Living a Life of Success

Is it possible to live a life of success and if so, what are the keys to that success. That is an extremely critical question, and God provides an answer for us because He doesn't desire for us to just wander through life. As Joshua was preparing to start a new phase in his life, three times God challenge Joshua to be "strong and courageous" because there would be battles to fight and struggles ahead. A life of success would not just come easily. Then God spelled out three keys that would provide success in life. These keys are found in Joshua 1:1-9.

1. Center Your Life on God's Word Consistently. Don't be looking to TV personalities, personal experience, unsaved friends, etc., for your direction. It must come from God's word.

2. Deliberate on God's Word Daily. The term that is used is to "meditate" on God's Word day and night. This is much more than a reading a Bible passage and checking it off from the Bible reading schedule. This means to keep focused on how to apply what is learned to the decisions being made each day. These decisions will be guided by God's truth whether they be regarding family, business, relationships, work, school, and any other venue of activity.

3. Obey God's Word Carefully. God challenges that we should not turn to the right or the left - no detours in following the instructions. We are not to think that it is "good enough" if we are close.

These keys come with a promise - "then you will have success and then you will be prosperous." This is the only way to bring about success in life.

Here are some suggested tools to make this possible.

Bible Reading Schedule: You will need a Bible reading program or schedule. I recently came across this schedule that is broken into an Old Testament reading and a New Testament reading for each day. It makes a good option for doing a morning and evening reading. Sometimes one of the passages may be a bit difficult to find application for the day, such as the genealogies, but the other will include something that is applicable for the challenges of the day. This particular program also has only one reading for Sunday from the Psalms. You can go here (http://www.onegreatstory.com/reading.html) to download a PDF file which you can print and keep in your journal (see below) for reference. There are also some helpful hints for making your Bible reading time meaningful listed on this schedule.

Bible version you can understand. Many like King James, and that's fine or else use New International Version (NIV) or the New American Standard Bible (NASB). If you prefer to do your Bible study online, the Blue Letter Bible website will allow you to compare different versions in your reading (www.blueletterbible.org). If you prefer to take a Bible with you in an electronic format, Olivetree has some free Bibles available from their website for Palm, Pocket PC, Blackberry, iPhone, iPod, symbian and some others (www.olivetree.com). Though it is not a strict translation, I have been using God's Word Bible from Olivetree. It is a modern read, though there are some areas where the translation is more loose than what I prefer. It is also possible to purchase the NIV from these folks as well.

Journal & Writing Instrument. You need a journal in which to record your observations and thoughts from the passage which will be a reminder to you of what you have learned - the meditating part. You can write down how you might apply a truth from this passage for a decision which you are facing, or how to respond to a situation at work. Here is a helpful link on how to journal (http://www.enewhope.org/firststeps/journaling/) and here is an example of what your journal might contain (here). You can pick up a journal at any office supply store. Some are spiral bound which mean they lie flat when opened, others are actually bound which means they won't lie as flat originally, but will be easier to store on a shelf since the spiral wire won't get in the way. My preferred size is something close to 8.5 x 5.5 with as many pages as possible so that I can have one page per day for notes and thoughts. Obviously, it may be necessary to use two journals to make it through the year which is fine. I recommend a Pilot G-2 retractable pen for writing.

I would encourage doing your Bible reading with others - perhaps husband and wife, friends, even church family. This is a neat way to have conversation over the same passage/s that has been read for the day or week. This would be a great way to start 2009 on the road to a life of success!

Devotions for Children: If you are looking for a thoughtful devotional reading with interaction for children, Key's for Kids is a great devotional which you could read after supper at the table. Someone could read the Scripture passage, another person the devotional story which also includes great discussion questions and then have closing prayer. Here is a link: http://www.cbhministries.org/kfk/home.php where you can choose to print out a month of devotional readings or have each day's emailed to you. Campus Journal was an effective tool for High School age on up, but I haven't been able to locate it any more. If you know of one for this age group, let me know and I will add it to the list.

Suggestions to Make it Work:

1. Pick a time and place where you can consistently develop a this habit. Perhaps at breakfast, pour yourself coffee and your cereal, and ask God to give you insight. Then get out your Bible and journal and begin your reading and study.

2. Partner with someone else.

3. Keep at it! If you miss a day, keep on your schedule and make it up when possible.

Tomorrow, New Years Day, begin a new habit! The reading for the day is Genesis 1-2 & Matthew 1. Isn't 20 minutes a day with a guarantee of a life of success worth the investment?!

How Many Kings? - Christmas Thought

I recently came across this song and video clip from song entitled "How Many Kings" which reminds us of what Jesus did for each of us. The song is performed by Downhere. Here is a clip from Youtube and you can download the individual song from Amazon.com (much better audio quality - plus helps support this group). It is a song that keeps running through my head. Trust you enjoy it.

Follow the star to a place unexpected
Would you believe after all we’ve projected
A child in a manger

Lowly and small, the weakest of all
Unlikeliness hero, wrapped in his mothers shawl
Just a child
Is this who we’ve waited for?

Cause how many kings, stepped down from their thrones?
How many lords have abandoned their homes?
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

Bringing our gifts for the newborn savior
All that we have whether costly or meek
Because we believe
Gold for his honor and frankincense for his pleasure
And myrrh for the cross he’ll suffer
Do you believe, is this who we’ve waited for?
It’s who we’ve waited for

Angie Wyand and Josh Hoy Engaged!

Angie and Josh have announced their engagement. Their wedding is scheduled for July 18, 2009. Please keep these two young people in your prayers as they plan to commit their lives together before the Lord. Dave & Phyllis Wyand and Dave & Jane Hoy are the parents.

Seeing the Miracle of Developing Preborn Infant

The ultrasound picture on the left is of preborn infant with normal Week 14 development. GE Health Care has images and facts about the developing life of a preborn infant. You can click through each week, beginning with Week 6 and follow the development of the preborn infant. The site also lists important developments in each week. Absolutely amazing what God has done and worth sharing with your children. The link is here.

