Grace Notes

2012-01-27T10:58:00.000-08:00

Urban Hope Work Weekend - Thanks for your prayers and support to make this possible. Great to hear again what God is doing in downtown Philadelphia. We are planning to return for the Street Carnival April 20-22 which is an opportunity to make connections for Christ. This is open for youth through adults. More information to come. A link to additional pictures from the Urban Hope Work Weekend is HERE.

The team repaired the ceiling and lighting in the youth center, worked on repairing leaks in the youth center basement, painting, patching walls and electrical and plumbing repairs throughout the church, youth center, and housing facilities.

4 Message Sermon Series

2012-01-19T11:41:00.000-08:00

We will take four weeks beginning on January 29, 2012 to study together "Marriage Matters." This will be a reminder of God's design for marriage. The topics and dates are listed in the above slide. We plan to return to our Galatians study "Grace-Filled Living" on March 4th.

Thanks to all for a Great Christmas Season @ Valley Grace!

2011-12-29T18:17:00.000-08:00

The Christmas Eve service was a special time for pausing and reflecting on Jesus' birth. Thank you to all who participated to in the service as well as the planning and preparation including decorating for the event.

So grateful also for those who came to share in the Christmas Sunday service. The choir, and all the special music was truly appreciated. The Praise Team did a great job in leading us in music. Thank you for taking the extra time to rehearse to make it a great day. Well done, Valley Grace!

Christmas Letter to Valley Grace Church Family

2011-12-24T10:21:00.000-08:00

Pam and I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you our Christmas letter to the Valley Grace Church family. In order to read a full PDF please click HERE. (Note: we wish we could continue the tradition of the past in sending a personal card to each family who has made Valley Grace their home church. But it has just become impossible and so following the suggestion of some individuals, we have made available a letter which was inserted in the bulletin this past week.)

Reflection and Celebration of a Job Well Done!

2011-12-20T05:58:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to celebrate a job well done, Valley Grace! Thanks to all who made Sunday's Services so special. The extra space for the Second Service was truly a blessing, both for seating and also for being able to spend some time in talking with folks and people movement. (photo: Elizabeth Draper)

Behind the scenes, special gift baskets were prepared for some individuals whom Valley Grace has been impacting. Included were homemade selections.

Thanks also for your generosity in providing Christmas gifts to two families at Hickory Elementary School and also Lincolnshire. The contacts from those schools who picked up the items were impressed by what you have done.

Thank you for your investment in the lives of people to introduce them to the Jesus who gave everything that we might experience His life in us!

Construction Celebration & Dedication Phase 1A

2011-12-01T06:10:00.001-08:00

On Sunday evening, November 20, during our All Church Prayer & Praise Event, we had the opportunity to thank God for His provision through you, His people, for our additional facilities. Thank you to the Expansion Committee, the Decorating Committee (who found unbelievable bargains through their meticulous research), our sub-contractors, and many who worked so hard to make it possible. Thank you for your faithful giving to make this added space available for continued ministry opportunities. Willie Marker offered a prayer of thanksgiving and dedication on behalf of the Valley Grace family to the Lord.

The purpose of this expansion was to provide: additional nursery space, additional meeting space, better people flow in and out of the building, handicapped/family bathroom, a place to gather, and to upgrade our electrical capacity which we had maxed out.

Local contractors were: Larry & Sons Plumbing & Heating, Ellsworth Electric, Jeter Paving, Crown Painting, Dorsey Brothers.

Thank you for your faithful support which allows us to serve and minister more effectively!

Sunday Worship at Seacoast Church ~ Myrtle Beach, SC

2011-11-29T06:49:00.000-08:00

Pam and I had the privilege of worshiping on Sunday (11/27) with the church family at Seacoast Church in Myrtle Beach, SC. Fabulous story of God's provision of this facility in a prime location. It had been a training center for a corporation. The price they paid for the land and property was probably what just the land alone was worth. They had been renting space and the cost of renting was just about equivalent to the cost of their mortgage on this place. It also included the remnants of a deli type place with space for offices and a great area that has been turned into the children's ministry area. Rejoicing with them in what God has provided as they seek to build Jesus' church in Myrtle Beach!

Week Wrap Up ~ 2011.11.11

2011-11-11T06:48:00.001-08:00

Thanks to all who came out last Sunday evening for our All Church Prayer and Praise (Concert of Prayer). Great time together praying about the ministries which are taking place and being informed of what God is doing locally. Some great testimonies! Special thanks to Praise Team who helped to lead us and took extra time to prepare. Well Done!

Another good evening on Wednesday night of Family Night Ministries. Thanks to all who serve, whether driving the van, crossing guard, food preparation, AWANA, JV & Varsity Boys, Girls of Grace, etc. We are grateful for this ministry and its outreach.

And since this is posted on Veteran's Day, we do want to express great appreciation to all who have served and are serving in the armed forces which make it possible for us to enjoy our freedoms.

Weekend Review of Ministry at Valley Grace

2011-11-04T08:37:00.000-07:00

(pictures from memorial service for Dee Shillingberg) - click to enlarge

Thanks so much to the Valley Grace church family who served Dee's family and friends through her memorial service.

Our fearless AWANA Commander (Ed Imes) in dreadlocks - no less. Great job to all on family night ministries.

Brighten the Night ~ Report

2011-10-28T19:04:00.000-07:00

Great job church in serving the community through the Brighten the Night event which runs in conjunction with the annual "Trick or Treat" night in our neighborhood. Somewhere between 250-300 hot dogs served (ran out of buns for the last dozen or so hot dogs, so they were "hot dogs on a napkin"). Many bags of popcorn were handed out as well as candy with a tract. Face painting and moon bounce were also part of the evening. Thanks for all who worked to make it a success. It was interesting hearing comments from folks from the community who had been directed up our way. More pictures of the evening - HERE.

Well Done ~ Valley Grace!

2011-09-27T12:09:00.001-07:00

The Valley Grace Church family was involved in two significant events on Saturday.

Mark McAbee Memorial Service held at Valley Grace. The family did a tremendous job with celebrating Mark's life and also pointing folks to the importance of knowing Christ and walking with Him in this life. Big "Thank You" to all who helped with set up, food, serving, clean up, sound, etc.

Convoy of Hope. Approximately 40+ individuals from Valley Grace were involved with folks from other churches in the area in serving our community with Convoy of Hope. Here is a link done by one of the area churches - click here.

Learning Lessons from a Marriage Fight

2011-08-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

Have you ever had a "disagreement" with your spouse? Better question, when was the last time you had a fight with your spouse? What did you learn from it? Michael Hyatt has a great post entitled "What I Learned About Leadership from a Fight With My Wife." Michael and Gail Hyatt have been married for thirty-three years. They truly enjoy each other's company, but they had a "doozy" (Michael's word) of a fight. Michael identifies 5 lessons which he wants to remember for future use. These five are important for all of us to consider.

1. Clarify our expectations up front: too often we have differing expectations and our spouse doesn't know what we anticipate. Our spouse can't read our mind, but we some how assume that they should know - if they really loved me, they would figure it out!

