A "Two-fer" Praise Week!

Greetings Saints in the Lord!

This week I have two praise reports: Last Sunday we raised over $2000 for the Youth Building! AWESOME! And if that isn’t awesome enough, this Wednesday we raised another $2400 for missions! We are just blown away at how God is moving, and the open heart of His people!

This Sunday we’ll be finishing up our three-part series on “judging”, from Matthew 7. It will be our last message on the section of Matthew “The Kingdom Principles” (or better known as the Sermon on the Mount!). After this Sunday we’ll be going into section three of Matthew, “The Manifestation of the King”, where Jesus begins His ministry on earth.

And don’t forget, this Sunday is the LAST SUNDAY to register for the “Clear and Present Danger” church conference! We’ll be gearing up for the conference, and please continue to pray for the speakers, worship team, workers, and those who will be attending!


Added bonus: This weeks worship article, found on the CCW Praise Team Blog.
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The Words of Worship

Think about what happens physically during worship – what we do. Sometimes we want to shout out, or say hallelujah, or worship with our instrument. Other times we have a desire to lift up our hands, or bow down before the Lord. Did you know that the bible gives us descriptions of these actions, contained in the Hebrew words for worship?

There are six Hebrew words which provide for us a description of the physical forms of worship that we engage in. In the Old Testament, and particularly in Psalms, we are repeatedly told to praise the Lord. However, within those commands to praise are words that provide different descriptions as to how we are to praise. In this week’s Worship Post, we’ll examine these words and their meaning!


Click here to go to this weeks post…

...till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

A New Beginning - Nov 5

Wednesday night we began our last section in Judges, an account of a brutal attack and murder of a woman, which sparked a civil war in Israel that claimed 55,000 men. Next week we’ll conclude Judges, and on Wednesday November 5th well start a new and more uplifting account: The Book of Ruth.

Ruth’s story occurred during the time of the judges — a period of disobedience, idolatry, and violence. Yet in stark contrast to Judges, the book of Ruth shows us a community that did what was right in God’s eyes. It is "the story of God’s grace in the midst of difficult circumstances. Even in times of crisis and deepest despair, there are those who follow God and through whom God works. No matter how discouraging or antagonistic the world may seem, there are always people who follow God.

The account of Ruth has a parallel to our lives today: In the midst of difficult times, we as Christians can follow and obey God and do what is right, and God will work through us to accomplish His plan for this world.


...till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

Treasures in Heaven

Last week we talked on Matt 6:19-21, where Jesus encouraged us to store up treasures in heaven. But I am not sure that I was really clear on one thing: How can we lay up treasures in heaven? (admittedly, that would be an obvious thing to explain!)

So lets explore a few ways that we could "send our treasure ahead." I'll call them "Kingdom Investments."

Kingdom Investment #1 - LOVE

Jesus told His disciples:

"As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:9-13

But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Luke 6:35 NKJV

To love is to be obedient, and obedience in loving and giving, and our reward will be "great" Jesus tells us!

Kingdom Investment #2 - LIVE

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 1 Cor 3:6-8 NKJV

As we live our lives, sharing the love of Christ with others, whether we are planter's, waterer's, or harvesters; the reality if God will give each one reward for being a light to the world.

Kingdom Investment #3 - GIVE
This one is obvious, that "God loves a cheerful giver", and we covered 1 Tim as well;

Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 1 Tim 6:17-19 NKJV

When we are willing to give and share, we are literally making deposits to our kingdom account. This is not just giving to the church, but being willing to give to another person when there is a need.

Kingdom Investment #4 - WORK

"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works. Matt 16:24-27 NKJV

We don't always like the word, in that we know we cannot work our way into heaven, or earn our salvation. But the fact is, faith without works is dead! When we are "doing good works", Jesus told us that they will shine before other people, and they can see that Christians are different - they care about others! That communicates a beautiful truth: God cares about them too!