Josh Miller & Lindsay Hicks Wedding

Please keep Josh & Lindsay in your prayers as they begin their lives together

The Untold Story: Muslims Converting Worldwide

David Dunlap in his newsletter of Sept. 1, 2008 writes that the main news media has missed one of the more important stories to come out of the Arab world. "Firsthand reports are indicating that Muslims are converting to Christ in large numbers in Arab lands. The news media continues to report that Islam is the world's fastest growing religion." There certainly are statistics to demonstrate this and one of the main reasons is because of a high birthrate among Muslim families. But Dunlap goes on to write, "the truth is, however, that Islam as a religion, when measured by conversion increase, is not growing but rather decreasing.

More and more Muslims than ever before are becoming disillusioned with Islam. An increasing number of Muslims are questioning the validity of the Qur'an and the extremist teaching of Islamic teachers. Many are finding that the mechanistic rituals of praying five times per day, reciting verses that they do not understand, and frequent fasting are not a means to becoming more spiritual, and are taking a serious look at Christianity. Every day thousands of Muslim intellectuals are leaving Islam."

What I found to be very informative were the reasons that Muslims were drawn to the Christ of Christianity. Here are the three major reasons as listed from the research of Dr. J. Dudley Woodberry, professor of Islamic Studies at Fuller Seminary in California.

1. The Number One Reason why Muslims chose to become Christians was the lifestyle of the Christians living among the Muslims. Muslim converts noted that "there was no gap between the moral profession and the practice of Christians" they knew. There was a significant contrast between the love demonstrated by the followers of Christ with the unloving treatment among Muslims. Other converts were impressed that in Christianity women were treated as equals and enjoy loving marriages. They also noted that Christian workers chose to live a simple lifestyle and not to intentionally offend their Muslim neighbors.

2. The Second Reason why Muslims chose to become Christians was that they saw the "power of God in answered prayer." Christians prayed for their neighbors even though they were Muslim and God had intervened in situations. Many converts mentioned an unhappiness with Islam itself with the uncertainty of salvation. Most of the emphasis in Islam was upon punishment and Christianity told of a God who loved them and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for sins. Obviously the picture of Christ in the Qur'an and that found in Scripture is very different.

3. The Third Reason (and identified as the most important) why Muslims were choosing to follow Christ is that "when Christ's love transforms committed Christians into a loving community, many Muslims (identified) a desire to join such a fellowship." Woodberry writes, "When the church is being the church, testifying of the love of Christ and his transforming power, then Muslims are drawn to salvation in Christ" (J. Dudley Woodberry, Russell G. Shubin, and G. Marks, "Why Muslims Follow Jesus," Christianity Today, 24 October 2007, pp. 80-85)

What can we learn from this in order to reach our own neighborhoods, regardless of religious background for Christ? We see the importance of living out Christ's desire for His church to be a caring community. We see the importance of living out our Christian beliefs in the world -- that we truly are followers of Christ and His teachings which affects every dimension of our lives. We also see the importance of demonstrating care through prayer for our neighbors, coworkers and their needs -- even if they are not followers of Christ, but asking if we might have the privilege to pray for their need. Included in that is looking for opportunities to tell people of God's love for them as demonstrated through the Christ. Christianity is designed to be attractive to any people, in any culture, when it is truly lived out. May God help us to do that for Him!

Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Pastors

I'm sure there is no reality to this whatsoever!

Choose Life!

In our recent financial struggles as a nation, it is often easy to forget that there are other battles being fought, even more important than the financial issues that we face. One of these is the dignity of life and that each life is valuable because he or she was created in the image of God and only God has the prerogative to determine life's extent. This is another issue that needs to be discussed in the home to understand the Biblical perspective on life. The illustration below comes from a Christian Doctor and what he experienced recently in his work.

Exhibit 2: It is late, nearly 9 P.M., seeing a final consult at the end of a punishing call day, in the ICU. The patient, chronologically young yet physiologically Methuselan, lies in his bed, oxygen mask affixed to his face by heavy straps, bleeding, as he has for months, from a tumor in his kidney. He would not survive surgery, nor even radiological intervention to stem the hemorrhage by strangling its arterial lifeline. He is, furthermore, in the parlance of modern medicine, “non-compliant”: refusing treatments and diagnostic studies; rude and abusive to nurses and physicians alike; demanding to go home though unlikely to survive there for any significant length of time.

The nurse — young, competent, smart, hard-working, the very best of the modern nursing profession — apprises me of his situation, closing with this knockout punch: “You know, we just passed that initiative — you know, the suicide one. He’d be an excellent candidate.”

She wasn’t joking.

Taken a bit off guard, I responded that it is most unwise to give physicians the power to kill you, for we will become very good at it, and impossible to stop once we are.

You can read the rest of the article by going here and moving down to "Exhibit 2".

PS - here is an interesting read referred to by the doctor mentioned above, and in great contrast, thanks for the nurses here at Valley Grace who seek to make a difference in patient's lives. This is also a reminder that all of us are "casting a shadow" (I think that might preach!) on people with whom we come into contact each day. Thanks for being the shadow of Christ!

Fascinating Update from the CAR

Yesterday we were introduced to Francois & Claire Ngoumape. Francois is heavily involved in ministry in the CAR (Central African Republic). We were told that there are 2,400 Grace Brethren churches in the CAR with 900 trained pastors to serve those churches. They have a combined membership of approximately 350,000 and 30 new churches are being planted a month - that is 1 church a day!

There are currently 150 pastors who are in training in the Bible Institute program which obviously is not enough to support the current growth of the church in CAR. They are in need of three things: 1) More teachers and the plan is to partner with pastors & teachers who will go over to teach a 2 week module; 2) More facilities and the plan is to build a school complex in Bangui; 3) More people to send which means raising up men and support for them to go through school. It takes three scholarships of $40.00 a month (total of $120 a month) or provide the support of the students. They have no means by which to support themselves and the churches are unable to support very many as the average annual income is $300. This is a good project for a Sunday School class as is helping to provide funds to build the buildings on the property.

