Update - Haiti

Dear Saints, I just got off the phone with Safe Harbor/ACTs, and they have dispatched an Assessment Team to the country of Haiti, and they are on the ground now.  The ACTs team is going to connect with the Calvary Chapel in Port-au-Prince to determine how to best proceed. 

Please be praying for the Haitian people, and also for the relief efforts.  The reality is that the country is in such a state of ruin that we need to be very focused on our assistance.  The airport is slammed, and transportation is in chaos.  The US military and other aid agencies are utilizing all of the airspace and ground transportation, and will better deliver "immediate aid" to the people.  Giving to groups that have existing teams 'on the ground' such as the Samaritan's Purse would be wise.


Immediate Aid Donations:  https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Giving/Haiti_Donation

It is also important that we focus on the needs of the next 30/60/90/120 days, which will be a crucial time for churches to help. 

CCW is partnering with ACTs to help fund the "next wave" of aid; helping people put their lives back together, grieve the loss of loved ones, and sustaining their families over the next several months.

Donate to ACTs:  http://actssr.webs.com

Donate to Calvary Chapel in Port-au-Prince: all donations to Calvary Chapel Port-au-Prince Aid Funds must be directed to:

Calvary Chapel of Melbourne
2955 Minton Rd
Melbourne, FL 32904
Memo: Haiti


online:  http://www.calvaryccm.com/missions/missionaries/urgentneeds.aspx

Blessings,

Pastor Clay

For Haiti

 Dear CCW,

We have all watched the news as the country of Haiti has been devastated by the recent earthquake.  I have been praying for the Lord to show us how we can be of assistance in a way that would glorify God and be a blessing to the people of Haiti.

I feel that there are two things that we can do as a church:

#1  Pray for Haiti:

• Pray for comfort to those who are suffering
• Pray for smooth logistics for basic relief supplies to get to the people
• Pray for family’s to be reunited
• Pray that God would allow this terrible tragedy to allow His love and grace to shine forth through the various aid workers that will descend on the country.  
• Pray for revival in Haiti

#2  Give:  

• Times are difficult for everyone, but we can give from our hearts as the Lord leads. 
• I have identified a Christian Relief Agency that is associated with Calvary Chapel, Action Crisis Teams (ACTs) that is preparing to move into Haiti as the situation allows.  ACTs is a part of Safe Harbor International, a mission outreach in Rancho Santa Margarita CA.

We can give towards the Haiti Relief Find directly at the ACTs web site:    http://safeharbor.us/site/home/  (click on the ACTs Icon)

Info for Safe Harbor:

Safe Harbor International
P.O. Box 80820
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

Toll Free 800.797.HOPE (4673)
Office 949.858.6786
Fax 949.858.6190
http://safeharbor.us/site/home/
Email: info@safeharbor.us

Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 2 Cor 8:1-4

Till the whole world hears...

Pastor Clay

Prophecy Update notes

Sunday I had a lot of people ask for my "full report" of the 2010 Prophecy Update, so I have uploaded the notes and slides onto our server.  Get the PDF's at the link below:

www.calvaryofwilmington.org/pubs/2010ProphecyUpdate.pdf

www.calvaryofwilmington.org/pubs/2010PropecyUpdateSlides.pdf

Pastor Clay

Prophecy Update - January 2010

2009 has been a crazy year to say the least.  So many things have happened in the political, economic, environmental, and religious arena’s this year.  It has been difficult to keep track of all the events, even harder to make and sense of it all.

The trends we have seen include:

• A new US President and a different direction of the political and social agenda for our country
• A rise in environmental activism
• The collapse of the US housing and credit markets, steep unemployment, and a severe case of economic uncertainty
• The continued efforts of rouge nations to acquire nuclear weapons
• The escalation of Islamic extremism and violence, increased suspicion against Christians at home, and increased persecution of the Christian faith abroad.
  

It’s easy to disregard the times and go about our daily lives, we see all of these things happening and we want to put our heads in he sand!  Yet the apostle Paul encouraged us:

You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thess 5:5-6

I believe this verse encourages us to be “watchful”, discerning the times and how they relate to end-times prophecy.  We are also to be “sober”, not getting swept away in the drama, but seeking to be ever more diligent in our calling and our mission as Christians. 

This coming Sunday we’ll look at the events of the past year, and we’ll discern them through the teaching of the Word of God. 

