Great Commission?

There are two things you can do right now that you will not do in heaven: sin and tell lost people about Jesus. Which of these two do you think God has left you on earth to do? How are you engaged in it right now?

Wednesday:

Reading: Zephaniah 3:17 and Matthew 16:13-18

Reflecting:

Walk through in your mind when God “mightily” saved you?

Is the Great Commission still God’s plan today?

Are you following God’s plan?

Friday:

Reading: II Corinthians 12:9 and Acts 4:13

Reflecting:

How does God equip and sustain you in your mission?

How is God’s power displayed in our weakness?

What is it that convinces people of God’s power according to Acts 4:13?

How Do You Know If Your Vision Is From God?

By Perry Noble

If you feel confident that you can accomplish what is in front of you with no problem at all… then you didn’t hear from God.
If no one is angry at you… then you didn’t hear from God.
If you don’t have to ask anyone to sacrifice to make the vision come true… then you didn’t hear from God.
If you have the money in the bank to do what God has asked your church to do… then you didn’t hear from God.
If every step is perfectly designed and nothing happens to totally throw you off along the way…then you didn’t hear from God.
If someone doesn’t try to talk you out of what you are about to attempt… then you didn’t hear from God.
If you don’t stay up at night thinking about the vision…then you didn’t hear from God.
If your vision is in contradiction to God’s Word…then you didn’t hear from God.
If you know all of the answers… then you didn’t hear from God.

A Time to Remember

2010-09-07T10:16:00.002-05:00

This summer my family had the privilege of attending Student Leadership University in Washington, DC. We arrived in DC a day early in order to do some sightseeing before the conference began. We had never been to DC and I wanted to experience the museums with my family. I would encourage you to make a journey to DC if you have never been.

The sights of our nation’s capitol are incredible: the Capitol, White House, Holocaust Museum, National Archives, and Air and Space Museum. The monuments simply leave you speechless. The highlight of our conference tour was Christ Church, the place where George Washington attended worship with his family. Christ Church was where Robert E. Lee came to worship. We sat in that little church and sang Amazing Grace. Wow! It was incredible.

However, the first place we went when we arrived was Arlington National Cemetery. The reason: Major Dwayne Williams. Major Williams was working in the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 when hijackers flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon at 9:37 a.m., crashing into the military headquarters building and killing 189 people (64 on the plane and 125 on the ground), including Major Dwayne Williams.

I have the incredible privilege of serving as Pearl Williams’ pastor. She is Dwayne’s mother. She sat with me before we left for Washington and recounted the events following our nation’s worst attack, describing in graphic detail the pain of losing a son in the worst act of evil our nation has ever seen. Then she handed me a gift: a parking permit to drive through Arlington Cemetery, a map of the cemetery showing the exact location of the Pentagon Memorial, and the final resting place of her son.

Arlington is recognized by most for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Kennedy memorial. And they were impressive, especially the “changing of the guard.” Yet, the first place we drove to once inside the cemetery was the Pentagon Memorial and the burial place of Pearl’s son.

We were reminded at Arlington of the tremendous sacrifice of so many for the freedoms we hold dear. We were reminded of the bravery that was displayed in every section of the cemetery. We were reminded of the grief every family must have experienced when the news of loss knocked upon their door. We were reminded of Pearl.

Nine years later the visual drama of 9/11 still runs through our minds. Nine years later families who lost loved ones in New York, Washington, and in Pennsylvania still grieve. Now, nine years later we have an opportunity to honor their sacrifice. This Saturday (9/11) at 11:00 AM at Jacksonville Cemetery, a memorial service will be held for Major Dwayne Williams. Pearl would be both comforted and honored by your presence. Remember that so many paid a high price upon the altar of freedom. Honor them. Pray for their families. Honor Pearl. And remember that the ultimate sacrifice took place over 2000 years ago at a place called Calvary.

Derek