There is also danger involved because of bandit activity in which individuals are kidnapped and held for ransom. In the past couple of years, 5 Grace Brethren pastors have been kidnapped and killed. In fact, Francois calls Nov 18, 2007 his death day because he was kidnapped by bandits and the hostages are normally beaten and then killed with or without a ransom being paid. On this particular day, the bandits did try and kill him but the one wielding the sword kept hitting his motorcyle, and when he was shot at they shot the motorcycle and not him. On the final attempt, as he stood up, Francois said it was as if an invisible hand pushed him backwards just as the bandit shot at him. Those who had followed him, thought he was dead. There were about 1,000 who eventually gathered around, and needless to say, there was a tremendous time of praise and testimony to God's glory. God chose to spare Francois's life.

God used this event in Francois's life to give a sense of urgency to training others and so the plan mentioned above was prayerfully developed. It was also noted that 2002 was a critical year where missionaries had to flee the country because of rebel activity which resulted in changing the strategy for missions in CAR. One final note, it was observed that in much of the world, President Bush is despised, and there is the feeling that with President Barack Obama, it will make the work of missionaries easier (which is intended to be an observation, not a political statement for or against any individual).

Francois and Claire sang an acapella praise duet and here is a partial recording in mp3 format (click and wait for your media player to load). I understand the song has the idea that "He Will Answer our Prayer" but for a fuller translation, you can contact Karen Hardcastle.

Please remember to pray for our African brothers and sister in the CAR, the Chad, etc., who are in danger, but seeking to reach their communities for Christ.

Proposition 8 and You

The passage of Proposition 8 in California has created quite a firestorm in the homosexual community. You may recall that Proposition 8 is an amendment that declares that marriage is between a man and a woman. It overrode a ruling by the California Supreme Court that recognized same-sex marriage as a fundamental right. The amendment passed 52.2% to 47.8%. This passage has resulted in demonstrations in the streets by those who lost the vote. There is an account of a grandmother who was protesting the protestors which indicates that she was attacked by the protestors (here). Governor Schwarzenegger is encouraging the State Supreme Court to try and find it unconstitutional so that it can be reversed.

I received an email from a man who pastors a church in California, and he wrote the following about his daughter's experience at school.

"Our oldest daughter (14 years old) got bombarded by her Drama teacher and the rest of her drama class as she bore the minority voice with 2 other Christians for the biblical stance when the opinionated teacher made a day of debate on this issue (instead of drama instruction). She's very sweet spirited but will stand up for her faith in a very liberal public high school. We praised her for not putting her light under a bushel even when someone in class threatened to punch anyone who supports Prop 8. Her faith and convictions are being strengthened in this crucible."

He went on to write, "In our community, an artistic director for a theater in Sacramento for 25 years was forced to quit because he donated $1,000 to the Yes on 8 campaign. Protesters are targeting Saddleback, Mormons, Catholics and evangelical churches this weekend. The fervor is growing. Gay Rights groups are planning for a ballot initiative in 2010 to overturn Prop 8. Governator Schwarzenegger & Mayor Newsom are urging opponents to fight on."

These "protests" are not isolated to California but have also appeared in Michigan: "Last Sunday, a band of about 30 gays stormed Mount Hope Church in Lansing, Michigan. Some were well-dressed so they could blend in with the church-goers and wreak havoc inside the church by pulling fire alarms, throwing fliers at churchgoers, yelling at parishioners and storming the pulpit while holding up a large rainbow colored flag that read, "IT'S OKAY TO BE GAY! BASH BACK!" Others dressed in black and pink remained outside beating on buckets, shouting "Jesus was a homo" on a megaphone and carrying an upside-down pink cross."

Catholic League president Bill Donohue addressed this issue, "The real story here is the refusal of the mainstream media to cover what is surely one of the most disturbing events of 2008. If an organized group of gay bashers stormed a gay church, there is not a single sentient person in the United State who wouldn't know about it." [lansingstatejournal.com, thecronline.com]

I wish it were possible to have a rational conversation with those pushing the same-sex marriage agenda. I would like to pursue the dialogue something like this. "Since the beginning of time, marriage has been understood to be between a man and a woman. One of the purposes of marriage is to reproduce (obviously there is a whole lot more to marriage than this one purpose, but so as not to confuse the discussion let us just stay with this one issue). Biologically, it is impossible for same-sex individuals to reproduce, which cannot be solved by calling for 'equality' or passing an amendment."

"But if you want to redefine marriage, where does that redefinition end -- same-sex? What about polygamy (multiple spouses), incest (marriage between children and/or parents, or relatives), children getting married, marriage between a human and an animal (bestiality), etc., etc. It becomes impossible to draw any line anywhere because someone is going to be left out and feel that their rights are being trampled. The point is, if marriage is redefined to cover all possible combinations of relationships, marriage loses its meaning and purpose altogether."

As parents, it is important that you prepare your child/ren for this discussion which undoubtedly they will be involved in, if not already. How should they respond in school when challenged by a teacher or other adult? How should they respond when challenged by other students? Have you talked about the reasons for maintaining marriage defined as between a man and a woman? Have you prepared them to answer the charge of being a bigot or hate-monger?

This also raises some interesting questions for us as a church. How are we going to respond. Suppose we have individuals show up to do what took place in the Michigan church? How do we deal with that?

No, we don't hate an individual who is caught in the homosexual lifestyle. To shout "hate" is designed to put an individual on defense. It is our desire to let individuals know that we do not hate them, in fact, we love them enough to tell them the truth. Same-sex, or any other type of arrangement called marriage that is not between a man and a woman will fail. Marriage is designed to be between a man and a woman so that when they are united together, the two become one. Man and woman are created differently, not only biologically, but emotionally and many other ways so that when they are brought together they form one bond. This is like two different pieces of a puzzle that are able to be joined because they mate together properly in many different ways. Two pieces that are the same can never form one bond as designed in traditional marriage. The point is it is impossible to build a strong marriage, home and family on a defective foundation.

