Abounding Grace Blog - Pastor Ed Taylor

Disciples Not Consumers

2011-07-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

Psalms 61:7 (NKJV) He shall abide before God forever. Oh, prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him!

Even when I don't want to shop, stores are invading my email box with offers and advertisements designed to get me to buy. The pictures are always done in sunny places with happy people. If I just had that shirt. Wow, how happy I'd be. It's all false and fake. There's only one reason they would frame the shot the way they did, using the person they used, the way they did, with the angle they chose: to get me to buy! I notice things like that.

This all-consuming mentality of "consumerism" has invaded the church of Jesus Christ. Rather than prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit, church leaders are more interested in catchy phrases, intelligent marketing ideas, polished plagiarized sermons, and packaged church growth programs to bring more people into their buildings.

Please be careful, friend. We don't want to settle for the emptiness of man's ideas, baptized with Bible verses. We desire the Living God to move in and through us by the power and presence of His Holy Spirit! Away with such worldly nonsense.

Blessings,
Pastor Ed

The Truth in Living Color

Your new radio station is a real blessing to me and my family. I didn't know how exciting the Bible really was until I started listening to all of the teachers you guys have on. Don't stop the good work.

Always A Price To Pay

2011-07-15T08:00:00.002-06:00

Galatians 6:7-8 (NKJV) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

Things can be so fun and exciting that it's easy to forget that there is always a price to pay.

Take a day in the life of Joey 'Jaws' Chestnut. Don't know who he is? He's a competitive eater who recently won the annual Nathan's Hot Dog Eating contest at New York's Coney Island. He won hands down by eating 62 hot dogs in buns in just 10 minutes. He's the champion this year! What a feat! He made national headlines with just 10 minutes of competition.

How much did it cost him to win? Well, the price was free. He didn't have to purchase them. But the nutritional cost was staggering. Ready? That 10 minute binge on 62 hot dogs adds up to:

19,158 calories
1,246 grams of fat
2,170 grams of cholesterol
42,408 grams of sodium

Not too good for his body, that's for sure! What's true in the physical realm is true in the Spiritual realm. There is always a price to pay for our actions. Sometimes it's reaped as a benefit, but other times it's received as a consequence.

Pray for wisdom this week with the decisions that are before you and make those decisions unto Jesus, and Him alone.

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

The Truth in Living Color

I'm always amazed how the Lord works. I'm at a job now where my manager seems to have a pre-conceived notion about my skill-set, and I am constantly being yelled at for not doing things the correct way. I feel like I'm always messing up at everything in this job, and I can never do anything right, and I'm really just not getting the proper training from her that I need. This e-mail really shows me that I need to stop worrying about earthly training, and I should more focus on my spiritual training. I put far too much faith and concern into my job and employers, and I'm always disappointed. I need to learn to let it all go, and at least twice when I'm at work, or when I'm being verbally attacked by her, to just consult the Lord, and let Him handle it. Just like Hezekiah, I just need to show the Lord what's happening, and see how He works. Great message on the Holy Spirit this past Wednesday, by the way. So encouraging!

Good Friends

2011-07-01T08:00:00.002-06:00

Leviticus 19:17-18 (NKJV) You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

It's good to be surrounded by friends. Men and women who love us is a great gift from our loving, Heavenly Father. Hanging out together, fellowshipping in the Lord together, enjoying a coffee (at the One Way Café of course, ha ha), and just enjoying the wonderful opportunities God has given us with one another is a blessing.

Sometimes, it's through friends that God brings a message to us that we don't necessarily want to hear. Are you really ready to receive correction or rebuke from your friend?

That's where things get tough and the ball starts rolling down hill, when a person shares something with us that hurts. Because open rebuke is better than concealed love (Proverbs 27:5), the rebukes and exhortations which come our way should be embraced as friends.

I know it's more comfortable for us to ignore a difficult situation or issue, as we hope (and hope) it will get better. But that's not love. Love says, "I care more about you growing and maturing than I care about what you think of me. If you think I'm not a nice guy, that's okay, if what I'm saying will provoke you to love and good works."

Proverbs 27:6 says that the wounds of a friend are faithful. Be open and ready to grow as you may come across difficult words and penetrating insights, sometimes, even from friends.

In Love,
Pastor Ed

The Truth in Living Color

Nothing is more precious than to hear a child praying. Specifically, when my grandsons pray. The last time I visited them in TX, (May and July) hearing my 9 year-old grandson pray and in the midst of his prayer, ask God to get me home safely, was just awesome. It brings tears to my eyes because, of course, I don't want to leave them there. My plan is to move there eventually when I retire...

It will be hard to leave Calvary Chapel Aurora. Thank God for computers! But I always say, what I have planned and what God has planned, may be two totally different things.

Imperfect

2011-06-24T08:00:00.002-06:00

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Every now and then, as I'm reading through the Bible, I'm struck by how gracious God is in choosing us to serve Him. I know it's not a new or novel truth, but one that so encourages me.

Jesus didn't call perfect people to do His work. How could He? There aren't any. So Jesus uses people like us, with our many misunderstandings, our mixed motives, our weaknesses and failures; our humanity. Yet, before He uses us there is that transformation by His Spirit. He's constantly changing, shaping, and molding us from the inside out. Day by day, our lives are becoming more and more like Jesus.

Don't lose heart today, friend. God is using you. God is changing you. God is not finished with you. Trust Him!

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

The Truth in Living Color

You know, I think it is awesome that you ask people to respond to you when you send out these e-mails. You might not know it, but I think that might mean a lot to people -- it does to me. So thanks! I can only imagine how many people these e-mails actually go to. I am sure your inbox runneth over.

Reaching Our World

2011-06-20T08:00:00.001-06:00

Acts 1:8 (NKJV) "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

God's strategy for reaching people with the Good News of Jesus is profoundly simple.

#1 - Saturate Jerusalem.
Our Jerusalem, or home base, is Aurora and the surrounding cities in the Denver Metro area.

#2 - Saturate Judea/Samaria.
Our Judea and Samaria is the state of Colorado, expanding throughout the United States, and to Mexico and Canada on the North American continent.

#3 - Saturate The Earth.
Our 'ends of the earth' are literally every tribe, tongue, and nation on every square inch of this planet.

#4 - Go back to #1 and repeat!

Save yourself thousands of dollars in seminars, books, and such. Start living and sharing the gospel at home. Spread out a little. Pray about going around the world.

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

The Truth in Living Color

I have found that I'm more calm and relaxed when I forgive, and I listen to my sister talk about how she won't forgive our mother for the past. My sister works herself up with down-right hatred. I get along with my mother and she has apologized for the past, but my sister and her family miss out on many family functions, and her grandchildren are missing out on their great-grandmother. This hurts my mother dearly, because my sister won't forgive. Forgiveness is the key, it's easier than not forgiving.

It's Appointed Once

2011-06-17T08:00:00.002-06:00

Hebrews 9:27-28 (NKJV) And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, sso Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

David Murdock is spending (wasting) the billions of dollars (yes, billions) he's accumulated over his lifetime on trying to live to the ripe old age of 125. Thus far, he's spent over $500 million building a massive research campus in North Carolina in order to explore his conviction that the key to longer life is a low-fat diet rich in vegetables, fruit, and antioxidants. Though he's quick to try to convince you of his ideas, he doesn't mind if you don't listen. "That's okay," he says. "You'll go before me."

I was a little bummed after reading the article. Here's a guy that is obviously successful and health conscious, trying to squeeze out another 20 years of his life, giving no attention to his spiritual life -- to eternity. Even if he does live to 125 years of age, he will still have lived exactly as many years as God has ordained... and then the judgment.

It's sensible, my friend, to take care of your body, the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Eating right is simply wise. Exercise, the Bible says, profits a little. Being a bad steward of our bodies is not God's will for our lives.

Remember this today: "Only one life will soon be passed. Only what's done for Jesus will last!"

In His Love,
Pastor Ed

The Truth in Living Color

My dear pastor, I have been praying for a way to talk to one of our children and his wife about problems in their marriage. There is so much they need to see about forgiveness. God has answered my prayer by your eNote message yesterday. God is so good!

The Bride of Christ

2011-06-13T08:00:00.003-06:00

Acts 20:29-30 (NKJV) For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

I love the Church of Jesus Christ. I love our church! What a precious gift God has given to us, His Church, this fellowship family. There isn't anything that even comes close to the church on the earth today. There never has been and there never will be.

Some might respond, "Wait a minute Pastor, hold your horses. I was hurt in the church. I was let down by the church. I was left out, not included. I don't love the church. I don't love my church."

Let's be careful not to cloud the glorious truth of God's church with our own feelings, emotions, and opinions. I've been hurt in church, too. As a matter of fact, the deepest wounds I've ever experienced in my entire life have happened to me in God's church, by people who claimed to be following Jesus at the time, and whom I trusted and love dearly.

Pain, sorrow, and heartache are tools in the Master's toolbox to help us trust Him more, and trust man less (James 1). I don't want to focus on the pain that I might have felt, but instead I want to focus on the hope of Heaven, Jesus Christ. I want to be used to be a help in the church, not a hindrance. I want to make a difference for Jesus in His church on the earth.

I invite you to join me.

I love the Church of Jesus Christ. I love our church! What a precious gift God has given to us, His Church, this fellowship family. There isn't anything that even comes close to the church on the earth today. There never has been and there never will be.

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

The Truth in Living Color

Thank you so much, Pastor Ed, for always encouraging us to rise above mediocrity and to turn from sin. It's not always easy, but by the grace of God and an obedient Spirit, we can all go down that "other street."

I really enjoyed this "autobiography...;" it was right on target and it spoke straight to my heart and to my mind. I believe it will join another scripture verse that the Spirit of God often brings to mind: "Where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." It's completely clear; it's direct; it's God's command - plain and simple.

Keep bringing on the conviction, God, and you too, Pastor Ed! God bless you and thank you for caring for the flock as you do. You're genuine, the real deal, and that is truly appreciated.

Self-Centeredness on the Rise

2011-06-10T08:00:00.002-06:00

Matthew 16:24-25 (NKJV) Then Jesus said to His disciples, "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."

University of Kentucky psychologist Nathan DeWall says young people "love themselves more today than ever before." He says the proof is found in their music. He and his colleagues analyzed the lyrics of Billboard's "Hot 100" songs from the past three decades and found a steady increase in self-centeredness and hostility toward others. The researchers suggest that rampant narcissism may be making it harder for people to connect with one another. I think they're right.

Step number one in following Jesus is the utter denial of self.

Step number one in thriving in our world system is to exalt self and deny everyone else.

The two worldviews cannot co-exist together. It's not possible to both deny ourselves and promote ourselves at the same time.

I wonder what the researchers would find if they analyzed the music that we've been listening to lately?

Blessings,
Pastor Ed

The Truth in Living Color

I love listening to you and all the Calvary Chapel pastors on 89.7! I remember when you first started the radio station I thought, "Do we really need another one?" Man alive - I was so wrong. I love it! And the answer is, "Yes, we do!" Thank you for walking in the vision to provide continual Godly bible teaching without all the politics, health supplements and drama (no disrespect intended).

Fitting In

2011-06-06T08:00:00.002-06:00

Matthew 5:11-12 (NKJV) "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

There has always been this undercurrent in human beings of needing to and wanting to fit in. It's not fun to be left out, and downright discouraging to be excluded. It looks like the people that seem to be happy are the popular ones, the centers of attention. It's not true of course, everyone has their issues in life, but perceptions can really mess with our heads.

The Church today seems to be so afraid of being left out today that they have placed way too much emphasis on trying to fit into a world and a culture that hates Jesus. Of course the 'hating Jesus' (John 15:18) part is conveniently left out of their marketing plans and business models. (Yes, church leaders have turned to secular business models, too, but that's a different note altogether.) The Church wants to be relevant, cool, and hip. But along they way, she has become empty, shallow, and powerless. It was A.W. Tozer that proposed, "If the Holy Spirit were taken away from the church today, 90% of what they did would continue on unnoticed." That's a powerful indictment upon the human-centered ways of today's church.

Don't buy into it. Human methods will not reap eternal gains. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don't lean on your own understanding, especially if you're a leader in God's most Holy Church!

In Love,
Pastor Ed

The Truth in Living Color

Let me tell you where I was last year. My wife had filed for divorce. We were separated. I thought my life was over, but it turns out that was just the 2x4 I needed to the head to wake up, grow up and get my heart right with God. So I did and within a short period of time, I could see the wounds healing in my life as well as my children; all of our relationships with God were growing stronger. Then, at a Wednesday night service I really felt the Lord speak to me and all he said was "two years." I took that to mean perhaps in two years time my wife and I would get back together. That's not what God had in mind. My wife and I reconciled before the divorce was even final. Now if we fast forward to today it has been about a year, so what happens a year from now? I don't know, but one person in my household has yet to give her life over to Jesus so maybe that's what lies ahead. I simply don't know. But I do know where to place my faith now... unlike a year ago.

Purse Snatchers

2011-05-27T08:00:00.001-06:00

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

For those that think the world is getting better and better...
For those who think the basic nature of man is good...
For those who visit Starbucks...

Watch out!

According to 'The Week' magazine, New Yorkers are very good at inventing ways to steal women's purses, especially at local Starbucks restaurants. The article declares, "larceny has become so common in the city's 298 Starbucks outlets that police have set up stings [in the restaurants] to catch thieves. Law-enforcement officers suggest the coffee shop has become so comfortable and familiar a place that it seems like a haven from the city's dangers, when it has actually become a lucrative hunting ground for thieves."

While we really want so much to let our guards down, it's simply not wise. It's not wise in a coffee shop. It's not wise spiritually.

Reading about purse-snatchers sparks that thought of carefulness in our minds. Peter reminded us to continually be on the alert spiritually, remembering that we have an adversary the devil who roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Don't let your guard down, friend. Stay alert. It's good for your spiritual soul.

Blessings,
Pastor Ed

The Truth in Living Color

Wow! Once again, GOD's message is from your mouth to my ear and more importantly, my heart. I've felt quite stirred over the past few weeks and really feel that there is something more I should be doing -- and I am looking forward to paying attention and finding out what and where it is. Thank you so much, Pastor Ed...and thank you, Calvary -- my church family makes a difference. Daily.

Under Attack

2011-05-23T08:00:00.003-06:00

2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NKJV) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is under attack today like never before. It's one thing for those in the world to throw rocks at the gospel, but it's not just Jesus haters that are undermining the truth of God's Word. There are many within the "church" that are attempting to re-define, re-write, and re-do the gospel. It's confusing, for sure, and downright destructive. Seriously, what do they think they're doing!?

One popular re-defining movement within the church is known as the "Emerging Church." Reject them. Reject their divisive writings. Reject their undermining of clear biblical teachings, even of Jesus Himself! While those within that group appear to be progressive and hip and cool, so smooth; in reality, they are incredibly regressive and not hip at all. I believe Pastor John MacArthur does a great job of describing their destructive ways:

"If you haven't heard of the Emerging Church, you will. The Emerging Church movement is wildly popular with people who are dissatisfied with orthodox doctrine, dogmatic preaching, and traditional worship. People who are drawn to the Emerging Church generally place high value on ambiguity and mystery. They reject the notion that God's Word is clear, and that anyone can really understand its meaning. That means every doctrine you and I find precious is subject to new interpretation, doubt, and even wholesale rejection. Everything is being questioned and deconstructed. Unlike the noble Bereans who used Scripture to test what they were taught and refine their understanding of the truth, people associated with the Emerging Church regard God's Word as too full of mystery to warrant handling any truth in a definitive way. The result is a movement that thrives on disorganization, lends itself to mysticism, distrusts authority and dislikes preaching, feeds intellectual pride, and recognizes few (if any) doctrinal or moral boundaries."

Don't buy into their nonsense. Run away as fast as you can from their books, churches, and teachings! Stay close to the Word and cling to Jesus. Please! Your spiritual health depends upon it.

In Love,
Pastor Ed

The Truth in Living Color

Pastor Ed,
Good morning, we are hoping that you are okay. We've missed your e-mail messages. We always look forward to read them on Monday and Fridays. Always know that Carmen and I are praying for you, your family and the body of believers that God has given you shepherd for His Glory.

Pray for Your Pastors

2011-05-09T08:00:00.006-06:00

2 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV) Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Here's something to pray for, and into your pastors and teachers, on how they (we) can better handle the word of God and teach it with spiritual authority:

Think yourself empty. Survey a passage of Scripture in the proper spirit of unlearnedness. Avoid the proud assumption that you initially know what everything means.

Read yourself full. Read widely and regularly.

Write yourself clear. Aside from the essential empowering of the Spirit, freedom of delivery in the pulpit depends on careful organization in the study.

Pray yourself hot. Without personal prayer and communion with God during the preparation stages, the pulpit will be cold.

Be yourself, but don't preach yourself. There is nothing quite so ridiculous as the affected tone and adopted posture of the preacher who wishes he were someone else. Also, a good teacher clears the way, declares the way, and then gets out of the way.

Thank you Alistair Begg for sharing these with us.

Blessings,
Pastor Ed

The Truth in Living Color

Pastor Ed, Wow! This eNote encouraged me and was an answer to a very specific prayer. This morning I was really seeking God about showing me what 'power' really was. Was it something physical, or something like a metaphor? I know it was something I needed to understand, so I prayed with faith, knowing that a prayer like that would be answered. A prayer for wisdom concerning the power of the blood, how to appropriate it, and how to appreciate it. Then God answered my prayer...right to my inbox! Hallelujah! The power in the blood is the power to raise a life from the dead, the power to change a heart, the power to bring a lost person to Jesus! I KNOW that I KNOW, this answer is from God. Thank you for posting.

Something Real

2011-05-09T08:00:00.002-06:00

1 Timothy 6:19 (NLT) By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of REAL LIFE.

Are you looking for something powerful, authentic, and real? Yes? So are a lot of people. That's what I was looking for in life before Jesus. I was as lost as lost could be, hopelessly reaching out to anyone and anything to bring me help and hope. I'd buy that book hoping finally that was it. Nope. I'd watch this show. Nope. I'd go with that group. Nope. Eventually, I just settled for being under the influence of some substance, slowing wasting my life one day at a time. The end was always the same. Emptiness and sadness filled my days.

Jesus alone is the answer to an empty life, friends. He is the real deal. There is nothing about Jesus that is fake, phony, or hypocritical. With great emphasis, Jesus declares to be the way, the truth, and the life; the only way to eternal life in the Father.

As you're praying for your friends that don't have a relationship with Jesus in the coming days, remember that only Jesus can solve their life's issues. Only Jesus can save them. He wants to!

