Acts 20:28 NKJV Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.
One of the many benefits of being a man or woman of God's Word is that a healthy dose of God's word regularly, will help keep you healthy! As we are fed a steady diet of God's Word, there is that natural tendency toward spiritual health and vibrancy!
We know that God's Word does not go out empty (Isaiah 55:11). So as it goes out: verse by verse, chapter by chapter, and book by book; it naturally nourishes the soul and promotes good, godly spiritual health. There is no alternative or substitute. The latest Christian book won't do it. The new popular YouTube video won't do it. The latest 10 CD set on this topic and that topic won't do it. But God's Word can and will, every time.
As you're feeding on a consistent diet of God's Word, you naturally become stronger and more vibrant in your spiritual life.
Become healthy, start feeding more regularly in the Word of God. Know Jesus and make Him known.
In Love,
Pastor Ed
Response
Your study last Sunday on Acts 2 was so meaningful and freeing to me. God used you to clean up old, wrong teachings. I was raised in foster care. My high school years were with a minister's family. I had accepted Christ three years before. I was told I must speak in tongues to be fully saved. (If I didn't by the end of the upcoming revival meeting - I would have to move, as I wasn't an example to other youths.) If I didn't speak in tongues there was unconfessed sins. I prayed and begged God to speak in tongues. (They needed a mother's helper so no, they didn't send me on). I doubted my salvation. Three years later, I did speak in tongues in a private prayer and praise time, not in public. They said I didn't have the Holy Spirit because no one heard me. No one should beg for a gift - to anyone [?unto?] God who gives freely gifts to His children. Thank you for being used of God for what I needed. Sunday's service was awesome!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Getting Your Attention
2 Samuel 14:30-31 (NKJV) So he said to his servants, "See, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there; go and set it on fire." And Absalom's servants set the field on fire. Then Joab arose and came to Absalom's house, and said to him, "Why have your servants set my field on fire?"
We live in a media-saturated society. There are voices screaming for our attention at every turn: on our phones, our TVs, supermarket aisles, billboards, computer screens. Everywhere we look, someone is trying to get our attention and tell us something.
In the midst of all this noise is the voice of God! He wants our full, undivided attention but unfortunately, often doesn't get it. God will often speak to us but we don't listen. He will get through to us with a Scripture we memorized and we won't respond. He speaks through pastors and teachers, but many decide not to receive.
There's a story in the Old Testament where Absalom's servants set a field on fire in hopes of getting Joab's and King David's attention. It worked! When your field is on fire, you start paying attention!
Has God ever allowed your field be set on fire? Has He allowed drastic things to happen in your life to simply get your attention? Don't be slow to respond but return to the Lord with all your strength. He loves you and cares for you and wants to commune in fellowship with you. Come back! Don't worry about the fields: God will take care of them!
In Love,
Pastor Ed
Response
I have been listening to GRACEfm for a couple of weeks now and it has truly impacted my life. I have been "lost in the desert" for a number of years and felt I was doing ok. I attended a Bible college and after graduation, worked as a youth pastor. Personal demons pulled me from the ministry and led me astray. Living my life with no control beyond myself has led to a life of disappointments and negativity. I have struggled with regaining a relationship with the LORD. I bucked it at every turn, making excuses why I didn't want or need it. Now, my marriage in turmoil and an unfulfilled life, through your station and the pastors who share, I am seeing the light. I am beginning to break down the wall and open my heart. Thank you! I will continue to listen and seek God to guide me out of the desert and back to the flock.
We live in a media-saturated society. There are voices screaming for our attention at every turn: on our phones, our TVs, supermarket aisles, billboards, computer screens. Everywhere we look, someone is trying to get our attention and tell us something.
In the midst of all this noise is the voice of God! He wants our full, undivided attention but unfortunately, often doesn't get it. God will often speak to us but we don't listen. He will get through to us with a Scripture we memorized and we won't respond. He speaks through pastors and teachers, but many decide not to receive.
There's a story in the Old Testament where Absalom's servants set a field on fire in hopes of getting Joab's and King David's attention. It worked! When your field is on fire, you start paying attention!