To tell an individual that redefining marriage won't work isn't hate, it is the most loving thing you can do. It would be like taking the keys of a friend who is drunk and who is trying to drive and telling them that they can't do it, it won't work. They will hurt themselves and others around them. That is not hate, that is love. To tell individuals that anything else other than marriage which is designed to be between a man and a woman will not yield the true unity that it was designed to produce, is not hate - it is real love, especially when they are shouting in your face with the veins in their neck bulging.

May God give us the grace to be prepared to respond lovingly, with care and compassion, but with the Truth!

News that Caught My Attention From this Past Week

Study Links Sex on TV to Teen Pregnancy
A groundbreaking study has confirmed what many parents and family advocates have been saying for years: Highly sexual content on television is a bad influence on teenagers. A RAND Corp. study published in the journal Pediatrics showed that teens exposed to high levels of sexual content on TV were twice as likely to be involved in a pregnancy in the following three years as teens with limited exposure. The study, based on interviews with more than 2,000 teens, called it "a compelling link." [citizenlink.com & foxnews.com]

It's OK to Pray in Jesus' Name
Last week, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — using a case from Cobb County, Ga. — proclaimed that praying "in Jesus' name" was acceptable at county board meetings when other constitutional provisions were followed. This ruling is directly in conflict with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which concluded in an opinion written by ex-Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, that city officials properly excluded from a rotation of leaders for opening prayers at a municipal meeting a pastor who prayed "in Jesus' name."

The ruling said precedent makes it clear that "the content of the prayer is not of concern to judges where ... there is no indication that the prayer opportunity has been exploited to proselytize or advance any one, or to disparage any other, faith or belief. Whether invocation of 'Lord of Lords' or 'the God of Abraham, Isaac and Mohammed' are 'sectarian' is best left to theologians, not courts of law," the court said. [worldnetdaily.com & Pastor's Weekly Briefing]

Discovery of Oldest Hebrew Text
In a site that overlooks the Elah Valley, where David slew Goliath with a well-aimed shot from a sling, archaeologists have discovered what they say is the oldest Hebrew text ever found. The discovery — by archaeologists Prof. Yossi Garfinkel and Sa'ar Ganor of Hebrew University — is being hailed as one of the most important finds in Israel since the Dead Sea Scrolls. The text, written in ink on a pottery shard, dates — according to Carbon-14 dating as well as chemical analysis of the pottery found at the site — from between 1,000 and 975 B.C. — the time of King David's reign. The writing, therefore, predates the Dead Sea Scrolls by about 1,000 years. [israelnationalnews.com]

A Post-Election Reflection

Well, it's over and Barack Obama is America's 44th President elect. We have had the opportunity to do what many in the world wish they could do -- elect a president through a democratic method without violence. We also anticipate a peaceful transition in leadership in our country.

It is time to put the united back in the United States. As followers of Christ, we do recognize that we have some major differences with President Elect Obama on issues regarding pro-life, and the fundamental make up of the family as God designed it. The violation of these Biblical principles will result in the further disintegration of society because it is impossible to build on a defective foundation.

These are not merely issues with which to experiment. This necessitates our ability to intelligently, coherently, and with love and compassion articulate why the sanctity of life and marriage are critical issues. It means that we must help change people's hearts on these issues rather than merely relying on government to do it for us. We need to remember that just because something is no longer listed as a crime, does not mean it isn't a sin against a Holy God who created us and this world. Just for the record, it is important to note that there are also issues on which we would agree with President Elect, Barack Obama.

So where do we go from here as followers of Christ? Here are five commitments which we need to make. (Note: I borrowed the first four on the list from Michael Hyatt - you can read his full blog here)

1. I will pray for him and our country.

2. I will assume his motives are good, giving him the benefit of the doubt.

3. I will not speak ill of him, even if I don’t always agree with him.

4. I will cast off the spirit of cynicism, and be a positive force for good. (Note: good post on cynicism if you want to follow that link)

5. I will study and develop and live a Christian world view so that I will be better able to articulate and represent Jesus Christ to my world.

Prayer is important because we are instructed to pray for our leaders and Barack Obama is facing some very challenges issues regarding the economy, health care, environmental issues, foreign policy, etc. He is going to have to make, and has already gone on record that he intends to make, decisions about issues which he has declared "above his pay grade."

Let's take this opportunity to model to our world how a Citizen of Heaven conducts himself or herself as a citizen of the United States of America.

Thanks to Those Who Helped at Tract or Treat

Behind the Scenes Look at the World Series

As many of you know, there was significant rain at the World Series held in Philadelphia on Monday night. In order to help get the field playable again, a rake manufactured by Midwest Rake Company LLC is shown being used. Midwest Rake is an organization run by Christians. The President of the company is Bill Henthorn. We went to college and played soccer together (so you have to know he is a young man!).

In the about us section on the company website they write, "We try to honor God in all we do. Although it’s often a struggle and we stumble and fall along the way, we thank God for the success of Midwest Rake Company and recognize the Bible as the best road map for living and doing business. No apologies. This does not make us better than anyone else, but it does mean that we try hard to work with others the way we would like them to work with us. We value relationships as well as sales."

If you want to read a bit more about this event, you can do so at BMH Editor's Blog (here). If you would like to read more about Midwest Rake Company LLC and their purpose, testimony and products go here. They have a strong purpose statement in a world of cheap products. We wish them God's best!

A Pre-Election Reflection

We have all heard promises from the presidential candidates telling us that they can fix the economy, war in the middle east, health care, education, lower taxes and raise spending on programs, plus a host of other remedies. These individuals would have to be supermen and a superwoman to be able to accomplish all of those things – plus part magician. There is no way that a president can fix all of the challenges facing America, and promising to do so by creating more government is not the solution. I believe that John Stossell is right – more government is often the problem, not the solution (see John Stossell's comments via video here).