In His Grace,
Pastor Ed

The Truth in Living Color
Let me just say ... that given my recent "drastic" life changes, I LOVE THIS ARTICLE! It's true! When God wanted to take me to newer, deeper levels of intimacy with Him, while at the same time, return to my first love ... HE does whatever it takes to get my attention! I am so encouraged by the last line: Don't worry about the fields, God will take care of them ... AMEN!

Lost People Like Being Lost

2011-05-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

John 3:19-21 (NKJV) And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."

It's a hard truth to swallow. Lost people like to be lost. They know they are lost and don't care. They love their sin. They love their perceived independence. They love their idolatry. They love to persecute and make fun of Christians. The Bible describes them as knowing the truth but willingly suppressing it, 'people who push the truth away from themselves' Romans 1:19b (NLT).

Consider Christopher Hitchens, dying at a rapid pace from stage 4 esophageal cancer. A recent articles describes Hitchens as a proud atheist who doesn't believe in the afterlife; which he says makes the thought of death even more difficult to accept. In the same breath, he strongly concludes that heaven holds no attraction to him in the least. He believes heaven is a much worse choice than his present condition. "You get tapped on the shoulder, but guess what? The party's going on forever; you have to stay. Not only that, but you have to have a good time - the boss says so." He shudders at the thought.

God loves the lost, so much so, that He has sent His Son into their lives, dying for them (which remember -- that used to be us) in our worst condition. Pray for Christopher Hitchens who is as spiritually blind as they come, suppressing the truth in unrighteousness. The good news is God can intervene in a split second. I pray his split second comes soon!

Blessings,
Pastor Ed

The Truth in Living Color
Thank you so much for this, especially the response. I'm going to do the same thing, find a brick, write it down, watch it sink and forget it. God had forgiven me so who is man (including myself) to constantly remind me of past deeds forgiven, then ask me to prove I'm not that person anymore. God's never said prove this or that to me; He just loves me, casts my sins in the sea of forgetfulness and never remembers it.

God's Grace is Amazing

2011-05-02T09:00:00.003-06:00

Ephesians 1:2-3 NKJV Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

It's an understatement to say that God's grace is amazing. Our human ability to capture and express that truth seems so limited at times. Whole volumes have been written extolling the grace of God. Songs have been sung, movies made, and sermons preached all conveying the wonderful truth of God's amazing grace.

Yet, even though our human capacities are limited, it's important to be a man or woman extolling and living out the grace of God. Let your life's motto be the grace of God. Let your words be flavored by the grace of God. Let your decisions flow from the grace of God. Jesus has done so much for us. He's given so much. He's loved so much. We don't' deserve it, but we can receive it!

God's Riches At Christ's Expense. It's all Jesus. We are merely responding to His goodness and graciousness.

Steady on in the grace of God, friends. Don't let anyone rip you off from God's grace by trying to minimize it or bring you under some bondage of the Law. No way! (Galatians 1:6)

In His Grace,
Pastor Ed

The Truth in Living Color
I'm also putting into practice the "F's" of dealing with my past...forgetting, forgiving, forsaking. Thank you for those tools. I had one particular event from my past that I had really been dwelling on, and while camping a couple of weeks ago, I took a permanent marker and wrote on a concrete block that I was forgetting, forgiving, and forsaking this event. Then I dropped it to the bottom of the reservoir we were at. When I'm tempted to start to go back to that event and think about it, I remember that concrete block sinking away from me. It is gone! At the bottom of the reservoir of forgetfulness." (No sea was close by.)

Sin Looks Horrible

2011-04-29T08:00:00.001-06:00

Psalms 119:32 (NLT) If you will help me, I will run to follow your commands.

Oh boy, another note on sin? Yup.

There is nothing to be afraid of when talking about sin. God so loved this world that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to die, and rise again from the dead to forgive us of our sins. God's great deed met man's greatest need: the forgiveness of sins.

Have you ever noticed how horrible our sins look when someone else is committing them? When I'm involved in sin like gossip, or lying, or whatever, I can always find some spiritual reason - some excellent excuse for myself. "Oh, I'm not gossiping, we're just praying with details for the brother." "I'm not lying, I'm just telling you what I think is true." When I'm involved in things, it's okay. But when you're doing it, oh, how ugly it is!

As we see sin in others, it's easy for us to be quick to judge. But if we're the one doing it, it's not really that big of a deal. Grace for me! Yahoo! Judgment for them. Boo! That's just plain wrong and will get you nowhere in the Kingdom of God.

We really need to be careful here friends. Grace is to be extended not only to ourselves, but also to others. Sin is horrible no matter where it is! Let's run away from sin and run toward God in the way of His commandments.

Blessings,
Pastor Ed

Response
This was a powerful testimony, Pastor Ed; thank you so much for forwarding it. I sobbed reading all of this, because I can completely relate and I thank God for opening his eyes to God's truth. Once you see the light, how can one turn back? You are such a bright light there in Colorado. Thank you for all your teachings and honesty and telling it like it is. I still listen to your broadcasts on the web when I can. I know that I was meant to live in CO for the years I did, just so that I would be led to Calvary Chapel Aurora, so that I could be saved. I have taken what I have learned from you and the church there in CO and use them as God leads here on the Central Coast of CA. May others know and discover how truly special that little church is and may they also find Truth within it's walls and beyond.

Fall Back on Him

2011-04-25T08:00:00.003-06:00

Psalm 34:8 NKJV Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

There are times in life when we are shaken to the core of who we are, and what we believe. I think of the family who recently received news that cancer had invaded mom's body. I think of the man who watched his wife walk out of his life, with the kids in tow. I think of the man who lost his mom to a ravaging disease, or the folks who were in that tragic car accident, or....

The stories are different, but the results are the same: a shaken and rocked faith! You thought you were so strong. You thought you were doing so well. You saw your relationship with Jesus so solid. Then, it hit you like a ton of bricks.

Please remember this, maybe even jot it down somewhere for when it's necessary: "When confronted with something that we don't understand, always fall back on that which we do understand." Or another way of saying that: "When our world is rocked and crashing down around us, always hold on to the unchanging truths about God."

When we don't fully understand what's going on around us, it's important to maintain a regular steady walk with our Jesus. Even though our hearts are crying out, "Why God?" our hearts are also crying out, "I trust you in this storm God," at the very same time.

We know God is love. That doesn't change. We know God is faithful. That doesn't change. We know God is for us, not against us. That doesn't change. We know that God is good. That doesn't change. God is ever present and will never leave us. That doesn't change.

When you're faced with an earth-shattering, life-altering, future-impacting crisis, fall back on the faithfulness and reliability of your God who loves you!

By Faith,
Pastor Ed

Response
I wanted to give you an update from when I last visited your church. I found a job and am now working for Bank of America! I was extremely specific when I prayed to the Lord for a job, asking for many things to be very clear to me and all were answered and then some! I will pay a visit to you and your church family again this year, and thank you for the prayers.

Sin Is Against God

2011-04-22T09:00:00.002-06:00

Jeremiah 31:34 (NKJV) No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD, for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.

It's important to know and remember that all sin is against God. While our sins may affect other people and might involve other people, it is first and foremost an affront to God. So every sin is a sin against God. He knows. He sees. He waits.

God waits when I sin? What does He wait for? He waits for our broken, humble repentance!

Here's the mistake many believers make with sin. They think no one sees. They think no one knows. They think no one cares. That's simply not true. There is no such thing as a secret sin.

Thanks Ed, that's just what I needed to hear in my email box on a Friday. Perhaps it is, my friend. God wants to rescue you from your own destructive sinful decisions, large or small. If He chooses to use your email box, rejoice that God cares for and loves you!

God is waiting. Repent and turn to Him this moment.

Now, to those who are doing well in the Lord and your life is clean before Him, begin praying for friends and relatives that truly would be free if they repented from their sin!

Forgiven By Him,
Pastor Ed

Response
Dear Ed,

Our family lives in Mars Hill, North Carolina. I just wanted to take the time and thank you! It is so rewarding and a blessing to hear your messages. Our family listens Wednesdays and Sundays. It is the meat of the Bible that we need to hear and grow on. Thank you for your webcast. God Bless. Please keep our family in your prayers.

P.S. We have just downloaded the series on the gifts out of Romans. (1-8)

Balance

2011-04-18T09:00:00.001-06:00

James 4:7 NKJV Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

How easy it is to get caught up in extremes. With every opinion, there seems to be two extremes to avoid. The same is true of theology. There are some hot button items out there; while not essential doctrines, important ones. And always present is the danger to take one extreme or the other, missing out on the balance between the two.

Many years ago, Jesus confirmed in my life that arguing over the Bible was not what He wanted me to do. So much division in the body of Christ comes from people arguing about the Scriptures, arguing out certain nuances, and arguing about things that lead to nothing but more strife and heartache.

Am I suggesting we don't stand up for clear, biblical, and essential doctrines? No way. Of course, we take a stand on those things where a stand is required. However, when approaching theological things that have differing views, how important it is to stay balanced.

Be careful not to destroy the person, while defending your position! Avoid extremes: instead, choose to point people to Jesus, following closely after Him without being sidetracked into useless and pointless arguments (Titus 3:9).

In Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
This devotion came at just the right time this morning. As a lifelong "try harder to get it right" girl, I have been struggling to understand God's grace and how it is that I can just rest in Him. My lifelong standard has been to "get it right," and it seems that the harder I try, the more I botch it up. I've been so blessed by the messages about grace that you have been teaching, and realized as I read this that when I try to live up to the standard I set for myself (which is impossible being that I tend toward perfectionism), I am setting aside His grace. I'm slowly learning to relax in Him, to rest in the work He has already done. Thank you for teaching grace, I have a bit of a thick skull, but I am getting it. God has been so faithful to speak His grace to me, particularly on the days when I am wrestling with the simplicity of what He has done and is doing in me.

Stubbornness

2011-04-15T09:00:00.002-06:00

Job 15:26 (NKJV) Running stubbornly against Him, with his strong, embossed shield.

"He's as stubborn as a mule." Have you ever heard that before?

Some wear stubbornness like a badge of honor. It's not hard to find people who are stubborn identified, but then excused. Defined, the word means "having or showing dogged determination not to change one's attitude or position." Another way of seeing that is how a person is unwilling to move, inflexible, and 'set in their ways.'

God addresses the stubborn many times in the Bible. Put very simply, God tells us not to be stubborn like the horse or the mule, especially as it relates to sin in your life. Over and over we have examples in the Bible of how stubbornness can lead to disaster. A few examples include Pharaoh (Exodus 13:15), children (Deut. 21:18), the children of Israel (Judges 2:19), and many others. From Samuel's own lips, God says, "stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry."

Listen, please be careful not to wear badges of honor that are not truly honorable before the Lord. It's not good for us to be known by behaviors and attitudes that are not from the heart of God. If there are stubborn streaks in your life, ask God to remove them. He will! If we choose our own way, then please receive God's word and warning:

Psalms 81:12 (NKJV) So I gave them over to their own stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels.

NO WAY. That's not what I want. I want to walk in His Spirit!

In His Hand,
Pastor Ed

Response
I was meditating on these two verses this just this weekend! The Lord showed me that when I am in an intimate, communicative relationship with Him, He will guide me with wisdom and discernment, and there will be no reason for me NOT to trust Him.

Loyalty Towards God

2011-04-11T08:00:00.002-06:00

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

It's a continual lesson we learn as believers; submission to God. While the Bible has much to say about submission mutually, to governmental authorities, in marriage, and within His church; it's still an area where there is great resistance in our hearts. We don't like to submit, especially when we disagree.

Yet, it's important that we learn how to serve God in full submission, while serving alongside one another as co-laborers. Without true submission to God, there is anarchy and chaos (read through Judges to see a picture of that). We are growing day by day, understanding how important it is to be fully surrendered to God, and at the same time supportive of those God has given to us as leaders. It's important for us to support those God has put in our lives to oversee our souls.

Division. Gossip. Slander. Strife. Dissension. Those are all sins that tend to flow from an non-submissive heart. For sure, it's an attack of the enemy to destroy lives and churches by sowing seeds of discord among the brethren; something that God hates (Proverbs 6:16-19).

Remain loyal to God, friend, no matter what is swirling around in your life right now. That loyal submission to Him and His will in your life, will guard and protect your heart from sinful responses and the root of bitterness!

In Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
As I read your Abounding Grace eNote this morning, I couldn't help but think of my friend Pastor Jim Simon at Aurora Hills Baptist Church here in Aurora. As the pastor of his church, two years ago, he donated one of his kidneys to a member of his congregation. I had the privilege to pray with them both before the surgery, because both men were over 60 years old, and it was also rare that they would have a blood match! Gives a whole new meaning to a shepherd laying down his life for his sheep. Keep up the good work!

True Love

2011-04-08T08:00:00.002-06:00

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NKJV) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

True love is others-centered, not self-centered. So much of what is called love today is actually self-centered lust. The way our world defines love is so opposite of how the Bible describes and demonstrates love.

Be careful today as you walk through the dusty streets of this world and its system. Don't be tricked into thinking that love is selfish and self-centered. Be careful when someone comes to you and lays a heavy guilt trip on you to try to win your affection. Be careful that His Spirit fills your own emotional tank so that you're not susceptible to being taken advantage of.

Above all, remember this truth about true love:

Romans 5:8 (NKJV) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

By His Great Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
I was meditating on these two verses this just this weekend! The Lord showed me that when I am in an intimate, communicative relationship with Him, He will guide me with wisdom and discernment, and there will be no reason for me NOT to trust Him.

Worship Cultivates Relationship

2011-04-04T08:00:00.002-06:00

John 4:24 "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

The worship of God takes many forms. The Bible includes giving, sharing, loving, caring, serving, and singing, as well as many other activities as forms of worship toward Him. Because God has created man to worship, it's very important that we learn how to worship Him well.

A Spirit-led worship in song and singing is a great universal way to express your heart of love and adoration toward God. Believers and followers of God in every, and I do mean every generation, sang songs to God of His goodness and faithfulness. Sometimes those songs included wonderful attributes of God and other times those songs contained the humble response of a simple heart in tune with God. Because humanity is so diverse, there are many ways to worship God in music and song.

Be careful not to be come too critical of worship styles, songs and music used to worship God that do not fit your personal preferences. You're different and may engage in worship with songs that others don't like. Some like the great hymns of old. Others like a more contemporary style of music. Still others may like to sing a capella. Believe me, if the words are consistent with the character and nature of God, the worship is accepted and received by our precious heavenly Father.

Worship is important, especially in song. Sing your heart out today!

In His Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
What a simple, but profound, message this is. Thank you. It's time to change my wording and outlook and prayers about being used... making me usable makes so much more sense. Thank you! Great message!

April Fool's Day

2011-04-01T08:00:00.003-06:00

1 Corinthians 1:26-27 (NKJV) For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise.

Today is the great day of pranks and tricks! I hate it when I'm caught by one, don't you? There I am, caught like a fish, hook set in my mouth, and they are just totally enjoying reeling me in with their convincing, yet untrue story. Argh! Every year it seems, God uses this day to remind me that I'm gullible and not as smart as I've convinced myself that I am! I need to walk in His Spirit, yielding to His discernment.

Another thing I'm reminded of today is how God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. That's me, a foolish person. God redeemed me and has chosen to use me. You're no different.

Pray for open doors today. Ask God to show you in a fresh way that He's still using the foolish things of this world to reach the lost!

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
On Tuesday morning of this week I stopped by a Starbucks for some hot chocolate on my way to work. As I parked, an Aurora Police car parked next to mine. So I go inside and as I am waiting for my coffee, the officer taps my arm. He asks me, "Do you believe in God?" I said "Yes I do.." He said "I saw your stickers (GraceFM Sticker and Calvary Sticker) on your car and was wondering if you could pray for me." I told him of course I could. He proceeded to explain to me that he had a rough night and saw some things he wish he didn't see. It was an incredible moment of God being in our lives.

To top it off Pastor Ed, the amazing part is that this is the first time in my LIFE I have ever stopped at Starbucks before work. I don't drink coffee and never will. I just happen to stop for a hot chocolate and this happens... I love HIS glory and moments in my life....I figured I'd share this with you.

God's Word Develops Healthy Sheep

2011-03-28T08:00:00.002-06:00

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!

Getting Your Attention

2011-03-25T09:00:00.004-06:00

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.

The Gospel Has Power

2011-03-21T09:00:00.004-06:00

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

My Limitations

2011-03-18T09:00:00.004-06:00

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.

Pray A Lot

2011-03-14T09:00:00.002-06:00

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.

Keep Your Eyes Off Men

2011-03-11T09:00:00.002-07:00

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.

Going Through the Whole Bible

2011-03-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

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.

As Long As You Seek the Lord

2011-03-04T09:00:00.001-07:00

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...

We Must Be The Servant of All

2011-02-28T09:00:00.002-07:00

Mark 10:42-45 (NKJV) But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

It's sad, but true. Some mistakenly believe that the 'ministry' is a place of arrival, a destination. So their lives are set in serving the Lord in order to attain a position; a title; a place of authority that once attained, serving stops. It's not true.

If you want to be great in God's Kingdom, you must be the servant of all. There is no other way to grow in the grace of Jesus. Jesus' style and ministry example has always been, and will always be, the example of a servant. He's taught us that the way up is down! We are all servants of Jesus, gladly living out our lives with the spiritual giftings He's entrusted to us. We not only want to serve one another in love, but we want to reach a lost and dying world!

It's hard to be offended when your heart is to serve. It's difficult to have a hardened heart when we are serving. It's hard for the enemy to get a foothold in a home, a church, or a ministry filled with servants!

Let's pray about developing even greater servant's hearts, following in the footsteps of our Lord and Savior!

Learning To Serve,
Pastor Ed

Response
Thanking God for moving so powerfully in and through you and Calvary Chapel. As you spoke this morning about our families whom God loves, and so much more than we ever could, I remembered my sister and her husband who I have been praying for, for many years. I also remembered there have been times I've been tempted to anger and giving up in prayer. Nevertheless, the Lord is so gracious, in giving us the strength to keep on praying and continue walking by faith and not by sight. I am beginning to see God working in their hearts through a breaking process from the "perfect world" filled with wealth etc., they thought they were living in without Jesus. Thank you for speaking God's truth to us, and encouraging us to continue in prayer for His precious ones. God is still the author and finisher of our faith until the day of Christ Jesus and His word will not come back void.

God's Heart For Your Community

2011-02-25T09:00:00.001-07:00

Isaiah 9:2 (NKJV) The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.