In these uncertain times, people can get very nervous, even frightened about our future. We as Christians have a hope to share: That God loves them, cares about them, and has a future and a hope prepared for them; If they will only come to Him for it!

I hope this helps!

Pastor Clay

Prayer and Fasting

The past several weeks our Sunday topics have centered on prayer and fasting. As usual, God never works in a “wow what a coincidence” mode, but He has a PLAN and a PURPOSE for what He brings into our lives!

This week we are rolling out our “Clear and Present Danger” conference, and guess what: I am going to challenge each of you to begin fasting and praying in preparation for this conference! I know that our adversary is going to come against this event, because he does NOT want Christians to know how to avoid the pitfalls that he wants to trip us up with! But God does, He clearly reveals our defensive strategies to us in His word!

I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday, as God will show us through His word how we can store up treasures in heaven!


...till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

A Day to Remember

Seven years ago today, our country experienced probably the most heart-wrenching event in our history. At 8:46 am American flight 11 hit the North Tower of the World Trade Center. At 9:03, United flight 175 hit the South Tower. Shortly thereafter, American flight 77 hit the Pentagon, and United flight 93 crashed near Shanksville, PA.

There were 2,975 fatalities, excluding the 19 hijackers: 246 on the four planes (from which there were no survivors), 2,603 in New York City in the towers and on the ground, and 125 at the Pentagon. An additional 24 people remain listed as missing. All of the fatalities in the attacks were civilians except for 55 military personnel killed at the Pentagon. More than 90 countries lost citizens in the attacks on the World Trade Center.

All across our country, people are remembering those who lost their lives as victims, and those who gave their lives in the rescue effort. Won't you take a few minutes to stop and pray today:

• Pray for God's peace on the families who today will again remember those that were lost. The husbands and wives who will never again return from work. The son's and daughters that will never again call mom or dad, sister or brother.
• Pray that God would protect our country from attacks by those who have hate in their hearts.
• Pray that we as a nation could find it in our hearts to forgive.
• Pray for an outpouring of God's love and mercy upon those who would seek to kill and destroy. The only hope for peace is the gospel message of peace.

"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!" Rom 10:15

9/11 Tribute Video - click to watch

The Coming Storm

So Hanna is on her way towards us. Better stop by the store this afternoon, before the crowds, and get some water and batteries, and make sure that generator works!

Here at CCW, we are watching the storm tracker closely, and changing things as needed (we will not be holding our cookout this Sunday, bummer!). As well, we’ll be notifying our men to be ready to lend a helping hand to anyone in the body that has a need.

Storms come and go here in the coastal Carolina’s. Some are worst than others, but afterwards we pick up the pieces, clear the debris, patch the roof, and we move on with life. The storms become a distant memory.

But storms can come into our personal life as well. Death, division, financial stress, marital conflict; and we should be prepared for those as well. Instead of batteries and water, our preparation is prayer, the word of God, and FAITH.

In Mark 4, the disciples encountered a storm while at sea (the worst place to be!):

And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" Mark 4:39-40

What is Jesus telling us? That storms come into our lives, sometimes unannounced (there is no radar tracking!). When they come, what we can do is turn to Jesus! We need not be fearful, because our Lord is with us, right there in the boat, and He has complete command over the storms of life.

He calms the storm, so that its waves are still. Ps 107:29

There are stages in life when there is no storm, no crisis, when we do our human best; it is when a crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to trust Him, the crisis will reveal that we will go to the breaking point and not break in our confidence in Him. (Oswald Chambers)


...till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

Samson the Nazirite

Judges 13:2-5 Now there was a certain man from Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had no children. And the Angel of the LORD appeared to the woman and said to her,

"Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."

In this passage, Sampson is chosen by God to live the life of a Nazirite, from the womb, and all of his life.

There were three conditions a Nazirite had to observe:
• He could not touch a dead body of any kind.
• He was not allowed to drink wine or strong drink, or even to have any contact with the grapes.
• He was to let his hair grow long.

The Nazirite was to follow these conditions as a sign that he was called, set apart, and visibly chosen for a specific task for the Lord.