Has God ever allowed your field be set on fire? Has He allowed drastic things to happen in your life to simply get your attention? Don't be slow to respond but return to the Lord with all your strength. He loves you and cares for you and wants to commune in fellowship with you. Come back! Don't worry about the fields: God will take care of them!
In Love,
Pastor Ed
Response
I have been listening to GRACEfm for a couple of weeks now and it has truly impacted my life. I have been "lost in the desert" for a number of years and felt I was doing ok. I attended a Bible college and after graduation, worked as a youth pastor. Personal demons pulled me from the ministry and led me astray. Living my life with no control beyond myself has led to a life of disappointments and negativity. I have struggled with regaining a relationship with the LORD. I bucked it at every turn, making excuses why I didn't want or need it. Now, my marriage in turmoil and an unfulfilled life, through your station and the pastors who share, I am seeing the light. I am beginning to break down the wall and open my heart. Thank you! I will continue to listen and seek God to guide me out of the desert and back to the flock.
Monday, March 21, 2011
The Gospel Has Power
Romans 1:16-17 (NKJV) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Sometimes our eNote encouragements come directly from my email inbox. Here's one today that I pray encourages you greatly!
BEGIN TESTIMONY
"This email is for both Pastor Ed and Pastor Allen. My name is Russ, and Allen, I appreciate you being so gracious in meeting me both times I have attended church on Wednesday nights.
I just feel led to share a word about my life with you. I will keep it as concise as possible and sincerely appreciate your reading it.
I am originally from Georgia where, in the Bible Belt as they call it, I was raised going to church every Sunday as a child. Up through my early teen years I went, but never truly identified or related to the things I was being taught. After graduating from high school, I went to UGA and upon leaving there moved to Colorado (three years ago).
During both my college and Colorado years, I have spent my time desperately trying to find what would fulfill me and what my life journey would look like. Up until now, it has looked like going out to bars (downtown where I live) and partying, being in various unhealthy relationships, and declaring solemnly after a great deal of consideration, that I firmly did not believe God exists, amongst other things.
Well, needless to say, none of those things brought me any closer to fulfillment than banging my head against a wall. Without going into the story's details at length, in the last month I found myself at the end of my rope. I could not have been any further from any real truth in my entire life. It was at this point I decided to confide in my friend Jason from work all of the things I was dealing with (not in ANY spiritual sense, strictly for advice). We ended up going to the gym so he could show me some pointers on weight lifting, and afterwards (and I could not tell you for the life of me how the topic came up) we started talking about God. This is the beginning of many evidences I have seen of God pursuing me in my place of darkness.
He explained to me some different questions I had about the Bible and some basic things about Jesus and God (not basic to you I am certain, but mind-boggling to me!). After we talked about those things, I left his house, and found my heart and my mind desiring to know more about this Jesus character and what He is all about. I started by reading this book that someone had once recommended. I have never identified with someone as much as the guy who wrote that book. Without going on about that, the author talks about a couple of his friends who were far from God reading the book of Matthew to see who this Jesus was.
So, upon the advice via book from the author, I started reading Matthew. I read about half of it in one sitting I was so caught up in it. The whole time I was thinking, this Jesus was revolutionary! I think I had let every cultural and "religious" aspect of Jesus I had learned crowd out any actual truth about Him. The next day outside at work, I discussed how amazing and interesting Jesus' life was with Jason. He talked to me about what I had read and it was very insightful. So that next afternoon after going to the gym, I went up to the roof of my building and read the rest of Matthew. Its hard not to type out all of the amazing thoughts I had about it, but I am keeping this readable. For the singular first time in my life, I understood who Jesus was and realized that I had found where true fulfillment lies.
Up on the roof I prayed. I didn't have a clue what to say but I prayed. I told God that I had come to the poignant realization that having me in charge of my life was not working out like I thought, and that I didn't want to do it anymore. Unlike times in my childhood where I bargained with God for things in exchange for obedience, my only request was to receive His love and wisdom.