It's so encouraging to know that God has a plan for our (your) specific community! You're not there by accident. That house you're in, that apartment you lease, that condo you just purchased is where it is because God has a plan for your community and you're a big part of it! God loves the people in our community. God is interested supremely in their salvation. He is interested in reaching them. We can be sure God has a plan.

Today would be a good day to begin a regular Friday prayer for your community. You can pray for the people in particular, as God enlarges your heart in love toward them.

Know these important truths: God has a plan for your community. You are a part of that plan!

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
Psalm 3:3 is my favorite Bible verse. It has been my favorite since the first time I read it back in 1996. It lifts my spirit each time I read it, knowing that God would take the time to lift my head when I am down and protect me with His shield of glory! What an amazing thought! I always imagine in my mind Him kneeling beside me and gently lifting my chin with His hand to look into His adoring face. He loves me so much, He will kneel at my side when I have fallen in battle, and protect me on all sides from the enemy. His grace covers all of me, and this verse reminds me in just the right way, that my Father in heaven will always take up arms for me, in the gentlest of ways.

Where God Guides He Provides

2011-02-21T08:00:00.005-07:00

Philippians 4:19 NKJV And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The longer you walk with Jesus in your life, the more you come to realize and appreciate His tremendous faithfulness. There has not been one day where God was unfaithful to us and there never will be such a day. Even as we wrestle with the issues of life and perhaps become a bit faithless ourselves, He remains faithful (2 Timothy 2:13).

When it comes to our needs, God always provides. If God is in it, He’ll provide all that we need. He’ll supply all the energy, time, effort, open doors, people, money, wisdom, and whatever it takes in helping us fulfill His will. The problem, of course, is how we define needs. So often we mistake wants and desires for needs. God, although He abundantly blesses us above all we could think or ask, doesn’t promise to provide for our wants, but only our needs. Anything above our needs is a bonus!

What’s true for us individually is true for our church. As our church meets various needs, we can be assured that God will provide. We don’t need to hype it up, put undo pressure on people, or lay heavy ‘giving’ guilt-trips. God will move upon our hearts to participate in the awesome work He’s doing in and through us! It’s so wonderful and freeing.

Be careful this week to consider your needs before the Lord. Ask Him to show you the difference between your needs and your wants. Then, lay it all before Him, trusting Him to provide as He guides.

Trusting Him,
Pastor Ed

Response
This devotion came at just the right time this morning. As a life-long “try harder to get it right” girl, I have been struggling to understand God’s grace and how it is that I can just rest in Him. My lifelong standard has been to “get it right,” and it seems that the harder I try, the more I botch it up. I’ve been so blessed by the messages about grace that you have been teaching, and realized as I read this that when I try to live up to the standard I set for myself (which is impossible being that I tend toward perfectionism) I am setting aside His grace. I’m slowly learning to relax in Him, to rest in the work He has already done. Thank you for teaching grace. I have a bit of a thick skull, but I am getting it. God has been so faithful to speak His grace to me, particularly on the days when I am wrestling with the simplicity of what He has done and is doing in me.

How Do The Spiritually Blind See?

2011-02-18T06:00:00.006-07:00

1 Corinthians 2:9-10 (NKJV) But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.

It can be so frustrating to share the gospel with our friends and family, only to feel like we’re hitting a brick wall. They just don’t seem to get it. They don’t want to hear it. They come up with all sorts of fanciful arguments and questions that have nothing to do with the truth.

Why all the resistance? Why the strong opposition? Those that are not born-again are spiritually blind. They just can’t see it. No matter how hard we try or how much we plead, it’s not going to happen with human persuasion. So, how does the spiritually-blind see? The Spirit of God opens their eyes and helps them to understand spiritual things.

As followers of Jesus, we understand this well since we were once spiritually-blind ourselves. It wasn’t until the Spirit of God opened our eyes that we could see things in the way God sees them.

Remember, as much studying, preparing, and pleading as you do to answer tough Bible questions and share the love of God with folks, be sure to pray more for the Spirit of God to open their eyes. That’s how salvation will happen. That’s how they’ll ‘get it.’ The Spirit of God, working through the people of God, using the Word of God!

In Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
I just wanted to say thanks for all that Calvary Chapel Aurora is doing in the body of Christ. I'm from Florida, and I'm not with a church right now. It was my husband who told me that he heard your ministry on radio in the truck, so I went on the internet and found you guys. We are blessed to have done so; we are being fed. It's a good feeling when your spirit connects with something that feels true on the inside, and as we seek the Lord He truly leads us. Thanks again and we will be listening. God bless and continue to rise up your ministry and keep it ablaze for Jesus.

Blessed Are The Flexible

2011-02-14T08:00:00.003-07:00

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

The opposite of being flexible is being rigid and unbendable. Those that are flexible don’t break, but those that are rigid tend to ‘snap’ at the most inopportune time. As we serve Jesus with our lives, it’s important to remain flexible and open to whatever God has in store for us. As Pastor Chuck Smith has often taught, “blessed are the flexible for they shall not be broken.” It’s true.

Churches need to be flexible. Believers need to be flexible. Teachers need to be flexible. Parents need to be flexible. It really doesn’t matter who you are or what you might do in this world, flexibility is a key to accomplishing the will of God for your life.

What is it in your life that you’ve decided to just ‘put your foot down’ and remain unmovable about? Would you pray about that this week? Just be open to the Lord for a new and fresh work of His Spirit in that area. I believe you may be pleasantly surprised as God begins to do a wonderful work in your life.

One more thing: Be careful not to lean on your own understanding. Why? Because you can get so ‘set in your ways’ that your understanding is so important to you, and you won’t be open to the newness that God has in store for you.

If God reveals something to you, email me and tell me about it.

In Him,
Pastor Ed

Response
God is AWESOME. I was contemplating a question -- going back and forth. It was really a complaint about our church. Wouldn't you know it? I hear a sermon on the radio just on that topic. That there are no perfect churches, etc. God slapped me (in a good way) and shook me out of that mode. The other incident was a financial one -- we prayed and sure enough God came through -- AS HE ALWAYS DOES. These are very recent. God is always faithful. We/I'm the one that always fails. Praise God.

Who Is Getting the Attention?

2011-02-11T08:00:00.002-07:00

1 Corinthians 2:1-2 (NKJV) And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

When Paul arrived in Corinth, he didn't stand before the people with flowery, worldly wisdom. That is, he didn't come trying to make the people know how smart he was; how learned he was; how respected he was in the community. His motives weren't to draw attention to himself in any way as he shared the gospel with them. Quite the opposite: physically, he was weak, fearful, and trembling. Emotionally, he was drained. On top of that, he sounded as bad as he looked and felt.

What he did, though, is a great model for us. He shared Jesus and Him crucified. That's it. He made sure Jesus received all the credit and all the attention. Refusing to elevate himself or his 'ministry,' he made Jesus the main focal point.

It's important to guard against taking the credit for the anything God has done in your life. Although God does choose to use men and women in wonderful and tremendous ways, we can never get too attached to His instruments. God alone gets all the glory for great things He has done.

Paul comes to Corinth weak, sick, and just not feeling well. Instead of making himself the focal point, he takes people to Jesus with his words and his actions. We would do well to follow his example!

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
I am engaged to be married and my future wife and I are believers. We have both been damaged by previous divorces and by the grace of God, He has brought our paths together. We have lived together for a few months and have a wedding date set in the next few months. The Holy Spirit has been convicting me ever since we moved in together, as I knew it was sinful, and needless to say I've been hard headed...until your message this morning finished me off. I must take action to honor God and my future spouse. Thank you for sharing the truth with me.

God Wants Inspiration

2011-02-07T08:00:00.001-07:00

2 Timothy 2:24 NKJV And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel (strive - KJV) but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient

It's been said that God is looking for inspiration, not perspiration. I agree. It's so easy to be 'busy' for the things of God, but busy in things that God never led you to do. One of the difficulties in any believer's life -- in any church's life -- is to be busy, busy, busy, but never really busy in what God wants or desires. I once it heard it illustrated this way: "What if you spent your whole life baking your best friend the perfect apple pie, to only find out when you finally present it to him, he doesn't like apple pies at all but prefers the cherry pies at the corner store?" There would no doubt be a sense of "why did I waste all my time?"

Misplaced effort has plagued believers from the very beginning. It's not that effort and serving Jesus won't be tiring, it will. Often the Bible describes service as a 'labor of love.' The word labor literally means "to work to the point of exhaustion." Misplaced labor almost always ends in 'burn out,' with doses of frustration, anger, and sadness thrown in along the way. It's simply not good to strive. Those that strive to make things happen often get to the end and wonder, "why did I waste all my time?"

It's important that we learn to recognize whether God is in something or not. If He's in it, then He will inspire us in our service. If He's not, then we have to let it go rather than strive to make something happen that God doesn't want. Remember, it's in His time that He makes all things beautiful!

In Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
It takes grace to forgive one who has offended, and humility to be the one to ask forgiveness. Two most important attributes we must have if we are truly God's.

A Blessing to be Used By God

2011-02-04T08:00:00.004-07:00

1 Corinthians 1:27 (NLT) Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful.

Today I believe the Spirit of God wants you to know that He can use you, that He wants to use you, and that He will use you. He'll use you even though you have a past. He'll use you even though you aren't perfect. He'll use you even though you come up with 1,001 excuses on why He can't, or won't, or doesn't, want to. God only uses imperfect people. He only uses people with imperfect pasts. Why? Because that is the only type of person that is alive on the earth today!

Every one of us is at a different level of spiritual maturity. It's true that some grow faster than others, but that's okay because we're all on our own spiritual track of maturity. Yet, just because we're all at different levels of spiritual growth that doesn't mean God won't use us. He will! Wherever we are in our relationship with Him, God wants to use us in a such a way that no flesh, no man, no woman, no church, no system -- nothing -- can glory in His presence. He gets all the credit for great things He has done and continues to do!

Don't write yourself off. Step up and present yourself to God, even now, to be used by Him greatly!

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
This is so true: to be able to worship God with no language barriers that is so cool. I think people who are bicultural can understand that very well. I know a lot of songs in Spanish and English and with the same meaning of getting us closer and intimate way to God to worship Him in truth. I also know that sometimes we get caught up in the type of music, like in New Mexico is southwest music specially in the North part it has a Mexican beat to it. Also in Mexico (I was just there in February) I found Christian music in mariachi style it was so cool, Also in some parts of San Antonio, TX is TeX Mx music with a country mix with Mexican style music. But the message is the same: to adore and Praise and Worship Him. I think is so cool. Our God, Lord and Savior is Awesome. By the way my favorites worship songs are the traditional hymns like Amazing Grace (Spanish Sublime Gracia), At the Cross (Spanish En la Cruz), One day at a time (Spanish Un dia ala Vez). These are the songs I have sang in the Questa baptism church. But also love the Calvary chapel worship music which I never heard of that type of music before. They all draw me closer to God and reveals what is really in my heart. The music encourages me, edifies me it does so much in my life. it also brings unity among believers one accord one purpose to worship God. Thank-you for this e-note. God bless you and your family.

The Ministry Belongs To God

2011-01-31T08:00:00.006-07:00

Zechariah 4:6 So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts."

The biggest hindrance to the church today is man and his man-centered methodologies that have quenched the Spirit of God. Do you agree?

The Church is a sovereign work of God, not man. We can rest assured that Jesus will fulfill His promise to build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). One of the things I love about His church, spread out across the world, is its diversity. Since there are so many different types of people, there are different and diverse congregations that worship Jesus supremely! Within these local fellowships there is tremendous diversity among the people, too. Yet together, true believers, no matter the 'church' they attend, are all a part of the same church family with Jesus as its head.

We can never forget, especially those of us serving within a church, that the ministry belongs to God and not us. It's vital that we keep our fingerprints off the bride of Christ, His church. We need to see that our local church is a work of His Spirit, and in our service to Him that it remains a work of His Spirit. Because it's too easy to jump in and take charge, we need to be careful not to fleshly drive the church, with human wisdom, human ingenuity, and man centered programs and processes (Galatians 3:3).

Don't try to fit into any type of mold. Instead, just follow His Spirit. God will lead you exactly where He wants you and empower you with exactly what you need when you get there!

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
After breakfast this morning I was out in the parking lot of the Village Inn with my neighbor. I followed your example of praying for someone right there and then. As we were praying a truck was parking in the space right next to us and when we were done, two men get out of the truck and one of them says, "Did He answer?" I said, "He will." Then an amazing thing happened, he quoted scripture and said "When two or more are gathered in His name......" I said, "that's right" and he said "well, I was praying with you before I got out". He asked where we went to church. We all said. And I felt so blessed upon leaving knowing that three believers from three different churches experienced God's appointment and I'm sure all three of us felt blessed. That how amazing God's love is that I could feel so unblessed in the morning to so full of blessings (that will probably last for days) an hour later.

Studying Bible Prophecy Is Important

2011-01-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

Matthew 16:3 (NKJV) Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.

I'm still amazed at how often well-known, and well-respected Bible teachers will look down upon those who take the study of Bible prophecy seriously and outright make fun of them. One popular radio Bible teacher recently said, "Only prophecy pundits with a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other would...." His point was to belittle those who look for answers in the Bible as they read current events in the paper. He was saying it, as if it was a bad thing to do! It's not. Even though we don't know for certain that what is happening and being reported in the paper today is a direct fulfillment of Bible prophecy, we can certainly see in the news around us the signs of the times.

It was to the religious rulers of His day that Jesus said these powerful words, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red;' and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah." And He left them and departed. Matthew 16:2-4 (NKJV) They could understand the signs of the weather around them well, but missed the spiritual signs of the Messiah's presence right in front of them. We don't want to know the facts presented in the newspaper better than we do the times in which live.

We just started on a verse by verse Bible study journey through the Book of Revelation on Wednesday nights. I invite you to join us either in the sanctuary or online at 7 PM. It will prove to be a wonderful time of spiritual stirring and serious growth.

In Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
I just had to share this with you! I know sometimes the children are distracting during the service, but I just have to let my 6-month-old granddaughter, Sommer, join in during the worship part. She just loves the music, she hums out loud when the music starts and sometimes is still humming out loud when it stops. I just love the fact that she is praising God at such a young age. Also, just wanted to let you know how great the Wednesday night services are to me! What an awesome message. I like it when you let God's Holy Spirit preach and you set us all straight on the truth and the way we should live our lives. I noticed at the end, you made a comment about not wanting to step too hard on any toes or something to that effect, well I am glad you preach the truth, there are enough preachers out there, that are just there to tickle the ears of their churches. Let the Truth of Gods Word continue, thanks!

Are You Sold Out For God?

2011-01-24T09:34:00.002-07:00

Deuteronomy 34:7 (NKJV) Moses was one hundred and twenty years old when he died. His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished.

Consider these final words describing Moses' life: "But since then there has not arisen a prophet like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face" (Deuteronomy 34:10).

As you survey the life of Moses, you wouldn't think it would end this way. He started out a little rocky in his early years, which were filled with mistakes. He spent the first 40 years of his life building a sense of self-confidence that eventually led him to taking things into his own hands and killing an Egyptian. The next 40 years of his life were lived in relative obscurity, caring for and tending sheep. It was during that time that Moses learned how God desires selflessness, not selfishness. And, when the time came, God called Moses to use him to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt, up to the border of the promised land.

In totality, the last 40 years of Moses life were incredibly fruitful. He didn't slow down. Earlier in Deuteronomy 34, it says that "Moses was 120 years old and his eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished." He was older, but a young man at heart toward his God!

I want to live the last 40 years of my life sold out for God. Since I don't know when the last 40 years of my life will be over, I've translated that desire to totally living for Him today!

My hope is that you will sell out for God today, too. Imagine the things you will be used to do in His name, for His glory, in His will!

Through His Mercy,
Pastor Ed

Response
I don't know what to write you really, but I feel something should be said about how I feel towards the Church. My first deployment to Iraq led me to believe in something more than what explanation can provide. Then, I started reading the Bible while I was over here (I continued off and on when I returned). However, Calvary provided my wife with assistance with home repairs and the people that she could talk to while I was away. I'm not really a talkative guy or public, I tend to stay downstairs and watch the video. I feel more relaxed down there and I enjoy the fact that the message is relatively informing and enlightening. I'm hoping to pull my daughter (who is now 3yrs old) to a baptism with me (if I get the nerve). We didn't do the baby dedication cause as I said before I tend to hide back and I really wish we would have found a way to get her a blessing or dedication privately. I feel (as stupidly as it sounds) like I failed in some small part to do that for her right after her birth. Well, now that I see I am just rambling I would like to say I'm reading my Bible again, still in the old testament just finished Ezra. I find things a little more peaceful after I've read a chapter. However, I just wanted to write this because I find it amazing that how with very little pressure or pushing for some reason our Church not only got me to want to get a Bible, but to actually start reading it to and shocking enough (if you knew my wife she would tell you) occasionally I say "God Bless you" to fellow soldiers as they leave for their way home or tell them "God has watched over my family in these tough times." It feels that slowly but without doubt something is changing in my life and I was drawn or led to it because of my wife and the Church. I truly believe the congregation or fellowship I guess you could say can find peace with the happiness and peace we give one another. Again rambling I will stop now, but thanks for the guidance, the friends and the Church I'm glad my wife found it.

Stay On Course

2011-01-21T08:00:00.002-07:00

John 15:4-5 (NKJV) Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Did you know that it’s possible for an airplane to end up in an entirely different location if they are off course by just one degree? As a matter of fact, if a plane continues to travel off course just one small degree, it will be off course ninety-two feet for every mile it travels. If it’s a 1,000 mile trip, they will miss the runway by 17.42 miles! While I’ve never seen this happen on one of my airline trips, I’ve seen it happen all too often with believers as they travel on that dusty road following Jesus!

It’s too easy to veer off course into areas and situations that we have no business being involved with, even if it’s just one small degree. The story shared by those who have veered off course spiritually is all too familiar. It always starts off with a strong response; a solid beginning; a positive start. They steady on in that direction for a while, sometimes a long while, until… (Yes, there is always that ‘until’) something derails their faith. A little compromise is embraced. A secret sin begins to develop. Their heart begins to callous. They continue on in that direction, harboring sin, nursing bitterness, holding on to that ‘little’ sin, and after a while the person you see at the end is nothing like the person that started out so strong!

Be extra careful to stay as close to Jesus as possible, abiding in Him. Take a moment today and pray for God to reveal things that have taken root in your life, all the while taking you slowly off course in your once-vibrant relationship with Jesus. When something is revealed, repent and forsake it! You’ll be blessed that you did.

