Sunday's Baptism Service

Sunday's worship service was a great time to rejoice in both the need of the world, through Compassion International and our discussion in Ecclesiastes 5-6, and those in our own community who demonstrated their commitment to Christ through baptism. I have to confess that baptism services are one of my favorites services throughout the year. Of course I think the ultimate beauty of Sunday was seeing so many youth demonstrate their commitment to Christ.

I will be the first to confess that it was a little weird to have baptism on the Sunday we are talking about money (Ecclesiastes Series). People following their commitment to Christ with baptism and money...weird combination. Yet if you really think about it, isn't that a great picture of the commitment that our money should be to Christ. I confess that in my 3 years and 4 months at FCF this was first Sunday I have preached a message about money. No, not because we are having money issues (the series through a book of the Bible determined when) or need more money (ok we can always use more money for the Kingdom)...but that it would be a great reminder of the full commitment that Christ calls us to. And much of that commitment is seen through the lenses of our checkbooks.

As we read on Sunday, Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt. 6:21). He made an undividing link between money and the heart. What we love...we give to. Jesus goes on to say, "you cannot serve God and money" (Matt. 6:24). What we give to is who we serve...who we love...what we really want. As Christians our motivation for getting more, should be to give more. The more I get the more I can give.

The problem is that we really don't believe we can make an impact with our giving. We think that our peasley amount will never change the world. And that is exactly the problem, our head gets in the way of our heart. We start overthinking what God has called us to. And in reality we are questioning the power of God to work with whatever we can give. See christianity is meant to be reactionary...we react to the grace, mercy, and blessing of God. As He gives to us, we then react by giving more back to Him because we know He is able to do more with it than I can. Solomon grasped this idea...that's why he said riches with only an "under the sun" perspective, are vanity. Are you looking at the eternal difference that can be made by your money? Or are you settling for the "under the sun" perspective that will never satisfy?

God moving...when we are staying!

One of the greatest privileges as a Pastor/Leader is when one of your own bodly proclaims God's word unashamedly. While I love preaching...I can honestly say to give someone an opportunity and watch them do it well, absolutely thrills my heart.

Tonight, Eric preached a powerful message to our sister church in Tipitapa. God moved among hearts...we prayed with many people. One lady, with a heart of repentance, confessed her four month affair to the church. Others prayed for strong marriages...prodigal kids...and salvation for the community. The trip came to fulfillment tonight.

God clearly kept us in Nicaragua for these moments. Our original intention was to head to Costa Rica to connect with a missions opportunity...then spend one day at our sister church in Tipitapa, Nicaragua...but God had other plans. Dave Glaze's, our staff missionary in Nicaragua, car broke down while we were in the airport in Washington D.C. Then one thing after another...literally stranded us in Nicaragua. Yet while we were "stranded" God was moving. God was already preparing hearts...ours and those in Tipitapa and Mangua. We can't wait to see what the Lord is going to do over the next few days.

Haiti - Christ in the Rubble

On Tuesday afternoon an earthquake, aptly named by experts as the "Big One"...a 7.0 magnitude one, ripped apart the country of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Now two days later an estimated 45,000-50,000 people are believed to be killed in and around the capital city of Port-au-Prince. As one observer said, "Half the island is green and the rest is dust."

The shock of this magnitude leads many to question...to question God's character, integrity, and love toward the world. In this moment of Divine tension I believe that Christ can be found. Somewhere deep inside the battered streets and tumbled walls...is Christ. Through the cries of hurting people, and the shouts of helping people...there is Christ showing Himself worthy, compassionate and merciful.

While it is impossible for our minds to grasp the plan of God in tragic suffering. We cannot help but to pray for the people of Haiti to run to Him as their refuge and strength. That they will see the work of the Lord in ways like never before. That they will see His hand guiding and working in the midst of loss and confusion. As Job's friend Elihu said to him in intense personal tragedy, "By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter His lightning. They swirl about, being turned by His guidance, that they may do whatever He commands them on the face of the whole earth. He causes it to come on the face of the habitable world. Whether for correction, or for His land, or for mercy. Listen to this O, Job; stand still and consider the wondrous works of God" (Job 37:10-14). Of Job's tragedy, James says, "You have seen the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord - that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful" (James 5:11)

So while we can't grasp the plan of God in this tragedy...we can be certain that He is compassionate and merciful. When the dust of mourning and loss, chaos and tragedy, questions and curiousities, settle...there will be Christ...compassionate and merciful.

A few closing thoughts...
 - Pray for the people of Haiti. Pray for comfort and strength...but more importantly for the gospel message to become the forefront of thoughts and hearts. That many will come to Christ through this event.

- Pray for our missionary...Luc St. Felix. We have been able to make contact with him...he and his family are ok. However, the church and training facility have collapsed. Families from the church have been killed and most are without homes. Pray for wisdom and strength to endure this time. In his email Pastor Luc asked us to pray that he could reach more people for the cause of Christ.

