He is faithful...

1 Samuel 12:20-22:

20 And Samuel said to the people, “Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following theLord, but serve the Lord with all your heart.

21 And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.

22 For theLord will not forsake his people, for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you a people for himself.

Samuel has just finished pointing out the people's sin of requesting an earthly king over God as king. The people had rejected God as king, desiring a "king like all the nations." They were confronted with this evil and filled with fear and grief. They ask Samuel to pray for them that God would not kill them. The above verses are Samuel's response to the people.

Be encouraged today Christian! For God is absolutely faithful, even when we are not!

For His Kingdom...

Spurgeon at his best...

Here is yet another wonderful reminder from the master devotional writer:

C.H. Spurgeon's Morning Devotional Thursday May 6, 2010 "We dwell in Him."-1 John 4:13 Do you want a house for your soul? Do you ask, "What is the purchase?" It is something less than proud human nature will like to give. It is without money and without price. Ah! you would like to pay a respectable rent! You would love to do something to win Christ? Then you cannot have the house, for it is "without price." Will you take my Master's house on a lease for all eternity, with nothing to pay for it, nothing but the ground-rent of loving and serving Him for ever? Will you take Jesus and "dwell in Him?" See, this house is furnished with all you want, it is filled with riches more than you will spend as long as you live. Here you can have intimate communion with Christ and feast on His love; here are tables well-stored with food for you to live on for ever; in it, when weary, you can find rest with Jesus; and from it you can look out and see heaven itself. Will you have the house? Ah! if you are houseless, you will say, "I should like to have the house; but may I have it?" Yes; there is the key-the key is, "Come to Jesus." "But," you say, "I am too shabby for such a house." Never mind; there are garments inside. If you feel guilty and condemned, come; and though the house is too good for you, Christ will make you good enough for the house by-and-by. He will wash you and cleanse you, and you will yet be able to sing, "We dwell in Him." Believer: thrice happy art thou to have such a dwelling-place! Greatly privileged thou art, for thou hast a "strong habitation" in which thou art ever safe. And "dwelling in Him," thou hast not only a perfect and secure house, but an everlasting one. When this world shall have melted like a dream, our house shall live, and stand more imperishable than marble, more solid than granite, self-existent as God, for it is God Himself-"We dwell in Him." For His Kingdom...

The Big Bear...

Today is my good friend Bear's birthday. So, in accordance with good birthday celebration, we took him to lunch @ La Bamba's. Now when I say we I mean a bunch of us. It was a great time! We conversed, laughed, ate and most of all, celebrated Bear.

This is not the first time I've been out with friends celebrating their birthdays. However, it was special and quite memorable for at least 2 reasons.

First, Bear is a superb friend! He is the kind of friend that I know I can count on no matter what. We've been through some interesting things together here in ministry. Yet, whatever the situation or circumstance, our friendship has maintained and even grown. Bear's gentle and kind heart coupled with his intense passion for God and His church are, for me, both refreshing and encouraging. He has become one of my most trusted and insightful confidants and companion. He quickly reminds me of the Proverb (27:9) that says "the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel."

This brings me to my second reason. Friends, good and close friends are extremely important in this life. One of the most intriguing and powerful things about my father is his keeping of close friends. My dad's best friends (the ones all us kids call "uncle" so and so) are friends that he has had since middle school! I have grown up with many of these friends and consider them family. As such, the older I get the more I consider my friendships. Especially now that Amy and I are going to be parents, I want my kid(s) to grow up with my friends kids. I hope to maintain some dear friendships that are really more like extended families. It is becoming more apparent to me that this life cannot be rightly lived in family isolation. We need community; we need close, endearing friendships that will rejoice when we rejoice and weep when we weep.

As I looked around the table this afternoon at all the friends that gathered to celebrate Bear and his birthday I couldn't help but feel excited about the community that God is growing and nurturing here. It was such a sweet time both b/c of the person we were celebrating and b/c of the friends we were celebrating with! I am certainly blessed by the people that God has brought into my life. I just hope that we will be friends, even family well into eternity.