These Old Testament provisions, again, are symbolic snapshots of things which hold true in our spiritual life today. A Nazirite in the Old Testament symbolizes sanctification, so how can we apply this to our lives today?

In the New Testament, "sanctified" means "set apart” for a particular purpose." Those of us who know Jesus Christ as Lord are said to be sanctified, to be set apart to serve him. And the same three conditions obtained under the Nazirite vow are true for us in the spiritual realm:

#1 We are not to touch anything dead.
We are to have nothing to do with the old life. We are not to go back and attempt to resurrect the old life, the flesh which has been crucified with Christ, and try to live out of that resource. Paul says in his letter to the Colossians:

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Col 3:2-3)

We have been given a new life, a resurrection life, which Paul says is life indeed.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Cor 5:17)

#2 Find our satisfaction in the Lord
We should find our joy not in the things of this life, from wine or any other natural thing, but rather, from the Spirit of God. The prophet Habakuk wrote:

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. (Hab 3:18)

#3 Long Hair?
The provision regarding long hair is very interesting. In the Scriptures long hair is said to be a shameful thing for a man (1 Cor 11:14). It is a sign of weakness. This refers, of course, to excessively long hair--longer than the accepted length for women at any particular time. Even though long hair was considered shameful, the Nazirite would put himself under that condition in order to indicate his weakness, because his strength would grow out of that weakness.

The same is true for us. The Scriptures say that where we are weak that is where we are strong.
For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor 12:10)

If we sense our need for dependence upon another resource, if we are not counting upon our own credentials, our own strength, our own abilities--that is proper recognition of our weakness. It is in weakness that we discover our strength in our indwelling Lord.

So, just as a Nazirite was to fulfill these three conditions of separation, we too have been called, set apart, and chosen for a specific task by the Lord.

It is also interesting that Samson was called to be a Nazirite from his birth, which was unusual. Ordinarily a person would take this vow later on in life, generally for only a short term. But Samson was to be one from his birth.

We, as well, are Nazirites from our birth, our new birth. So from the moment we are born into God’s family, we are called, set apart, and visibly chosen for a specific task.

(this application nugget was taken from our Wednesday evening study of Judges, click here to listen to the entire message, or other messages from our Judges study)

...till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

Serving @ CCW

To the servants of the Lord!

I use that phrase specifically, because recently I have had a few people ask “How can I get involved at Calvary Chapel?”

As I have taught from the pulpit, it is a natural response for someone attending our fellowship to at some point think; “Hey, I’d like to get more connected to the fellowship!” While there are many ways that we can develop connections socially, one of the most rewarding aspects of being in a church is finding your place to serve the Lord!

I heard someone say recently “It’s a blessing to serve the Lord”, and it truly is! Not only that, but it really does take the concerted effort of many volunteers to pull off a church service every week! And, there is always room for more!

So, say your kinda new to the church, you’ve been coming a while, and you want to get ‘involved’. Well, here’s how:

1. First – head over to the Info Desk located in the church lobby (It’s the big desk with lots of signs and things on it!).
2. Talk to one of our cheerful Info Desk volunteers, and ask them for a “Servant Information Sheet”. This will tell us a little about you, and what your area’s of interest are.
3. Fill out the Servant Information Sheet, and hand it back to the person at the Info Desk.

It’s that simple! Someone from our ministry will be in contact with you within the week to discuss with you how you might fit in at CCW!

(If you are internet savvy, head on over to our Volunteer Ministry web page, and all the information you need is just a click away!)

At Calvary Chapel, we love to worship God, teach His word, and minister to His people – and you can be a part of that! What are you waiting for!

Current Areas of Opportunity:

• Children’s Ministry
• Helps Ministry
• Ushers & Greeters

...till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

This Week @ CCW

Greetings saints in the Lord!

It has been a busy week at CCW – we held our men’s breakfast (35 guys – awesome!), started our Foundation 103 series, held our first Small Group Leadership training, and that was just one week!