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.  But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.  Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.  
Matt 24:36-44

It’s as if there is a large train coming. We cannot see it yet, but we can feel the rumbling on the tracks.  Indeed.

Pastor Clay

Unto Us...

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  Isa 9:6-7

This has been a busy week:  Preparing for the Christmas fellowship at CCW (Dont miss it!  Friday night at 6 pm!), preparing for Sunday, and preparing for a 2 week sabbatical with our family.  Oh, and don’t worry, things are in good hands while I am gone:  Pastor Mel will be teaching both Sundays, my good friends All Lines Parallel will be bringing the worship on Dec 27th, and the talented duo Josh and Tiffany Mitchell will be bringing worship on January 3rd. (If you are thinking “ALP, aren’t they a hard rock Christian band?”  Answer:  Yes.  But they can totally bring it down and worship the Lord.  If you have ever been to a Third Day concert, you know what I mean! Trust me, you will be blessed.)

But, back to Christmas. I am not a “holiday” person, and so every year Christmas seems to sneak up on me.  And then I find myself thinking the same thoughts:  What does Christmas mean?  Is there some “special thing” that I could come up with, one of those “ah ha” moments that will be a new revelation about the birth of Christ.  But I always come back to the same simple truth:  Jesus Christ, the son of God, was presented to the world.  His arrival was heralded as a blessing to mankind, because He was sent with a purpose: To reconcile man to his creator.  Jesus Christ came with a ministry of reconciliation:

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.  2 Cor 5:18-19

His coming was promised, and it happened.  Since that time, His arrival has not only changed the world, but literally changed the lives of millions – even billions – of people throughout history.

But the best is yet to come, as His second coming is also promised, and it will happen:

“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

Merry Christmas, and praise be to God for His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!

Pastor Clay

Blessed is the man...

Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plantsall around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. Ps 128:1-4

I think this is one of the most beautiful and loving promises in God’s word! Think about it:  Your efforts will be prosperous.  You will have happiness, and be “well” or contented.  Your home life will be sweet! All of this stems from one thing: “…thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.”

Remember we spoke about fear a few weeks ago:  Fear of the Lord is best described as “awe” or “reverence”. When we acknowledge the might, the power, the majesty, of the Living God, who is our heavenly Father, we come to a realization that we are under His protection.  We are filled with His power and might. 2 Tim 1:7 tells us:  For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

So today, draw into the presence of the mighty, powerful, majestic Lord of hosts, and know that you are under His protection and filled with His power and might!

Till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

Houses built in vain

Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.  Ps 127:1

Today's One Year Bible Psalm nails it:  If God isn't in what we are doing, we build in vain. That doesn't necessarily mean that if we do something on our own, without God's leading, that it will be a complete failure. It simply means that if God is not leading, there will be no "God Fruit". Fruit maybe, but not God-fruit.

That is where I am today.  I am not satisfied with real-looking plastic fruit that sits on the table.  I am only interested in the real thing:  Plump, juicy, life-giving fruit.  I don't want to come up with things on my own.  I only want to dwell in houses built by God Himself.  I only want to be part of movements initiated by the Holy Spirit. Church, we don't want to settle for cheap substitutes. Let's hold out for the real thing.

Last week we talked about allowing God to search our hearts, and reveal to us any sin.  This week let's ask Him for revelation regarding the house He wants to build in each of our lives. How He wants to use us, what work does He want to do through us.  Ask, then LISTEN;  Unless the Lord builds the house, we will labor in vain.

And don't forget the second part of that verse:  Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.  Ask the Lord to guard the walls and gates of our lives, and not allow anything that defiles to enter in.

Till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

The Challenge

This past Sunday I shared with you that I believe our church is at a crossroads - a crisis of faith.  Our world is changing - and not for the better.  Our nation is in a state of moral and religious decay; Our government is rushing into uncharted territory, debating changes that if enacted will fundamentally change our world (and not for the better). People are hurting, jobs are scarce, money is tight.

During this time of trial we can do one of two things...

• We can hunker down, focus on ourselves, and become a prisoner of our circumstances. 
• Or we can take a cue from Peter:

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.  1 Peter 4:19

Even when things are difficult, when we are suffering, lets be faithful in doing good, remaining steadfast in the Lord. We can also take a cue from the Macedonian churches,

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity 2 Cor 8:2

Even though we are poor, we can reach out to others with love, ministry, and the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

I believe that God wants to radically change some things in our church. I believe He wants us to take our eyes off of ourselves, and look outside to the world around us.