So, Bear - Happy Birthday my friend!

For His Kingdom...

Spring Break(fast)

Imagine yourself in the following situation:

You're a middle school student who has just begun your Spring Break. You begin to day dream about the endless possibilities that await during this much needed break from the grind of school. You fantasize about many hours spent at the beach or at friends houses doing whatever your little heart desires. It is going to be a week filled with late nights and even later mornings. Thus, you lay your little head on your pillow at night, thinking to yourself, "tomorrow I'm gonna wake up around noon and grace the world with my very presence." It is with that thought that you drift off into a peaceful and quiet sleep, tucked all cozy in your own bed.

Next thing you know, it is 6:00 am and there are strangers in your room, shaking you, squirting you with water guns, sounding sirens and yelling at you through a megaphone. You are near the point of having a heart attack, or at least tears.

"What is going on?"

Well, this was somewhat the general reaction of 9 middle school students yesterday. Dylan, Ali and myself set out on an excursion to snatch some students right out of their own bed and in their pj's and take them to breakfast. It was a truly awesome time! We snagged these students - Andrew, 3 Rachel's, Zack, Alex, Zoey, Brock and Susanna - an took them all to Ihop, the beach and Starbucks. We had a great time laughing, playing, talking about Jesus and just goofing off.

I have to say, though it was wicked early, I really enjoyed spending that time with the students.

So, until next time...

For His Kingdom...

Reading a great book...

Right now I'm reading "The Trellis and The Vine" by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne.

It's a wonderful book so far on the nature of Christian ministry. The premise is that in ministry there are people and programs (please forgive my blanket and vague categories). In the analogy, people are represented by the vine and programs by the trellis. The authors set out to make the case that in Christian ministry there is a need for both the trellis and the vine. In other words, they go hand in hand. However, they note that too often in ministry it is the trellis that gets all the attention and begins to overshadow the vine. They propose that though this focus on programs creates a sense of accomplishment and growth in ministry, it is actually a less than adequate way of accomplishing ministry. It is their proposition that genuine Christian ministry needs to be more vine focused. It is people that matter most in the end.

This book has been marvelous at reminding me what my focus and vision should be for the Student Ministries. Though we utilize programs in ministry, they should be for nothing more than supporting real Christian discipleship and evangelism. We must never let the trellis replace the vine, lest we end up with an inanimate ornament that will only fade in the end.

For His Kingdom...

Scripture and the coffee filter...

I had the enormous and humbling privilege of speaking to the high school students this Sunday. This is a venue usually held down by my cohort and partner in crime, Dylan. But, this Sunday I entered this incredible arena.

It was a marvelous time! We had some great discussion, a tad of silliness and the intentionally intrusive appearance of a man with a video camera. All this made for a quite interesting gathering. In reality, though, every time I speak to students, high school or middle school, it is interesting.

I talked with the students about 1 Thessalonians 5:21. We tried to discover together what exactly Paul was trying to communicate when he tells us to "test everything; hold fast to what is good." We discussed the idea of testing, or questioning or looking closely at everything that comes at us in life. From this we sought to understand what how we test everything; what is our standard, our filter? Thus, I illustrated this by describing a coffee filter. The coffee filter allows for all of the savory and rich coffee to come through but none of the tacky grounds. In the same manner, what is our filter for life?

As you may guess, the bible was the first answer. Though the right answer, I pressed them beyond the right answer and into the playing field of personal answers. "Sure the bible is to be our filter for life, but is that how you are actually living?" In other words, I questioned them past rote memory. This was a wonderful time of self examination (I hope).

As we contemplated this reality a bit more, we started to discover what we really think about how we filter and test all the things that bombard our lives on a daily basis.

So, I pray that it was a profitable time for the students, as it was for me. Please continue to pray for our students and for the ministry that God has given us charge over here.

For His Kingdom....

Refreshing...

Here is another of Spurgeon's great insights into the scripture. He is a master of words and a magnificent voice of the truth and beauty of God!