So instead of listening to all of the promises and hoping that the candidate can deliver, we need to look at each candidate's record to see what each really believes on issues of substance. Which candidates will attempt to provide an environment which is least hostile to biblical values? No, we are not attempting to create a theocracy in America, but a place where the followers of Christ can carry out our responsibilities before God. A place where pre-born life is sacred as well as life in the waning years. A place where marriage is honored as sacred, and not a construct of human whim. A place where families can flourish built on the foundation of Biblical truth. There are other areas of importance, such as stewardship of God's earth, but this is a starting point for your consideration.

The apostle Paul writes to Timothy to urge every believer to pray for leaders in authority over us so that we may be able to lead "a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity" because God our Savior desires "all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:1-4).

So what should we do?

1. Pray for our current leaders, whether we agree with them or not, whether they are from our political party or not. Pray as they are seeking to lead our country, state, and local government.

2. Pray for the upcoming elections that God would place a President, Vice-President and Congress in office that would allow us to lead a "tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity" as we seek to help introduce people to Christ.

3. Prayerfully study each candidates voting record and how they have voted in the past, regardless of current rhetoric. I realize that individuals can change their views over time, but it is doubtful their views have changed much in recent years.

3. Vote for biblical principle rather than promises of economic prosperity. Jesus asked, what does it profit to gain the whole world but lose your soul? We dare not sell our soul for mere promises of economic prosperity, something which I doubt either candidate has a clue of what to do. Even the economists don't know what to do and are finding that their solutions often bring the wrong results.

4. Remember that God is still in control! He raises up kings, presidents and leaders and sets them aside. No matter who is voted into office, our job as followers of Christ hasn't changed. So we can find peace in times of turmoil for God still sits on His throne orchestrating the events of His world.

See you at the polls!

Congratulations to Jeremy Leatherman & Holly Shifler on their Wedding - 10/18/2008

Please pray for Holly & Jeremy as they begin their lives together built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

Living for Christ in an Hostile World

This past Sunday (10/19/2008) we were instructed from Scripture that we are living in an "unfriendly world." Gayle Williams, 34 years old, lived in a hostile world. She worked with an organization called SERVE (Serving Emergency Relief and Vocational Enterprises) in Afghanistan. On Monday (10/20/2008) she was shot and killed by two men on a motorbike in Kabul as she walked to work. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for issuing a decree that this woman had to be killed because she, as a Christian, was proselytizing. SERVE states that they do not proselytize because it is illegal. Their website states that their purpose is to ""SERVE Afghanistan's purpose is to express God's love and bring hope by serving the people of Afghanistan, especially the needy, as we seek to address personal, social and environmental needs."

We are reminded to "Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body." (Heb 13:3 NASB)

This is a good reminder to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Afghanistan and other parts of the world where there is extreme animosity toward followers of Christ. If you want information on fellow believers who are suffering, here is a link to check so that you can pray! Why not make this a regular category in your personal prayer time and with your family.

Book Review of "Through the Storm" by Lynne Spears

Book Review: "Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World" by Lynne Spears and Lorilee Craker. (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2008. 206 pages).

Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for this review.

This books is the story of Lynne Spears (mother of Britney, Jamie Lynn & Bryan) and is written to tell the rest of the story behind the lives of her celebrity family. It is not intended to be a parenting book. However, the reason I read the book was to try and learn some lessons of what happened and how to attempt to avoid the traps that led to such heartache (though Lynne points out that there were also many treasured times).

There are lessons to be learned about life and choices and parenting. For example, Lynne warns of the danger of alcoholism and how one beer at a cookout led her husband into a slow slide into alcoholism (p. 48). The reader will also see the results of other decisions as they are played out.

The book reveals the heart of a mother who loves her children and wants them to succeed. She wanted to help her children achieve their dreams, yet got sucked into the whirlpool of celebrity. This presents a challenge to parents to stop and ask and honestly answer the question, "where are we headed with our family?" This would make for a good discussion between parents from time to time to ask, "If we keep heading in this direction, where are we going to end up?"

The admonition to parents to savor the time with children is well emphasized. Life moves so fast and to often parents keep thinking that the next phase will be easier, or more enjoyable. Reading through this book reminds us all that our times with our children are moving fast as well.

Lynne explains what happened with Britney's meltdown and how an individual named Sam Lutfi was involved. You will need to read the book to understand what was behind the troubled soul that the media and paparazzi delighted in pursuing.

I read the book looking for insight into helping parents protect their children from disaster. Here are a two observations, there are more (gleaned from Regrets, page 189ff).

1) The need for daily exposure to God's Word and a committed relationship to a local church that teaches and encourages from Scripture (p. 189). This apparently was not a consistent part of life in the growing celebrity years. I believe there are many parents making the same mistake as they dash here and there for every sporting event, or pageant, or performance, or whatever as they try to help their child/ren reach for their dreams. Too often the things of God are made optional with disastrous result. A Biblical precept worth remembering, "what does it profit (a boy, girl, man, or woman) if he gains the whole world and loses his (or her) soul" (Mark 8:36)

2) Be the parent (p. 191). Parents often can be intimidated to feel that they are inadequate because they are not the "professionals." If a parent feels that something is not right, they need to intervene. This is true in the realm of education, sports, health, medicine, etc.

The book is an easy read and moves quickly. There are jumps back and forth in chronology, so the reader must stay awake. It is not a "tell-all" book, and in fact, is very gracious to those who have hurt the family deeply. It is a story of God's grace and redemption in progress through life, a story of which we all need to be reminded.

Dividing the House - Literally

A Cambodian couple apparently decided to conduct a "do-it-yourself" divorce because the country's divorce system is so corrupt and expensive. In order to divide the assets, the man literally "divided the house." The husband Meuon Rima, divided his house down the middle and left his ex-wife Nhang with the part that is pictured. He sought a divorce because his wife didn't take care of him when he was ill. The last that was seen of Meuon he was driving away from the village with his half of the house. Fortunately, Meuon did not see the need to take the same approach to their two teenaged children. Both of the children were left with Nhang.

Thanks Ashlee!