We have something that the world needs more than healthcare, more than a job:  We have the life-changing power of the gospel message of Jesus Christ. I believe that God wants us to take our focus off of us and our needs, and He wants us to reach out to the world around us, and seek to meet their needs - practical and spiritual.  The question is not whether God wants to use us - but HOW does God want to use us. 

Challenge:  I told you that I will pray and fast between now and the end of the year. Praying daily and fasting one day per week, seeking God's face for the direction of our church; for direction on how He want to use us;  Seeking Him specifically for what He wants us to be involved in.

Will you join me? I would like to have a group of people that commit to fast one day a week, and pray with me, and seek the Lord for direction.

*Some have asked when I will be fasting.  My day to fast will be every Wednesday.  If you can join me on Wednesdays so that we can be in unity, that is awesome.  But if another day works better for you, no problem.

click here for more...

Pastor Clay

Walking on Hight Hills

Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.
Habakkuk 3:17-19

Habakkuk was a prophet in the 7th century BC, during a time when the nation of Israel was in a state of moral and religious decay.  The rise of the brutal Babylonian empire was a grave threat to all nations, and the Chaldean general (and future leader of Babylon) Nebuchadnezzar was marching towards Jerusalem.  God told Habakkuk that He was going to use the Babylonians to chastise the nation of Isral, and Habakkuk was watching it all happen.

Yet in the midst of this turmoil, Habakkuk makes the statement “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” 

Wow. On the verge of an invasion by a ruthless army, Habakkuk is talking about how joyful he is.  That tells me something:  Our thankfulness and joy don’t have to be tied to our circumstances. However many times, our joy is totally tied to our circumstances. 

We are thankful for the blessings of God in our lives:  Family, food, shelter, our church, our health.  But what if something has knocked us off the road? What if we are going through a hard time?  What if we are seeing our nation and culture fall into a slow fade of moral and religious decay?  What then?  We’re supposed to still be thankful, right? We’re supposed to just focus us in on God, and by some magical act we'll be thankful again.

Maybe it’s that easy.  Or maybe there is something more called for. I believe that there is another key component to the process of how we can be not only thankful and joyful in times of difficulty, but actually empowered!  And I believe part of the secret is found in 1 Peter 4:19:

And I believe part of the secret is found in 1 Peter 4:19:

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.  1 Peter 4:19

Join us Sunday for “Walking on High Hills”

Till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

The Fig Tree

Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away.  Matt 21:18-19

Walk through an apple orchard and look at some of the fruit trees, they'll be full of fruit.  Sweet, juicy fruit!  Exactly the kind of trees that you would expect.  But what if you walked up to an apple tree and there was no fruit?  Not one apple.  Nada. You would wonder, "What is wrong with that tree? Why doesn't it have fruit?"

Our lives as Christians should be like those healthy fruit trees, bearing forth fruit that will be a blessing to those around us. If not, maybe we need to figure out why.

Join us Sunday as we explore the account of the fig tree.

Pastor Clay

The Implanted Word

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;  for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.  James 1:19-25

There always seems to be one little phrase that jumps out at me in a text.  Tucked in between the exhortations "lay aside all filthiness", and "be doers of the word, and not hearers only" is this little phrase "receive with meekness the implanted word." The NIV calls it "the word planted in you." To me it paints a mental picture of a seed being planted. But this seed is not being planted in the soil of the earth, but into the soil of our hearts (RE: Matt 13).

Just a little reminder that when we read and meditate on Gods word, we're not just reading, we are planting the very wisdom and nature of God into our hearts and minds. We are planting seeds of wisdom and righteousness that will spring forth with life and fruit. The fruit is the action that we take, the work we do, the ministry that flows.  The person that does this "is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

PC

No Fear, Never Shaken

Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor. The wicked man will see and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
Ps 112

As I read through the many awesome promised listed in this Psalm, one statement really jumps out at me:

Surely he will never be shaken …He will have no fear of bad news …his heart is steadfast … he will have no fear.

I get this mental picture of a muscular man, chiseled features, dressed in battle gear, outnumbered and surrounded, yet having no fear whatsoever.  He is ready to face his enemies with strength and honor.  As men we love that image, because we want to identify with that.  We want to be physically strong, and pound all of our adversaries!