After that experience, I asked Jason about going to church (he had mentioned it before) and we went to Calvary Chapel last Wednesday. Pastor Allen, you spoke about the Holy Spirit and it was very good. I am still learning things and didn't follow some aspects of the message (out of ignorance) but there were several verses you pointed out that were exactly what I needed to hear that night. Not to mention the encouragement of seeing so many people wanting to know God too, and friendly ones at that.
After that uplifting experience but still living a little in confusion, I went about my week and despite prayer and reading still found myself falling back into the same "games" over the holiday weekend that I had been in before. So I came again to Calvary Chapel tonight, praying almost like a confused but very sincere child, that God would give me a message that would speak to me and give me guidance with some of the things I am still dealing with. Pastor Ed, I can't fully express in writing what your message meant to me. I never really knew the full non-kids story of Samson. That passage we read from tonight went like a laser to my heart. The way you related that story in your talk (and as you said eloquently yourself), I felt that Jesus himself was speaking to me.
I won't recount every detail, but in the car ride home I couldn't get the words out of my mouth fast enough to Jason how much I got out of it. You see, now that I knew my life needed to have someone else at the reins, I didn't know at all what that looked like. The story of Samson is powerful to me because I identify with being blind and in shackles to what has been going on with me. It was funny to hear what you said Pastor Ed about looking in from the outside on Samson's life. The whole time I was thinking, "Is this guy nuts? What is he doing? Stop doing that, what an idiot." Then, as you said the Holy Spirit can enable insight when we are shrouded in those games, and I saw the irony of my thoughts. I am Samson. I am in that Valley. I am blind and chained because of fooling myself. I was set-up. And even in all that, I was as clueless as Samson about it.
Well to wrap up my now lengthy story, I will say this. I don't want to end up pushing down columns on myself. I could see that what is at first appealing and sexy, only inevitably will be the same thing that destroys me. So when you said that prayer tonight after your talk, I said it with you. I am sorry I didn't stand up or anything, but I didn't even think about that when I was sitting there listening to you speak. I was just hearing someone speaking directly to me. I had prayed to God (as you see in the story) before, but I wanted to say to Him the right words with the right heart and ask for forgiveness. Thank you so much for leading me in that prayer.
Pastor Ed, in your sermon you said at one point that you didn't know if the person who was meant to hear your message was even there tonight. I think that was a part of my motivation to write you and Pastor Allen. I want you to know. I want you to know that your message was the spoken Word of Jesus Himself to me. I thank you as I thank God so much for that. Over dinner tonight before church, Jason was telling me truly amazing stories of his faith where remarkable unbelievable things happened. I was in awe, but didn't relate as well because I had not seen that until just recently in my own life. After tonight, I see that if I have faith and ask God for a message or wisdom or guidance He will send it.
Pastor Allen, I really really hope to be at your Friday night thing this week to experience it. I want to thank you again for your kindness in meeting me. I don't really have any believer friends beyond Jason so I hope to get plugged in somewhere that I can be around people who are believers too. Maybe that will be one of those places for me.
I tried to keep this as succinct as possible, but there is so much to say. It is late and I need to go to bed. But God bless you both and I hope to talk to you soon in person (hopefully not tearing up as much this time, Allen). Thanks again."
END OF TESTIMONY
So, I encourage you to keep praying for your loved ones and inviting them to hear the life-saving message of the gospel!
In His Love,
Pastor Ed
Sometimes our eNote encouragements come directly from my email inbox. Here's one today that I pray encourages you greatly!
BEGIN TESTIMONY
"This email is for both Pastor Ed and Pastor Allen. My name is Russ, and Allen, I appreciate you being so gracious in meeting me both times I have attended church on Wednesday nights.
I just feel led to share a word about my life with you. I will keep it as concise as possible and sincerely appreciate your reading it.
I am originally from Georgia where, in the Bible Belt as they call it, I was raised going to church every Sunday as a child. Up through my early teen years I went, but never truly identified or related to the things I was being taught. After graduating from high school, I went to UGA and upon leaving there moved to Colorado (three years ago).
During both my college and Colorado years, I have spent my time desperately trying to find what would fulfill me and what my life journey would look like. Up until now, it has looked like going out to bars (downtown where I live) and partying, being in various unhealthy relationships, and declaring solemnly after a great deal of consideration, that I firmly did not believe God exists, amongst other things.