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
I enjoy your emails so greatly. Especially when they are what I need to hear and sometimes it feels like God made them just for me. Right now I find myself waiting for the Lord. My husband and I have been trying to become pregnant but have found that I have a condition that makes it more difficult. We decided I would take some medicine to encourage my body. After 4 months it just didn't feel right. After discussing it and praying about it a lot we have come to the decision to quit taking the medicine and to let it rest in God's hands. I feel we just rushed in to fix the problem. I have now come to learn that first of all, having a baby is not even just about me and that's a selfish way of thinking. And second, I find a great comfort in knowing that God truly knows what is best and his will be done. I know it is not his intent to leave me sad and that he has something else in mind for us. I admit I still struggle with my feelings, but emails like this help me get back on track and remind me that I need to wait on the Lord.

It's Not The Devil

2011-01-17T08:00:00.003-07:00

James 1:13-14 (NKJV) Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God;" for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

It's interesting how many times the devil is blamed for things that he had nothing to do with. With the kind of spiritual warfare that goes on in our lives, I know how easy it would be to think that the devil can take us down whenever he wants to. Because of that, when someone falls into sin, it's not unusual to hear them say something like, "The devil made me do it," or "I was being used so greatly that it was only a matter of time before Satan took me down."

Well, there is some truth to that for sure. The schemes, wiles and attacks of the devil come regularly. Often, they come proportionately. The more you desire to seek the Lord, the more the temptations and attacks come. As you progress in your relationship with Jesus, there will be many temptations to do the wrong thing; to sin; to weaken under the influence of your friends; to compromise; to walk away from the faith. Yes, the devil wants to take you down, but it doesn't happen without your whole-hearted cooperation.

Read through James 1:12-18 and take note of the steps toward sin. Then, pray through them, asking God along the way to help you to live strong in a temptation-saturated society.

In His Great Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
Good morning Pastor Ed. I wanted to say that last night was so amazing to see. I am so excited how God is working in our church. The feeling is almost so overwhelming to know how the Lord is working not only in our church but my life directly. It's been an amazing journey for me just in the past year...I don't really know how to explain it but knowing that God can do such amazing things in the lives of those around me has made me like a new Christian again. I wanted to also ask for prayer that God gives me courage with my parents, sister and brother...when it comes to my family I seem to have more fear and less boldness than with my friends and co-workers. And thank you as always for being so open to God's leading. I pray for you daily that God protects you and keeps your strong and drawn ever close to Him.

2010 is in the Books

2010-12-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Psalm 90:12 (NKJV) So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

I love it when a new year is just up ahead. They are so open with possibilities, positive changes, and open doors from the Lord.

It's incredible too, to think that yet another year has passed! They seem to just fly by us. Every time another new year rolls around, I'm reminded of the saying, "Only one life will soon be passed and only what's done for Jesus Christ will last."

With a year behind us, we now look forward. What's the best way to redeem the time God will give us in 2011? I believe one of the best ways is to follow the instruction of our psalmist. He asks God to teach him to number his days. Truly that request is one designed to help us live out daily, our lives for Jesus Christ. There is great wisdom in not allowing the enormity of a year, or a month, or even a week to weigh heavily upon our hearts, but to trust in our precious Lord daily.

I desire so much to live out what Jesus said, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34).

With the blank slate of a new year ahead of us, it's my prayer we're ready for all that God has planned! See you next year!

In His Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
Thank you so much. I have to tell you I've really been blessed since coming back to the Lord and beimg led to Calvary Aurora. It is so refreshing and the fellowship has been missing from my life for 35 years.

Do You Love?

2010-12-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ephesians 5.1-2 (NIV) "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Love is at the heart of Jesus' message. It's key. It's central. The gospel is love; it's very core! There are a lot of thoughts and theories passed off as Christianity today, including some that have become so very popular. There is the message of health and wealth. There is the message of control and power. There is the message of give to get more. The list continues on and on with poor and unbiblical substitutes for the love of Christ. The key question is, "Do you love?"

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another." John 13:34 What a great way to wind down the year, meditating on the love of Jesus in our lives and through our lives.

In Him,
Pastor Ed

Response
Thank you, Pastor Ed, for this encouraging message. My husband, Sean, died a little over two months ago, and I was having a very hard time today. It usually is "well with my soul," but I needed the reminder today that God is in control and He will take care of me until the day that I can be with Him and Sean in Heaven. I have not been able to make it back to church since my husband's passing because it's just too hard. However, I always watch the service on the Internet each week ~ just like Sean and I used to do while he was bed-ridden. Thank you for your ministry and faithfulness to the Lord.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T08:00:00.001-07:00

Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV) For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

I pray that you have a wonderful day celebrating the one of the most magnificent days on earth, the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Bring someone to church this weekend!

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
Thank you for this encouragement. Just the other day I was singing another song titled "Overwhelmed."

I am overwhelmed by Your mercy.
I am overwhelmed by Your grace.
For the faith You give even when I doubt You.
I am overwhelmed by Your love.

You are so right! We need to turn it around. So when I get overwhelmed, I will purpose in my heart and mind to recall these songs, and be overwhelmed in singing His praises.

Thanks for helping to start the day on the right foot! God Bless.

Habits

2010-12-13T08:00:00.002-07:00

Acts 2:42 (NKJV) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

A habit, good or bad, is a powerful force in our lives. Webster defines a habit as, "a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up." It's important that we develop good spiritual habits that will crowd out the bad ones we've picked up along the road of life.

Consider this little description:
You may know me. I'm your constant companion. I'm your greatest helper; I'm your heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am at your command. Half the tasks you do might as well be turned over to me. I'm able to do them quickly, and I'm able to do them the same every time if that's what you want. I'm easily managed, all you've got to do is be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want it done; after a few lessons I'll do it automatically. I am the servant of all great men and women; of course, servant of the failures as well as the successes. I've made all the great individuals who have ever been great.

And I've made all the failures, too. But I work with all the precision of a marvelous computer with the intelligence of a human being. Take me. Be easy with me and I will destroy you. Be firm with me and I'll put the world at your feet.

Who am I? I'm a Habit!

We need to develop and cultivate good, solid, spiritual habits. They are essential for your spiritual growth. Habits like daily prayer, Bible reading, fellowship, and service all help to grow us in the things of Jesus.

Pray about your habits today. Watch and see what God will do!

In Hope,
Pastor Ed

Response
For me, my favorite verse is John 3:16. It was (I think) the first one I learned, and I remember someone telling me once to replace the words "the world" with "you." For God so loved YOU, he gave his only begotten son.... Thanks for the encouragement.

Pathway of Blessing

2010-12-10T08:00:00.002-07:00

Psalm 1:1 (NKJV) Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

The wonderful song book of the Psalms opens with this powerful instruction. If you want blessing, be careful where you walk; where you stand; and where you sit.

Be careful that you're not walking in the counsel of those who don't love God. This world is full of that type of counsel: the counsel that is totally devoid of spiritual depth and instruction. Don't walk that way, David says. Instead, the Bible says in Psalm 119:1, "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord!"

Be careful that you're not standing in the pathway of sinners. This includes the places that sin is committed. Why would we be standing in places that are set apart for the fulfillment of sinful pleasures in this world? Instead, the Bible says in Psalm 134:1, "Behold, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who by night stand in the house of the Lord!"

Be careful that you're not sitting in the seat of those that are scornful. We don't use the word scornful much, but the idea is those who mock God; those that express utter contempt for the things of God. Paul tells us that evil company can corrupt good habits (1 Corinthians 15:33).

So the pathway to blessing begins with a careful life that watches out for where we choose to walk, where we choose to stand, and where we choose to sit!

Blessings,
Pastor Ed

Response
I haven't written you in a long time. It's actually been a year. One year ago, I, as an exchange student from Russia, left America, my host dad and friends. I spent the very last night with my friends at Calvary Chapel Aurora on Wednesday. I was brought to the church by my dear friend in May and I had a wonderful time there. And when I left I felt a little bit lonely. I missed Calvary, people who were there. I asked myself: What am I going to do next? Since there's no Calvary Church in my city and my American friends are gone. I thought I was alone which was not entirely true. My family was there, my friends were there. You knows who else was there? Jesus. I travelled many times leaving some important to me people behind, but Jesus was always there. He was there from the beginning and He always will be. I attend church at my city where I live and I faithfully miss Calvary Aurora Chapel. As I feel I've grown in the Lord. I came to realization that it's not about attending a particular church. It's about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He is everywhere no matter where we are.

Authenticity

2010-12-06T08:00:00.001-07:00

Mark 12:37 (NKJV) And the common people heard Him gladly.

One of the greatest tools in evangelism, in sharing the gospel with those we love and care for, is authenticity. They need to not only hear the message from us, but see it lived through us in a real, true, and authentic way. Hypocrisy is simply unattractive, and not at all like Jesus.

As an unbeliever, lost - so desperately lost - I know that I was looking for something powerful, real, and authentic. What I had seen in the 'Christian World,' especially on TV, just wasn't real. Scandal after scandal rocked the popular preachers and it put a real sour taste in my rebellious mouth. It didn't help present Jesus to me at all.

So many today are still looking for that real, authentic, powerful connection with God. They aren't looking for some syrupy imitation. They don't want some Christian experience or some religious nonsense. What people are looking for is something worth living for; worth dying for.

Jesus is authentic. Jesus is real. Jesus is powerful.

Live out your life in Him and watch the people around you hunger for that authentic Savior you're so in love with!

In Mercy,
Pastor Ed

Response
Thanks for this, Pastor Ed. I was one of the 'strays' and have come back to the Lord. I know there must have been people praying for me for a long time, and I certainly felt the Shepherd calling me back to the fold. It is so good to be back in fellowship with the Lord and feeling again that best-friendship I missed so acutely in my life! It is a special blessing that my husband accepted Christ as his Savior the night I re-dedicated my life. We also have 2 little boys who now are being raised in a Christian home and will never remember a time when Mommy and Daddy didn't know Jesus. I am especially grateful for this timing because I want so much for my children to know the peace of God in a tangible way in their lives. God is SO GOOD! Just when you think you have gone too far and that God will never condescend to the place you find yourself, He reaches into the pit to pull you out. It is just too much for words.

Pray for 89.7 GRACEfm

2010-12-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

1 Peter 2:9-10 (NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

In just 20 days, our plans are to be on the air with 89.7 GRACEfm, reaching the entire Denver Metro area with solid Bible teaching and inspiring worship music every day, all day, all year! We will be Denver's station of Worship and the Word!

As many of you know, it continues to be a huge step of faith for us as a congregation. Yet, we know it's from the Lord. It's so exciting, it's hard to contain it. We believe God has prepared our precious fellowship family for such a time as this!
Today, would you please pray for the station... for the city... for the lost... and for the amazing church family of Calvary Aurora both here locally, around the country, and around the world!

Your prayer coverage and financial support is so greatly appreciated!
Be sure to join the conversation at:
897GRACEfm
FaceBook Twitter

What a ride,
Pastor Ed

Response
Great morning Pastor Ed!! Just a quick note to let you know that I appreciate the Abounding Grace emails, specifically this morning's. Last night my 10-year-old daughter was having trouble sleeping. When I asked her why, she said she just didn't "feel" saved. I had the opportunity to share with her that salvation is not a feeling but a fact! Having witnessed her confession of sins and her request for forgiveness from our loving Lord, I assured her that her name was written permanently in the book of life. We prayed together asking for peace and she settled down to a good nights sleep. God is so GOOD! Thanks for sharing this morning and being used to confirm God's truth!

Second Generation Christians

2010-11-29T08:00:00.002-07:00

Revelation 2:4 (NKJV) Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

It was to the once vibrant church in the city of Ephesus that Jesus had to send a note exhorting them to return to their first love. They had left it.

What happened in that church can happen in any church, any family, any life, and really at any time. Their love had grown cold. Their hearts had become hardened. They had become preoccupied with everything else but Jesus. It didn't happen right away. For the church in Ephesus, it took about sixty years for them to stroll away from that vibrant love relationship with Jesus. They started out so strong, so vibrant, so useful, so powerful in the hands of God.

The loveless church Jesus addressed were 'second-generation' Christians. They were very much following the example set by the early nation of Israel.

With Israel:
The FIRST generation KNEW God and SAW His power first hand.
The SECOND generation KNEW God but had only HEARD about His power.
The THIRD generation neither KNEW God or His power. They were lost.

Be that generation that gets back to your first love, friend. The days in which we live are crying out for a generation to stand strong for Jesus!

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
I love these things. On this one, every time I get to that point of thinking "how can I forgive him or her for that" the Holy Spirit reminds me of the wicked servant being forgiven so much but refusing to forgive his fellow servant of so little. I remember how much has been forgiven me and whatever someone has done to me seems so insignificant. God bless you and your willingness to follow God's lead in your life.

Read Your Bible Everyday

2010-11-22T08:00:00.001-07:00

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

There are hundreds of books, thousands of Bible studies, and infinite opinions on the topic of spiritual growth, all filled with wonderful insight and help on how to grow in your relationship with Jesus. I've read and listened to dozens and dozens over the years and they've helped me a lot.

I'd like to share one with you that trumps them all. Ready?

READ YOUR BIBLE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

We all know we should read the Bible regularly -- everyday -- but for some reason we don't. When we don't, we short-change ourselves from yet another opportunity to grow in our relationship with Jesus.

Even if you have to put that other book down, turn off the radio, set aside that Bible study, it's worth it. Make reading your Bible every day a priority.

On our web site is a "Through the Year" Bible reading guide. There are many out there, so if this one doesn't work for you, find another and follow it; so that daily, you're in the Word and growing in grace.

Blessings,
Pastor Ed

Response
Amen, amen, and amen once again... You have hit a very sore spot with me. I have been the person talked about; the person they all pointed their wee li'l fingers at. I was the one that left the church for that very reason and have encountered this at several churches that I have gone to, and now, as I sit at my computer desk, I can watch all the people that pointed their fingers go by and know that I still have a great church to go to. Its on the Internet -- its Calvary Chapel Aurora :). Thank you, Pastor Ed. You have helped me alot and your devotionals are great. I'm getting ready to watch some of the testimonies that you all have. God bless you and your church. Tell 'em thank you for allowing me to be a part of your church. God's love and peace to all of you.

It's Too Easy To Complain

2010-11-19T08:00:00.002-07:00

Philippians 2:14-16 (NKJV) Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

It's just too easy to complain. I do it. You may find yourself doing it. It's too easy. When things don't go the way we like; when things aren't arranged to our satisfaction; when people aren't moving fast enough, nice enough, happy enough; complaining is the all too common response.

Poor Moses lived with it for forty years!

May it not be so among us as believers. As a pastor, I've complained and heard my fair share of complaints. Instead of jumping in to help solve the situation, I've witnessed countless people stand on the sidelines, sending out their opinions on things that they aren't even a part of, and are unwilling to help solve. In fact, there are a few who love to complain about our church that don't even attend here!

When we complain, we disobey. When we complain, we express our opinions in a way that tears down instead of building up.

I'm reminded of the statement Roosevelt made on the topic. I pray it encourages you today to jump in and help with some of the things you see that need improvement...instead of complaining.

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." - Roosevelt

Trusting Him,
Pastor Ed

Response
Funny (well, not funny), how we can forget that we need God for EVERYTHING in our lives! I learned that day, back in 1985, that my personal decisions got me in the condition I was in. I learned later I could not trust my decisions & that I needed to depend on His alone! He is the One who has kept me sober all these years & also removed many more sins from my life, one by one by one by one & so on. And, He still is doing that, only the number has come way down so it is not as often.....He is so patient with us! I have much more Jesus-confidence than self-confidence now. Amen!

Yielding to the Spirit

2010-11-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

Psalm 31:3 (NKJV) "For You are my rock and my fortress; Therefore, for Your name's sake, lead me and guide me."

It's very important for us to learn how to consistently yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit. I love how the Psalmist cries out, "for Your name's sake, lead me and guide me." That's where it begins: the desire for God to lead and guide, no matter what awaits us on the journey. Too often when tough times come, there is a natural tendency to jump in and take control. After all, the more control we have, the safer we feel. Yet, it's possible for us to try and do our own thing and go our own way, only to find out we've been battling with the very God that loves and cares for us! Ultimately, God's will prevails.

Proverbs 16:9 "A man's heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps."

Proverbs 16:33 "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD."

Proverbs 19:21 "There are many plans in a man's heart. Nevertheless the LORD's counsel--that will stand." Take some time today and lift your cares and concerns to God in prayer. Ask Him for a yieldable spirit that will be in tune with His Spirit.

In His Great Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
Thank you, brother, this has been of great encouragement for me. I'm thankful and blessed that God has put me in the right place during this time of testing. This could have been the point when I give up, walk away and take things into my own hands, but I'm a rock and this too shall pass and the Lord will strengthen me. Just wanted to say thank you for being an obedient servant, sold out for the things of God.

Elephants Love To Eat Trees

2010-11-12T08:00:00.002-07:00

James 1:14-15 (NKJV) But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

I read an interesting article entitled "Elephants Love to Eat Trees" a few weeks ago. In it, I learned that elephants love to eat trees and can quickly take out a small forest if they are hungry enough. Those that study such things have often wondered why that doesn't happen more often. Why don't elephants take out forests at whim? The answer is simple: ants. Elephants hate ants. When elephants start to yank on the limbs of the whistling-thorn tree, the ants swarm into their tender trunks and begin to sting and bite. Studies have shown that elephants tend to avoid these trees at all costs while learning to be careful in approaching other types of treEs. Thus, forests remain and elephants don't' have to deal with the consequences of disturbing the ants!

Trees so appealing and swarming with painful ants reminds me a lot of sin. Sin appears so appealing. Sin looks so satisfying. Sin looks so nourishing. Yet when you begin to yank on the limbs of sin, you get bit and stung by its hidden consequences.

Friends, stay away from sin, please. There is no need to learn the hard way.

In Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
Hello Pastor Ed! God's words today have taught me that my excuses for not being good enough or competent enough to perform the functions of my job are really about me just not wanting to do what God has asked of me. I don't want to have to deal with learning the job and knowing all that I have to know, because it hurts my pride and because I'm just lazy sometimes. God has humbled me in a way I needed.

Can God Use Me?

2010-11-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NKJV) "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."

I love it when someone asks me the question, "Can God use me?" I'll so quickly answer, "Yes." Absolutely! Not only can God use you, He wants to! Yet, it's often that my answers are met with reason after reason why a person has written themselves off. I'll hear things like, "But Pastor, you don't know my past;" or "I'm so unsure;" or "I don't know the Bible that well;" or a whole host of other reasons and excuses.