But I believe that greater value lies in spiritual strength.  I believe the psalm speaks not to physical strength, but the spiritual strength that comes from the fear of the Lord.  On the surface it’s a strange concept:  Fear God, become strong. 

How does strength come from fear?
Because the “fear” being described here is not fear like you would feel for a snake or a wild animal, but is better described as “awe” or “reverence”.  When acknowledge the might, the power, the majesty, of the Living God, who is our heavenly Father, we come to a realization that we are under His protection.  We are filled with His power and might. 2 Tim 1:7 comes to mind: 

For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
 
This is true strength – spiritual strength – the strength to face any problem, and bad news, and trial, that might come before us. 

Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Eph 6:10)

Pastor Clay

Give thanks in ALL things

...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thess 5:18

As Christians, we know to thank God when things are going well.  But do we thank God when things aren't going well?  What about when we're hard-pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, struck down... (2 Cor 4:8)?

Do we see God working in the difficult times?  Paul makes this statement to "give thanks in *all* circumstances," not some... but ALL! But how can I do that? How can I give thanks when I'm down?

I believe the answer is in recognizing that God is sovereign.  Recognizing that nothing comes into our lives that has not been filtered through the hands of our loving God. Even the hard times.  Even the tribulations that we have brought on ourselves.

If God is truly over all, then He knew this situation would come into my life.  He watched if I made wrong decisions that brought me to this place. Instead of sheltering me from the repercussions, He allowed it to come into my life so that I would learn. So that I would be strengthened. So that I would lean on Him for my comfort and strength.  It is always God's will for me to grow, and it is usually through adversity that I grow.

And in the end, I am stronger, wiser, my faith has increased, and God is glorified.

A Day in the Temple

"It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"  

Matt 21:13

 

Within a cash register tape's width of the front door, the merchandising begins. Scripture verses dress up ceramic flowers and figurines. A dove logo makes a standard purple candle into a “prayer candle.” Tiny red-and-white life preservers announce that "Jesus Saves." Bookmarks, bracelets, and assorted bric-a-brac ask "What Would Jesus Do?"   Hmmm, what would Jesus do if He walked into one of these stores, or worse, into the lobby of some of our churches?  Is our faith now defined by the merchandising industry?

 

OK, I won’t crack too hard on the nail-cross pendant business, but I think the bigger question that begs to be answered is this:  How do we present our faith to the world around us?  See the issue that day in the temple was not that it was a sin to sell something to a person of faith, but rather the effect that it had on those who came to worship the Living God.  

 

Join us Sunday as we look at a day in the temple.

 

Till the whole world hears...

 

Pastor Clay

 

Upside Down

Ahh, the perks of leadership: Big office, your name on the door, underlings to boss around, sitting at the front of the important meetings.  And did I mention those underlings you get to boss around???

Our world has a perspective of “getting to the top” that includes perks and privileges.  People relish achieving a certain position or title so you can have authority, and tell other people what to do.  But Jesus made a really interesting statement in Matthew 20:  “"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.  Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.”  Once again Jesus is pointing out one of those little ‘differences’ between the world kingdoms and God’s kingdom.

In the world system, you work to become great so that you can receive power and privilege.

In God’s system you serve others, and in doing so you become great.

Sounds kind of upside down, doesn’t it?  But which one is upside down, and which one is right-side up?  Join us Sunday as we explore God’s promotion system.

 

Till the whole world hears...

 Pastor Clay

 

Surprises in Heaven

So the last will be first, and the first last.
Matt 20:16

Ever think about the reward ceremony that will take place in heaven? We can imagine that Peter and the other apostles will receive great and wonderful rewards.  Some of the early church fathers, such as Polycarp, Ignatius, Justin Martyr, will receive wonderful crowns of distinction!  Then there were the great evangelists Billy Sunday, Dwight Moody, Billy Graham; men who won thousands to Christ.  And then there are the current roster of men who have reached millions through TV, Crusades, and the internet:  Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie, Franklin Graham. Oh and we can’t forget the great women of the faith:  Deborah, Priscilla, Lydia, Mother Teresa, Joni Eareckson Tada,  Ann Graham Lotz. Just to name a few.

When we think of all of these people that have made such a mark on the world for Christ, it can be a little intimidating.  We might even become apathetic about the “Bema Seat” of rewards that Paul talks about in 2 Cor 5, as we think we’ll be sitting in the five millionth row back!  Talk about a nose bleed section!