We want to thank Ashlee Taylor for her ministry in signing at Valley Grace. Ashlee moved back to Fort Campbell on Wednesday and expects to be there until March. Aaron (her husband) should be getting home in the middle of October. They are hoping to be back in Hagerstown for a month for his block leave and anticipates interpreting on those Sundays. We wish you Godspeed and will rejoice with you in Aaron's safe return.

Through the Storm - book by Lynne Spears

We have tragically watched the meltdown of Britney Spears and been informed that her unwed sister is having a baby. We had also heard that the Spears family was a Christian family. So what happened and what can we learn to prevent these kinds of events from impacting our own children? Thomas Nelson publishers has recently released a book by Lynne Spears, mother of Britney, and Jamie Lynn regarding her experience as a mother. When asked why Thomas Nelson would publish such a book, Michael Hyatt (CEO of Thomas Nelson) lists four reasons:

1. It is a fascinating story.

2. It is a warning to parents with children shuttled around from one activity to another.

3. It is a reminder that all parents make mistakes.

4. It is a book about faith because Lynne is a Christian and not afraid to admit it.

Michael Hyatt goes into more detail here. Note1: I have not read the book yet, but find Michael Hyatt to be credible in his perspective. Note 2: It does appear that through direct intervention, Britney Spears is on the road to recovery. We need to pray that she might be restored in her faith and have an opportunity to be a witness for Christ.

Church Library Additions

Here are some recent additions to the Church library, you are encouraged to take advantage the resources which are being provided.

How to Respond in Times of Crisis

We have experienced some traumatic events in America in the past week. We have seen the devastation that Hurricane Ike left in Texas and in other states. Officials are not sure of how much life has been lost and may be impossible to ever tell. We are able to catch a glimpse of the loss of property and possessions. We have observed a financial meltdown on Wall Street and reports of seven hundred billion dollars of investor money has been wiped out. There has been a tragic train accident in California. We look at the candidating process taking place in our government grow increasingly disgusted as ads for both sides turn even more negative, with hardly a solution to the challenges facing us as a country being given. On a personal note, there are individuals within our own church family facing some significant challenges related to health, jobs and other concerns. So how should we respond to these times of crisis? I appreciated what H.B. London shared in a recent email, so I pass on his points (with some editorial comments of my own).

1. Don't panic. Our faith is in God -- not government, nor money. The psalmist wrote "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change, and the mountains slip into the heart of the sea" (Psalm 46:1-2). Here's a thought - suppose neither presidential candidate is up to the task of handling the challenges that face America? Peggy Noonan has written a thought provoking article entitled "Why It's Getting Mean" with the subtitle: "supporters of both candidates doubt their man can do the job" (you can read it here). Our faith is not in a president but in Our God who can see us through the difficult times.

2. Encourage one another. Don't despair. We have a tremendous opportunity as believers in Christ to share our trust in God who is superintending the events of our world, even though we may not understand all that He is doing. His ultimate purpose is not to make our life easy, but to orchestrate events that will make us more receptive to turning to Him and walking closely with Him through the crisis of life.

3. Be Wise. Make smart decisions - the best that you can make to minimize your losses. Keep your credit card debt low (or better, non-existent). Save instead of spend and turn to trusted counsel. Determine what things are necessities and what things are luxuries. I read that the economy is beginning to affect the attendance in Major League Sports (here). People are making choices between food and fuel, versus the high cost of these entertainment events. There are a lot of opportunities in our own backyards for enjoyable experiences.

4. Increase Your Faith Practices. Don't miss church (you knew that would come - but H.B. mentioned it first - and its true). Sing, worship, pray, read, and assemble. "Give thanks in all circumstances" (1 Thess 5:18).

5. Remember that God knows your Situation. He cares about you. Don't fret. Jesus says, "who of you worrying can add a single hour to your life?" (Matt. 6:27). Paul writes, "May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way" (2 Thess. 3:16).

(Source for my expanded thoughts was from the Pastor's Weekly Briefing, September 19, 2008)

Brandon & Kelly Shank Join Valley Grace

We welcome Brandon & Kelly Shank officially into the membership of Valley Grace. They are pictured above with their two daughters, Aubrey & Caroline. Brandon & Kelly stay busy as small business owners and we appreciate also their ministry here at Valley Grace. We pray that we might be an encouragement to them in their walk with the Lord, and that God would use their gifts and abilities at Valley Grace as we seek to reach our community for Christ.

Midweek Ministries have Started

We had a great start for the Fall Midweek Ministries here at Valley Grace. I think Willie & Billie Jo deserve a Purple Heart. I count 7 youngsters with them! Conservative count was 144 in attendance.

Great Late Potentate is Coming to Valley Grace!

A children's musical, The Great Late Potentate is being planned for December 14, 2008. We are planning for two services on that Sunday, one at 9:00 am and another at 10:40 am. Children's Church has begun practicing the songs (if your child is planning to participate, and doesn't have practice materials, please contact the church office). We also anticipate that there will be a girl's choir and others involved in this event. The desire is to be able to invite those who don't have a church home to come and hear about the reason for Christ coming into our world.

How to Maintain Christian Faith in College (or High School)

If you have a young person in college, or preparing for college, here is a resource for you (this could be recommended for any parent). J. Budziszewski (pronounced Boojee-shef-skee - hereafter referred to as JB) is a professor at the University of Texas. He has written a hot seller entitled, How to Stay Christian in College and just recently published a second in the series, Ask Me Anything 2 (Navpress, 2008).

He is concerned about many Christian students who head to secular (or sometimes even "religious") colleges and aren't prepared to answer professors who attack their faith. For example, a professor might declare in class: "All of you students are too intelligent to be pro-life, right?" A threat seems to be implied that your grade will go down if you challenge the statement. JB states that in most of those situations, students are silent. Rule #1 is to "Speak Up."