On top of all that, we have been watching the events in the Republic of Georgia unfold, and praying for our friends there. It seems that things have calmed down a bit, however we should not think that Russia is finished intervening in the affairs of this small nation. The difficult part is that while the politicians talk, people are suffering. Please continue to pray for the people and the YWAM DTS staff in Georgia (holtsingeorgia@gmail.com).

We are going to hold our Baptism this Sunday at Wrightsville Beach, pray for good weather! Click here for info and directions.

...till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

calvaryofwilmington.blogspot.com

Georgia Says Russians Bombing, Looting Gori, Violating Truce

BREAKING NEWS — Russians have bombed and looted the city of Gori outside the breakaway province of South Ossetia on their way deeper into the country, witnesses said Wednesday.

Read the full story here

Send a prayer to our missionaries Dennis & Korrine Holt here

Russia orders halt to war, Georgia sceptical

Latest Rueters update -

OSCOW/TBILISI, Aug 12 (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev ordered a halt to military operations in Georgia on Tuesday but Tbilisi cast doubt on the announcement, saying Moscow was still bombing towns and villages.

Another Update from Georgia

This is from Jenny, one of the staff from DTS in Tbilisi.
------------------
Hello brothers and sisters,

This is Lauren again--Jenni wrote this morning asked me to forward you all another update for her:


I just received an update that the Russian troops are not stopping. People/different countries are trying to mediate peace, but the Russians are still going. They've occupied Gori (it's a town that is/was a military center) and the Georgian troops are heading to Tbilisi to protect the capitol. I don't know how it all happened for sure. One person said that the Russians took it, one said that the Georgians left and the Russians walked in, but whatever the case, Gori is occupied. I am actually not in Tbilisi, I'm still in a small village about an hour away, and we are very safe so far. But I have many friends in Tbilisi, including Marina and her kids David & Irma, so part of me is still in Tbilisi. Also, there is another problem, since some places have been bombed, there has been a flood of refugees entering Tbilisi, and other cities, and it's creating quite some problems. The refugees are breaking into houses to steal food and stuff, so that's part of why I'm really worried about Marina. People in Tbilisi are just in panic and the president is on the television every hour trying to calm people down.

Many of you responded to my last email with the advice to leave. I want to say I appreciate your concern, but it's still not in my plans. Of course I'm scared (and really trying to give my fear up to God), but I'm ready. I don't feel like He has told me to leave, and I don't want to. Many people have left with their families and I understand why, they are responsible for more than just themselves. But I am choosing to stay, and I'm praying for God's strength to do that. Who knows, maybe it will all end tomorrow, maybe it will continue for a while. I have no idea, but God knows and I'm trusting and learning to trust Him in that and also with my very life.

Please pray for us, especially for my friends in Tbilisi. Please continue to pray for Georgia and also for Russia. And most of all, pray that neither Georgia or Russia would win the battle, but that GOD would win.

" Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
Psalm 27:14

Update on Georgia

For the next few days I'll be posting updates on the situation in the Republic of Georgia.

Russia Forces Move to Within 35 Miles of Tbilisi
Monday, August 11, 2008

Video - Russian Planes Bomb Georgia

Youth 25

Hey I want to let you know about something we are planning later in August… YOUTH 25!

What is Youth 25? Well, you know we are working to finish off the Youth Building next door, to make space for our ever-expanding Youth Ministry, as well as free up some classrooms for the younger kids, and we are going to need some dough to finish the project!

As I thought of sharing this with the Calvary Community, it occurred to me that many people may think “I can’t afford to give hundreds of dollars to the youth, so I cant be involved.” But in fact, that is just not the case! God can do a lot with a little (as we recently learned in our study of Gideon). If many give a little, it adds up to a lot!

We just completed the electrical work, and are about to start the plumbing – we need about $2500 for the plumbing. Guess what, if 100 people give $25, that equals – you guessed it - $2500!

