Big Decision...Big Answer

Last evening the leadership team of FCF met together to discuss the status of our Youth and Families Pastor search. After much discussion concerning all the feedback and recommendations you presented, we unanimously decided to offer the positon to Brian Kelley. This morning I met with Brian...and he and his family have accepted the position!

Obviously, this has been a long process overwhelmed with prayer and a desire to see the Lord's will and guidance. As with any decision where humans are involved, it wasn't easy. But we move forward confident that the Lord has led Pastor Brian and his family to FCF for such a time as this. Through this process we have been able to observe and find someone with the experience, training, and spiritual aptitude to lead our Youth and Families Ministry. And we are excited about what our future holds in reaching and training youth to be a model generation of Christ followers.

Youth and Families Pastor Candidate: Brian Kelley

Today we were able to hear from our Youth and Families Pastor Candidate, Brian Kelley. He talked about what it means to live a life focused on the Lord. As many of you shared it was a message that challenged hearts and minds to refocus lives toward Christ.

We were able to hear Brian and Krista's heart for youth and families during our Q & A following the 10:45 am worship service. We asked about 20-25 questions submitted by the FCF family over the past couple of weeks. Our prayer is that you were able to get a good snapshot of what youth and families ministry would look like under their direction.  If you weren't able to make it please check out the podcasts page at http://www.fcfpodcasts.com/ or visit our website at http://www.explorefcf.com/. From there go to our podcasts page.

So you might be thinking..."Where do we go from here?" We are now in the "feedback" stage of our process. From now until Thursday mid-day, we are asking you to share as much feedback as you would like. You can do that through email, staffing@explorefcf.com or to myself pastor@explorefcf.com. You can also call the church office or send a letter.

Obviously, this has been a long process (almost 2 years) and our desire is to continue through that proven process until the position is filled. We are excited about where we are headed and have full confidence that the Lord will continue to guide us in the way that He desires. We ask you to continue to pray that Christ's glory would be our focus and His plan would be our guide.

Intimacy with God or Bust!

Sunday's message by teacher, author, and directional leader, Mike Guzzardo was absolutely on spot. If you missed it or have somehow forgotten what was shared...let me just take a few minutes to remind you of this awesome message.

First of all I would like to thank Pastor Mike, our Administrative Pastor, for inviting and connecting our church as host to Mike Guzzardo. As we shared, Mike is a desired speaker all over the country...so to get him to FCF was great. It definitely was worth all the effort by Pastor Mike. Thanks for that bro!!!

I love the fact that Mike didn't mince words about the problem with our intimacy with Christ. The fact is many of us are settling for a controlled flame instead of a consuming fire. As he so appropriately reminded us...God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 10), so if our intimacy is settling for a controlled flame then we are missing the very essence of the Lord.

As Mike shared with us, we must remember those danger areas that attempt to steal away our moments of intimacy...which in fact are stealing our destiny. The more intimate we are with Christ, the closer we live facing the destiny God has for our lives. When distraction, sin, or time begin to steal away the intimacy...then our destiny is hindered and we settle for second best. God only gives the best...so second best is a very insult to His character.

An interesting analogy to our intimacy with Christ is found in the word "know." Jesus prayed in John 17 that we would "know Him and the Father." Our very salvation is dependent upon the fact of knowing Him. But what's most interesting about knowing God is how it shows up in Scripture. The Old Testament writers would describe the physical intimacy between a husband and wife as "knowing" each other (i.e. Adam "knew" his wife Eve and they conceived).

We are called to "know" Christ. Not just a knowledge about Him, but to "know" Him in an intimate way. To know the nooks and crannies of His desires for us. To hear His whispers even when the world around us is screaming. As Hosea said, "The Lord says, I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, and in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6).

So let us, as people and church, move into the deeper waters of intimacy as we seek to "know" Him and His plan for us!

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!