2. Assume the best about the each other: that is one of the statements about love from 1 Corinthians 13 - "believes all things." That is, believes the best about the other. We should not assume that our spouse is doing something intentionally to make us miserable!

3. Affirm the priority of the relationship: our relationship is the most important asset that we have. It ought to be more important than "getting our way."

You can read Michael's comments (HERE) on the above as well as the final two lessons. They can make for a great discussion if you take the time to sit down and talk about these things -- even before the "fight" begins. It could help to prevent the escalation as well as serve to prevent those battles. Take time to also read through the comments to his post.

Moving Toward Grace Filled Conversations

2011-08-12T11:10:00.000-07:00

The Setting: Bill Hybels from Willow Creek Church hosts a leadership seminar, Summit. Howard Schultz from Starbucks was to be one of the speakers. Apparently a petition with over 717 signatures was sent to Howard Schultz declaring that Willow Creek was "anti-gay" and that he should not be present. Schultz decided to cancel his contractual engagement.

In the video clip below, Bill Hybels graciously responds and reminds us that the church is not called to be "anti" anyone. The doors of our churches should have "welcome" to everyone who comes across them. That does not mean that we are called to affirm the lifestyle choices, but we are called to graciously invite them to become a follower of Jesus Christ. We are called to challenge everyone to become a follower of Jesus Christ and to live out the principles of Scripture. As Hybels points out, there is a great deal of confusion and brokenness in our fallen world. He states, "at Willow we honor the journey of everyone who is trying to follow Christ."

I loved the fact that he encouraged his audience to write letters of appreciation and invitation to Howard Schultz, rather than those filled with vitriol because of his business decision. An oh, by the way, he encouraged them to buy a cup of Starbucks coffee.

We are living in a world which is becoming more and more antagonistic to principles which God has espoused. We need to learn how to hold a graceful conversation with individuals who are not following those principles and prayerfully endeavor to lead them to Christ. Please take the time to look at the video clip below, as a pattern for grace.

The Importance of Church Community

2011-08-04T19:33:00.000-07:00

There is a tendency among some people who claim to be followers of Christ to think that they can live the Christian life without being connected to a local body of believers. This connection is much more than arriving a few minutes after the service has started and then quickly heading back out the door until the following week, or schedules allow for another visit. John writes, "... that which we have seen and heard we proclaim to you, so that you also may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:1-3).

The point that John is making is that believers are to have a connection with other Christians. Those who are false Christians leave the church fellowship (1 John 2:19). It is within the local church body that followers of Christ have the opportunity to get to know, serve and love other followers of Christ.

One of the reasons for constructing the lobby area with tables and coffee is so that there is a place where it is possible to sit down at a table and spend some time getting to know other followers of Christ. It is a place to connect, to share praises and prayer, and you are encouraged to take the time to make it work. This might mean arriving earlier so as to have some time to connect or perhaps even staying a bit later. (Perhaps we need to rename it to "Cafe" which gives more of the idea that this is a place to linger and spend some time investing in the lives of other believers). Obviously, not all connection needs to happen within the walls of the church building, but this is certainly a good place to look for opportunities to invest in the lives of people who are part of the Valley Grace community.

Prayer Requested for Christian Pastor Sentenced to Death

2011-07-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani has been sentenced to death for his faith in Christ. He is charged with "apostasy." Please pray for him and his family. You can read more about it here and other followers of Christ who are persecuted at Persecution.com.

Momentum Has Begun - Please Pray!

2011-07-13T08:34:00.001-07:00

(Youth been given "final instructions") - Please be in prayer for our youth and leaders as well as other young people who are at Momentum (Youth Conference) this week that God would work in each of their lives in a special way. We have already been made aware of God's involvement!

The Church is the World's Most Powerful Weapon Against AIDS ~ by Rick Warren

2011-07-08T12:32:00.001-07:00

Rick Warren advocates that the church has the greatest opportunity to provide the fullest support to individuals who have contracted AIDS, whether through personal choices in life, or the choices that were made by others. You can read about it HERE.

Thanks to OB!

2011-07-07T12:40:00.000-07:00

We appreciate the ministry of Operation Barnabas - short as it was! They had a good ministry at Antietam Recreation, then about a half hour program at City Park before the rain set in. On Friday morning, half of the group helped with clean up around the church from construction. Also, thanks to Drapers for taking them to that great historic site: Nutters in Sharpsburg on Thursday evening! ;-)

Happy Church Ministry Vignette @ Valley Grace

2011-06-16T07:16:00.000-07:00

It was our privilege to have some of the youth of the Happy Church stay with us over the weekend. The Drama Team did three presentations and Pastor Mike preached between those events. Here is a clip of the experience. Great to have the opportunity to reconnect with them! Thanks to all who hosted them.

Valley Grace Block Party 2011.06.11

2011-06-14T15:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who helped put together the Block Party Kick off for VBS. Well done with the set up, the food, the staffing, the take down. Thanks also for those who helped with cleaning up from drywall dust, etc.

Urban Hope 2011 Video

2011-06-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks for all who served. Here is the recap!

Valley Mall Shoe Project

2011-05-26T08:17:00.000-07:00

Thanks to those who participated and those who gave financially to make this possible. Information about Valley Grace was handed out as well as information about the upcoming VBS. Please pray for those who were contacted to come to know our Savior!

Church Ministries Pastor

2011-05-25T09:54:00.001-07:00

We look forward to Pastor Doug & Barb serving the Lord with us here at Valley Grace. Pastor Doug's role will be to assist all those involved in ministry as well as to help with the development of future ministry.

Mother~Daughter Luncheon

2011-05-18T06:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who made the Mother~Daughter Luncheon a possibility. Great Job! Thanks also go men who served.

Dr. John C. Whitcomb ~ Speaking at Valley Grace - 50th Anniversary of "The Genesis Flood" (book)

2011-05-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

50 years ago on February 20, 1961 the first copies of "The Genesis Flood" were shipped by the publisher. "The Genesis Flood" book was on the cutting edge of the Creation Movement -- the understanding that God created the heaven and earth in six literal days and that our world could be understood from that perspective. The evolutionary theory is not more "scientific" than believing that God created the world just as He said He did in Genesis 1 & 2. Both Creationism and Evolution are faith based. The ramifications of one's choice of belief in origins are far reaching. Dr. Whitcomb will be preaching on Sunday May 15th at both the 8:15 & 10:40 service. The regular 9:30 Sunday School hour will include a question and answer time.

Answers in Genesis has more information on the significance of the Genesis Flood which you can read HERE.

Missions' Team to Urban Hope

2011-04-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

Please be in prayer for the 24 individuals who left Valley Grace to minister at Urban Hope this weekend. Please pray for their safety and most of all, that there would be people introduced to our Savior. (You can click on the image for an enlargement)

AWANA Awards Night 2011 wrap up

2011-04-07T07:14:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all for a great year in ministry through AWANA. This is one of our best years. Those standing in this picture are individuals who have invested their time in teaching boys and girls for Christ. More pictures HERE.