So coming up Sunday August 24th, we are going to have “Youth 25” Sunday. We are asking everyone to bring $25 with them to church, and plop it into the Youth 25 buckets (our youth will be manning the stations!), and let’s see what God does!

And if you cannot bring $25, just bring what you can – every little bit helps us reach our goal!


...till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

Can You Feel It?

Can you feel it? There is an excitement in the church. I’m not sure how to describe it, but I sense that God I moving in a powerful way. I sense in the people that I have met with over the past few weeks. I sense it in the worship service. I sense it in the new people that I see coming in each week. I sense it in a new surge of purpose and focus.

I sensed it last night when we were finishing up our study of Judges chapters 6-8, in the account of Gideon. How God loves to take people – sometimes people of little faith, people that are the “least of their clan”, and use them in a mighty way!

Gideon was a guy that, well, had little faith and was a bit timid! He was amazed that God would use him. He kept asking for more signs and confirmations. But God used him anyway!

Gideon was willing to go and tear down the family altars (Judg 6:25). Are there altars in our lives that need to come down? Gideon was faithful in the small things, and he started right at his own house. Gideon stepped out in faith – in small ways. Then, God used him in a mighty way!

I believe that God wants to use Calvary Chapel of Wilmington in a mighty way, and that we are just scratching the surface of what He is going to do. All that’s required of us is that we take that next step of faith towards His purpose and His calling!

Don’t forget to plan on coming to the beach with us this Sunday for our Baptism. Come a little early and hang out!


...till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay
calvaryofwilmington.blogspot.com

Being a Deborah

Greetings Saints in the Lord!

Last night we looked a really interesting account of Deborah, the only female judge to serve in Israel (girl power – yea!). One of the interesting dynamics was between Deborah and Barak. God had called Barak to gather the armies of Israel and go to war with Jabin, who was oppressing Isreal. Barak basically said “I’ll go, but only if you (Deborah) will go with me.” Deborah didn’t lead the army, or fight in the battle, but her presence and her words gave confidence and strength to Barak to complete the task. He could not have done it without her. It can be that way in our own lives, in that sometimes we need a “Deborah” to be there for us. We are stuck in bondage or oppression, we know that God has called us out, and that He will deliver us. But we need someone to speak strength and encouragement to us along the way.

That is what the Christian life is supposed to be – each of us encouraging one another, praying for one another, speaking strength into each others lives.

Think about someone you know that may be going through a hard time. Why don’t you call them up, or email them, and speak some words of strength and encouragement to them? It may help them to win the victory!

Look forward to seeing you all on Sunday, as we examine Matthew 5, “The Temptation of Christ.”

...till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

Nothing Like a Cool Room

Greetings Saints in the Lord!

I pray that this weeks edition of the Calvary Connection finds you blessed and encouraged in the Lord!

I have some good news this week – we have air-conditioning at the church again! Praise the Lord! Our new units were installed this week, and they are running fine, so we’ll be nice and cool this Sunday, no matter what the temperature is outside! (also, we have a chain-link fence going up to protect our new units!) Thank you all for your patience during this time.

Next, I was blessed to see some donations last week for the Youth Building construction project. Zech and I spent some time this week looking over the space and getting things rolling again. From the looks of the children’s classes on Sunday mornings, we REALLY need the space! Once the space is finished, we’ll move the youth over to their “own space” and free up some classrooms for the younger kids. Please continue to pray and to give towards the project.

Lastly, I have been seeing a lot of new faces at the church. Would you all help us welcome these new folks? If you see someone you don’t know, go up to them and introduce yourself. Make them feel wanted and loved - everyone wants to be wanted, especially when they come to a new place.

I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday, as we dig deeper into the Gospel of Matthew.

...till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

Want to know whats happening @ CCW? Go to our web calendar! Be sure and bookmark it!

R U Wise?