He goes on to state that even the most bigoted professors often change their tone when they are challenged. He also states that other rules are "be logical," "be respectful," "keep it brief" and that you don't "have to win." He suggests a student might respond, "Sir, I understand the insult, but what is the argument?" JB also challenges students to respond to the "intolerance" diatribe by declaring, "Sir, if we had to tolerate everything, wouldn't we even have to tolerate intolerance? Don't we have to use standards to decide what is tolerable and what isn't? What are yours?" (World, September 6/13, 2008, p. 26)

Nebraska's New "Safe Haven" Law

Nebraska has recently instituted a "safe-haven" law which allows parents who have unwanted children to leave them at hospitals with no questions asked. This law can be applied to any child under 19 years of age. This would allow parents who have an unwanted baby, a disabled child, an unruly teenager, hormonal teenager, etc., to leave the child/ren at a hospital. [from christianpost.com]

New Chronological Study Bible Released by Thomas Nelson

Here is a quote from Pastor's Weekly Briefing about this Bible:

"While chronological Bibles, such as the NIV One Year Chronological Bible (1995) have been published in the past, The Chronological Study Bible published by Thomas Nelson is the first study Bible to present the text of the New King James Version in the order of events as they occurred with notes, articles, timelines, maps, charts and full-color illustrations. As an example of some of the changes in the format, whole sections of Isaiah and Nehemiah are reordered to better reflect the historical timeline; the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are merged into one, based on Mark's chronology; and some of Paul's letters are woven into the book of Acts."

While many Christians find a Bible arranged according to historical events very helpful for understanding the context, some scholars have expressed concern about the new format. "I do think you do lose something when you start demolishing any book of the Bible," said Richard Hess, professor of Old Testament at Denver Seminary. "You lose the literary and theological context." (quoted from Pastor's Weekly Briefing, August 29, 2008)

Sometimes reading passages in chronological order can be helpful in understanding the flow of Biblical history. This might be a helpful Bible to use to read through the Bible in a year.

Ryston & Anna Williamson

We ask that you might remember Ryston Williamson as Anna has been promoted into her Savior's presence on August 27, 2008. Anna & Ryston had been married for 64 years. You can read more of her background and leave a note of encouragement here.

Mr. & Mrs. Brian Fike

Congratulations to Brian and Jessica who were married on July 4th. They both attend the First Service because of Brian's work schedule and live in Waynesboro, PA. Brian works for Ryan Homes and Jessica is working at First Data. We wish them God's best in their journey together!

Ministry Teams - Introduction

One of the necessary prerequisites for Christian growth and maturity is the exercise of spiritual gifts and abilities for the Lord (Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Cor 12). In an effort to do a better job of providing opportunities for using your gifts, we are developing Ministry Teams. These teams include: Missions Team, Worship & Music Team, Property Team, Finance Team, Welcome & Hospitality Team, Christian Education Team, Care Team, Communications Team.

All of these teams obviously, cannot be developed at the same time and some are already functioning. The Missions Team has recently had an organizational meeting to think through opportunities and strategy. The Worship & Music team is planning a meeting to begin to begin its development. The other teams will be organized as we feel that we have been able to get these two functioning well.

A few of these teams are already functioning such as the Care Team (overseen by the Deacons & Deaconesses), the Finance Team, (overseen by the finance officers), the Property Team (overseen by the Trustees).

The purpose of these Ministry Teams is to provide opportunities for each person to use the gifts that God has given. Our current emphasis is to get the structure in place to make these teams effective. Your prayer are appreciated! You will be kept informed so that you can participate in an area where you feel God is directing. (More specific information about each team will be shared in future entries).

Church Security Update

Beginning next week (8/25/08), church keys will no longer provide access to the church building. If you need access and have not obtained an access card from the office, please do so and turn in your old key. This is not to prohibit access to those needing to enter the building, but is part of a larger initiative to provide for better safety and security for those who fellowship with us. We certainly live in a different day than when church doors were open 24/7. We thank the Security Team for their continuing work on this project.

Transcript to Civil Forum at Saddleback

If you do not have a high speed internet connection (or want to be able to read through the answers to the forum) here is a link to the transcript: here

It is interesting that a number of secular pundits are having problems with the venue - DeWayne Wickham of USA Today for example: here

Interview Links for Barack Obama & John McCain from Saddleback Civil Forum

It is important to be an informed voter as we consider the election of 2008. Obviously, most campaign adds are not very helpful. Pastor Rick Warren (of Saddleback Community Church) held a Civil Forum in which both Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain were asked serious questions about issues that matter and these candidates were able to respond. This was not a debate forum, but an opportunity to for each candidate to respond individually the questions. Each candidate was interviewed for about one hour. I would encourage you to listen to both candidates, regardless of your political preference. You will undoubtedly learn some things about each of them that you were not aware. The links to the four parts are listed below. (Note: you will need a fast internet connection for this to work)

Forum - Obama Part 1

Forum - Obama Part 2

Forum - McCain Part 3

Forum - McCain Part 4

Son of Hamas Leader Turns Back on Islam and Embraces Christianity

An interesting article on Foxnews about a young man who was raised Muslim and has embraced Christianity. He understands the concept of leaving family and taking up his cross. You can read the short interview or watch the video of the interview here.

What is a Grace Brethren Church?

. . . A Grace Brethren Church is a local assembly of believers in Jesus Christ who are affiliated with the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, or its counterpart Fellowship in other nations, and are committed to:

1. One another as a spiritual family;
2. The Statement of Faith as a summary of our biblical beliefs and practice.
3. The practice of triune-immersion baptism and three-fold communion (because we believe the Bible teaches these - grammatically and theologically and Church history supports this, not because we have "always done it this way").
4. Oversight by an elder (or elders) who fulfill(s) scriptural qualifications.
5. The observance of regular worship services.

The purpose of a local church is the worship of God, the edification and fellowship of believers, and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

A Grace Brethren Church is not part of a denomination, but it is part of a Fellowship of Churches. This means that each local church is autonomous and self-governing. There is no outside hierarchy that controls it, though the local church voluntarily works with other churches in the Fellowship to accomplish things which would be difficult to do on its own such as missions, youth events, Ministerium support, and other events. We also work with other churches which are committed to following Christ.