Youth Spaghetti Dinner & Show

2011-04-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

Wanted to thank each person who was involved in the Youth Spaghetti Dinner & Show. It was an excellent event - great food, entertainment and fellowship. Thanks to all who came to help support youth for Youth Conference. From the numbers I received, there were 140+ who were served. The Show was truly enjoyable, from the praise time to the entertainment. More pictures HERE.

A Plan to Live Your Life on Purpose

2011-03-31T18:36:00.000-07:00

Do you feel that your life is out of control? That you are running around with a calendar that is filled, and fall into bed wondering if you have accomplished anything that has significance during the day? Most people spend more time planning their vacation than they spend planning their life. Michael Hyatt has written a very helpful ebook with the goal of providing a "step-by-step guide for developing the Life You've always wanted." He outlines how to plan your life with regard to spiritual, family, work, etc., goals and provides worksheets on how to do it. I highly recommend that you grab this free resource while it is available, and invest the time in developing your own life plan -- effective for any and every age. You can go HERE for more information and to download your copy of this resource while it is available.

Virginity Making a Comeback, Report Says

2011-03-04T13:10:00.000-08:00

An article in MSNBC indicates that a CDC study has found that virginity is making a comeback in some age groups. According to the report,

Researchers found that between 2006 and 2008, the percentage of 15- to 24-year-old men who had never had any form of sexual contact with another person was 27 percent (up from 22 percent in 2002) while the percentage of 15- to 24-year-old females who had never had any sex whatsoever was 29 percent (up 7 percent points from 22 percent in 2002).

There is a great deal of teaching that needs to be done instructing our young people on the truths of God's gift of intimacy for marriage. If you want to read more of the study, you can do so HERE.

Pastor Tom Nelson tells his story of Clinical Depression

2011-02-24T11:16:00.000-08:00

Pastor Tom Nelson tells his story of experiencing clinical depression. He talks about what got him there, what he had to do to begin healing, and steps to take to keep from getting into clinical depression. This is a very insightful and helpful story.

You can watch the video (here) or download the mp3 (here).

If you have been through clinical depression, and would be willing to talk to someone going through it, please contact me. If you think that you are going through clinical depression and want to talk to someone who has been in that "black hole" (as Tom Nelson calls it) and gotten out, I will try to link you up.

Husband's Responsibilities to his Wife in Headship

2011-02-23T07:02:00.000-08:00

This past week we looked at God's design for the roles of a Christian husband and wife. We focused primarily on the headship responsibilities of a husband to his wife. Here are seven areas of focus as a reminder:

Honor her Maritally: not flirting, no wandering eye
Honor her Physically: she is weaker, don't hit, shove, push or grab
Honor her Verbally: no nasty nicknames, don't raise voice or threaten
Honor her Financially: provide for her, pay bills, don't be stingy
Honor her Practically: maintain the house and car, and other responsibilities
Honor her Parentally: love your kids, help raise them, spend time with sons & daughters
Honor her Spiritually: pray with her, read the Bible with her, encourage her spiritual growth.

You can read more as laid out by Mark Driscoll (HERE)

Monday Morning Reflections ~ 2/21/2011

2011-02-21T07:51:00.000-08:00

Praise Team again did a great job of leading us in praise before our God.
Focused our study on "The Role of a Husband & Wife in a Christian Marriage" - Part 3 of Marriage as it was Meant to Be.
"Thank You" to Bonnie Leigh for sharing insights on marriage in her video testimony.
Thanks to all of you who are helping to support our youth in raising funds to go to Youth Conference!
Great time of Church Worship & Prayer on Sunday evening. Thank you to Jeff Rowe, Steve Taylor, Praise Band, and those of you who came an prayed. Awesome!

Expansion Update 2011 - Link

2011-02-18T12:11:00.000-08:00

We are planning on trying to take some pictures as progress is being made on the expansion project here at Valley Grace. They will be available at the following link if you want to take a look from time to time: (Click Here)

Some Thoughts on Book "Heaven is for Real"

2011-02-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

This book maybe a good read and a fascinating read. It may be well written and an interesting story. What concerns me is that for me, the title infers that now we know heaven is real because of the experience of this boy. From what I see in Scripture, experience is not the proof that Scripture is accurate or false because it is very possible to misinterpret our experience/s. Jesus said in Luke 16:31 "... If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead" (NASB). Peter writing in 2 Peter 1:19 says that we "have the prophetic word more sure, to which you do well to pay attention..." (NASB). I realize that there is some discussion over what that means precisely, but a very good understanding is that the Word of God is more sure than personal experience (e.g. Mount of Transfiguration referred to in 2 Peter 1:16-17).

I recall reading a number of years ago an editorial from a Time magazine editor who was involved in a horrific car accident in Australia and he was not a believer at all. He claimed to have had an out of the body experience, and saw a bright light, etc., and found it to be a very calming experience. His take away, no worries about the afterlife, everything will be fine. People who subscribe to false cults claim the same experiences. The book "Heaven is for Real" may be a good story and told very well. But for me, the bottom line is that we know heaven is for real because "the Bible tells me so."

Valley Grace Ministry trip to Urban Hope 1/28-30, 2011

2011-02-15T08:47:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your support for the ministry team from Valley Grace to Urban Hope. It was a great weekend. Note: apologies for the thumbnail, that was automatically selected by youtube and I am not sure how to change it!)

Monday Morning Reflections ~ 1/17/2011

2011-01-17T06:34:00.001-08:00

Thanks to all for a great weekend.

Saturday: Tremendous job of hospitality for the Memorial service for Mrs. Edna Stickler. Thanks to those who prepared and served food, clean up, etc. A great ministry to the family.

Sunday: Thanks to all who ministered on Sunday - Sunday School & Children's Church teachers, praise team, and music ministry. The challenge from God's Word was to live a life of purpose as directed in Titus 3:9-15 (esp. v 14). A reminder that "The Good News should produce Good Life."

We received into membership: George & Peggy Mongan, Susan Mongan, Jodi Ramsey, Ashley
Taylor. We look forward to continuing to serve the Lord together at Valley Grace.

Thanks to those who planned and hosted the youth group on Sunday evening.

A Christmas Opportunity

2010-12-17T09:56:00.000-08:00

Top Five Times People Are Open To Considering Matters Of Faith…

#5 – After the birth of a baby (28%)
#4 – After a natural disaster (34%)
#3 – After a major national crisis i.e. 9/11 (38%)
#2 – During the Easter season (38%)
#1 – During the Christmas season (47%)

Our prayer is that we will EMBRACE this opportunity (because found people find people). Research ALSO shows that the #1 way a person will receive information about a church is through the PERSONAL INVITE from a friend or family member. Let’s pursue them like Jesus pursued us!!!

Amazing iPhone and iPad Band Playing Christmas Carols

2010-12-16T07:27:00.000-08:00

This is a pretty cool use of technology. Wonder if I get an iPad if I could play like this?

The Danger of Live Animals in Christmas Pageants!

2010-12-16T07:21:00.000-08:00

It probably seemed like a good idea at the time.