- Pray for our response. We are in discussion with Pastor Luc about ways that we can respond both financially and personally. We have also opened the door to send some of you...if and when he deems necessary and appropriate.

Because HIS name is at stake,
Pastor Dave

Merry Christmas!

What a wonderful year it has been! As Christmas falls upon us, and 2009 comes to an end, we find ourselves reflecting upon the blessings in our lives. We count each of you as one of those blessings. As we think of each of you, we cannot help to recall Paul’s words, as he wrote to the church of Corinth, “I thank my God always concerning you…” Each one of you are dear to us! We are thankful for you, and blessed to have you in our lives.

Throughout the busyness of this season we pray you’ll take time to truly reflect on the reason we celebrate. Luke 1:31-34, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end.” Verse 35… “The holy offspring shall be called the SON OF GOD.”

The very Son of God, Jesus, sent to this world in a most humble state. Yet He was born, not just for life, but for death…Not just for peace, but for people…not just for sin, but for salvation. The Savior…humbled, yet exalted.

Praise be to God!! This is why we celebrate!

Preaching the Gospel to the Church

Sunday, during the third worship service, we had quite a discussion regarding what Romans 1 was asking of us. If you haven’t noticed, we have been hitting hard the simplistic depth of the gospel message in our latest sermon series (especially as it relates to the church). At the heart of these discussions is what I believe to be a faulty understanding of the theology of salvation. In other words, I believe we have missed a vital part of the salvation message.

What makes Romans 1 so interesting is what Paul says in verse 15. Paul says that he can’t wait to come to Rome to “preach the gospel to YOU who are in Rome.” You…being the people to whom he is writing, namely, the church. So why in the world would Paul preach the gospel to the church? Isn’t the gospel focused on unbelievers? Well…not exactly.

As we discussed on Sunday, the well known verses in Romans 1:16-17 extends farther than just the salvation experience we call conversion. Clearly Paul didn’t say in verse 16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to CONVERSION…” but “SALVATION.” At first glance it would seem that Paul is just speaking of that moment we placed faith in Christ. But this letter goes on to describe that salvation is not only the initial moment of faith…but faith that leads to the salvation of Christlikeness. So, while there was a moment years ago that I realized “I was a wicked sinner in need of redemption through the blood of Christ”…I still have a continual understanding of the gospel message that says, “I am still a wicked sinner being redeemed until I become like Christ.”

So Paul’s desire to preach the gospel to the church came from an accurate view of the theology of salvation. He came back to the truth that all aspects of life come back to how we respond (presently) to the gospel. Not just a past decision…but a continual understanding and surrender to that message we accepted.

Thanksgivings...

I have to admit…I love Thanksgiving. What a great time of food, family, friends, fellowship, and football. Thanksgiving is one of those holiday’s that I look forward to the most. No, No … not just because food’s involved (although it does add greatly). But it is a time of reflection on the Lord, to give Him thanks for everything He has blessed us with. So many times, I consistently ask the Lord for one thing after another after another, and yet forget to stop and say, “Thank You,” “Thank You for eternal life. Thank You for a great family. Thank You for health. Thank You for a wonderful ministry. Thank You for another day to serve You.”

It’s funny because Allyson and I, as most parents do, have attempted to teach our boys to say “thank you” after asking for something. Most would agree that this seems to be simplest thing to teach our children. I mean…how hard it should be to expect them to say “please and thank you?”As I was thinking about our progress as parents this week, I couldn’t help but to ponder, “Does the Lord need to teach us to say thank you or does it come from our mouths with a heartfelt thankfulness that the Lord deserves?” Are we truly thankful, even though we claim to be very thankful? Do we need a lesson on thankfulness?

The subject of thankfulness reminds me of the story in Luke 17 where Jesus heals the ten lepers. In verse 13 these lepers ask the Lord to have mercy on them. I am sure you have heard the story. One came back, a dirty, rotten Samaritan, to give thanks to the Lord for what He had done. Jesus asks, “Where are the nine?” Now wait a minute… The Lord knew that they were thankful. In fact, He knew that they were probably too excited. They were sharing the news with their families and friends. Why would Jesus expect them to come back and say thank you? Of all people didn’t Jesus know of their thankfulness?

We can speculate. We can believe that the rest of the former lepers were thankful. But thankfulness is not an understood word or an obvious thought. Thankfulness is an action. It is taking a step in our life to show what our heart really feels. Of course if some asked the other nine if they were thankful, they probably would have said, “very thankful.” But thankfulness is not words, but a life action.

Is your life a demonstration of thankfulness or is thankfulness a day of the year, a word from a mouth, a thought from your mind? Are you truly thankful with your life?