C.H. Spurgeon's Evening Devotional

Tuesday March 9, 2010

"Abide in Me."-John 15:4 Communion with Christ is a certain cure for every ill. Whether it be the wormwood of woe, or the cloying surfeit of earthly delight, close fellowship with the Lord Jesus will take bitterness from the one, and satiety from the other. Live near to Jesus, Christian, and it is matter of secondary importance whether thou livest on the mountain of honour or in the valley of humiliation. Living near to Jesus, thou art covered with the wings of God, and underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Let nothing keep thee from that hallowed intercourse, which is the choice privilege of a soul wedded to THE WELL-BELOVED. Be not content with an interview now and then, but seek always to retain His company, for only in His presence hast thou either comfort or safety. Jesus should not be unto us a friend who calls upon us now and then, but one with whom we walk evermore. Thou hast a difficult road before thee: see, O traveller to heaven, that thou go not without thy guide. Thou hast to pass through the fiery furnace; enter it not unless, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, thou hast the Son of God to be thy companion. Thou hast to storm the Jericho of thine own corruptions: attempt not the warfare until, like Joshua, thou hast seen the Captain of the Lord's host, with His sword drawn in His hand. Thou art to meet the Esau of thy many temptations: meet him not until at Jabbok's brook thou hast laid hold upon the angel, and prevailed. In every case, in every condition, thou wilt need Jesus; but most of all, when the iron gates of death shall open to thee. Keep thou close to thy soul's Husband, lean thy head upon His bosom, ask to be refreshed with the spiced wine of His pomegranate, and thou shalt be found of Him at the last, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. Seeing thou hast lived with Him, and lived in Him here, thou shalt abide with Him for ever For His Kingdom...

Wise words from the past...

This was just too good to leave before my eyes only.

C.H. Spurgeon's Morning Devotional

Friday February 26, 2010

"Salvation is of the Lord."-Jonah 2:9 Salvation is the work of God. It is He alone who quickens the soul "dead in trespasses and sins," and it is He also who maintains the soul in its spiritual life. He is both "Alpha and Omega." "Salvation is of the Lord." If I am prayerful, God makes me prayerful; if I have graces, they are God's gifts to me; if I hold on in a consistent life, it is because He upholds me with His hand. I do nothing whatever towards my own preservation, except what God Himself first does in me. Whatever I have, all my goodness is of the Lord alone. Wherein I sin, that is my own; but wherein I act rightly, that is of God, wholly and completely. If I have repulsed a spiritual enemy, the Lord's strength nerved my arm. Do I live before men a consecrated life? It is not I, but Christ who liveth in me. Am I sanctified? I did not cleanse myself: God's Holy Spirit sanctifies me. Am I weaned from the world? I am weaned by God's chastisements sanctified to my good. Do I grow in knowledge? The great Instructor teaches me. All my jewels were fashioned by heavenly art. I find in God all that I want; but I find in myself nothing but sin and misery. "He only is my rock and my salvation." Do I feed on the Word? That Word would be no food for me unless the Lord made it food for my soul, and helped me to feed upon it. Do I live on the manna which comes down from heaven? What is that manna but Jesus Christ himself incarnate, whose body and whose blood I eat and drink? Am I continually receiving fresh increase of strength? Where do I gather my might? My help cometh from heaven's hills: without Jesus I can do nothing. As a branch cannot bring forth fruit except it abide in the vine, no more can I, except I abide in Him. What Jonah learned in the great deep, let me learn this morning in my closet: "Salvation is of the Lord." For His Kingdom...

The tyrannical "gift of gab"...

I love to speak. I love speaking to large groups and small groups. I love having one on one conversations and also, dialoging with multiple people at once. I relish the opportunity to verbally present at least some sort of quasi-beneficial narrative or proposition to any and all whose ears would perk in my general vicinity. If I ever find it a proper time to interject with an opinion or proverbial "food for thought," I spring into vocal action. Needless to say, I'm a talker.