Teaching Generosity at Home

2010-12-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

Christmas is an ideal opportunity to be reminded of the opportunity to learn generosity. Dr. Tim Elmore has provided a guest post on how to help children learn to be generous at Christmas. He suggests the following:

1. Start a new tradition with your children in helping them create a list of gifts they plan to give away to others. These may include gifts which they purchase with their own money or something which they treasure.

2. Suggest that for every gift they put on their wish list, they get to plan to give one of their own toys or electronic device (which is fully functional) to another less fortunate child.

3. The author shares that one set of parents he knows had their children go through all their toys one December and make two piles -- one pile to give away and the second they felt worth keeping. Then the parents talked about sacrificial giving and suggested that the children give away the pile of toys they had planned to keep.

As parents and adults, what are the ways that we can practice and model generosity in the name of Jesus this Christmas season?

Thanks to so many of you who have been involved in sharing with your neighbors, Operation Christmas Child, through the ministry of Valley Grace and in many other ways. May we continue to learn generosity and what it means to give!

PS - if you would like to read the full blog post from Dr. Tim Elmore, you can find it here.

Youth Progressive Christmas Dinner

2010-12-08T08:55:00.000-08:00

Just a note to say a big "THANK YOU" to all of you who helped to make Youth Progressive Dinner a reality. Thanks to those of you who cooked, opened homes, drove vehicles, etc. Truly amazing. Unfortunately, this is about the only picture I have of the evening. If you have one from the event, we could link to it, especially if it is on facebook.

Midweek Ministries Reflection

2010-12-02T08:05:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to express great thanks and appreciation for all who are involved in midweek ministries in so many ways! You are truly making an impact with your investment into the lives of children and youth and adults. Please continue to pray for this ministry.

Monday Morning Reflections:

2010-11-22T08:15:00.000-08:00

* Saturday - Shoe Project @ Valley Mall. Approximately 60 pairs of shoes were given out in Jesus' Name on Saturday to children from Lincolnshire district. Please pray for these families with needs. Thank you to each one who participated and ministered for Christ.

* Sunday Morning - we reflected on the fact that Thanksgiving is to be intentional and is to include giving thanks for who God is as well as for what he has done (Psalm 111).

* Townhall Meeting Sunday evening: 1) The decision was made to go forward with the Expansion Project to provide additional space for education, nurseries, a handicapped bathroom (ADA compliant), and better traffic flow. 2) The decision was made to begin the search process for a part-time Church Ministries Pastor whose responsibility it is to support those involved in ministry (Ephesians 4:11-16).

* Thanksgiving Praise Service: thanks to all who participated and who came. It was a great evening of sharing testimonies, special music, a skit and fellowship time following.

Urban Hope ~ A Day to Change the City

2010-11-04T06:17:00.000-07:00

"Urban Hope needs over $50,000 this year to keep this ministry impacting lives for eternity. That is not a random or made up number. As we have done our annual budgeting, there is a significant financial need of $50,000. Thanks for helping be a catalyst for change where it is needed the most." -- From a letter dated October 2010 from Ed Lewis, Director of CE National which oversees Urban Hope Ministry.

If you would like more information or to watch some of videos of lives that are being changed, you can go here: http://www.adaytochangethecity.org/

If you would like to contribute to this need, you may give directly to CE National (envelopes available in the foyer) or mark your offering envelope "Urban Hope." We desire to get this collected and sent in by the middle of November.

Some Miscellaneous Thoughts for the Day

2010-11-03T06:05:00.000-07:00

* Thanks for all who took part in "Tract or Treat" on Thursday, 11/28. Around 230 bags of candy were handed out along with Tracts. Please ask God to continue to use this outreach in the lives of folks from our community. Thanks, Eric, for organizing this!

* I appreciate so much the time and effort that the Praise Team is putting into learning music and leading us in praise to our God! It takes extra time, but thank you for using your talents to draw us closer to our God.

* Thanks to ER for putting together a very nice Convoy of Hope video which was shown on Sunday. I'm sorry for the glitch we had in the Second Service!

* Thanks to Dale & Wendy for hosting the Youth Fellowship event at the farm. It was a really nice time, and the fellowship was excellent!

"Unofficial" Convoy of Hope 2010 Hagerstown

2010-10-21T03:25:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who participated in Convoy of Hope for Hagerstown in 2010

The significance of the book, "The Genesis Flood"

2010-10-19T12:20:00.001-07:00

The book, "The Genesis Flood," written by Dr. John C. Whitcomb and Dr. Henry M. Morris has been used by God to help launch the Creation movement which takes literally the first chapters of Genesis without compromising on God's Word. The Creation movement emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the creator of the world as the Bible declares, and helps us to understand earth's history. This book is approaching its 50 year anniversary. If you would like to read more about the history of this book, you may go HERE.

Sunday Reflections 10/17/2010

2010-10-18T09:07:00.000-07:00

Reflecting on Sunday 10/17/2010:

* First service, showed first two baptism testimonies, good to hear the stories again! (will show the other testimonies on future dates)

* Praise for Jason & Kristen Basore as they dedicated themselves and their daughter Addison to the Lord in the Second Service. On behalf of Valley Grace family they were given a Children's Story Bible.

* Dr. Whitcomb taught from Psalm 8 on "What is Man?" - first two verses look at who God is, then verses 3-8 remind us of who man is in light of our knowledge of God.

* Jason & Kristen Basore officially became members of Valley Grace.

* Sunday Evening: Good Youth Group meeting - thanks to all who helped to lead.

* Youth Leadership Meeting following Youth Group - great involvement and planning for continuing youth ministry.

Sunday Reflections 10/03/2010

2010-10-04T07:01:00.000-07:00

Thanking God for a great day on Sunday, and thanks to all of you who made it so!

* Praise Team did a great job in leading us to reflect upon our Lord through music.
* Testimonies & Prayers at the Baptism service were special. We plan to show the video of the Baptism service in the First Service at a later time.
* Communion Service as a great opportunity to remember the price of our Salvation and the community that we share in Christ.

The Gospel, the Church and... Glenn Beck Follow Up

2010-09-10T09:01:00.001-07:00

Having given more thought to the Gospel, the Church and Glenn Beck, here are some of my observations for your consideration. First of all, please understand that this really is not about Glenn Beck and his political views. He may very well be correct in his observations of what should be taking place in America. I would also applaud his call to honor our troops who are willing to give their lives for our liberties. This post is a call to the church for discernment and for staying on mission.

First, we need to understand that revival does not come through political movements, but through the preaching and teaching of the word of God. This is true of all revivals recorded in Scripture (see revivals in the days of Josiah, Nehemiah, Jonah for instance). Consider also the revivals in more modern history – the Welsh Revival along with revivals in our own country. Revival necessitates the recognition of sin in our lives and true repentance. A recent illustration of the barrenness of attempting to bring about true lasting spiritual change through the political process is the Moral Majority of the 1980s.