For sure, some reasons are real and there are heavy burdens being carried. They become an open door for biblical discipleship and ministry help. Yet, sometimes the reasons are merely excuses for not stepping up and stepping into the will of God for your life.

God only uses IMPERFECT people. Why? Because that's all He has to work with! There isn't anyone serving Jesus right now that is perfect. Far from it! Only people that have been touched and tainted by the reality of failure and faults are used by God, because all of us fall into that category in one degree or another.

If you're hesitant in stepping into the will of God for your life because you see in your past a string of unfortunate failures, then here's a section of Scripture for you to read, memorize, and hold on to:

1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NLT) Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important, so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

By the way, if you call Calvary Aurora your spiritual home, then print out our ministry application and turn it in. You can download it here: Ministry Application.

In His Great Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
I just want to let you know that the additional comments you have been including, with these devotionals, have really been a blessing to me and have made me rejoice and praise God right along with the people who wrote them. It's good that the "body" minister to each other, and although these folks may not have intended to do that, the Lord certainly intended that it be done. Thank you for following the lead of God's Holy Spirit and for sharing my brothers' and sisters' voices. I hope they will know how they have been used to bless others - just as God has blessed them.

Learning From Jesus

2010-11-05T08:00:00.000-06:00

Matt 11:28 (NKJV) "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

As the book of Joshua opens up, we see God speaking directly to His young, new leader. We see it so many times in the Bible - God speaking to His servants - that if we're not careful, we may miss the importance of Joshua being able to hear God.

How did Joshua learn to hear from God? I believe it was Moses that taught him; that discipled him in the things of the Lord. Joshua was a faithful servant to Moses. As you read through the early pages of the Old Testament, you'll often find Joshua very close in proximity to Moses. Not only was Joshua a servant, he was also a spiritual student.

I'm reminded of my own life. It's so important for me, for you, to be close to Jesus. We're not just to be good servants to Jesus, but also good students of Jesus. We have much to learn, and as we faithfully serve Him, He is faithful to teach us!

By Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
There are many but I keep coming back to Romans 8:28. I particularly like the NASB translation of it... And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Since this prodigal came home a little over three years ago, the Lord has shown me that indeed He does cause all things to work together for good. During my time away from Him, many [things] happened in my life which made absolutely no sense to me. Many things that at the time made me feel as if He wasn't in control. For if He was, surely he wouldn't allow these things to happen to me! But, now looking back I can see His hands all over those situations. I like to think that a believer's life is sort of like a jigsaw puzzle. You see the individual pieces as moments in time and you can't often seem to see how they fit into anything. But as God puts the pieces together, then out of disorder comes order and you begin to see that there is a design and that it is taking shape. It simply takes trust in Him to be able to have peace and to know that while the circumstances that you may be going through now make no sense to you, in the end it will all come together like a puzzle. The end result being a clear and beautiful picture, of your life.

You're a Saint

2010-11-01T08:00:00.000-06:00

Colossians 1:2 (NKJV) To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Each time the word 'saint' is used, immediately the idea of someone who is super-spiritual comes to my mind. Over the years there has been a lot of confusion over the word 'saints.' Who is a saint? Who says that a person is saint? We all know that there are some famous saints like 'St. Teresa' and 'St. Thomas,' but is the world's common understanding of saints really biblical? I suggest to you that it is not.

According to the largest Christian Religion in the world, the following steps are necessary to become a saint:

"All Christians aspire to become saints, that is, persons in heaven (officially canonized or not), who lived lives of great charity and heroic virtues. In official (ROMAN CATHOLIC) Church procedures there are three steps to sainthood: one becomes Venerable, Blessed and then a Saint. Venerable is the title given to a deceased person recognized as having lived heroic virtues. To be recognized as a blessed, and therefore beatified, in addition to personal attributes of charity and heroic virtue, one miracle, acquired through the individual's intercession, is required. Canonization requires two, though a Pope may waive these requirements. Martyrdom does not usually require a miracle."

Friend, it's all not true, unnecessary, and man-made! According to the Bible, if you're a believer in Jesus, then you're automatically a saint. Saints in the New Testament, and today, are alive. You're a saint not because of what you do, but because of you are in Jesus. He has made you a saint. The word in the Greek is the word, "hagios," and literally means to be 'set apart for a special work.' As a Christian, you are set apart by God for His use. You're not perfect, but in His hands you're a saint on the move!

Please test all things by the Word of God (1 Thessalonians 5:1)! It will help clear up 100% of any confusion that has arisen through man-made religions.

Loving Jesus,
Saint Edward

Response
I truly appreciate your enotes. I use these enotes and some links to the Bible studies for my devotions and do receive much comfort and encouragement from them. Even if I heard them before, there is always something in them that grabs me. I have been a Christian all my life. We all need encouragement. Also, I love to read the replies that you get from your enotes, especially from the new believers. They are so excited about their news lives that it give me a good shot in the arm! Sometimes I just need one. Thank you for all you do.

Conquering Strongholds

2010-10-29T08:00:00.000-06:00

Romans 13:13-14 (NKJV) Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Self-confidence is what makes us think we can battle and struggle with the spiritual strongholds in our lives, and prevail. We take on the, "I can do it" attitude and find defeat at ever turn. Why? Defeat is so common because we are not strong enough or sufficient in ourselves to gain the victory. Although that might be offensive to our flesh, it's true.

It's only in the Spirit life that we find strength to conquer those strongholds that the flesh has set up in our lives. Our flesh, our old sinful habit patterns, loves to be coddled and fed. But the Bible tells us that the flesh doesn't please God ever: never, ever. It needs to die! We need new habits, habits of dependence upon Jesus and habits of yielding to the Spirit in all things.

It's in the Spirit life that we see the walled cities of sin come tumbling down. We begin to see the giants fall like flies. We begin to possess the wonderful and glorious experiences that God has promised to every believer. It's in the Spirit that we thrive in the spiritual victory that is already ours in Christ.

Choose to walk in the Spirit today, not fulfilling the lusts of your flesh. It's one of the quickest and most effective ways to lose your self-confidence, replacing it with Jesus-confidence!

In Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
My favorite verse would have to be Isaiah 41:10. The Lord spoke to me through this verse when I was trying to get up the courage to call for help for my drinking. I was not yet a Christian but believed and had a Bible. I was sobbing every time I picked up the phone for about an hour. I just could not make the call. I cried out to the Lord to show me a scripture that would help me to make the call. I opened the Bible to Isaiah 41:10, Do not fear for I am with you. Do not anxiously look about you for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. NAS. Still have that Bible and have that page marked. I was able to make the call, although still crying so hard that the people thought I was suicidal, but the Lord got me through it! He had to help me again later to stop the drinking but through Him I was finally able to stop. Reading that scripture was the first step on my road to recovery and to making a commitment to Him!

Finally, Be Strong

2010-10-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

Psalms 138:3 (NKJV) In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.

Spiritual warfare and spiritual growth go hand in hand. Please don't forget that. With any growing church, with any growing marriage, with any growing single, with any growing believer, there will be spiritual resistance and attacks. That's the methodology of the devil. That's just the way he works.

Jesus told Peter that He Himself would build His church upon the powerful confession Peter just made, that Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God. Every true believer becomes one more living stone on the foundation of Jesus. Look at Matthew 16:18 again:

Matthew 16:18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Wow! Jesus is building His church and even the gates of hell won't prevail against it! Even though the gates of hell will try, they won't triumph. They can't! Jesus is in charge!

It's true; Satan is going to come full force against us, trying to take us down, and ultimately take us out! If he can't get the church, he'll pick off the leaders. If he can't get the leaders, he'll pick off the members. If he can't get the members, he'll pick off their kids. If he can't get the kids, he'll pick off the visitors. If he can't get the visitors, he'll hit the leaders again. WELL... you get the picture.

Ephesians 6.10-11 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Stand strong in Jesus today, friend. He's your strength. He's your sufficiency!

Standing in Him,
Pastor Ed

Response
My mom went to church two Sundays ago and when she got to church she realized that she forgot her bible. When she got home, she couldn't find her bible anywhere and called me in tears to tell me. She had had this bible since 1979 and it was so precious to her. But she also knew that if someone else needed her bible that God would bless them. So we said that we would pray everyday that God would some how bring her bible back to her. The next day she took her overweight Chihuahua on her daily walk and started to find little notes and things that were in her bible, so she realized that she must have left her bible on her car when she put something in the trunk before she got in the car. Well a week went by and yesterday a lady came to her door with her bible, she had found it on the street and saw her name on it and knew my mom, so she brought it to her. My mom called me last night with tears of joy! She said isn't God just like that? All day she had been so broken about her two grandsons and that it was just like God to remind her that He hears her prayers and He is in control!

Get Out Of the Mud of Legalism

2010-10-22T08:00:00.001-06:00

Romans 5:2 (NKJV) ...through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Ever step into some serious mud? It's a bummer, isn't it? I remember a work day on our property some years back, when I stepped into a pile of mud that completely covered my shoes. I thought for sure they were ruined.

Standing in grace, completely covered by it, doesn't ruin you, but helps you. Once at war with God, now by faith you have peace, access, grace, and hope in Him! As you stand in His grace, it gives you a firm footing in living a life that pleases Him. Oh, it's not a life that requires your performance, but rather a life that is lived through the power of His Spirit dwelling in you.

Remember today that you are standing in God's grace. I love it, don't you, that Paul didn't write that we're standing in God's judgment, or standing in God's expectations, or standing in God's religion?

No, we stand in God's grace - His unmerited, unearned, undeserved agape love and favor. Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so!

What's you're favorite verse in the Bible and why? REPLY to this note and share it with me.

In Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
One verse I really, really love is 1 Timothy 1:12-17. It is just amazing to me to think that God would choose me of all people, even those who once persecuted God and didn't care about Him, to be used to speak His name to others. This past Sunday I was having a rough time when the parents on a soccer sideline were yelling at me and saying the Lord's name in vain in a U14 game (I was the linesman). There was one man who just kept saying His name in vain and it made me so sad. Afterwards I was just amazed that God still loves that man, no more and no less. It just shows that we say so many bad things against God, and yet he still loves us and sent His Son to die for us so that we could have a relationship with Him. Yeah God!

Two Lines of Attack

2010-10-18T08:00:00.002-06:00

Romans 8:37-39 (NKJV) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jesus taught us about the motives of the devil and the demonic realm. He told us that the thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. I'm so glad He didn't stop there, but ended by saying that we can be of good cheer, encouraged in the battle in Him, because He's overcome the world. By our faith in Him, we too are overcomers.

Yet, the devil is relentless in trying to destroy believers, marriages, families, and even churches. First, he tries to come at you outwardly, with persecution and attacks. Weird arguments and pressures that seem almost too much to bear are normal and common. We run to Him and find help in our time of need, and the wave of persecution eases, or even disappears altogether.

But remember this, don't forget it, when the devil can't take a family or church down outwardly, he'll come and try to destroy it from the inside. It's been known that Satan will join the church, become an active member, and try to destroy through compromise and corruption. He'll use false teachers and false believers, and anything he can counterfeit.

But know this: you are strong and secure in Him. Peter reminds us that we are kept in Him not by our own good works, or our own efforts, but by His sure and steadfast power.

Perhaps you've been getting hit on the outside lately? Maybe it's been an inside attack? You could be getting attacked on all fronts! Run to Jesus, my friend, and find your strength and protection in Him. He alone is victorious!

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
I have lost almost everything that this worldly place was about. Ah, but I have gained the most important person that ever lived! Oh Jesus you are Holy, Holy, Holy and this truth of salvation is worth every bit of pain that brought me to that place of surrender. What a blessing to have the creator of all the universe pick me to save and all I had to do was say yes Lord. His work in my life and to know that you know He is alive and we are His sons and daughters. Wow, words cannot express my gratitude for how the Lord uses Calvary Chapel and your teaching to bring the lost and hurting like me to a saving knowledge. I am blown away as I watch week after week new believers come to Christ. It allows me opportunity to love them and to help them as I have been helped because I still remember that day in 2003 when I was overtaken by the Spirit and was born again. Jesus blesses me more than any--too much of this world or my sin--could ever take away. Sorry for the rambling long winded message but I close with a very special thank you, sir, for being my teacher of the word and my brother in Christ.

Through The Bible

2010-10-15T08:00:00.000-06:00

Psalms 138:2 (NKJV) I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.

One of the commitments I've made to our precious congregation is that we will study the entirety of the Bible, from beginning to end. That means we will be going through every book of the Bible, verse by verse and chapter by chapter. One day I hope to say to you, as Paul was able to, that I haven't shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).

We've always sought to be a place here at Calvary that the sheep love to eat; where they are loved and cared for regularly. Think of it in terms of a good restaurant. If you have one, it's probably because you like the food there, especially that one dish. Well, the feeding of God's Word is vital and important. More than just your favorite restaurant, your church family should be one where the atmosphere, the ambience, is of the Spirit, and the teaching is feeding and nourishing your spiritual growth. Unfortunately, there are a lot of churches that simply refuse to feed the flock of God. That is the grand tragedy of our generation! People aren't being encouraged to get into and stay in God's Word. There are even some within the new 'emergent' church that downplay and undermine the sufficiency of Scriptures. That's a travesty!

While other churches and spiritual leaders go this way and that way, we will steady on teaching the Word of God simply and in His power. We are a church where the Word of God is seen for what it is: life-giving and necessary. May God use His Word powerfully in and through us!

Loving His Word,
Pastor Ed

Response
Hey, Pastor Ed, Just wanted to tell you that your message really gave me a lot of encouragement. I was just telling Arty that sometimes I feel like I'm not even a Christian 'cause my faith is sometimes so weak. Your words and God's Word really lifted me up Sunday. I needed that!

Men and Women of the Word

2010-10-11T08:00:00.000-06:00

Joshua 1:8 (NKJV) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Even though there is almost a wholesale abandonment of God's Word among so many churches today, you don't have to fall into that trap. We need God's Word. We need to be reading it. We need to be studying it. We need to be memorizing it. We need to be using it. We need to be relying upon it. We need to be trusting it. We need to be sharing it.

God's Word is living and powerful; alive and active. Make the Word of God your source for every decision. Search out the Scriptures like you were up in the Yukon, mining for gold! There are treasures and juicy spiritual nuggets to be found, every time you turn the page.

I hope you know by now that your spiritual strength and vitality is directly related to the time you spend in God's Word. It's been said that a 'week' without the Word will make a Christian 'weak.' It's so true.

Agree with Job, in loving God's Word, who said, "I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. Job 23:12 (NKJV)"

Dive into His Word today, friend. You'll be glad you did!

In Him,
Pastor Ed

Response
Pastor Ed, you brought back a wonderful memory for me. My family very recently has gone through three years of darkness and trials, one thing right after another. A friend told me she had never gone through trials like we were going through and she actually said she envied us because she just knew that God would bless us if we stayed faithful through it all. She was right. God is just blessing our socks off right now! I just hope that through the next trial, I can always remember to bless Him and praise Him in the bad times just as I am through the good times now. And I hope we can always remember that there is a light at the end of that tunnel for us, shining bright, if we can just hold on long enough to get a glimpse of it! Thank you for your faithfulness, also. You are a very good substitute shepherd! Until His return!

11 Days

2010-10-08T08:00:00.001-06:00

1 Peter 1:17-19 (NKJV) And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

If you were to take out a map and a calculator, and begin charting the shortest route from Egypt into the Promised Land, you'd come to the conclusion that the trip would take about eleven days. That's all it would have been, roughly just eleven days; 264 hours; or 15,840 minutes.

Instead, that short eleven days stretched out into over 14,000 days. Why? Disobedience. The children of Israel were miraculously delivered from the bondage and slavery in Egypt, miraculously delivered from the pursuing Egyptian armies only to cower at the words of ten men, who saw the land not as the promise of God, but as filled with giants and giant problems. Their bad report demoralized the people and a whole generation died in the wilderness, never entering in. That's sad.

Those are a lot of days filled with aimless wandering. I know that when I recall the children of Israel, my heart is that I don't wander around myself. It's too easy to point the finger at them, while there are three coming back at me. We've already spent enough of our life wandering around in this brutal world; I don't want to spend one more aimless day on the earth. I want to live with His purpose in mind. I want to be led by His Spirit. I want my life to matter for His Kingdom.

Be careful to stick to close to Jesus. Build yourself up in Him in your most holy faith. Don't turn to the left or to the right. Your life matters to God and to this world. Take the quickest, most efficient route of obedience.

Led by His Spirit,
Pastor Ed

Response
This past weekend my sister, who is visiting Colorado for two weeks, came across someone from your church at a fast food place. They paid for her meal - she was down to her last $20 - an answer to prayer. She is visiting Colorado for two weeks and is leaving her children with her mother-in-law for three months. Please pray for her and her children. Thank you so much!

89.7 GRACEfm is coming to Denver in December 2010!

2010-10-04T08:00:00.002-06:00

Luke 8:39 NKJV "Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you." And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

God has done great things among us. God's history through Calvary Aurora is filled with the His faithfulness at every turn.

We start a new chapter in the life of our congregation with a powerful tool of outreach to our city!

We are blessed with the privilege of owning a radio station that will cover the Denver Metro area with solid and consistent Bible teaching, along with the latest music that edifies the soul! Over the past three months, we have aggressively pursued this purchase and by God's grace, it will close by the end of this year.

What does that mean for us? It means that we now have the honor, and the means, to serve the Metro area 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It means we have the potential to touch the city in amazing ways brining the teachings of pastors like Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie, Skip Heitzig, Bob Coy, and others to the Denver Metro area.

You are a very important part of GRACEfm. What needs can you fulfill?

The need to PRAY (Luke 18:1) The foundation of our station is prayer.
The need to GIVE (2 Corinthians 9:7-8) As a part of our 'Building the Future' goals, we are asking that you give over and above your tithes to help support the outreach.
The need to TELL (Luke 8:39) it's very important that our city know the station is here. We'll have fliers, cards, bumper stickers, and all sorts of 'get the word out tool' coming in the near future.

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Waiting On Him

2010-10-01T08:00:00.001-06:00

Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV) But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Have you ever had to wait for something for a long time? Doesn't it just get to you sometimes? Don't you begin to well up with anxiety and worry? Thoughts begin to take over like, "Why haven't I heard anything yet? Did they forget about me? Maybe it's not going to happen. That's it! Forget it, not going to get it." Its times like these when minutes seem like hours, hours seem like days, and days just seem like forever!

The waiting is only harder when we're in 'wait mode' because of our own failure. Things could have happened a lot earlier and easier, but because I blew it, now I have to wait.