Well, needless to say, none of those things brought me any closer to fulfillment than banging my head against a wall. Without going into the story's details at length, in the last month I found myself at the end of my rope. I could not have been any further from any real truth in my entire life. It was at this point I decided to confide in my friend Jason from work all of the things I was dealing with (not in ANY spiritual sense, strictly for advice). We ended up going to the gym so he could show me some pointers on weight lifting, and afterwards (and I could not tell you for the life of me how the topic came up) we started talking about God. This is the beginning of many evidences I have seen of God pursuing me in my place of darkness.
He explained to me some different questions I had about the Bible and some basic things about Jesus and God (not basic to you I am certain, but mind-boggling to me!). After we talked about those things, I left his house, and found my heart and my mind desiring to know more about this Jesus character and what He is all about. I started by reading this book that someone had once recommended. I have never identified with someone as much as the guy who wrote that book. Without going on about that, the author talks about a couple of his friends who were far from God reading the book of Matthew to see who this Jesus was.
So, upon the advice via book from the author, I started reading Matthew. I read about half of it in one sitting I was so caught up in it. The whole time I was thinking, this Jesus was revolutionary! I think I had let every cultural and "religious" aspect of Jesus I had learned crowd out any actual truth about Him. The next day outside at work, I discussed how amazing and interesting Jesus' life was with Jason. He talked to me about what I had read and it was very insightful. So that next afternoon after going to the gym, I went up to the roof of my building and read the rest of Matthew. Its hard not to type out all of the amazing thoughts I had about it, but I am keeping this readable. For the singular first time in my life, I understood who Jesus was and realized that I had found where true fulfillment lies.
Up on the roof I prayed. I didn't have a clue what to say but I prayed. I told God that I had come to the poignant realization that having me in charge of my life was not working out like I thought, and that I didn't want to do it anymore. Unlike times in my childhood where I bargained with God for things in exchange for obedience, my only request was to receive His love and wisdom.
After that experience, I asked Jason about going to church (he had mentioned it before) and we went to Calvary Chapel last Wednesday. Pastor Allen, you spoke about the Holy Spirit and it was very good. I am still learning things and didn't follow some aspects of the message (out of ignorance) but there were several verses you pointed out that were exactly what I needed to hear that night. Not to mention the encouragement of seeing so many people wanting to know God too, and friendly ones at that.
After that uplifting experience but still living a little in confusion, I went about my week and despite prayer and reading still found myself falling back into the same "games" over the holiday weekend that I had been in before. So I came again to Calvary Chapel tonight, praying almost like a confused but very sincere child, that God would give me a message that would speak to me and give me guidance with some of the things I am still dealing with. Pastor Ed, I can't fully express in writing what your message meant to me. I never really knew the full non-kids story of Samson. That passage we read from tonight went like a laser to my heart. The way you related that story in your talk (and as you said eloquently yourself), I felt that Jesus himself was speaking to me.
I won't recount every detail, but in the car ride home I couldn't get the words out of my mouth fast enough to Jason how much I got out of it. You see, now that I knew my life needed to have someone else at the reins, I didn't know at all what that looked like. The story of Samson is powerful to me because I identify with being blind and in shackles to what has been going on with me. It was funny to hear what you said Pastor Ed about looking in from the outside on Samson's life. The whole time I was thinking, "Is this guy nuts? What is he doing? Stop doing that, what an idiot." Then, as you said the Holy Spirit can enable insight when we are shrouded in those games, and I saw the irony of my thoughts. I am Samson. I am in that Valley. I am blind and chained because of fooling myself. I was set-up. And even in all that, I was as clueless as Samson about it.
Well to wrap up my now lengthy story, I will say this. I don't want to end up pushing down columns on myself. I could see that what is at first appealing and sexy, only inevitably will be the same thing that destroys me. So when you said that prayer tonight after your talk, I said it with you. I am sorry I didn't stand up or anything, but I didn't even think about that when I was sitting there listening to you speak. I was just hearing someone speaking directly to me. I had prayed to God (as you see in the story) before, but I wanted to say to Him the right words with the right heart and ask for forgiveness. Thank you so much for leading me in that prayer.