Second, we need to remember that the mission of the church is to introduce people into Christ's kingdom through the new birth. It is not to get someone to change a political party or view. In fact, when political views take the forefront and result in a rift in a relationship so that one is unable to talk with the another about the things of Christ, that is the greatest of tragedies. I am afraid that many Christians (myself included) are more willing to talk about politics than Christ.

Thirdly, we are hearing that "America is turning back to God." My question is, "what does that look like?" If prayer were mandated in school, and abortions were made illegal and marriage was mandated as that between a man and a woman, etc., would America be turned back to God? Absolutely not! We may have a more moral America, but without true repentance & conversion America has not returned to God. It might also be good to ask, "of what God are we speaking?" There is only one true God as revealed through Scripture. Any other god, is not the One True God. Let me repeat, the only way to turn America to God is for each individual to experience true Biblical conversion -- that is, the acknowledgment of sin, accepting Christ's finished work on the cross and truly being born again.

So What should we do?

1. We can use this present topic to turn a political discussion into a spiritual one. Ask a series of questions: 1) To what God are we referring? 2) Is America turning back to God?" 3) What would it take to turn America to God? This could open an opportunity to present the Biblical principles of true conversion and revival as found in Scripture.

2. I do not think that this means that we should become apolitical, that is, to drop out of taking the responsibility of being involved in the political process. There are moral principles prescribed in Scripture that makes for a more wholesome society, though not for a converted society.

One final note: we cannot be misguided by Mr. Beck's use of spiritual terminology. An article has been written by one, a Dr. Jim Garlow, who claims that people he knows has heard Glenn Beck, a Mormon, speak of Jesus being his Savior (Read HERE). This is a contradiction. There was one crucial follow up question which was missed, and that is "who is Jesus?" You see, either Mr. Beck is not really a Mormon (believing Mormon doctrine about Jesus), or he has not been saved by the Jesus of the Bible. The Mormon Jesus and the Jesus of the Bible are two entirely different persons.

We must remember that if Jesus is not who He claimed to be, He could not do what He claimed to do!

Our mission as a church or as followers of Jesus Christ, is to help other people to become followers of Christ (Matthew 28:18-20). And so we move forward with helping to build Christ's kingdom. May God help us!

The Gospel, The Church and ... Glenn Beck

2010-09-02T13:32:00.000-07:00

I recently was asked what I thought about Glenn Beck's rally in Washington, DC. To be honest, I hadn't really been following it or him. I have heard that he was calling America back to God -- certainly a worthwhile cause. This individual went on to inform me that Beck was a Mormon by religion. I was not aware of that -- so did some research, and everything I have seen has corroborated that statement. That raises some pretty serious questions since the Mormon god is not the God that is described in the Bible. I came across the following post which is forcing me to do some more thinking:

A Mormon television star stands in front of the Lincoln Memorial and calls American Christians to revival. He assembles some evangelical celebrities to give testimonies, and then preaches a God and country revivalism that leaves the evangelicals cheering that they’ve heard the gospel, right there in the nation’s capital.

The news media pronounces him the new leader of America’s Christian conservative movement, and a flock of America’s Christian conservatives have no problem with that. (Read the full article HERE)

Russell Moore, the author of the article, doesn't fault Beck who he sees as an entrepreneur and one who knows how to market himself. The problem, Moore points to is that American "Christianity" has become too much of a political agenda -- we want to exchange "the cross for the crown" too soon. I'm still rereading the article and thinking it through. It does appear to me at this point that Moore makes some valid points. We must stay focused on the Gospel of Jesus Christ which alone is the "power of God for salvation" (Romans 1:16)

Missions KY 2010 Report

2010-09-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

This was the video report shown this past Sunday morning at Valley Grace. Thanks to all who made the trip possible -- your prayers, giving and those who went and served.

Also, commend those who were able to make our own outreach event here function on Sunday evening in promoting the AWANA ministry. We are already receiving calls! Please pray for this outreach and also for individuals to are working and for others who are willing to work with this ministry to our own community!

Great Weekend with Dave & Sue Griffith

2010-08-25T12:47:00.000-07:00

We had a great weekend with Dave & Sue Griffith who serve are serving the Lord in France. They have been in France for 30 years as missionaries. They shared that this past year they have seen 6 24-year old young men come to Christ and Dave has been discipling them. They are also involved in serving in a French church.

Saturday evening they serve a French meal along with information about French culture. It was really fascinating along with pictures and a presentation of their ministry. On Sunday Morning, they share with the whole congregation about family and ministry. On Sunday evening, they shared their testimonies and interacted with the youth at Youth Group.

Please continue to pray for Dave & Sue as they serve the Lord as an extension of Valley Grace in France (as they put it). Pray for continued new contacts, the discipling ministry and also their involvement in the local church their in France. They will be returning to France in a few weeks, to continue minister to folks in France who need Christ.

Helping to Apply Genuine Worship in the Church

2010-08-18T19:07:00.000-07:00

Paul instructs us in Romans 12:1-8 that Genuine Worship in the church is not predominately about the music or order of service or anything else external. He points out that the believer's spiritual service of worship is giving oneself in service to the Body of Christ. Other passages of Scripture emphasize that every single believer, regardless of age, gender, background, has been given a special gift or gift mix to be used for the building up of the Body.

Paul lists seven major gifts in Romans 12:3-8: speaking, service (ministry), teaching, encouragement (exhortation), giving, leadership, and mercy. These may be combined to result in a unique, personal gift. As a Believer, God has gifted you in a very unique way to invest your life in something that has eternal value and meaning - the Body of Christ.

1. This means that each follower of Christ needs to prayerfully consider what his or her spiritual gift/s are in order to serve His Church. It may take some experimentation and perhaps finding what is not a gifting and what is. The goal is that each follower of Jesus is actively serving in a ministry.

2. This means that we as the Body of Christ must allow individuals to grow in their spiritual gifts. It will take practice and discipline and trial and error as each person grows in using his or her gifts. As a church, we must develop opportunities to serve with feedback as well as allowing individuals to "practice" using his or her gifts. We must allow individuals to develop in speaking, teaching, leadership, mercy, etc., and support their efforts.

3. There are many opportunities currently for ministry at Valley Grace. We need to develop teachers for Sunday School, in all departments. We will need help in AWANA in many facets of that ministry from nursery, to listening to verses, to teaching a devotional time, to helping to provide safety and security, helping to pick up children, etc. Those with the gift of mercy can help with visitation to shut ins and others going through difficult times. We have opportunities to develop leadership for ministries and for the church. There are many other opportunities as well.

The result, when each believer is functioning effectively in his or her gift mix, the Body of Christ is built up (Eph. 4:11-16). Thanks to all of you who are faithfully serving and helping the Body of Christ at Valley Grace to function effectively. Looking forward to seeing God work through His people as Fall ministries begin!

Valley Grace KY Missions Trip 2010 ~ Preview

2010-07-26T04:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who participated in this trip as well as those who prayed and gave to make it possible! A more detailed report to come later.

Terrific Job, Church!