I want you to know that God wastes nothing. While you're waiting on Him, God's doing great things in your heart and life. He's developing your trust and faith in Him. He's helping you slow down. He's giving you perspective. He's strengthening you. He's encouraging you to look to Him. God is never late. He's always perfectly on time!

Soon the waiting will be over. Don't be so quick to give up. Steady on strong in the love of God!

Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV) But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Waiting on Him,
Pastor Ed

Response
It's God that the enote was about ministry when I opened it, ready to email you about ministry. I filled out a ministry application, I want to live out these scriptures. I know my life is only as valuable as I die to myself and allow Him to work in me. I want Him to take over my life and do what He wills, but I know also in His timing, not mine, so I was placed in the children's ministry. I love it because that's where He wants me, but I have a HUGE desire to pray with people and counsel them in the Word and with my experience and example. I am young, and not very experienced but I've experienced His grace and want to share it with others as much as I am able. So you said you were going to give my application to Rita based on what you and I talked about Sunday. I will wait to hear from Him and her and serve according to the scriptures in the enote. I want Jesus to be a light through my life SO badly. Thanks for directing us ONLY to Him, it's a new church experience for me and I've been in church since I was born. So, I really appreciate your heart toward Him.

Scheduling the Spirit

2010-09-27T08:00:00.000-06:00

James 4:13-15 (NKJV) Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."

We like things to be predictable. It helps to ease the anxiety that can pop up as things happen around us that we have no control over. How do we handle that? Usually, we grasp at making things predictable and planned as much as possible. In some realms of life, like vacations and weekly schedules, that's not such a bad idea.

Yet when that attitude spills over into the realm of the Spirit, we can so easily schedule the Spirit of God right out of our lives! What a trap to fall into; the trap of the routine. We get so used to our routines that when God wants to break us out of them and fall upon us in a new, fresh way, we so quickly resist, choosing our routines instead.

Friend, be careful to remain open to His Spirit. Pray for that sensitivity to His Spirit, that flexibility to go anywhere, and do anything, at anytime for Jesus!

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
I can't tell you how much I appreciate the free downloads and the webcasts. I understand some ministries feel they need to cover costs and I don't begrudge them for charging a couple of dollars for downloading messages, but it is such a great tool to be able to refer people to our web site when they need to hear something from the Bible and to be able to tell them they can hear God's word at no charge. It was also great to be in another state and be able to listen in live and not have to miss the message. We have family in town that we need to be with this Wednesday and it will be nice to be able to view the service later and not have to miss it. We don't like missing the fellowship of being there, but seeing the service is the next best thing.

Limiting God

2010-09-24T08:00:00.001-06:00

Psalms 20:6 (NKJV) Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand.

Have you ever limited God in your prayers? For example, when a problem arises, you run to Jesus for help, casting all your cares upon Him because He cares for you. Then, as your prayers progress on the issue, you begin to 'figure out' a few solutions: two to be exact. Before you're done, if you're not careful, the prayer becomes something like this:

"Dear God. I know I'm in a tough spot right now. I ask you to take care of it this way or that way. In Jesus name, amen."

Be careful not to limit God to just two choices as the infinite resources of the universe are at His disposal. Although in our prayers we may box ourselves into a corner expecting the answer to either A or B, God will not be boxed in. We need to remain open and flexible to any answer that God decides to give us. He knows best!

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
Dear Pastor Ed, here is our story as "Waiting On the Lord" was our theme for the past year. God gave us the green light to move back "home" to Wyoming. The CO house sold. Things packed. We saw God move in some Mighty ways... Adventure awaited. ...And so did "the wait." We were to live in the basement of my in-laws for the next 6 months and in a town that God had not planned for us. As my husband's new job took root, he was no longer able to come home and join us for dinner or play due to the three hats he wore at work and the road construction that blocked the once easy route home. Now the search for a plot of land or a house out there became the goal as relationships with the in-laws were being stretched to the limits. Many times did I want to create an "Ishmael." Many times did I try to convince my husband that the house we just did a walk-through in was the one for us. But still, we waited. We never felt God's peace. We waited another 6 months of squeezing into a rental. We were now in the town God moved us to. We were led to a church. We were led to some land. A neighbor offered to pray with us upon it. And after enduring the stresses of two unexpected back surgeries on me (the mommy), where I really did have to do more "waiting," God blessed us richly with new friendships. ...We closed on our newly built home one year exactly after we sold and closed on our home in Colorado. And had we not waited, we might have missed it! This little chunk of land is more than what we had prayed for. We feel so blessed with the beauty of farm fields and mountains around us! And had my husband or me strayed and "just bought a house" to do it, well, I'm just thankful God helped us remain patient, as I sometimes compared "the unknown" of the past year to the wilderness that Moses brought his people through. It is my hope God will continue to use this house and land for His purposes. Hard to wait, but thankful for it.

Using Your Time

2010-09-20T08:00:00.000-06:00

Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

As we study the Bible, we may forget from time to time that God uses people to accomplish His will on earth. Even more than that, God uses ordinary, normal people like you and me.

Paul was one such man. He wasn't a superhero. He didn't possess super human strength or wisdom. He was a man sold out to God and filled with His Spirit.

One thing that blesses me about Paul (among many) is how he chose to use his time. He didn't subscribe to any time management principles because, I believe, he understood that it's impossible to 'manage time.' The clock keeps ticking no matter what. Even though we can't manage time, we can manage what we 'do' with the time God has given us!

At every turn, Paul was actively looking for ways to use His time to honor God and bless the saints.

That's our aim this week. Look for ways to use your time to honor God and bless others. Email at the end of the week if you remember, and share with us how God used your week with this little change in thinking.

In Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
I wanted to share some good news. I have been going through some difficult times lately and have had help from you and Matt. I wanted to share with you that I had been praying for God to help me find the right job now -- not 2 weeks from now, but now -- because I needed it very bad. Well yesterday I found a job on a job web site sent my resume and received a interview today; this never happens. I went to the interview and it was exactly the job I had been looking for. I was amazed they offered me the job on the spot; this also never happens. This is proof that God does answer prayers and in a mighty way. I am very thankful to the Lord. I also wanted to share that I was on the Internet and a blog caught my attention: it was someone comparing praying to God, to praying to a carton of milk it said you will get the same results it said praying to God was an illusion; if it was answered it was only coincidence. I am proof this is not true and that God does hear us and listens; and sometimes in desperation, He helps right away.

Rough Edges on Living Stones

2010-09-17T08:00:00.001-06:00

1 Peter 2:4-5 (NKJV) Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

We all have rough edges in our lives. Attitudes, actions, or thoughts that need to be smoothed out by the Holy Spirit. The Bible reminds us that it is God that is working in and through us, smoothing out those spiritual rough edges for His glory and fame. Together as His church, we become the very Holy of Holies where God's Spirit resides; in us! The glory of God can both be seen and enjoyed through our lives!

When Paul writes to the church in Ephesus he tells them, "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22 (NKJV)

What a picture! We are living stones growing up together in Jesus! The beautiful work of God in our lives smoothes out the edges so that we can grow together in depth and width. Dead stones fit together nicely with very little problems. But living, squirming, and vibrant stones can sometimes rub each other the wrong way. Yet even in that, we can rejoice because God knows the rough edges of our lives that will soon be smoothed out.

That's why, my friend, the mature believer sticks it out when times get tough. It's so important not to run away. A person who has a habit of running away when times get difficult, only adds to the layers of heartache as each place she runs to, the same problems are there. Why? Because she brought them with her!

Instead begin to pray for the attitude that sounds like, "I'm not going to try to change the location or situation. Instead, I'm going to stay right here and allow You, God, to do Your work through other people that might irritate me in order that I might grow up in You."

In His Great Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
Pastor Ed, The comment about "just hanging on" made me think of a walk that Calvin and I were on recently. We came across a man sitting on a park bench. I greeted him and asked how he was doing. His response? "Almost perfect." I loved it. It reminds me that things are not perfect here on earth, but in God's economy, our place is in heaven and there, everything IS perfect. I think I will use that response from now on when asked how I am...

No Other Foundation

2010-09-13T19:26:00.000-06:00

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 (NKJV)According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

We don't spend much time thinking about the foundation of our homes, mainly because it's hidden and unseen. But we know, if the foundation isn't solid, everything that was built on it will crumble and come crashing to the ground.

I'm asking you to spend some time this week thinking about the foundation of your life. What are you building your life on? What is holding up the walls of your life?

There is only ONE foundation for the believer. It's not a tradition or some man-made philosophy. It's not a church movement or a man. The foundation of every true believer is Jesus Himself. The gospel message that has been given to us once and for all that your sins can be forgiven through faith in Him.

As you build your life on the foundation of God's love and grace, no doubt there will be trials and difficulties. The winds will blow and the waves will come crashing down. Yet, on the solid foundation of Jesus, you're going to make it!

Luke 6:46-49 (NKJV) "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say? "Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: "He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. "But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great."

In Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
First of all, let me say that I am new to your church, and I really enjoy the messages and the "atmosphere." I love your emphasis on just teaching God's Word, pure and simple. I really needed this e-note today, about the father praying for the son's salvation. It almost made me cry...I have unsaved loved ones I have been praying for, for nearly 30 years. At times I get so discouraged. My siblings and I were raised in an abusive family with alcoholic parents. My parents and one brother have died, primarily from drug and alcohol abuse. But, by God's marvelous and matchless grace, I was saved as a young woman in my 20s. I know people prayed for me! Thank God for his unspeakable gift of salvation and renewal.

Real Lives - Real People

2010-09-06T08:00:00.000-06:00

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them

One of the popular comebacks you'll hear from folks as you share the love of Jesus with them is that the church is full of hypocrites. I've heard it. I'm sure you've heard it, and sometimes there is some truth to it. Of course, it's no reason to avoid the gathering of the saints. There are hypocrites at the mall and on the roads, but that doesn't stop folks from shopping or driving, does it? People are people; saved and unsaved. Sometimes those that are unsaved do great things, while sometimes folks that are saved do really dumb things.

As we read the Bible, never once does God ever sugar coat the men and women He has chosen to use. He tells us through the pen of Paul that He has chosen the 'foolish things of the world.' That's us, gang, foolish things! Why has God chosen the foolish things, to 'confound' this world? It just doesn't make sense that God would use me! I agree! But He has and He does. The same is true for you.

Always on display is the wonderful glory of God's grace in and through our lives; God's precious Spirit working mightily in ordinary, frail people like you and me. It's nothing we can boast in (Ephesians 2:8-10), and it's nothing that others really can explain. That's why sometimes you'll hear the old 'hypocrite' excuse. I always remember that if there are hypocrites in the 'church,' then I just don't want to be one of them!

In Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
My husband and I finally made it to your church this weekend. After listening to your messages via the website and Podcasts for over a year...we finally made it to a service and I know the Spirit took us there, during the worship I was overcome with tears. I don't know if it was excitement or just Jesus touching my life at that moment. I've written to you a couple of times with questions, etc., my husband is the son of a pastor and we've just been having a spiritual hard time, I feel like I've been waiting for help forever....I pointed out some men's prayer groups to him and I hope Jesus leads him to them. I just wanted to say thank you and update you on my story after so long it was a big deal for me to have been able to attend a service.Thanks for your faithfulness to the Lord and please add us to your prayers.

A Little Bit More

2010-09-03T08:00:00.004-06:00

Proverbs 30:7-9 (NKJV) “Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches -- Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.”

They asked the famous John D. Rockefeller just how much money was enough. He sat back for a brief, but quick moment, and replied, “Just a little bit more.”

What a tremendously successful snare the ‘just little bit more’ trap is! If I just had this. If I could just get that. Oh, if I was in that position, I know I would be happy. If I could drive that; if I could wear this. Just a little bit more.

As the children of Israel are preparing to leave Egypt just as God had promised, they are told to go through the land and ask the Egyptians to give them their gold jewelry, and their possessions. Really, what God was doing was giving the nation their ‘back wages’ for the years of slavery building Egypt on their backs. Yet, all that they took wouldn’t begin to reimburse them for their labors and toil. Four hundred years is a long time. But it would be just enough and that is often the way God operates with His children. He often provides just enough.

Just enough. That can be a hard place to be. It seems as if we never have enough. We can always find room for more. At one point in the history of our nation there were no storage facilities, but now you find them on virtually every corner, storing our stuff, making room for more.

The place of peace is truly finding contentment in the Lord, and being pleased with just enough. Not too much and not too little. Just enough.

1 Timothy 6:8 - And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

In His Love
Pastor Ed

Response
I just wanted to say that I listen to your show "Abounding Grace" every chance that I get, though the chances that I get recently are fewer. I've been kept busy a little more than I like. I love hearing the word of God given in context and with a bit of history of the languages.

I’m Waiting Now What? (Part 2)

2010-08-30T08:00:00.007-06:00

Psalm 27:13-14 NKJV I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

'What do we do while we're waiting on the Lord' is where we've been the last few weeks on this Monday note. I count it a privilege to be with you on Monday mornings, helping you grow in your relationship with Jesus. We looked at a couple of important keys last week.

#1 - While you're waiting on the Lord, keep your eyes on Jesus.
#2 - While you're waiting on the Lord, live your life expecting Jesus.

Here are three more.

#3 - While you're waiting on the Lord, continue living your life in Jesus.
I find that often while folks are waiting on the Lord, they think that life just stops until Jesus answers one specific request. That's not His heart for you. God's desire is that you continue living for Him while you're waiting. God has you waiting in one area, but not in ALL areas of your life. So be careful that your life doesn't come to a screeching halt while you're waiting.

#4 - While you're waiting on the Lord, continue in the unity of fellowship.
The early church is known for their coming together in 'one accord.' It's the model they set for us and we too follow them. We love to come together as a church, in the larger gathering, and the smaller fellowships. While we wait on the Lord, it's not natural to want to pull away from other believers. They will be a source of great encouragement and hope in this time in your life.

#5 - While you're waiting on the Lord, pray, pray, pray!
It makes sense to us, doesn't it? While we're waiting, we're also talking and listening to God through prayer. Pray alone. Pray with friends. Pray out loud. Pray silently. Pray, seeking strength, hope, and help in this wonderful time of waiting on the Lord!

Don't forget:
Isaiah 40:29-31 (NLT) He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Waiting In Him,
Pastor Ed

P.S. Have a story to share or a response to these eNotes? Send it our way. We'd love to read and share it!

Response
As you know I'm not a very "discouraged" person, I tend to look at the positive or praiseworthy side of things. Now, this housing thing, about moving, has been the longest going thing I've had thus far, and it was interesting in my devotions yesterday, that I had gotten a scripture about the Lord settling you. It had to do with Dan (tribe) relocating. It's nice that the word always gives us something to stand upon, to ease our minds. In the process of waiting, we can become discouraged when our answer is deferred, but when desire is accomplished, Oh, what a sweet thing. I've had momentary lapses, but not for a while, for some people, this housing distraction would really pull them down, it takes up a lot of mental energy, but, how nice to see the Lord at work in our trials, and our recognizing His hand here and there. There is so much to be thankful for, and so little time to be distracted by this world, whether marriage, or work, or whatever, Christ can help us to be content. If anything, just pray that I remain undistracted for the gospel of Jesus Christ, in the midst of life's blasts.

The Burning Sting of Criticism

2010-08-27T08:00:00.005-06:00

Proverbs 10:21 (NKJV) The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom.

Criticism always burns. Whether it’s veiled under ‘constructive’ or not, the sting of criticism can often last long beyond the life of the words.

Theodore Roosevelt, often the target of stinging criticisms once spoke, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually try to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

The good news is that Jesus can bandage and heal those wounds! So if you’re in that place today where criticism has breached your spiritual armor, turn to Jesus for that comfort and confirmation of your relationship in Him.

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
I would really like to thank Calvary Chapel for going out over the air waves because it brought me to you. It showed me the word of God so that I could fall madly in love with it once again. But when I heard you on the radio it just hit me, I want someone to speak to me directly out of God's word not just some eloquent speech they prepared. I want to see what I am learning and know that it is from the word of God. It really helps me to rightly divide what I am hearing by the word of God. I am so thankful that God has brought Calvary Chapel in to my life to help me grow in the word of God. I have been going through a lot lately but every time I tune in to listen to a sermon or show up on Sunday or Wednesday or listen online it just serves to encourage me in God's word and show me something new. I am not saying it is all good because God has been using this time to really grow me, it has hurt but in the long run shown me that God is the true God in my life and no matter what happens he is still on the thrown watching over us all.

I thank you so much for listening to God and sharing on what he tells you, and showing me where to find the principles and steps in the word of God to change my life forever, I pray that I never loose that. Thank you.

I’m Waiting Now What? (Part 1)

2010-08-23T08:00:00.011-06:00

Psalm 27:13-14 NKJV I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!

In our last note, we were encouraged by Isaiah to wait on the Lord. We learned it’s not a good thing to jump in with our impatience, trying to help God out a little. Those of us who have made that mistake know exactly how horrible that can be. It’s always best to receive God’s best in our lives, obeying Him no matter what it might cost us.

Now that you’ve decided to wait on Him, what do you do while you’re waiting? Let’s look at few together.

#1 - While you’re waiting on the Lord, keep your eyes on Jesus.
How easy it is to fall into a deep pit of discouragement while waiting on the Lord. For some reason, we equate action with blessing. Yet sometimes God speaks not in the loud boisterous storms, but rather in a still small voice (1 Kings 19:11-12). In the lives of the disciples, they had their time seeing Jesus in the flesh, but after His ascension into heaven, they would need to rely on the Spirit of God to keep their eyes firmly fixed on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). While you’re waiting on the Lord, don’t lose sight of Jesus and His faithfulness in your life.

#2 - While you’re waiting on the Lord, live your life expecting Jesus.
Every generation of believers have lived their lives with the expectation of the anytime, any moment, return of Jesus. You may have heard this expressed as a belief in the ‘imminent return’ of Jesus. While you’re waiting, it’s important to remember that everything hasn’t stopped. Jesus is still at work in many different areas of your life. There is an expectancy that we can’t lose. Sure, we’re waiting on this area right now, but what we’re really waiting for is the return of the Lord! Amen? Maranatha!

Next time, we’ll look at a few more things to remember while we’re waiting on the Lord. Have a blessed week!

Waiting In Him,
Pastor Ed

P.S. Have a story to share or a response to these eNotes? Send it our way. We’d love to read and share it!

Response
This message came to me exactly when I needed it. Thank you, pastor Ed. The strength you have to allow God to do his work through you is tremendous. I am encouraged and will be in prayer as I work through my day.