Pastor Ed, in your sermon you said at one point that you didn't know if the person who was meant to hear your message was even there tonight. I think that was a part of my motivation to write you and Pastor Allen. I want you to know. I want you to know that your message was the spoken Word of Jesus Himself to me. I thank you as I thank God so much for that. Over dinner tonight before church, Jason was telling me truly amazing stories of his faith where remarkable unbelievable things happened. I was in awe, but didn't relate as well because I had not seen that until just recently in my own life. After tonight, I see that if I have faith and ask God for a message or wisdom or guidance He will send it.
Pastor Allen, I really really hope to be at your Friday night thing this week to experience it. I want to thank you again for your kindness in meeting me. I don't really have any believer friends beyond Jason so I hope to get plugged in somewhere that I can be around people who are believers too. Maybe that will be one of those places for me.
I tried to keep this as succinct as possible, but there is so much to say. It is late and I need to go to bed. But God bless you both and I hope to talk to you soon in person (hopefully not tearing up as much this time, Allen). Thanks again."
END OF TESTIMONY
So, I encourage you to keep praying for your loved ones and inviting them to hear the life-saving message of the gospel!
In His Love,
Pastor Ed
Friday, March 18, 2011
My Limitations
1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV) casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
God, throughout our lives, allows things to come our way that are huge and insurmountable. Life is like that sometimes and God doesn't always intervene right away. We often find ourselves at the limit! Yet, it's when we come to our limits, to our extremities, where we have to give up control. "I can't do anything else." "I can't go any farther." That's the time God is given the opportunity in our lives to take over and do His work, showing His great saving power.
Of course, there are those of us who are a little more hard-headed than others which only make things tougher on us during difficult times. Those that are a little more 'strong-willed' seem to have to deepen in the hole and suffer misery a little longer before crying out to God in surrender for help! (By the way we always point out to our kids when they are being strong-willed. You know kids grow up into being strong-willed adults, too! Perhaps this is a great time to ask God to soften your will and mold it into His.)
God in His great love for us often allows us to get to the very end, so that we might see with our own eyes, our limitations. Why? He allows hard times, so that we would learn how to cast our lives upon Him and trust Him.
You may be in a very limiting place right now. It's time. Turn your life and all your situations over to Him. He hears. He cares. He acts.
By Grace,
Pastor Ed
Response
Thank you for this message. I struggle with my immediate family not being believers and yes, have hit many a brick wall with them. This message sure has helped me with my frustrations. I will begin praying specifically that the Spirit of God will open their eyes so they come to the Lord.
God, throughout our lives, allows things to come our way that are huge and insurmountable. Life is like that sometimes and God doesn't always intervene right away. We often find ourselves at the limit! Yet, it's when we come to our limits, to our extremities, where we have to give up control. "I can't do anything else." "I can't go any farther." That's the time God is given the opportunity in our lives to take over and do His work, showing His great saving power.
Of course, there are those of us who are a little more hard-headed than others which only make things tougher on us during difficult times. Those that are a little more 'strong-willed' seem to have to deepen in the hole and suffer misery a little longer before crying out to God in surrender for help! (By the way we always point out to our kids when they are being strong-willed. You know kids grow up into being strong-willed adults, too! Perhaps this is a great time to ask God to soften your will and mold it into His.)
God in His great love for us often allows us to get to the very end, so that we might see with our own eyes, our limitations. Why? He allows hard times, so that we would learn how to cast our lives upon Him and trust Him.
You may be in a very limiting place right now. It's time. Turn your life and all your situations over to Him. He hears. He cares. He acts.
By Grace,
Pastor Ed
Response
Thank you for this message. I struggle with my immediate family not being believers and yes, have hit many a brick wall with them. This message sure has helped me with my frustrations. I will begin praying specifically that the Spirit of God will open their eyes so they come to the Lord.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Pray A Lot
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) pray without ceasing
It's been said that "the church moves forward on her knees." It's true. Much is accomplished through prayer, while nothing is accomplished spiritually, without it.