The good news is that I work with students and have ample opportunity to speak both to and with them. I absolutely love these students. I enjoy sharing with them God's Word, bits pieces of life, advice, stories and sometimes even tough love. I find myself continually engaged with these students in the sharing of thoughts, hopes, dreams and difficulties via word of mouth. I'm thrilled and, count it a great privilege when I get invited to lead chapel or speak to small groups or address a class. It is both a grand privilege and supreme responsibility to share the words of life to these students. Grant it, I'm not always as eloquent and pristine in my presentation of encouragement or love or rebuke as I'd hope to be. However, I believe that God has given me this "gift of gab" for this very purpose. I cherish the ministry God has seen fit to allow me participation in and would not trade it for the world. I mean, hey, I love to talk and that's just what I get to do on a daily basis.

However, as of late I have found that this love of talking, this "gift of gab", can become quite tyrannical if I do not, by God's Spirit, keep it in check. You see, not every situation calls for my input or opinion. Not every arena needs or even allows for my waxing excellent on some great concept or dynamic truth. There are just some instances when any words that I might conjure up would fall far short any self imposed goal secretly set upon them. It is in these situations that I find myself at war with my own tyrannical mind and tongue.

Certainly Proverbs 11:14 says, "Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety." This is an instructive statement giving not only opportunity but permission to impart guidance and wise counsel. One of the most helpful and promising ways of doing this is... you guessed it, through words, conversation and verbal instruction. Yet, we also know, via the life of Job, that it is not always the words, conversation and instruction of man that a person needs most - often it's God's. This is not only wise but necessary. Ultimately, it is the counsel of God that will heal, empower, preserve and sustain. This is not something that I don't know, but something that I believe with all my heart, mind and soul. The hard part about this is that I always feel like I'm the instrument God is going to use to play His symphonic melody to the people I encounter. Sometimes, though, it's my role to just listen.

It is in those moments that I realize that God is working in spite of me. Even as I fight with my own tyrannical "gift of gab" and suppress it as the enemy in this circumstance, I find God beautifully and artfully speaking into peoples' lives. He is active even when I am not. Though He has gifted me to speak, He does not always want me to do so - sometimes I have to just listen and let Him do His thing.

So, to those of you whom I've counseled lately, God is working. Though I may not have had the most profound wisdom to share with you, God is working. When you feel alone and it seems like the walls are closing in and you need someone to talk to, God is there. James 4:8a says, "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." Go to Him. Let He who has the supreme "gift of gab" speak to your weary hearts and bear you along in whatever trouble you are facing.

For His Kingdom...

When all seems lost...

This morning my devotions took me to Psalm 54. This is a personal lament of David. He had been hiding out among the Ziphites, seeking solemn reprieve from Saul who was hungry for David's life. Yet, he was quickly compromised by those whom he was resting in. As such, this is a cry of a wounded and anguished heart. It is a reminder that David was a real person, with real feelings and real needs. He was not always a zealous warrior or a stately king. Here he is a helpless child who longs for the rescue of his omnipotent heavenly Father.

David's hiding place has been given up to Saul - he has been betrayed! He is left in a shriveled state of utter aloneness in the surrounding company of many foes. He lay in the in den of strangers in desperate need of a deliverer. David must have felt such hurt, confusion and loss. I can only imagine the flood of emotions that may have threatened to take him over like a mighty wave. He surly felt that sinking feeling of utter abandonment in the depths of his being. Thus, he not only needed a deliver, but longed for one - one who would come as a friend among enemies. So, David cries out to his God for help. He has absolute confidence in the mighty name (power) of God! He is assured that God is His faithful helper and friend and will not leave his child in distress. God does not forsake His people - especially in the air of certain trouble.

Thus, if God is able to deliver David from the sword of his pursuer, He can certainly deliver me from ANY of my troubles! He is a mighty God and is mighty to save! Let His Spirit arise within His people and show us the extent of God's wonderful love and protection.

For His Kingdom...

D-Now 2010

Well, it's that time again...

Time for another zany adventure via the Student Ministries!

D-Now (Discipleship Now) Weekend 2010 is quickly approaching and I wanted to share just a little bit about it with all of you.