(adapted from an article by Jerry R. Young – AGBM, Summer 2008)

Is 99% of the Truth Good Enough?

A certain Senator has affirmed that he told 99% of the truth regarding his infidelity, though even that assertion seems to be unraveling quickly (Note: please stop and pray for his wife and for his family in this crisis). The point seems to be that 99% of the truth is more than good enough -- that it is honorable. That thought process is probably true for many Americans and even many Christians. Yet Scripture instructs us that our "Yes" is to be "Yes" and our "No" is to be "No" (Matt 5:37 & James 5:12). God instructs us to be 100% truth tellers because He always tells the truth and we are to show the family trait of truth telling. That also includes attempting to give deceptive responses.

Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, {10} and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him. (Col 3:9-10 NASB)

This sad event is a reminder to all of us to make sure that we are people of integrity. Let's make sure that as followers of Jesus Christ that our "Yes" is 100% "Yes" and our "No" is 100% "No". Of course, this doesn't even begin to address the importance of marital fidelity.

New Stage in Ryan Martin's Life

You are encouraged to remember Ryan Martin in prayer as he leaves this weekend for the FBI Academy

Importance of Fathers @ Church

A statement made from a study in Switzerland is, "If a father does not go to church, no matter how regular the mother is in her religious practices, only one child in 50 becomes a regular church attendee." You know the condition of the church in that country. (from David T. Olson's book entitled, The American Church in Crisis)

Post Card from Alicia Womack - Mission's Trip

Alicia writes: "Dear Valley Grace Family, Thank you so much for your prayers and support for our ministry here in Chuuk. We are having a wonderful time building relationships with the children at camp. They are so engaged with the Bible stories. You have truly made an impact by sharing in the work of the gospel with me. God Bless."

Congratulations to Jesse Taylor & Cathy Rodger on their Engagement

Jesse & Cathy are planning a January 2008 wedding which will be officiated by Cathy's father here at Valley Grace.

Absolute Lunacy And Maybe Headed Your Way!

Colorado's governor, Bill Ritter recently signed Senate Bill 200 which expands “anti-discrimination” law to cover sexual orientation, meaning not only homosexuality or bisexuality, but also “transgender status or another person’s perception thereof.” It appears from the language of the bill that it would allow men to enter into women's restrooms, locker rooms and other public accommodations (and of course vice versa) if they feel that they are "transgender." There is no legal definition of what "transgender" is. It is a matter of self-identification which means you can't prove it or disprove it. Included in the bill are prohibitions of making anyone feel uncomfortable with their status or the appearance of discrimination. According to Ross Kaminsky, a company who advertises showing a traditional family as a graphic, could be sued by someone claiming that they were offended by this discrimination. So, some middle school or high school guy decides that today he is "transgender" he then can go into the girls locker room and attempt to shower with them without any discipline, and if anyone complains, they can be accused of discrimination. (You can read more from Ross Kaminsky here)

Congratulations to Jeremy Leatherman & Holly Shifler on their Engagement

Jeremy & Holly are planning an October wedding

Congratulations to Josh Miller & Lindsay Hicks on their Engagement!

Josh & Lindsay are planning a December wedding in Florida

Benefits to $4 Gas?!!

As many of you, I have been giving thought to the rise in energy and gasoline prices. Obviously, there are some serious concerns to families, and businesses, but there are also some benefits to higher gas prices. TIME magazine has an article entitled "10 Things You Can Like About $4 Gas". Here are a few of their observations:

1. Globalized Jobs return home = the cost of shipping is becoming so expensive that producing items oversees with cheaper labor costs and shipping to the US is causing companies to rethink their strategies - could be good for US job market
2. Sprawl Stalls = instead of building homes all over the farm lands, more people are going to choose to live closer to their work.
3. Four Day Work Weeks = companies are finding that they can save significantly on utilities an other expenses by going to a four day work week. This also has implications for telecommuting
   
4. Less Pollution = self explanatory
5. More Frugality = people are rethinking the "throw-away" society in which we live. They are becoming more intentional. I think this could also impact families making more intentional decisions about spending, sports involvement, doing more family things at home or close by rather than feeling the need for expensive entertainment.

Other benefits, according to TIME magazine - fewer traffic deaths, less traffic, and better health due to more walking.

What are your thoughts? What benefits do you see about more expensive gas (and energy). It is probably here to stay so we are going to need to learn how to live with it! You can leave a comment on this blog - (comments are moderated to keep out spam, so may take a bit for it to show up). By the way, if you wish to read the full TIME article, here is the link.

Two Men and Their Toys!

Thanks, Ray & John!

Workday Clean up

Wanted to say a big THANKS to youth and some adults who helped to do clean up around the church. Many of the youth who are going to Momentum (BNYC) were involved, as well as some adults - Steve Keener, John Saunders, Pastor Ray, Pastor Allen. Mulching was done, modular front cleaned, wood chips on the hillside contoured, flower beds weeded. Really looks so much better! PS - thanks to Greenscape for supplying the mulch, truck and additional tools!

Two Bible Publishers Being Sued by Gay Man

This just caught my attention! A gay man is suing Zondervan Publishing for $60 million and Thomas Nelson $10 million for violating his constitutional rights and causing him emotional pain because the versions that they publish refer to homosexuality as a sin. According to The Grand Rapids Press<, the lawsuits were filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Bradley LaShawn Fowler of Canton, Mich., claims that the Bible has ostracized him from his family and contributed to physical discomfort and periods of "demoralization, chaos and bewilderment." Zondervan has said that Fowler is suing the wrong party because Zondervan does not translate the Bible, they are publishers. U.S. District Judge Julian Abele Cook Jr. says the court "has some very genuine concerns about the nature and efficacy of these claims." We may think this is an "off-the-wall" lawsuit today, but this appears to be where our society is headed. Recently Canada prosecuted a pastor who spoke out and has been charged with hate speech (not necessarily agreeing with all of his position - I don't know enough about the story). [story reported here]