Going After

2010-08-20T08:00:00.001-06:00

Acts 1:11 (NLT) They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing here staring at the sky? Jesus has been taken away from you into heaven. And someday, just as you saw him go, he will return!"

Straying happens within the family of God for a lot of reasons. It's a bummer to see folks who were so strong in the faith, so useful in the ministry, such a blessing in the Lord, fall away, fade away, stray away. But not all is lost. It is clearly the heart of Jesus to go after the strays. When one sheep wanders from the fold, the shepherd goes after it. When one coin is lost, all is dropped until it's found. When a son wanders away from Dad, the dad prayerfully and patiently awaits his return and rejoices when he does.

Because it's Jesus' heart to go after the strays, it's our heart as well. So, how can we help those who have strayed?

#1 - Pray for Them. Ask God to move upon their hearts to repent & return.

#2 - Watch Yourself. Don't look down on anyone else just because they have been trapped by the enemy, but rather watch your own life so it doesn't happen to you.

#3 - Lovingly Confront the Erring Person. As the door of opportunity opens, go and lovingly speak with the hopes of bringing them back.

#4 - Forgive the Repentant. This is so important. We don't shoot our wounded; we forgive. We don't kick them when they're down; we forgive. As Jesus Christ has forgiven you, forgive those that repent and return.

#5 - Speak words of kindness and love. They need this so badly. The enemy does such a complete and thorough job of accusing the brethren. May we just love them and encourage them and bless them in Jesus.

I love the heart of Jesus and pray that more and more of it flows from our lives. Now go out and minister to the strays.

In His Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
As you know I'm not a very "discouraged" person, I tend to look at the positive or praiseworthy side of things. Now, this housing thing, about moving, has been the longest going thing I've had thus far, and it was interesting in my devotions yesterday, that I had gotten a scripture about the Lord settling you. It had to do with Dan (tribe) relocating. It's nice that the word always gives us something to stand upon, to ease our minds. In the process of waiting, we can become discouraged when our answer is deferred, but when desire is accomplished, Oh, what a sweet thing. I've had momentary lapses, but not for a while, for some people, this housing distraction would really pull them down, it takes up a lot of mental energy, but, how nice to see the Lord at work in our trials, and our recognizing His hand here and there. There is so much to be thankful for, and so little time to be distracted by this world, whether marriage, or work, or whatever, Christ can help us to be content. If anything, just pray that I remain undistracted for the gospel of Jesus Christ, in the midst of life's blasts.

Waiting On The Lord

2010-08-16T08:00:00.004-06:00

Isaiah 40:29-31 (NLT) He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God encourages His followers that waiting on Him is a wonderful, glorious thing to do. It brings great benefits like renewed strength and vigor, running in Him not wearied, walking in Him not fainting. It's such a powerful, precious promise that is so hard to believe. Waiting is not the easiest thing to do, especially in our culture that has taught us to demand everything faster than yesterday!

Because waiting on the Lord can be so hard, we must be careful not to jump in and try to 'help God out a little.' We can't help God out a little. When His call to wait is given, our only response is to wait.

How often we have tried to help God out. How often we have come to that place where impatience finally overtakes us. Yet, even more often, we've seen how wonderful and fruitful it is to just wait for direction and confirmation from Him!

Are you waiting on the Lord today? Here's a verse to encourage you:

Psalms 46:10 (NKJV) Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Waiting In Him,
Pastor Ed

P.S. Have a testimony of how you waited on the Lord? Simply REPLY to this note and send it to me. I'd love to read and share it!

Response
Pastor Ed, thank you so much for your emails and encouragement in the Word. I start my work day with it each morning and really look forward to it. I find it 'guides' me throughout the day. Yesterday I stopped by and inquired about a co-worker experiencing a rare cancer. He has been in my daily prayers and I just felt at peace about his situation and PRAISE THE LORD, his PET scan returned totally clean. The Lord definitely hears us and I was overwhelmed with joy and thanks. Thank you for your words of guidance and study.

He Knows

2010-08-13T08:00:00.005-06:00

Jer 29:11-12 (NLT) "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen."

I know things can look so bad that it seems there is no hope. There’s that gut-wrenching feeling that perhaps God has forgotten, turned His back, withdrawn His help. I’ve felt that way. I’m sure you’ve felt that way. But it’s not true. Jesus is hope. He’s our hope!

If that’s you today, consider the following story as a source of encouragement:

“David Smallbone felt God leading him to promote Christian concerts in his homeland, Australia, where only 5 percent of the people believed in Jesus Christ. When too few fans filled his seats during one major tour, however, David took a $250,000 bath in red ink. Creditors repossessed his home and the father of six looked for work elsewhere. A top artist offered him a job in Nashville, so the Smallbones sold their furniture and other possessions and purchased some plane tickets to the United States. A few weeks after they arrived, however, David was told that his position was ‘no longer available.’ He literally could not get out of bed for several days. When he and his wife explained to their children what happened, they all got on their knees and asked God to help.

Needless to say, prayer sparked some interesting things. God began to provide bags of groceries, a minivan, and enough odd jobs to keep the home afloat. Then the biggest surprise of all, a recording contract for David’s oldest daughters, Rebecca, age 15. She recorded her first album using an old family name, St. James.

Flash forward to today. David promotes his own daughter's sold-out concerts. Rebecca St. James has become one of the most popular Christian artists in America. And the family hasn’t stopped praying, asking God for guidance and direction.”

It’s always good to be reminded that God is at work in the small things, in the difficult things, in the needy times. He hasn’t forgotten about you nor has he withdrawn His help from your grasp. Look to Him, pray, and walk faithfully in the paths He lays before you.

In His Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
I first heard about Calvary Chapel Aurora through the radio spot "Abounding Grace." Thanks to this ministry, I feel I have found the best place for me to join other Christians to worship God, serve, support and be supported. I am blessed by this ministry.

I Love Our Church

2010-08-09T08:00:00.004-06:00

Colossians 1:18 (NLT) Christ is the head of the church, which is his body. He is the first of all who will rise from the dead, so he is first in everything.

I love the church of Jesus. What an amazing invention of God, His Church! I love our church, Calvary Aurora. God is so gracious to allow us to gather together in Him, worshipping Him in all His glory and splendor.

For some of you, you might be thinking, “Well you’re the pastor, you better love the church.” You’re right, from a pastor’s point of view I do love our church. Yet, it’s not just in the role God has me, it’s also as a believer. God uses our church to grow me spiritually, to test me, to show me my heart, to provide an environment for raising my family in the ways of the Lord. This is my fellowship family where I have the privilege to live out my faith in Jesus with other believers. It’s exhilarating at times. I’ve learned that even when it is personally challenging, God still uses it all to grow me up in Him! What a precious gift God has given to us, His Church, this local family of God that just keeps growing and growing in Him.

The Church of Jesus Christ isn’t a work of man, and neither is Calvary Aurora. We aren’t the result of some demographic study and church planting strategy. We aren’t funded by some major grant or huge foundation to keep us going. We aren’t propped up by a fancy business plan or supported by a well-established denomination. We’re just a group of Jesus-lovers, knit together in His love, by the power and presence of His Holy Spirit. If we were ever unplugged from the Holy Spirit, this church would disappear, it just wouldn’t keep going. For us to continue on, we have to be in the Spirit. It’s essential!

Stay plugged into the Spirit as you grow in His grace. The days are short. The coming of Jesus is very near. Be busy about your Father’s business.

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
It so happens that recently my husband and I were in a bad way, so much that I thought of divorce often. I prayed continually and found myself focusing on 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. My sister even referenced a website for me that sent me again to this passage. I found the Lord pulled me towards my husband, even when I was digging in, not to. All it took was just a touch, no words, to reconcile. Yes, He answers prayer.

Rescued From Discouragement (3)

2010-08-06T08:00:00.004-06:00

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

We’ve learned through 1 Samuel 30, that the enemy had sacked David’s life. It caused great sorrow and pain, but he didn’t stay in that place. We’ve seen how David strengthened himself in His God... then how He inquired of His God.

The next thing we find David do is obey. Following the time of prayer and praise, David sets out to pursue those who had stolen from him. He took a wild step of faith, expecting God to lead, guide, and protect him.

Enough of this sitting around in pain and anguish, I’m going to grab my Bible and encourage myself in Jesus Christ. That encouragement always brings a desire to hear more from God, so I will cry out to Him from the depths of my heart. With that cry always comes God’s answer; so as I hear, I will do.

Lifted from discouragement is God’s desire for your life. Tough times certainly come. The enemy of our souls most certainly wants to take us down. But Jesus, the captain of our souls, stands ready to encourage, answer, and direct us. Wow! How wonderful is He!

In His Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
Well I'm pretty sure you already know this story. I called Gino's show one day when you were on and I was crying, because I was looking for a Bible believing church. You talked to me off the air and you were so loving and compassionate that I gathered my courage to try one more church, Calvary Aurora, and I have found that there are Calvary churches all over the globe that use their Bibles in church and love their members. Thank you for your faithfulness. May God richly bless this ministry and the work you do.

Exasperated

2010-08-02T08:00:00.004-06:00

Romans 5:2 (NLT) Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.

Studying through the book of Acts at our weekend services, it’s always important to remember that we are reading the TRUE story of a small group of men and women who, in the power of the Holy Spirit, didn’t leave their world the same way they found it. They were ordinary people called upon to accomplish extraordinary things for Jesus even if, on occasion, they found themselves exasperated.

The work of God in the first century wasn’t done with intelligent marketing ideas or with polished plagiarized sermons, but rather God was working in and through the believers as they abided in Him. The indwelling power of the Holy Spirit helped these precious believers step out in incredible faith! The work of God in our century hasn’t changed. He’s not looking for slick people that know how to ‘work the system,’ but simple people who are wholeheartedly sold out to Him!

I know there are times when life leaves us exasperated. We get tired. We get scared. We get overwhelmed. Life takes it’s toll on us. I’m reminded of Jesus when He told us that we’d see trouble in this world (John 16:33). Yet we can also be of good cheer because Jesus overcame this world!

Your life is lived out in the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s always the Spirit of God, working through the Word of God, in the people of God. In those seasons of exasperation, perhaps the Lord is calling you to more deeply surrender to Him and His purposes. We cannot operate, cannot thrive, cannot move forward, and cannot impact our world without the Spirit!

Loving Jesus,
Pastor Ed

Response
I don't know if you have ever welded in your life, but it is a very solo technique. When I was at my old job at the Airport I really didn't do that much welding but I was in the weld training program and towards the end of the year we all knew that we were all getting laid off soon. I thought that a welding certificate would look great on the resume although my experience was very little. I thought it was so important to pass the tests that while I was practicing I decided to pray to God and ask for his skills to work through me and to give all glory to him. And like I was telling you about welding being a solo experience, when you are welding you can see nothing in your helmet except the task at hand and it is hard to hear anything with you helmet on so it was very easy to focus on my prayer and I would actually relax in the presence of Christ. Was God welding? I don't know myself but I found it very spiritual to talk with Christ about everything including the creed and giving him thanks and I never welded better when I tried to do it myself or hurry through. I am not sure if the welding certificates ever helped my resume or got me a job but I really felt at ease and enjoyed the experience of doing something along with Christ and seeing that it was better working with him, than the work I did alone.

Rescued From Discouragement (2)

2010-07-30T08:00:00.002-06:00

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The enemy had ripped David off and he was in anguish! The pain over losing his family was more than he, and the people with him, could bear. Yet, he didn't stay in that place but found himself stepping back, and encouraging himself in the Lord.

The very next thing we see David do is inquire of the Lord (1 Samuel 30:8). What do you want me to do Lord? That's a great question to ask in tough times. As you read on in 1 Samuel 30 (which I highly encourage you to do today), you'll find that God answered David quickly and directly!

It's the same for you and me. God's answers come to us whether we've prayed for 30 minutes or 30 seconds. He will reveal His will to you and me in wonderful ways, even when we find ourselves battling discouragement and even depression.

David strengthened himself in His God... then He inquired to His God... next week, we'll see the third thing David did to leave discouragement behind.

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

P.S. As you get a free moment, would you please email me times when you have sought the Lord and He answered you in a wonderful way! You can just respond to this note and I'll get it. I'd love to read and share!

Response
Just wanted you to know that we really enjoyed Resurrection Day service. It was so peaceful and sweet. Thanks to all who planned it that way. We are kind of new to the church, but are really enjoying church for the first time in a long time. The church is friendly and welcoming. It's a blessing!

Fitting In

2010-07-26T05:16:00.004-06:00

John 10:10 (NLT) The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.

What I see in the church at large today concerns me as a pastor, as a follower of Jesus. There are subtle shifts that happen with every generation, but the shifting of the church in our generation isn’t so subtle. The culture and all its pressures seem to have made itself home within the church today.

The church and its leaders seem to be so afraid today of fitting in and relating; being hip and cool; relevant to our culture. It’s actually a complement today to say that the church is the coolest one in town! Really? Instead of the church turning the world upside down, I’m concerned that the world is turning the church upside down!

I’m not saying that we become stale, boring, and irrelevant to the culture; of course not. To make the Bible boring should be a crime. It’s not boring or stale to study the life-giving truths God has handed down to every generation. Introducing someone to Jesus is exciting, exhilarating and relevant! I am saying that human efforts can never replace the reality of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit keeps things real and relevant.

Be careful, friend, that you’re not preoccupied with being relevant. Watch out that you’re not so busy trying to be relevant that you distort the reality of Jesus and His forgiveness of sins. I assure you, Jesus is relevant to every generation! The Bible is living and powerful. All you need to do is open it. You don’t have to fit in; all you have to do is abide in Jesus. He’ll do the fitting in for you.

Loving Jesus,
Pastor Ed

Response:
One time when it was rainy outside nothing was looking good...my old friends were trying to get me to go back to the old ways. It wasn’t looking good but I sat down and I started to pray and ask God what you want to do today and what you want me to say and who should I be with today stuff like that. Not too long after I was done praying, the sun came out and my old friend whom I haven’t heard from in like years calls me and was, “Hey you want to skate, and go to church with me?” I heard you gave your life to Christ and I wanted to know if you can show me what you have. I tell you what the Lord is amazing and blesses people in the smallest ways. I love Him with all my heart because it’s the only way to live and the only thing to seek. After that day, my friend gave his life and it was amazing and all the glory goes to God! Well, be blessed and love the Lord...for there is nothing on this earth I desire but He who lay in heaven. Love ya, in Christ.

Rescued From Discouragement (1)

2010-07-23T06:07:00.004-06:00

Psalm 121:1 (NKJV) I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help?

David had just returned home to find that the Philistines had taken the whole city captive, including his family. He was devastated. The enemy had ripped him off. The Bible records it this way, “Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep” (1 Samuel 30:4).

Ever been there? The enemy has either ripped you off or is trying really hard to make it happen?

Weeping over the loss of a loved one? Weeping over a rebellious child? Weeping over the pain of a layoff? Weeping over rejection?

It's not good to stay in that place and we find that David, in just a few verses, moved to action.

The first thing he did was ‘strengthened (encouraged – KJV) himself in the Lord.’ He didn’t wait for someone to come alongside of him. He didn’t look to his friends for help. He started where we must all start: looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.

This one little step began to lift the burden and weight of the situation. So quickly, God began to bring clarity and focus back into David’s life.

Stop today, right where you’re at, and strengthen yourself in the Lord. He will do the same work in you.

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
Just wanted you to know that we really enjoyed Resurrection Day service. It was so peaceful and sweet. Thanks to all who planned it that way. We are kind of new to the church, but are really enjoying church for the first time in a long time. The church is friendly and welcoming. It's a blessing!

Jesus Is Real

2010-07-19T06:09:00.012-06:00

1 John 5:20 (NLT) And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we are in God because we are in his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life.

As an unbeliever, I was looking for something in my life that was real, authentic, and powerful. I was as lost spiritually as a person could be lost, hopelessly reaching out to anyone and anything to bring me comfort and hope. Eventually I found myself settling for a life lived under the influence of some substance which, of course, left me empty, sad, and alone.

Not much has changed today for those living apart from Jesus. Deep down inside, people are still looking for that real, authentic, and powerful connection with God even though they’re not really sure what or who they are looking for. I know what they aren’t looking for. They don’t want syrupy imitation hypocrisies. They want the truth. People truly want something worth living for, worth dying for.

That’s where an introduction to Jesus is so critical. Jesus is authentic. Jesus is real. Jesus is powerful. I’ll never forget the love of my friend who invited me to hear a message about this Jesus, to be introduced to this Jesus.

Introduce someone this week to Jesus. Introduce a bunch of people to the real, authentic, and powerful Jesus who came to save sinners, of whom I am chief!

Abiding in Jesus,
Pastor Ed

Response
I am still processing yesterday's message-what confirmation from what the Lord has been showing me/reminding me to come to Him first (crucifying the flesh is daily for me, lol)! Great stuff & so freeing; love it!

Venture Of Faith

2010-07-16T06:05:00.004-06:00

2 Samuel 22:31 (NKJV) As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

NOTE: We have a big announcement on a step of faith that will be shared at this weekend’s services. You won’t want to miss it!

The steady, living, excellent example of Pastor Chuck Smith continues to be a great encouragement in my life. Although I’ve never had the opportunity to sit down and talk with him, through his teachings and books, he’s been a great pastor and discipler to me and countless other thousands.

In the last chapter of his book Calvary Chapel Distinctives he writes, “It’s always an exciting thing to give God a chance to work. God wants you to be a part of what He is doing. God doesn’t want to stop working, so it’s important for us to discover what He wants to do. I have found that the way we discover how God wants to work is to venture out in faith. We need to step out and see what the Lord might do. But, as we step out in faith, there has to be a guard against presumption. A lot of people who test the waters to see what God might want to do make a serious mistake by falling back on human effort when God’s hand obviously is not in it. Sometimes we can get so committed to something that our reputation seems to be on the line. Then we start pumping extra energy and effort into a program that wasn’t of God to begin with.”

Just reading this paragraph builds my faith in the God who has led us to take yet even more gigantic steps of faith as a ministry. I hope it encourages you too in stepping out in obedience to His clear direction. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your support. Thank you for continuing to take the steps of faith that God is laying before you, obeying Him in the Spirit not in your own wisdom.

Do you have a step of faith you are presently in, or just completed, or just up ahead? Reply to this eNote and share it with me! I would love to hear what God is doing in your life!

In Love,
Pastor Ed

Disciplined to Win

2010-07-09T09:00:00.010-06:00

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 (NKJV) Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

As an example to us, Paul said that he disciplined his body so that he might win more to Jesus. That means he said "YES" to those things that would build him up spiritually, strengthen his relationship with Jesus, and make him an overall better prepared servant. It also means he said "NO" to those things that would tear him down spiritually, pollute his mind, ruin his witness, and make him less effective in winning people to Jesus.