D-Now is a discipleship focused, fun-filled weekend! It includes elements of biblical study, service and, of course... lots of AWESOMENESS!!! The students will be taking a journey of discipleship alongside some amazing leaders and volunteers. They will be both engaged and challenged by God's Word and His work. They will be staying in host homes on Friday and Saturday night. The event starts promptly @ 5:00 pm on Friday night and will end after CRPC's 2nd service (about 1:00 pm) on Sunday afternoon. See below for more information or call Elizabeth Miehle @ 954-334-5183

Cost: $99 (includes everything)

Information & Registration: http://www.crpc.org/connect/students

All forms and $$$ due by: March 8, 2010 (middle school) & April 12, 2010 (high school)

Hurry and register today... space is filling up!!!

For His Kingdom...

Take 2...

So, I've missed a few days. Thing is... it's not that I didn't do my devo's (not saying that in a proud, sort of duty bound way), but just that I don't like being on the computer over the weekend. I find the weekend is the time I get to really spend with my wife Amy. I enjoy chatting with her, running errands together and basically just getting in that quality time that seems so easily to slip away during our busy week days. So, I'm not trying to make any excuses, just to simply say that sometimes other things are just more important.

With that, here is today's little reflection.

Psalm 53

Sometimes it seems that my own "foolish" heart denies God. In practice, I often deny the reality of God's work and His very presence. If I'm honest, I quite frequently function as if God were somehow absent from this life. Thus, I act and look much like one of those who lacks understanding and heavenly knowledge. I presume that this is not an isolated feeling or reality significant only to me. It is perhaps the honest affirmation of most people who are genuinely seeking God. Our daily lives are much like the life of the "fool" in verse 1 - we say in our hearts (likely subconsciously) that there is no God. And so, when God looks down from heaven, I am rightly counted among the "none who does good, not even one."

However, there is a great difference between myself and the fool. The fool denies God b/c his heart is hard and he does not know the God who might soften it. I, on the other hand, have had my dark and hard heart transformed by the radical and wonderful grace of God! Though, I may at times functionally "act the fool," I am not a "fool" through and through. God has regenerated my heart and is in the process of making it more and more like His own.

So, when God looks down from heaven, He does not see Chris Perry in myself, He sees me "in Christ!" I have been joined to Christ; I in Him and He in me! I am now a Son of God; an heir with Christ Himself! I am one of "His people!" This is both perplexing and freeing all at the same time. Perplexing b/c I do not daily see myself as God does. I see the sinner, poor and needy, weak and wounded. I live with a constant understanding of my own "functional foolishness." Thus, I am driven to God daily in confession and repentance; seeking a refocusing of my attention and life upon Him. This reality is also freeing b/c I know God sees me different than I see myself - "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has com." (2 Cor. 5:17). He sees me as His own! In Christ I have been redeemed, accepted and made new. God is at work in me, on me and through me! Thus, "when God restores the fortunes of His people" I will too sing and rejoice and be glad along with all His people.

For His Kingdom...

Who's paying the bill?

Psalm 49:7-9; 15:

"7 Truly no man can ransom another,

or give to God the price of his life,
8 for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,
9 that he should live on forever
and never see the pit.

15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me.

Both rich and poor find their way to the grave. Some have a quick and often effortless journey. While others reach that ever leveling destination after long travels and many adventures. Nevertheless, it is an unavoidable end that eerily haunts ands and awaits us all. This the Psalmist contemplates. This he thinks upon, wondering and marveling at its inevitability.

From his meditation he realizes that though the grave shall be the final abode for all men that the wealthy seem to forget this. He notes that the rich boast much and often in their riches; they find their comfort and security in their abundance. They are self-sufficient and have all things at their fingertips. Yet, he calls them foolish. Why?

The answer lies in the above quoted verses. See, the Psalmist knows God and knows the end of the story, so to speak. He knows that in the end of all things, riches and wealth are futile and fleeting. For not even the richest and a most lavish man cannot ransom himself or another to God. He has not near what it takes to pay what he owes to God. For the debt that man stands accountable to God for is infinite and eternal; but his wealth is merely temporal. For, the ransom of one's life is costly and what we, or those richer than we, have to offer can never suffice.