Today we had a really cool service, being July 4th weekend, we had some good tie-in with "Freedom", even rolling in several songs in that theme, including "I Am Free", one of me personal favorite U2 type worship songs! To wrap up the worship segment, I spoke about the biblical foundation of our country's government, and then my daughter Chelsea sang the Star Spangled Banner. She totally rocked. People cried. It was awesome!

In the service we looked at Matthew 2 where the "wise men" seek out Jesus, and worship Him. There is a really interesting comparison with the three characters in the situation: Herod, the scribes, and the wise men.

In Herod, we find a man who came against Jesus in a pretty big way, even killing all the male children in the Bethlehem area in an effort to snuff out the Savior. The comparison is the person who is against anything that has to do with God or Jesus - the "antagonist."

Then there were the scribes and Pharisee's. These guys should have known who Jesus was, but they just didn't care. Like the person who "knows about God", or even "believes in God", but is not really interested in a relationship with Jesus - this person is ambivalent towards the Lord.

Then there were the wise men. These guys were not even Jewish. They could n't even worship at the temple, yet the read the scriptures, and they believed! They put their belief into action, making a 500 mile road trip to go and see the Lord Jesus! And when they found Him, they "fell down and worshiped Him!"

These guys understood something - that there is a God, and He sent His Son Jesus Christ to this world to die - for me and you - so that we might live with Him forever. Have you made Him your King?

If you missed the message, click here for the audio.

Freedom Day

This week finds us heading into July 4^th weekend. Independence Day, the day we celebrate our freedom. But what are we free from?? Our Founding Fathers would tell us plainly:

• Free from tyranny
• Free from taxation without representation
• Free from unreasonable search and seizure
• Free from cruel or unusual punshment

What freedoms do we enjoy?

• Freedom of religion
• Freedom of speech
• Freedom of assembly
• Freedom to keep and bear arms
• Freedom of due process, a trial by jury, to face our accuser, etc.

(taken from Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and The Bill of Rights)

Gallant men gave their lives for this cause, fought and died for this cause, all so that today we can enjoy the life that we live in the greatest country in the world. As we enjoy this weekend (maybe at home because we cant afford to drive!), lets remember the price that was paid for our freedoms.

But there is a greater freedom still that God has endowed upon man, the freedom that is found in Jesus Christ

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered him, "We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:32-35

As Christians, we have a two-fold reason to celebrate, first the freedoms we enjoy as US citizens, but greater still the eternal freedom we have in Christ.

In Christ, we are:

• Free from bondage (Luke 4:18)
• Free from sin and death (Rom 8:2)
• Free from condemnation (Rom 8:1)
• Free from accusation (Col 1:22)
• Free from the power of sin (Rom 6:7)

And we are truly free – Free to love, free to worship, free to commune with the Lord, free to approach the throne of grace boldy!

May you all have a blessed July 4^th!

...till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

The Big Rip-Off

No doubt you have heard about our little situation last week. Some not-so-nice people came to our church Friday night, and tore apart two of our air conditioning units for the copper inside. They caused thousands of dollars of damage, to get at best $50 at the scrap dealer.

Our first thought might be "how could somone rip off a church? To steal from the Lord's house?" But after the anger wears off, we are left with the cleanup; putting things back together again, and installing some security (fencing and video cameras) to fend off the next set of thieves.

In a way, this is a picture of the world we live in. The bible tells us that our adversary is a thief and a destroyer. He goes around looking for opportunities to rip us off! He destroys everything he touches. Unfortunately we often give him the opportunities that he seeks, leaving our lives unguarded. Then after he rips us off, we have to clean up the mess, and hopefully we learn and install some additional security measures.

But our security is not fences and video survellance. We are to remain guarded against our enemy by:

• Being obedient to God's word
• Worshiping Him in spirit and truth
• Remaining close to the congregation in fellowship and accountability
• Seeking His face in prayer and thanksgiving
  

As we study the book of Judges on Wednesday nights, we can see the long-term ramifications of drifting away from the Lord. The picture is not a pretty one! The encouragement is "be watchful, be prayerful, and be worshipful!"


Till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay