Archive for April 2008
Here are all of the articles published in April 2008.
Does prayer work?
Posted: April 30, 2008
Category: Pastor Steve's Blog
Comments: 0 Comments
TAGS: prayer
Do you pray? Many more people claim to pray than claim to be a part of a church family in the United States. Yet, prayer causes people to ask the hard questions about themselves and about God? Does God answer prayer? Why does He answer the way He does? Why someone else and not me? are just some of the questions that come to mind as people engage in prayer.
John 14:13 says, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.” This verse immediately causes us to question prayer and God….because all of us have prayed and not received what we desired. Here Jesus says He will do whatever we ask. So, at first glance, we have a promise that we may have felt that Jesus didn’t keep. Others of us may say that we have experienced this as absolutely true and perhaps we’ve used prayer in Jesus as our personal vending machine for our wants and desires.
Here’s the thing about this verse. If I’m listening to the whole verse…I can’t miss what Jesus says when He says, “In My Name!” That very verse begins to challenge our understanding of prayer. It begins to shift our thinking from ourself to Jesus. In His Name brings about the presence of God, the power of God, and kingdom of God into our midst. To do anything in Jesus Name means to go where He is…not bring Him where I am. This drives us back to where Jesus is present…in His Word. The more we are in the Word, the more we are in Jesus. It brings us into the presence of Jesus and into His kingdom. Very important to note that this does not become a secret way to get what we want…but rather, it brings us into a different way of thinking and it changes us. To be in Jesus Name now brings us into “His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.” Therefore, to be in His name changes our way of thinking and praying. As we are aligned with Jesus will, we begin to pray in a different way and of course He does what we ask, because we ask in light of what He is doing in His reign and rule. Therefore, it drives us to be in the Word more…and to pray more….and to seek His will more. In that, the Father is glorified….prayer is no longer our means to change God…but another way that we see God moving us by His Word. More could be said…but a place to start as we think about prayer.
May 2008 Newsletter
Posted: April 24, 2008
Category: Downloads, Downloads/Monthly Newsletters
Comments: 0 Comments
Announcements 4-27-08
Posted: April 24, 2008
Category: Downloads, Downloads/Weekly Bulletin Announcements
Comments: 0 Comments
Blessing and bane of cell phones
Posted: April 21, 2008
Category: Pastor Steve's Blog
Comments: 0 Comments
TAGS: cell phones, connectivity, hurried lifestyle
Cell phones have changed our lives drastically. There was a day that you went off to work, ran an errand, or went to a ball game and no one could reach you during the time you were driving, shopping, or enjoying a game. We thought nothing of being out for two to three hours and no one could reach us. The pagers came along and they would buzz and beep on our belts. Of course, you had to be able to get to a phone to call someone back. If you didn’t call back for an hour or two, it was because you were unable to call right back. More expectations, but not the idea of immediate contact.
I remember a few years ago when I showed up at a meeting with a cell phone. The pastors scoffed at the idea that I had one of these devices and wondered what I was up to my interest in a “cell phone.” The next time we met, they all asked if they could use it to call their wives during the 5 days we were together and at some point….they all began to carry their own phones. I can’t find them anymore without calling their cell phone. Now we have cell phones. Not just a few of us either. Most everyone carries a cell phone 24/7.
With the blessing of having the ability to stay in touch with our work, family, and friends, comes the bane of being available for our work, family and friends. People are never away from work. Go to the airport and everyone is discussing business before they get on the plane. You walk through the mall and the person who appears to be talking to you are really discussing some office problem on their blue-tooth microphone. Look around at a ballgame sometime and notice how many people are talking on the phone (or texting if they are under the age of 24) while watching the game.
The phone becomes a problem with the opportunity for contact becomes an expectation for immediate conversation. I find that I can’t take a shower, work out for a few minutes, or simply forget to turn the phone off of vibrate mode without finding several “missed calls” and many voice mails asking “where are you?” and “call me quick.” We’re on call all the time. You can’t ignore a phone call, even if it’s an unknown number….it might be a loved one calling from a strangers cell phone because they locked their phone and keys in the car. (that’s a blessing)
I do have to say though…I’m glad that God is on call all the time. He not only answers, but He desires to be called upon. He knows what we need, but He’s anxious for us to call Him anyway. If it was me…I’d be tired of the whole thing. I’d wonder why some don’t call more often…or why they only call in trouble. But, He never tires of the calls and never changes His mind about saying “Call on me.” Also, no busy signals…and never a situation of being “out of a signal area.” When we go through Bane and Blessings…He is ready and He listens.
I have no answer for the right use of phones…but God’s call to prayer never ceases…in fact He says to call(pray) without ceasing.
Announcements 4-20-08
Posted: April 16, 2008
Category: Downloads, Downloads/Weekly Bulletin Announcements
Comments: 0 Comments
Register for Kidz Summer Camps
Posted: April 14, 2008
Category: News
Comments: 4 Comments
TAGS: kids, summer camp
Click the link below to download the registration form for kids summer camps.
*UPDATE*
Below is the brochure with all of the details of this program.
Register for Vacation Bible School Now
Posted: April 14, 2008
Category: News
Comments: 0 Comments
TAGS: kids, summer, VBS
It is time to register for Vacation Bible School. Click the link below to download the registration form.
CLICK HERE to register online as a participant or as a volunteer.
CLICK HERE to download and print a form.
Announcements 4-13-08
Posted: April 9, 2008
Category: Downloads, Downloads/Weekly Bulletin Announcements
Comments: 0 Comments