It is only God who can ransom us - and He will! God, in His infinite riches, though disguised and displayed as poverty, will ransom our souls! He loves His people too much to leave us for the troubles of the grave.

In Christ we can have hope. Hope of a life beyond the grave. This is the gospel. That Christ came to die a death that we deserved in order to pay a debt that we could not pay. On the cross He accomplished this and proved it by rising from the grave 3 days later. Thus, in a power beyond all death and sin, He calls us to join in His resurrection. He commits to save our lives if we just believe! Just believe in Him and what He has done. This, the bible tells us, will make us into the richest people to ever live!

For His Kingdom...

And it's here...

Only 2 days into my devotional upload project and I've already missed a morning! Thankfully God does not require devo's to be @ a certain time of day. In fact, He does not require devo's at all! God in His faithfulness requires noting from us accept belief; and even that, in and of itself, is a gift!

This is the amazing news; the gospel! God takes care of EVERYTHING for us! He not only justified us by His finished work on the cross, but He sanctifies us by His abiding Spirit. The Apostle Paul tells us in the letter to the church at Philippi that, "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ" - Phil. 1:6. It's God who is preserving me and sustaining my growth. No amount of bible reading and prayer, or simply lack thereof can thwart what He has already intended to do from before creation! Simply reading the bible and praying for the sake of attaining some favor with God is a futile effort.

However, I must say, God does use His Word and prayer in the life and growth of His people. But, it's not to achieve something. Again, the Apostle Paul, in the letter to the Ephesian church, says He "has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places." - Eph. 1:3. We have everything we could ever need or want! Thus, our daily devotions, bible reading, meditation and prayer, are not to gain ground with God, but are to draw us near to Him. Through those means we see more of God and His lovely and sometimes perplexing attributes. This is God's way of readjusting our focus. He shows us His son!

Though I missed my morning devo's, I hope in God! He will see me through even when I stumble, fall, fail and flounder. Thus, I praise Him! He is my help and my strong tower! May I always find shelter in Him!

For His Kingdom...

What we're talking about at Gangway these days

Just FYI. For parents or anyone reading the blog. CRPC student ministry has been going through Galatians. Every week we post a few questions for discussion. Posted below are the questions for this week and next. If you are in a community at Coral Ridge the questions may look familiar. This is because these questions come from Tim Keller's study on Galatians which most if not all community groups are going through.

Gangway February 17th & 18th

Read Galatians Chapter 3:1-14

Questions:

1. What can we learn from 3:1-3 about how the Galatians came to Christ from paganism? (What was presented to them? How did they respond? What was the result?

2. What can we learn from 3:3-5 about how the Galatians are to grow spiritually, now that they are Christians? How are the Galatians to grow?

3. Paul warns the Galatians that it's easy to fall back into a works righteousness as we try to overcome sin. How does believing the gospel help us overcome sin?

4. In (v.6) What does it mean that Abraham's faith was credited? On what basis does God credit righteousness to Abraham?

5. How was Abraham's saving faith a model for us?

6. What does it mean that Jesus did not simply take our curse but "became a curse" for us? (vv. 10-14).


Gangway February 24th & 25th

Read Galatians 3:15-25

Questions:

1. What is the difference between receiving something by promise or receiving something by law? (v. 18)

2. What is the purpose of the Law? (vv. 19-22)

3. how does the law "lead a person to Christ?" (vv. 23-25)

4. If we are not under the law's supervision (v. 25)..., does that mean we can live any way we wish? How is the law viewed differently in a relationship with God by grace rather than performance?

Hear ye, hear ye...

Psalm 47

The Lord God, He reigns! God is king over all the earth! There is no square inch of all that is physical (and spiritual for that matter) that God is not sovereign over. But, more specifically, He governs in the affairs of men. He has absolute charge over the people of this world. Yet, He is not a king like those of old - wretched, feared, dangerous. For, He rules not just with authority only, but with love, patience and kindness. He is no tyrant! He does not order his subjects with fear of punishment and pain. No! He goes before His people - He is the Lord, mighty in battle, strong to deliver. He offers peace to His people; care and delight. He is the great protector; the great example of true kingship!