While prayer is important, we have relegated it to just another 'spiritual discipline.' Yes, we pray in thanking God for a meal, or lifting up the needs of a loved one, or asking God to meet some need. Yet, what's available to us in prayer is so much more.
Prayer is our very lifeline with our Creator. That daily dialogue between man and God is so vital, much like the air we breath. More that scheduled events, prayer is to be breathed out moment by moment in our lives. We don't need a 'call to prayer' as some religions require. God, by His Spirit, is calling us to prayer all the time from the inside out.
Take some time today to think through the beauty of prayer in your life. Talk to God and wait to listen. Sweet fruit will come for sure!
In Love,
Pastor Ed
Response
The Holy spirit spoke one of many wonderful truths last Sunday through you that did not come to my mind until you said it. It's about missions, and the importance of them cannot be understated for sure. But it spoke so close to my heart about how foreign countries that send missions to the United States to reach us because they see there is a great need for Jesus here. The greatest nation on earth, responsible for sending missions to other countries now needs to hear about Jesus because we have strayed so far off course. I hope and pray that people heard clearly that while going on a mission can be a life changing experience, it should not to be diminished in any way. That life changing experience can come from just walking across the street in your own neighborhood and sharing the gospel with a total stranger. It has changed me so much; given me such a desire to never stop sharing the good news of Jesus. God has taught me how to talk to people, given me such a love for them, giving me the joy of the Lord after leading people to Jesus. I can't wait to do it again and again. What better way to spend your time than pointing people to Jesus. Thanks to you. I now think of myself "On a Mission for Jesus" right in my own backyard.
It's been said that "the church moves forward on her knees." It's true. Much is accomplished through prayer, while nothing is accomplished spiritually, without it.
While prayer is important, we have relegated it to just another 'spiritual discipline.' Yes, we pray in thanking God for a meal, or lifting up the needs of a loved one, or asking God to meet some need. Yet, what's available to us in prayer is so much more.
Prayer is our very lifeline with our Creator. That daily dialogue between man and God is so vital, much like the air we breath. More that scheduled events, prayer is to be breathed out moment by moment in our lives. We don't need a 'call to prayer' as some religions require. God, by His Spirit, is calling us to prayer all the time from the inside out.
Take some time today to think through the beauty of prayer in your life. Talk to God and wait to listen. Sweet fruit will come for sure!
In Love,
Pastor Ed
Response
The Holy spirit spoke one of many wonderful truths last Sunday through you that did not come to my mind until you said it. It's about missions, and the importance of them cannot be understated for sure. But it spoke so close to my heart about how foreign countries that send missions to the United States to reach us because they see there is a great need for Jesus here. The greatest nation on earth, responsible for sending missions to other countries now needs to hear about Jesus because we have strayed so far off course. I hope and pray that people heard clearly that while going on a mission can be a life changing experience, it should not to be diminished in any way. That life changing experience can come from just walking across the street in your own neighborhood and sharing the gospel with a total stranger. It has changed me so much; given me such a desire to never stop sharing the good news of Jesus. God has taught me how to talk to people, given me such a love for them, giving me the joy of the Lord after leading people to Jesus. I can't wait to do it again and again. What better way to spend your time than pointing people to Jesus. Thanks to you. I now think of myself "On a Mission for Jesus" right in my own backyard.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Keep Your Eyes Off Men
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Here is a simple, yet important truth from God's Word: keep your eyes off of men and keep your eyes upon the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Men will disappoint you. Men will fail. Men will fall. But, Jesus will never disappoint you. He will never fail. His words will never falter. If you keep your eyes and attention on Him, you'll be all right.
Yet, if you focus your eyes upon some man, or some ministry, you're going to see things that will invariably bum you out. I don't mean great disqualifying sins (although that does occasionally happen), but instead the simple daily issues that humans deal with. Even pastors and spiritual leaders are normal here. So keep your eyes on the Lord.
Now, don't go about today thinking that because we're human, it's okay to sin. It's not. It's not a license to sin. It's reality and the only remedy to sin is humble repentance, and surrender to Jesus. Those of us that love Jesus must be good and right examples of a believer: to the world and to the flock.