2010-06-30T09:17:00.000-07:00

I wanted to take this opportunity to commend the church family for an excellent job in all that you have done with Cheri Wheeler's sickness and ministry at her funeral service. I was truly impressed by all who helped with food preparation and serving, clean up, ministry to the family and so many of you showed support to Kendra and Jessie through your attendance at the service. I am told that one of the folks from the funeral home made the observation that over the years, he has seen that Valley Grace has a servant's heart for ministry. I am reminded of Jesus desire for us when He said, "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Mat 5:16 NASB). Well done, church!

Please continue to pray for the transitions in the lives of Kendra, Jessie, Marv & Mick Jamison (Cheri's parents - pictured above with Cheri), John, along with the rest of the family members.

Wedding ~ Matt & Jess (Smith) Shank (6/19/2010)

2010-06-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

We wish Matt & Jess God's best as they merge their lives together. They will be living in Williamsport, MD.

Wedding ~ Paul & Jess (Semler) Veen (6/12/2010)

2010-06-25T06:19:00.000-07:00

We ask you to pray for Paul & Jess as they begin their new life together. They have moved to Michigan.

Wedding Vow Renewal ~ Allen & Erma Taylor - 35 years (6/5/2010)

2010-06-25T06:13:00.000-07:00

We celebrate with Allen & Erma Taylor the renewal of their vows after 35 years. It was a great testimony to our Lord and to their journey together.

Valley Grace VBS 2010

2010-06-15T11:01:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who are making VBS a great success in teaching boys and girls about who Jesus is and what He wants to do for them!

Don't Underestimate the Minivan!

2010-05-25T04:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday Reflections 5/23/2010

2010-05-24T11:05:00.001-07:00

* Thanks to praise team again for leading us in great songs of praise & worship

* Drama Team - well done presentation of "The Bad Samaritan" - sorry to see you break for the summer, but we realize that Director Chuck will soon have added responsibilities at home.

* Studied together Daniel 7, "Certainty for Uncertain Times"

* Thanks to the College & Career group for leading the Youth Group.

- Well done, church!

Urban Hope 2010 Ministry Report

2010-05-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who went and served, and those who supported through your prayers and financial gifts. Well done!

Sunday Reflections 5/16/2010

2010-05-18T04:32:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who made it a great day!

* Praise Team and special music led us to reflect on our God
* Great Urban Hope report. Thanks to all who went, served and ministered.
* Spent time in God's Word, "Life Lessons Learned in the Lion's Den" - we must live in such a way that people are impressed with our God and desire to know Him (Daniel 6)
* Mother~Daughter Banquet was absolutely superb, both the meal and program. Guys, you did a great job serving and cleaning up.

Tennessee Flood Relief Effort

2010-05-11T04:54:00.000-07:00

Bette Jo Shifler has been in contact with an individual at Two Rivers Baptist church on how we can help. Lowes and Home Depot gift cards are an excellent way to go on this, but there are other options as well (see below). Please make sure the amount is marked on the cards.

HERE is a link to the Two Rivers web site which lists other items that are needed.

HERE is a link to an article entitled, What the Media Missed in the "Nashville" Flood. Helpful reading for a better perspective.

Ronnie & Bette Jo Shifler are planning on leaving Friday around noon to head down with donations. If you would like to be involved and have something to donate, you may contact Bette Jo directly, or leave it at the church. Please make sure to have it here by Thursday evening so that it can be loaded up. The best time to drop of donations is in the morning when the church office is open. Many times afternoons are used for visiting, contacts, etc., so sometimes the church building is not unlocked. If we know that you are coming we can make the proper arrangements to have a door open.

Sunday Morning ~ Satire of the Cool Church

2010-05-07T13:34:00.000-07:00

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

So this is how it is supposed to be done!??

Soles 4 Souls & Memorial Service

2010-05-06T05:38:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much to all who participated last Saturday with the Soles 4 Souls project. Leslie, Becky, Shirley, Jeff & Garret (hope I didn't miss anyone, if so, add in the comments below) did an excellent job of interaction with the children and adults who came in from Lincolnshire and Hickory for shoes. Thanks to those of you who helped to fund this project. Approximately $1,800 was given out for shoes. Please be in prayer for the contacts that we trust will be made for VBS that we will have the opportunity to share the message of the hope found in Jesus.

Thanks also for those who helped to minister through the Memorial Service this past weekend. Your service of serving made an impact on the family. Thanks also to those of you who brought in refreshments.

Well done, church!

Urban Hope 2010 ~ Overview

2010-04-30T10:48:00.000-07:00

Report from Jason Holt, Director of Church Ministry at Urban Hope, reports on Mid-Atlantic District weekend.

"Last weekend (April 24) the Mid-Atlantic District brought 75 people to Urban Hope for the annual block party. Four streets were blocked off to have games for kids. The "cultivating event" was designed to make contacts with people in the community and there was a great response. 439 people registered, which means there were around 600 in attendance, if not more! The ministry team did a great job helping as well as many others from our church - the extra block of Tioga and blocks of Ella St. were very helpful with the large crowd. Praise God for all the neighbors who came through with signatures and the police department's positive response to our request to close the street. We had 92 kids at Kingdom Kids today and were able to invite many new kids whose names we got from the block party yesterday."

Note: we plan to hear a report on 5/16/2010 during both services.

When God Says No!

2010-04-28T03:38:00.000-07:00

We were reminded this past Sunday that even though God said "Yes" to the three men in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3) that there are times when He says "No" (3:18). The phrase "but if not" is a reminder that sometimes we do have to go through the trial, the hardship, the testing. Sometimes God does not heal a marriage, heal a sickness, restore a relationship for reasons that we may not know. But one very important thing to remember is that God does walk with us through the trial to encourage and support us. Isaiah wrote, concerning God's presence through the times of suffering, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you..." (Isa 43:2a). So when an all wise, all loving, all powerful God says "No" to our petitions, He also promises to walk with us through that difficult time.

Urban Hope 2010 ~ Photo Link

2010-04-27T06:28:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who served the Lord from our church and District at Urban Hope in Philadelphia. We look forward to hearing the reports of what God did. We are grateful for answers to prayer for ministry effectiveness and safety of travel. If you would like to see more pictures of the event you can go HERE and click on the appropriate title. You can also click on the picture above to enlarge it.

Urban Hope 2010 Ministry Team

2010-04-23T09:40:00.000-07:00

Please be in prayer for the ministry team from our church to Urban Hope. Thanks to all of you who have helped to make this possible as we seek to bring the message of hope in Jesus to another area of our country that desperately needs to know Him. Please be in prayer for safety of travel, for ministry opportunities, for lives transformed and for the impact that it will have on our folks as well. (click on picture for larger image).

Thank You and an Invitation

2010-04-21T04:15:00.000-07:00

I wanted to say a big "THANK YOU" to so many of you who have stepped in to ministry areas recently. Of course, a big "THANK YOU" to many of you who have served for some time. Some of you are transitioning in areas of ministry also. I have really been impressed to see individuals joining the team to help with ministry needs.