All this and more is our God, our King! Thus, we should rejoice! We should sing and clap and dance and make merry in our God, our King! He reigns both now and forevermore. He sits on an eternal throne in an eternal kingdom and is, even now, gathering to Himself an eternal people. For that reason, He has chosen us; He has rescued us; He is subduing our enemies; He is preparing us and making us ready for His return.

So... rejoice in our King, He is our everything!!!

For His Kingdom...

My daily devos...

So, I thought that sense I'm pretty much a failure at writing anything new and noteworthy that I would start just posting my daily devotions each day. Of course, I will be trying to keep this short and sweet, so it will not consist of all my devotional musings but that which God lays most heavily upon me that day.

This will do a couple of things (hopefully). It will keep me accountable to a daily devotional time w/God as I awake each day already thinking of the myriad of things I need (or so I think) to do. It may also spark some better material that I might then share to the relief of those who get tired of my daily gabbing. Finally, I hope that it will be an encouragement to you, the readers.

So, here goes...

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

- Psalm 46:10

In the entirety of the Psalm, the Psalmist speaks of God's protection and care for His people. Truly, God is a refuge for His people; He is our only sure foundation and solid rock upon which we might brave the experiences of this world. Though natural disaster and/or human agitation and calamity may fall upon us we are to hope in God - for our God is both creator and sustainer of life! We have a God who is strong to save! He will protect us in our most horrific times and deliver us from our pressing foes - both from within and without. This is the God the Psalmist speaks to us of.

But, then comes God's word to His people. He tells us to "Be still, and know that I am God." This is a strange word to us today. Stillness and quietness are a lost art form amongst us. Busyness, busyness, busyness... this is what seems to define the Christian person in our midst. But, God says "be still" - He wants us to settle down, take a break and just marvel in Him. He wants us to put away all of our distractions (people or otherwise) and "know" Him. He also reminds us that He "is God." We are not God and we must recognize this. We cannot see the future; we cannot altar the past and we surly cannot manipulate the present. Whatever may come upon us is often out of our control - but not God's. He is God and He is our hope and security. Thus, He "will be exalted." He will be high and lifted up in all things! He is lifted up among the "nations" and the "earth." Both people and nature are subject to God's sovereign love and purpose. He will bring glory to Himself and good to His creation - this is His promise.

Thus, it must be in stillness that I find this rejuvenated picture of my great heavenly Father. He desires that I stop, not that I seem unproductive, but that I may draw near to the one who is ever productive. It is in these still and quiet times that I know that God is God and I am not. This serves as the catalyst to my shifting perspective that God is all I need!

For His Kingdom...

A few exciting things...

There are many exciting and wonderful things going on here at our church these days. I just wanted to take a moment to comment on a few of them.

1. We are joyfully pleased to have 8 vibrant and very talented young adults interning here at the church. These 8 interns will be working with us in the Student Ministries on Thursdays and will be really helping us out as we seek to move the ministry forward.

2. Discipleship Now (D-Now) weekend is coming up in March for both middle and high school. This is going to be a fun-filled weekend of worship, activities, service projects and intense discipleship. We are hoping for a really great turn out so that as many of our students as possible will become familiar with what we're doing in the Student Ministries. So... if you have any middle school or high school students or would like to be a host home, please give us a call!

3. Amy and I are having a BOY!!!

Hopefully these things excite you as much as they do me! We look forward to all that God will be doing in the lives of our students. We pray that seeds of revival are being sown and nurtured so that we might see a great work of God break into our midst! So, please... pray with us!

For His Kingdom...

XEE

It's that time again...

Another XEE class is about to begin. It is going to be an incredible time of discipleship and training. This year we are pleased to have Mr. XEE himself, Adam Bond, here as our fearless instructor! Adam is probably one of the most passionate men I know when it comes to reaching the next generation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He comes from a rich pedigree of EE giants (his father Rick Bond is the vice president of youth EE).