Today, make a decision to focus your eyes not on that one person, but on the Lord.
By Grace,
Pastor Ed
Response
When I first came to Calvary I was a punk kid who had a really messed up past. I knew there was a God, I knew Jesus was real and died for my sins...but I didn't know much else. I wanted to be a missionary, but when I thought about sharing God with others I realized that I knew so little about Him, about the Bible, and I was a drunk. Now, I'm a missionary and I've been sober for 7 years! My time at CCA was a huge blessing, and God laid a foundation in my life through it, and has gave me an amazing family that I miss dearly back in Colorado.
Here is a simple, yet important truth from God's Word: keep your eyes off of men and keep your eyes upon the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Men will disappoint you. Men will fail. Men will fall. But, Jesus will never disappoint you. He will never fail. His words will never falter. If you keep your eyes and attention on Him, you'll be all right.
Yet, if you focus your eyes upon some man, or some ministry, you're going to see things that will invariably bum you out. I don't mean great disqualifying sins (although that does occasionally happen), but instead the simple daily issues that humans deal with. Even pastors and spiritual leaders are normal here. So keep your eyes on the Lord.
Now, don't go about today thinking that because we're human, it's okay to sin. It's not. It's not a license to sin. It's reality and the only remedy to sin is humble repentance, and surrender to Jesus. Those of us that love Jesus must be good and right examples of a believer: to the world and to the flock.
Today, make a decision to focus your eyes not on that one person, but on the Lord.
By Grace,
Pastor Ed
Response
When I first came to Calvary I was a punk kid who had a really messed up past. I knew there was a God, I knew Jesus was real and died for my sins...but I didn't know much else. I wanted to be a missionary, but when I thought about sharing God with others I realized that I knew so little about Him, about the Bible, and I was a drunk. Now, I'm a missionary and I've been sober for 7 years! My time at CCA was a huge blessing, and God laid a foundation in my life through it, and has gave me an amazing family that I miss dearly back in Colorado.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Going Through the Whole Bible
Isaiah 28:13 NKJV But the word of the LORD was to them, "Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little..."
Every year we encourage our congregation to read through the entire Bible, book by book, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse. God gave us the entire Bible and I believe every passage has a purpose in our lives, even if we don't 'get' some of them! What's really encouraging is seeing the many different reading plans that are available today. It wasn't like that just ten years ago!
As a church, we're committed to studying through the entire Bible. While there may be times of stepping outside of a book study for a series of important topical Bible studies, our commitment is to teach the 'whole counsel' of God. As a pastor, my desire must be similar to that of a chef. Just like a chef wants to prepare a wonderful meal that will be greatly appreciated, so too, I want to prepare Bible studies that feed the soul and where God's sheep love to eat, regularly. The feeding of the flock has been an important part of the church's life for centuries, how much more so as we see the Day of Jesus' return approaching!
When you're taught God's Word, the Holy Spirit uses it to change you. That's what I'm committed to.
Blessings,
Pastor Ed
Response
I just wanted to day that was a very encouraging word. I sometimes feel like that. In my Christian life, I can relate a lot with Jeremiah, "Woe is me that I am a man of contention in the earth" or with Paul, when they sent him back to his hometown of Tarsus, and then it reads, "then they all had rest." I feel as if sometimes I don't want to mention God's Word to anyone anymore, but again like Jeremiah, it is a fire shut up in my bones, and I have to speak the truth. It is great to hear that someone cares, because most people don't. Christ bears our weakness...and then makes us strong. Your words have strengthened me.
Every year we encourage our congregation to read through the entire Bible, book by book, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse. God gave us the entire Bible and I believe every passage has a purpose in our lives, even if we don't 'get' some of them! What's really encouraging is seeing the many different reading plans that are available today. It wasn't like that just ten years ago!
As a church, we're committed to studying through the entire Bible. While there may be times of stepping outside of a book study for a series of important topical Bible studies, our commitment is to teach the 'whole counsel' of God. As a pastor, my desire must be similar to that of a chef. Just like a chef wants to prepare a wonderful meal that will be greatly appreciated, so too, I want to prepare Bible studies that feed the soul and where God's sheep love to eat, regularly. The feeding of the flock has been an important part of the church's life for centuries, how much more so as we see the Day of Jesus' return approaching!