I also want to offer an invitation for some of you who may not yet become involved, to join us in the mission. There are opportunities to teach in Children's Sunday School, Children's Church, music, nursing homes, hands on ministry of helps with things around the church, organization, etc. Please prayerfully seek God's direction for where He might be leading you to serve Him and His church. We never have a sign out saying, "No Help Wanted".

One of purposes as a church is to help followers of Christ get involved in serving Him (Eph 4:11-12). This includes training and providing opportunities to invest one's life in things that outlive this world.

Again, thank you to all of you who serve the Lord through the ministry of Valley Grace, and those of you considering joining with us on mission. We are looking forward to what God is going to do through us.

Seven Characteristics of People With a Heart for the Lost

2010-03-30T08:27:00.000-07:00

What are the seven characteristics of people who care about lost people? Thom Rainer lists the following:

They are people of prayer. They realize that only God can change a heart and bring conversion. Salvation is a work of God.
They understand the urgency of salvation -- that people without Christ are headed to an eternity separated from Him, with no possibility of change once they have stepped out of this life.
They are people who spend time in God's Word in order to understand God's heart for lost people and Christ's love for the lost.
They are compassionate people. They are moved with compassion as Jesus was, for those who are lost.
They love the communities where God has placed them. They realize they are called to make a difference in their places of employment, their schools, their recreation, as they coach teams, etc.
They are intentional about their evangelism. They pray for opportunities to share the gospel and look for the opportunities that God creates.
They are accountable to someone for their evangelistic activities. Life can be filled with a lot of good things, but we must not neglect the most important elements as well.

Thom Rainer has entitled his post, "Seven Characteristics of Highly Evangelistic Christians" (you can read the complete post here). This is a good reminder to be about the business of Jesus since He has called all of us to be involved in reaching those around us for Him.

Weekend Reflection ~ 3/28/2010

2010-03-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

Great weekend, thanks for all who contributed!

Spring clean up was a great success. Much was accomplished and looks so much better in preparation for Palm Sunday. Terrific breakfast sandwiches! Good fellowship as well.
Palm Sunday - great job. Thanks to Chuck & Erika for their leadership with the program, Choir for your participation, those who helped with costumes, lighting, sound, construction, support and those who invited friends to come. Please pray that there may be some who consider the claims of Christ and become a follower of Him.
Communion Service - thanks to the Deacon Committee for their preparation and their help. Neat time to reflect on Christ's provision for our salvation: past, present & future.

Well done, church! Christ was honored!!

Reflections on Sunda 3/21/2010

2010-03-22T07:57:00.000-07:00

* Praise Band did a great job of leading and great hymns reminding us of who God is.
* Message: "What to do When Facing a Crisis" (Dan. 2:1-23) - Pray, Don't Panic.
* Super job by youth and parents on Spaghetti Dinner. Thanks to all who helped.
* Terrific show from youth with the Youth Praise Band, Special Music, and Disney Show. Absolutely superb!
* Thank you Lord for a great day!

Jess Smith & Matt Shank ~ Engagement

2010-03-16T06:36:00.000-07:00

We want to wish Jess Smith and Matt Shank God's best as they plan their wedding for this summer. Their desire is to honor Christ as they establish a new home.

Shawn McBride Event ~ Follow up

2010-03-15T13:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who made the Shawn McBride event a success. Praise Band did a tremendous job! Thanks to those who helped with the refreshment time. Here is an audio link to his message: Part 1 & Part 2 (tape had to be flipped so it is broken into two parts). We will try and get it all on one CD and make it available. It will be pretty close to 80 minutes. If you are interested in a CD copy, contact the church office. The above two parts are in mp3 format which you can download.

Engagement Congratulations!

2010-03-01T12:53:00.000-08:00

We want to wish God's best to Ryan Martin and Reanna Tuczynski on their engagement. They are planning a fall wedding. Please continue to pray for Ryan and Reanna as they plan their wedding and join their two lives together for the glory of Christ!

Would You Remarry Your Spouse? ~ Study Shows...

2010-02-26T07:47:00.000-08:00

In keeping with our current message series, "Don't Get Married Until...." I found this research to be interesting.

In a new CBS News poll, nine out of 10 (90%) married Americans said they would marry their spouse again, a percentage which has barely changed since 1995 (93%). Ninety-five percent of men said they would marry their wives again compared to 85 percent of women saying the same. When asked to pick what is most important in a successful relationship, about half picked "Respect" (49%), followed by "Trust" (37%), and a "Sense of humor" (10%). "Sex" was picked by two percent and "Money" by zero percent. [from CBSNews.com quoted from PWB, 2/26/2010]

That is nice to know!

Missions Review 2009 & Preview 2010

2010-02-23T09:46:00.000-08:00

Here is the video of Valley Grace missions projects for 2009 that you were part of through your investment of time, resources and abilities. Great job & new opportunities for 2010. How will you be involved this year to help build the Church of Jesus Christ?

Letter from Pastor Sam Baer, Victory Mountain Chapel, KY

2010-02-18T12:21:00.000-08:00

Part of a letter from Pastor Sam Baer at Victory Mountain Grace Brethren Chapel, KY (50 years of ministry) in response to the Thanksgiving/Christmas offering sent from Valley Grace.

Dear Brother Dan & Congregation,

Wow!!! $1,645.00!!! You Dear Folks really know how to encourage another Pastor & struggling Church. Our Parsonage Furnace gave up the "ghost" in December & we needed to purchase a new one. Even though we got it at cost (thanks to a Christian Contractor) installation & everything was only $1,700.00. Now isn't that something???

You all covered the cost of the whole furnace ($1,600.00), even though we were able to pay for it back in December, but that bill wiped out our church checking account. Your check beefed up our general fund so we could pay for your January bills with some left over. You all seem to know when we need some extra help & your gifts are always very generous & we are so appreciative of your love gift.... Your church helps keep our church from going under financially. Thank You So Very Much!!!

P.S. This winter has been hard. Every Sunday it seems we are facing something different weather wise. Last Sunday, all our vehicle doors were frozen shut so we had to cancel morning services & go for a 2:00 pm service. Six inches of snow here in the mountains & the schools must cancel for a week or 4 days.... Hope God keeps your congregation & ours safe from harm.

With Much Thanksgiving & Appreciation, Pastor Sam Baer

Note: You can read more from Sam on the bulletin board with more pictures.

An Outline for Daily Prayer

2010-02-12T07:27:00.000-08:00

In Matthew 6:6-13 Jesus provides an outline for daily prayer. This passage is often referred to as "The Lord's Prayer" but we know that Jesus never prayed this prayer because He never needed to ask for his "transgressions" to be forgiven. This prayer is also prayed as a liturgy, but it was not intended to just be recited from memory. Jesus provides an outline for us to pray daily as we go about activities. There are 5 main areas of focus in this prayer.