The picture Paul drew for us was one of an athlete. An athlete must be disciplined if he or she is going to win the prize. You don't see Olympic Gold Medalists sitting around the pool eating chocolate-dipped, deep-fried Twinkies and chugging down a two-liter bottle of Pepsi, right? Just picturing that scene is pretty funny! No, they are training daily; saying "YES" to the right things and "NO" to the wrong things. Spiritual discipline requires giving up the good and even the better, for only the best! It requires a single-minded focus.

Let's think on that this weekend as the Spirit shows us a few things to add, and a few things to subtract.

In Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
Just want you thank you for your website, and radio broadcasts. The word of God. It is so nice to be able to know there are brothers and sisters of Christ in Colorado who have committed themselves to God, who are saved. I live in Australia, and have been blessed by your ministry.

Take What Is Yours

2010-07-06T09:00:00.000-06:00

Galatians 5:24-25 (NKJV) And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Like the children of Israel, I see many believers choose not to take all that God has promised to them in their victory over the flesh. They settle down after a few small victories, content with having just a portion of their lives controlled by the Spirit. Remember, with the children of Israel, they were promised some 300,000 square miles of land. How much did they possess? It's estimated that about 30,000 square miles, or 10% of what was promised, was actually occupied. What a picture to consider!

God wants to give us total and complete victory over the life of our flesh; over the dominating self-life; over the weaknesses in our lives. He doesn't want us to be satisfied with just 10%, or 20%, or even 99%. God's desire is for us to fully receive all that He's promised.

With the children of Israel, as they conquered the land they left these little pockets filled with their enemies. Sometimes, they even disobediently made alliances with their enemies.

Listen friend, leaving pockets of the flesh, making compromising treaties with the enemy, choosing to live for this world instead of for Jesus, will bring consequences. It's dangerous. It's harmful. It's destructive.

Choose today to live in the Spirit and take what is yours in Jesus: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Abiding in Jesus,
Pastor Ed

Accusations Are Never Fun

2010-07-02T09:00:00.001-06:00

Isaiah 52:12 (NKJV) For you shall not go out with haste, Nor go by flight; For the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

To be on the other side of accusations is rarely, if ever, fun. Have you noticed that it doesn’t help if the accusations are false? Isn’t there a unique sting to them when they come from ‘so-called’ friends? What is being said is so untrue. The rumor flying around is so unfounded. Ouch.

Accusations come to those who trust in Jesus. I know this. You know this. Paul knows it. Jesus knows it. Truly, every believer needs to know it.

Yes, accusations come to those following closely, abiding in Jesus. They shouldn’t surprise us. There even seems to be a specific attack on those in spiritual leadership that is headed up by the accuser of the brethren himself (Revelation 12:10).

Our pastor has always encouraged us to be careful when accusations come. Because each time they come, we are faced with a choice. Option one is to jump in and defend ourselves. The real problem is that when we jump into the mud, all that really happens is we get muddy and so does the situation. Option two is to step back and allow God to be our Defender. Choose option number two, my friend. If we choose to defend ourselves, God will let us. But if we abide in Jesus, allowing Him to be our guard, oh, what peace and help await us!

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:44-45 (NKJV)

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
Dear Pastor Ed, I wanted to let you know that the video that was shown on Wednesday night, during the last song that Terry was singing, was so incredibly amazing. I was touched so deeply by that. I have never seen Jesus in that light, as a laughing, playing, joyful person. He was always depicted, at least in my mind, as a very sober person. Just touching and healing people with a stoic attitude and frustrated with the disciples. I don't think I ever pictured Him smiling, let alone laughing! Ever since Wednesday, I have been carrying the pictures of Jesus in my mind from that video. I cried tears of joy the whole way home Wednesday night, thinking that He loves me like that too; that He laughs and is loving, and that He would actually smile if I leaned up against Him! And despite the wretched sinner I am, He would look at me in LOVE!! And with joy in His eyes and in His expression. It made me want to be like Him towards others. I really do not enjoy being a serious, sober Christian. Oh how I so want to be like Jesus!

One Christ Is More

2010-06-28T09:00:00.007-06:00

2 Corinthians 3:5-6 (NKJV) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

It’s always good to be reminded of the sufficiency of Jesus in our lives. Consider and think on the simple paragraph penned many years ago by John Spencer:

“All the good things that can be reckoned up here below have only a finite and limited goodness. Some can clothe but cannot feed; others can nourish but cannot secure; others adorn but cannot advance; all do serve but none do satisfy. They are like a beggar’s coat made up of many pieces, not all enough either to be beautiful or defend.

BUT Christ is full and sufficient for all His people: righteousness to cover all their sins, plenty enough to supply all their wants, grace enough to subdue all their lusts, wisdom enough to vanquish all their enemies, virtue enough to cure all their diseases, fullness enough to save them to the utmost. He is bread, wine, milk, living waters, to feed them; He is a garment of righteousness to cover and adorn them; a Physician to heal them; a Counselor to advise them; a Captain to defend them; a Prince to rule; a Prophet to teach; a Priest to make atonement for them; a Husband to protect; a Father to provide; a Brother to relieve; a Foundation to support; a Root to quicken; a Head to guide; a Treasure to enrich; a Sun to enlighten; and a Fountain to cleanse; so that as the one ocean hath more waters than all the rivers in the world, and one sun more light than all the luminaries in heaven, so one Christ is more to a poor soul than if it had all the world a thousand times over.”

Yes and Amen! A great way to start the week!

Trusting Him,
Pastor Ed

Response
Just wanted to say "thank you" for the message yesterday! It was a blessing to be reminded that we need to trust the Lord and wake up in the morning with the right attitude. The last many months have been difficult for us as a family and particularly for me. Apart from some tough situations we are going through as a family (maybe just me passing it on to my family); some very dear friends have been going through very painful times. I have known that the Lord is breaking me but somehow submitting to Him willingly without questioning Him has been very difficult for me...always imagining the worst! Knowing that what I was doing was 'not right' made it like a vicious cycle pushing me deeper in despair. After the first service yesterday, was disappointed that no one committed their life to the Lord but, after reaching home realized that the Lord had done a miracle in me! The cloud of depression just seemed to have left me. I was able to wake up this morning with anticipation for what the Lord has in store for me for the day ahead!

Why Does Church Get Tough?

2010-06-25T09:00:00.008-06:00

Matthew 18:15 (NKJV) "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother."

It’s never fun to be engaged in any type of interpersonal difficulties. They can be exhausting, hard, and sometimes even defeating. When it happens in church family relationships it really hurts, doesn’t it? It’s true, tough times come, and tough times come in the church, among us as believers. The popular question is always ‘why’? I mean, if we’re believers and we all love Jesus and all love His Word and just want to grow in His grace…why?

Here are a couple of reasons to consider and pray through:

#1 – Tough times come because WE’RE HUMAN.
Humans aren’t perfect. Humans make mistakes. Sometimes, those imperfections can cause great pain.

#2 – Tough times come because WOLVES COME TO CHURCH.
It’s not always believers that are the cause of pain. Sometimes it’s a wolf that enters in looking like a sheep but inside is ravenous (Matthew 7:15-16). False believers love to lurk around believers, wanting to take advantage of them. It’s sad, but true.

#3 – Tough times come because SPIRITUAL WARFARE IS REAL.
What makes the church different from some everyday social club is that we’re engaged in true worship of God. People’s lives are being changed eternally. Families are being rescued. Sobriety is reigning! As Jesus builds His church, the devil is trying to tear it down.

There are more reasons but the truth is our church, any church, is filled with redeemed sinners. Whenever two or three imperfect people are gathered together you can expect problems to arise. That’s why God has given us the best problem solving advice ever in His Word, specifically through Matthew’s gospel - chapter eighteen.

Oh, that God would be our strength, in the good times, and in the tough! Remember, He prevails and we prevail in Him!

In Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
Thank you, Ed, for telling people the truth this past Sunday. If people do not understand that when Jesus said, "trouble," He meant trouble; then they are baffled at the circumstances of life. I know as a matter of absolute fact and personal experience that Satan DOES oppose every Christian and that if you do take a step with God, Satan is right there to oppress you in every way he can. (Although you're right that Satan is nothing if not predictable; he oppresses us in the same old ways he has always oppressed every one of God's people.) Churches that de-emphasize Satan to the point that their people don't understand that Satan actually exists and that he really, really hates us, are doing their people a huge disservice.

The Church is For Me, Right?

2010-06-21T09:00:00.008-06:00

Philippians 2:3-5 (NLT) Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

The church is not here for us. We ARE the church and we are here for the world.

I’m not sure when exactly the attitude changed, probably very early on in the church’s history, but it did. A believer somewhere at some time in history began to think that the church was for there to please him and to meet every single whim of his family and their ‘ministry’ needs. It caught on and became very popular as it’s still with us today. It was wrong then, and this consumer, bless-me, take care of my needs, mentality is still wrong.

Whoa, whoa there Pastor Ed... sounds a little heavy for a Monday morning! It’s not meant that way my friend, please hear me out:

I read a story recently of a man who came to his pastor after service and said, “Pastor, I have only one thing to tell you. My answer is yes. Now, what’s the question.” The pastor looked at him a little confused, tapped him on the shoulder and said “God bless you son.” Then the pastor greeted the next person in line.

The following Sunday the same guy came up in line again and repeated the same words, “Pastor, my answer is yes. Now what’s the question?” This time the pastor took it in and decided to take the young man out to lunch where again, the young man said, “Pastor, my answer is yes. Now what’s the question?” Finally overcome with curiosity, the pastor asked, “Can you please tell me what you mean by that?”

The young man smiled and, with great passion said, “Pastor, I was hooked on everything bad, about to lose my family, sliding down a slippery slope toward certain destruction. Then Jesus intervened.” Tears began to well up in his eyes, “Because of what Jesus did for me, my answer to you is yes. You are my pastor, and I’ll do whatever you need. If you want me to rock babies, I’ll rock babies. If you want me to usher, I’ll usher. If you want me to mow the lawn, I’ll be there at 6 am every Saturday morning. My answer to you will always be yes. Now, what’s the question?”

Loving Jesus,
Pastor Ed

Response
I have been a listener of your radio ministry for about a year or so. I work as an outside sales rep, so I have time everyday to listen to your program on KRKS. I had been to Calvary Aurora once since listening to your show, but was drawn to go on the morning of the May 18th. The Holy Spirit's message that day seemed to be specifically directed towards me. I believe that you were finishing up a series on God's will for your life. Then you read from Ephesians 5:18. It was like a light came on. I felt the conviction of the Holy Spirit. So there I was sitting in the last row, my head pointed to the floor to cover the embarrassment of the stitches above my eye. When my eyes welled up with tears, tears of pain and frustration, tears of joy and deliverance. I knew that God was speaking to me.

When you asked for those to stand up and make a proclamation for Jesus Christ at the end of the service, my knees stiffened and head rose up. I stood to proclaim him in front of others so he would proclaim me in front of the Father. I became a believer! Like I said in the beginning of my letter, I had always believed in Jesus, but my actions would say otherwise. I can proudly say that due to Jesus' Spirit and His love for me that I have not had a drink in four weeks and I am working on reconciling my sins with the Lord. I always hear you say on your radio show that the world wants us to be a recovering addict, but in Jesus you are recovered. I couldn't agree with you more.

I would like to thank you for your radio ministry and for your testimony. If it were not for your devotion to the Lord and proclaiming His Word, people like myself would never be saved. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

What Do I See?

2010-06-18T09:00:00.006-06:00

Luke 9:23 (NKJV) Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

This true story is so powerful. My prayer is that it speaks directly to your heart and stirs you up in love and good works. I pray it opens eyes and moves to action!

Two young Moravians heard of an island in the West Indies where an atheist British owner had 2,000 to 3,000 slaves. And the owner had said, "No preacher, no clergyman, will ever stay on this island. If he's ship wrecked we'll keep him in a separate house until he has to leave, but he's never going to talk to any of us about God; I'm through with all that nonsense." Three thousand slaves were doomed to live and die without hearing of Christ.

Two young Germans in their 20s from the Moravians sect heard about their plight. They sold themselves to the British planter for the standard price for a male slave and used the money they received to purchase passage to the West Indies. The miserly atheist planter would not even transport them. The Moravian community from Herrenhut came to see the two lads off, who would never return again, having freely sold themselves into a lifetime of slavery. As a member of the slave community, they would witness as Christians to the love of God.

Family members were emotional, weeping. Was their extreme sacrifice wise? Was it necessary? As the ship slipped away with the tide and the gap widened. The housings had been cast off and were curled up on the pier. The young men saw the widening gap. They linked arms, raised their hands and shouted across the spreading gap "May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering."

This became the call of Moravian Missions.

WOW!

In Love,
Pastor Ed

Response
The baptism was one of the most inspiring things I have ever seen... they just kept coming and coming and coming... wow! Tears were flowing as I was totally overwhelmed with joy... it was amazing! It truly was a priceless experience and a wonderful gathering. Praise God - Praise God!! Thank you, Pastor Ed, for allowing God to use you and for following Him and for guiding us and for your faithfulness in carrying out what He places in your heart. We are so blessed to have you as our pastor. THANK YOU - from the bottom of my heart!

More Than You Can Handle

2010-06-14T09:00:00.005-06:00

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

“God will never give you more than you can handle.”

I’m sure you have hard that 1,000 times. But it’s not true. The truth is God will often give us and allow in our lives more than we can handle in our own strength. God often brings us to the end of ourselves with situations and circumstances that seem to be so incredibly overwhelming. I am ministering to a few people right now that are overwhelmed by the circumstances in their lives. Things that they don’t want. Things that they didn’t ask for. Tough stuff.

I think of many Bible examples of people God brought to a place where they couldn’t handle it. The children Israel trapped, but God may the way of escape through the Red Sea. Gideon’s army reduced to incredibly small proportions so that God would bring victory. The children of Israel again at the walls of Jericho, but God brought them down when they couldn’t. The Father of the prodigal son, unable to convince either of his sons of the truth, waited until God did what he himself couldn’t! The list is larger than this my friends.

Being in a place that you can’t handle brings brokenness into your life. We learn humility, trust, and contriteness there. We surrender in rest and abiding love in Jesus there. It’s true: there isn’t a temptation you’re going through, that isn’t common to others, and that isn’t without a way of escape. You’re not stuck and hopeless and without help.

“Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (NLT)

Remember, there are incredible situations that come our way that bring us to the end of ourselves. Why? So we might lean on, rest in, and trust our precious Savior Jesus who always comes to our rescue!

Trusting Him,
Pastor Ed

Response
Wow Pastor Ed, Thank you so much for sending that note out. I know in my life I need to be wholly submitted and wholly surrendered to Christ, but my biggest struggle has been "What does that look like?" or "How?" That note helped a lot in knowing what it really looks like to give it all up for Christ. Thank you again. God bless.

It Is Well With My Soul

2010-06-11T09:00:00.007-06:00

Psalms 46:1 (NKJV) God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

One of my favorite hymns is "It Is Well With My Soul," written from the heart of God through Horatio Spafford. Here's the story behind that hymn as shared by Kenneth Osbeck in "Amazing Grace, 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories."

"Inner peace through an implicit trust in the love of God is the real evidence of a mature Christian faith. Only with this kind of confidence in his heavenly Father could Horatio Spafford experience such heart-rending tragedies as he did and yet be able to say, 'It is well with my soul'."

Spafford had known peaceful and happy days as a successful attorney in Chicago. He was the father of four daughters, an active member of the Presbyterian Church, and a loyal friend and supporter of D. L. Moody and other evangelical leaders of his day. Then, a series of calamities began, starting with the great Chicago fire of 1871, which wiped out the family's extensive real estate investments. When Mr. Moody and his music associate, Ira Sankey, left for Great Britain for an evangelistic campaign, Spafford decided to lift the spirits of his family by taking them on a vacation to Europe. He also planned to assist in the Moody-Sankey meetings there.

In November, 1873, Spafford was detained by urgent business, but he sent his wife and four daughters as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du Harve, planning to join them soon. Halfway across the Atlantic, the ship was struck by an English vessel and sank in 12 minutes. All four of the Spafford daughters-Tanetta, Maggie, Annie and Bessie-were among the 226 who drowned. Mrs. Spafford was among the few who were miraculously saved. Horatio Spafford stood, hour after hour, on the deck of the ship carrying him to rejoin his sorrowing wife in Cardiff, Wales. When the ship passed the approximate place where his precious daughters had drowned, Spafford received sustaining comfort from God that enabled him to write, "When sorrows like sea billows roll, it is well with my soul." What a picture of our hope!

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll-Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well with my soul.Tho Satan should buffet, tho trials should come, let this blest assurance control, that Christ hath regarded my helpless estate and shed His own blood for my soul.And, Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back as a scroll: The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend, "Even so"-it is well with my soul.
Chorus: It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul.

By Grace,
Pastor Ed

Response
Pastor Ed, what an encouragement, truly! This, I believe, is the true definition of what a follower of Christ should be. We don't realize what freedom there is in this giving up of oneself and one's own opinions, thoughts, desires, how we think things should be and everything that has to do with "me." When Jesus is first, so are others. God bless.

A Little More

2010-06-04T09:00:00.006-06:00

Colossians 4:12 (NKJV) "...always laboring fervently... that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God."

Not too long ago, I read about the schedule John Wesley kept as he served the Lord. Now, even though most of us will never keep the same pace as Wesley, we all have a pace to keep that's unique to us! I have to say, though, it was really an encouragement to me and a challenge to look for ways to fill my life with serving Jesus, even more than I do already.

"John Wesley averaged three sermons a day for fifty-four years. In his work of evangelism he traveled by horseback or by carriage more than 200,000 miles. His published works include a four-volume commentary on the whole Bible, a four-volume work on church history, six books on church music, and seven volumes of sermons. He also edited a set of fifty books known as The Christian Library. He was greatly devoted to pastoral work, taking on himself the care of all the Methodist churches, never rising later than 4 A.M. and seldom concluding his labors before 10 P.M."

A great example of a brother, that through his life, stirs up love and good works in us!

Serving Jesus,
Pastor Ed

Response
Thank y'all for y'all's ministry: it has made such an impact on my walk with Christ. In fact, it played a major role in restoring my relationship with Christ (wasted potential really hit home for me) I live in Big Spring, Texas, and try to listen as often as possible. Once again thank you for the ministry.