But is that the way it will really be?  Is that just our “human perspective” of those rewards? Might the Lord Jesus have another perspective?

Last week Peter asked about those ‘rewards’ and Jesus gave him assurance that whatever we invest now, we will receive a hundredfold return (get some of that, Wall Street!).  Now as we move into chapter 20, Jesus gives us a parable that describes how those ‘rewards’ will be allocated in the Kingdom.  And trust me, it’s not how we do things here on earth. I believe there will be some real surprises in heaven!

Join us Sunday!

If you are not local, you can download the teaching here (usually within a few days) or you can subscribe to our podcast here (get it pushed to your iTunes!).

Till the whole world hears...

Pastor Clay

How good do I have to be, really?

Over the past few weeks we have looked at things like: “How many times do I forgive my friend?  When can I cut him off?”, or “How much do I have to take at home before I can ditch my spouse?”  We have found that people often look for a measuring stick for grace, and yet the answer we keep getting from God is “keep forgiving, keep loving, stay married…”  In other words “keep pouring out love and grace.”

 

As we move further into chapter 19 of Matthew, we find a young man coming to Jesus with a similar question:   “…behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"  

 

In other words this man is asking “so, what’s it gonna take to get into heaven?  What do I do?  How good do I have to be, really?”

 

The question is reasonable and logical.  It’s an excellent question.  As with any excellent question, it brings us to a place of self-examination:

1. What is important to God?

2. What is important to me?

3. How do the two resulting answers align with one another?

 

Join us Sunday as we explore the account of the rich young ruler, and how his encounter with Jesus might help us to see what really matters to God, and perhaps what should matter to us.

 

Till the whole world hears,

 

Pastor Clay

 

If you can accept it...

For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it." 

Matt 19:12  NKJV

 

After Jesus taught on divorce, some of His disciples thought “wow, maybe its better not to get married!” (my paraphrase!).  Jesus then goes on to talk a little about celibacy.  Celibacy??  Who would want to consider something like that?  In reality… not many.  But some will. Yet the conversation can go much deeper, with questions such as “What if my husband is not a believer?”  “What if my wife leaves me?” What if I never find that perfect mate, should I settle for “almost perfect?”

 

Join us Sunday as we continue our discussion about marriage, and singleness.

 

 

Till the whole world hears...

 

Pastor Clay

 

Divorce, and the Heart of God

The latest statistics report that roughly 60% of marriages end in divorce. Second or third marriages fare even worse, with about 20% of couples remaining happily married:  meaning that a full eighty percent of repeat marriages end in divorce. What’s even more concerning is that these statistics include the church.

 

In Matthew chapter 19, a group of religious rulers come to Jesus and ask Him about divorce.  Basically there were two opinions about divorce among the Rabbi’s, and they wanted to know which camp Jesus fell into.  A “gotcha” question if there ever was one!

 

But Jesus response what not what they expected.  Jesus wasn’t going to fall into either camp, but rather Jesus was going to fall into “God’s camp” when it came to that sensitive issue. 

 

So, what is “God’s Camp?”  How does God see divorce? Are there some situations where it is OK? Are there some marriages that just “aren’t meant to be?”  Are some people just “incompatible?” 

 

Join us Sunday, September 20^th, at 9 & 11 am, as we discover God’s heart regarding divorce.

 

Till the whole world hears...

 

Pastor Clay

 

The Grace of Forgiveness

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"  Matt 18:21

 

In the last installment of our “Model Citizen” series we talked about dealing with the person that sins against us, and how we handle that situation personally, and as a church.  But there is one mroe very important aspect of our handling of that situation:  For the relationship to be fully restored not only does the offending party need to confess and ask forgiveness, but the offended party must actually extend forgiveness!  What a novel concept!

 

I have found that it is one thing to accept an apology, and quite another to extend true forgiveness to that person.  See for me to extend true forgiveness requires me to put myself out there and become vulnerable once again.  It requires me to move beyond tolerating that person, but actually embracing them once again.  It requires that I extend to that person something called “grace.”  See, the grace of forgiveness is to care more about the person than what they have done.

 

Join us Sunday for our conclusion of “The Model Citizen”.

 

 

Till the whole world hears...

 

Pastor Clay