When you're taught God's Word, the Holy Spirit uses it to change you. That's what I'm committed to.
Blessings,
Pastor Ed
Response
I just wanted to day that was a very encouraging word. I sometimes feel like that. In my Christian life, I can relate a lot with Jeremiah, "Woe is me that I am a man of contention in the earth" or with Paul, when they sent him back to his hometown of Tarsus, and then it reads, "then they all had rest." I feel as if sometimes I don't want to mention God's Word to anyone anymore, but again like Jeremiah, it is a fire shut up in my bones, and I have to speak the truth. It is great to hear that someone cares, because most people don't. Christ bears our weakness...and then makes us strong. Your words have strengthened me.
Friday, March 4, 2011
As Long As You Seek the Lord
Psalms 77:2 (NKJV) In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; My soul refused to be comforted.
As you follow the lives of those who loved God, we see very clearly that as long as they sought the Lord, they did so very well in life and leadership. We see that as long as they sought the guidance of the Lord and wanted to hear from Him before acting, God led them in some incredible ways.
The same is true of you and me. If we seek the Lord, God will guide us. But if we choose to go out on our own and do our own thing, excluding the wisdom of God, then we will see our lives fractured by our own mistakes. It's important for us to give God the opportunity to guide our lives. Before venturing out, our lives must be bathed with an openness in prayer. How careful we need to be not to pray out to God with our minds made up, almost trying to convince God this is from Him! Instead, our time in prayer should be desperately wanting to know what God's heart is on the matter.
Since you're a child of God, when you come to God in earnest prayer, He promises to answer! Seek Him first. Please.
Seeking Him,
Pastor Ed
Response
I agree, we are learning good stuff about the Holy Spirit. I didn't think it was possible, and I shouldn't be, but I am becoming increasingly amazed by the Power of the Holy Spirit. I was reading this afternoon and in 2 Cor 1:8 where Paul expresses "that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life" WOW! and some of us are afraid for whatever reason to cross the street to witness. So I went and read what he was talking about in Acts and from about Acts 20:18-24 I was blown away. No man could go through that and still be like, "Ok, I'm going here and doing this and that." But he is clear in saying "And see, now I go bound in the spirit..." It's inexpressible the Power of God. And I know I am always saying, Thank you, Thank you, Pastor Ed. But I do know that it's the Lord and I do say, "Oh Father, I love you, you who provides for our every need and leads us in the way of righteousness...
As you follow the lives of those who loved God, we see very clearly that as long as they sought the Lord, they did so very well in life and leadership. We see that as long as they sought the guidance of the Lord and wanted to hear from Him before acting, God led them in some incredible ways.
The same is true of you and me. If we seek the Lord, God will guide us. But if we choose to go out on our own and do our own thing, excluding the wisdom of God, then we will see our lives fractured by our own mistakes. It's important for us to give God the opportunity to guide our lives. Before venturing out, our lives must be bathed with an openness in prayer. How careful we need to be not to pray out to God with our minds made up, almost trying to convince God this is from Him! Instead, our time in prayer should be desperately wanting to know what God's heart is on the matter.
Since you're a child of God, when you come to God in earnest prayer, He promises to answer! Seek Him first. Please.
Seeking Him,
Pastor Ed
Response
I agree, we are learning good stuff about the Holy Spirit. I didn't think it was possible, and I shouldn't be, but I am becoming increasingly amazed by the Power of the Holy Spirit. I was reading this afternoon and in 2 Cor 1:8 where Paul expresses "that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life" WOW! and some of us are afraid for whatever reason to cross the street to witness. So I went and read what he was talking about in Acts and from about Acts 20:18-24 I was blown away. No man could go through that and still be like, "Ok, I'm going here and doing this and that." But he is clear in saying "And see, now I go bound in the spirit..." It's inexpressible the Power of God. And I know I am always saying, Thank you, Thank you, Pastor Ed. But I do know that it's the Lord and I do say, "Oh Father, I love you, you who provides for our every need and leads us in the way of righteousness...
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