The class will meet on Thursday nights from 6 to 7 p.m. and will run for 7 weeks. The fist class will be held on Thursday, February 4th.

So, I hope all of you (both students and adults) will come out and join us! If you have any questions please contact the Out-reach department @ 954-334-5069

For His Kingdom...

Devastation...

As many of you know, Haiti was hit yesterday by a massive earthquake. The epicenter of the quake was most prominent and devastating in and around the capital of Port-Au-Prince. Numerous buildings and land standing structures were violently shaken and their foundations severely compromised. Entire communities have been left in literal "rubble." Countless people have been affected by this catastrophe either in injury, displacement and even death. The great majority of these people are residents of Haiti. However, with this small country lying only miles from south Florida, this tragedy has crossed many waters in order to touch many victims locally here.

So it is, whether there or here, many Haitians and their family now know first hand real and painful loss. Families have lost touch of loved ones still living within Haiti's boarders and it is often this state of "not knowing" that is very difficult.

We know, as Christians, that God was not and is not surprised by this event. He, through His own mysterious yet, loving purpose, has allowed this earthquake to take place. He is not removed from Haiti, but quite the opposite, He is likely more near now than ever. Thus, it is our responsibility as servants of God and His church, to pray for the people of Haiti and their families both here and there. We must pray that God would be plainly and mightily noticed in this time. He is the God of all comfort and is the ONLY source of true and real comfort for all those struck by this great disaster. We must diligently pray for not only physical rescue but spiritual rescue as well. In all of this, we must look to Christ as the author and finisher of our faith and find our hope and peace in Him.

So, to all my Haitian friends, brothers and sisters... I am praying for you!

"The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

- Numbers 6:24-26

For His Kingdom...

1st post of 2010

What a humbling moment it is to realize that this is the first blog post of this new year - 2010. It seems like such a serious responsibility! I mean, what if it is terrible? What if it makes no sense? What if it is just more of the same old thing? To be honest it is terribly frustrating to put the beginning of 2010 into words. It's an often difficult matter to spell out my hopes and heart; to lay bare my thoughts, musings and perspectives. Perhaps the only comfort is being able to say that "it will only get better after this." At any rate, here goes.

At this very minute I am sitting @ my desk in my office listening to Shawn McDonald's marvelous song, "The Rider On The White Horse." I find it to be truly marvelous for a number of reasons. 1) The entire song consists of only these words - "someday I'm going to see the King." 2) The musical arrangement is magical, it moves me in a deeply emotional way - almost reaching out and pulling me into the story it tells. 3) The profundity of the song. Someday we will see the King.

Now, I've had this album in my possession for at least 2 years now and have only recently given it the attention it deserves. In fact, I started listening to it about 2 weeks ago, just before the new year. The above song appears in the 2nd slot on the playlist and when I heard it I was immediately hooked. I'm sure that I have listened to it at least 150 times since that fateful discovery.

So, why all the hype and publicity for this song, this artist you might wonder? Well, it's because I was touched and moved by something he created, something he did. He is using his talents, gifts and abilities to serve the Lord and His church! This is a wonderful thing! It is also a reminder that we (I) need to be about the Lord's work as well; using the talents, gifts and abilities that He has given to me to serve Him and His church. This is our calling, our duty and our blessing.

The song itself is also quite inspiring. In it's simplicity of lyrics it is also deeply complex in its theology. After all, someday we're going to see the King! I mean, one day I am going to be face to face with the King of Kings, the Lord of heaven and earth, the Creator Himself - that's AMAZING! But, what exactly does that mean for me today? How do I live and operate with that knowledge and hope this day, in this moment? What does this faith - let's call it what it is - look like? For it's one thing to sing along to this catchy song, it's a whole other thing to ingest it, internalize it and make it my own expression of the hope that resides in my innermost being.

Thus, in 2010 I want this to be the anthem of my life! I want to live every day as if that day I'm going to see the King! This is my hope, my earnest desire! Sure, I'm not going to perfectly accomplish this, but I'm striving! Strive with me. One day you too will see the King!

For His Kingdom...