Enhancement of God's Reputation ("Hallowed be Your Name") - this is praying that as we go about our daily activities, that we represent Christ and that His reputation is enhanced by how we conduct ourselves at home, at work, at school, in our times of recreation. That is, in all of our activities.
Advancement of God's Agenda ("Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven") - this is part of prayer asks God to use us to help reach people for Christ. It is praying that we will have the opportunity to help lead people to Jesus. This will help us to focus on sharing Christ and praying for opportunities for that.
Our Material Needs ("give us this day our daily bread") - this reminds us that God is the provider of all of our needs. We respond in thanksgiving for what he has provided: food, clothes, place to live, heat, and so much more.
Forgiveness ("forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors) - we are reminded that we need to seek God's forgiveness on a daily basis, in fact, as soon as it is brought to our attention that we have "missed the mark" in our relationship with Christ. But this passage also reminds us that we must forgive those who have sinned against us.
Spiritual Protection ("lead us not into temptation") - the Bible plainly teaches that God does not tempt anyone to sin (James 1:13). This is a prayer that we might be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His leading in our lives in regards to what we should do, and shouldn't do. Praying that we might be able to see the spiritual land mines which are around us. It is also a prayer that we might not miss the good works that God has planned for us to carry out this day (Eph. 2:10).

This provides a great outline for us to pray each day as we prepare to live for Christ and serve Him.

Reflections on Sunday 1/31/2010

2010-01-31T22:22:00.000-08:00

Reflections on Sunday:

Thankful for those who took care of the snow and ice so that we were able to have the Second Service (10:40 am)
Praise team did a great job -- especially song "Glorious One" pointing to our Glorious Savior!
Drama Team did a very nice thoughtful presentation on the cross and how "intrusive" is it in our lives.
Opportunity to have folks from both services together in one service -- though we did miss those who were not able to make it in due to weather. The cross mix is a nice opportunity from time to time.
We reflected on the importance of the Communion Service and how we remember the work of Christ for us; past, present and future. If you are wondering how Communion is to be practiced, please listen to the audio of the sermon. It will be posted on Sermon Audio which can be downloaded, or you can request a copy from the church office - either tape or CD.

"Don't Get Married Until ..." (February Sermon Series)

2010-01-29T03:22:00.000-08:00

Marriage is designed by God to be a blessing for both husband and wife. Since God instituted marriage, He has given to us the basis for making it work effectively. The purpose of this series is to look at God's instructions for those considering this most important step in their lives, for parents (and grandparents) to help their children prepare for this event, and for those who are married.

Note: This is adapted from a series that P. Noble preached at his church (permission has been granted to adapt)

Joe & Sharon Strite - New Members

2010-01-28T06:06:00.000-08:00

We welcomed Joe and Sharon Strite into the official membership of Valley Grace this past Sunday. Joe & Sharon have been involved in different areas of ministry already, and we look forward to continuing to serve the Lord together. (Note: yes that picture was taken in Myrtle Beach, SC - perhaps to remind us that warm weather will return. )

Haiti - Churches Helping Churches

2010-01-21T05:39:00.000-08:00

Please continue to pray for the church of Jesus Christ, our brothers and sisters, in Haiti who are making a difference in the middle of this crisis. You can go HERE to read an account in USA Today by Pastor Mark Driscoll who is on site to record and survey the need. He reports on what he has seen. If you want to see video of some of the need, you can go HERE. If you would like to contribute directly to churches in Haiti who are making a difference in their communities right now, you can go to Churches Helping Churches and contribute online.

I Am A Chair

2010-01-19T05:23:00.000-08:00

I am a chair from buckheadchurch on Vimeo.

Don't look at an empty chair in church the same way again.

Help for Haiti - Some Suggestions...

2010-01-15T05:22:00.001-08:00

Probably most of us have seen pictures of the devastation in Haiti. Many of these precious people have suffered extreme poverty and now severe loss. If you desire to be able to provide some financial help for these dear people, below are some links to organizations that are legitimate. There will of course be many, who tragically, attempt to take advantage of this disaster for their own financial benefit. The ones listed below are organizations that can be trusted.

Compassion International
Colorado Springs, CO 80997
1-800-336-7676
www.compassion.com

Mercy Ships
P.O. Box 2020
Garden Valley, TX 75771-2020
1-903-939-7000
www.mercyships.org

Samaritan's Purse
P.O. Box 3000
Boone, NC 28607
1-800-567-8121
www.samaritanspurse.org

World Vision
P.O. Box 9716, Dept. W
Federal Way, WA 98063-9716
1-888-562-4453
www.worldvision.org

Let's pray that God might use this tragic situation to bring people to himself, pray for the believers working among these devastated people.

Where are YOU Headed?

2010-01-12T13:00:00.001-08:00

In order to arrive at one's destination, there are two critical factors. First, an individual needs to decide where they want to go. But that is not enough. There is a second critical factor, and that is direction. Just knowing where you want to go is not enough to get you there. You must choose to follow the proper directions to get there. I would encourage each of us to decide where it is we want to go. Do we have a Life Plan that covers our spiritual journey, family, health, finances, education, profession -- in fact, every dimension of life. This is important for every single person, regardless of age. If you have never thought through a Life Plan, HERE is a good post to help you with that process. Everyone of us needs to work this through, and if we are married, we need to work through some of these areas with our spouse.

But a Life Plan is not enough. We also need to ask the question, when faced with decisions, "where is this decision going to lead?" "Where will this decision take me?" Every decision we make in life moves us in one direction or another.

We see this truth played out around us on a regular basis. People have arrived at places they did not want to be because of decisions (choices) which they have made. We have arrived at places we did not want to be because of choices which we have made. May God grant us His grace to understand that every decision we make is taking us someplace.

Christmas Thoughts Wrap-up

2010-01-07T05:53:00.000-08:00

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of you who were involved in the Christmas events here at Valley Grace. There was a great deal of time and effort put into the events and outreach. Please continue to pray for God to use these events in the lives of those who attended.

The Christmas program was well done and good responses to it on December 13.
Christmas Eve service
Thanks to the choir for their music on December 27 & also for the testimonies for baptism.
Thank you for your involvement in the Christmas project with helping to provide Christmas gifts for some families outside of our church. The tags went very quickly.
Others of you were involved in some very creative ways of sharing Christ through Christmas with school students, and other families who had needs.
The shoeboxes were sent earlier, and there was very good participation.
The special Christmas offering is going to be sent to the Happy Church in Jackson, KY and will be approximately $1,500 -- shhhh, don't tell them, it is on the way.
Thanks to those who helped with clean up of snow and ice to make it possible to hold the services.
Thanks to those of you whom I missed! I'm sure there are some.

Well done, church!

I read of a creative outreach that a church in Seattle had done which might be food for thought. The ladies of the church selected Christmas gifts and wrapped them, and took them down the prostitutes in a section of their city.

Thanks for a Great Sunday!

2009-12-15T07:23:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all who were involved in helping to make this past Sunday a great Sunday for our Lord. There were those who helped to get the facilities ready by taking care of the ice situation, those who helped with costumes, who were involved in helping with the Toddlers and musical, ushering, music, etc. Thanks to the two young ladies above who served as greeters for awhile. We pray that the story of Christ's coming to earth and the reason for that journey, was made meaningful. We hope to have a DVD available for those of you who were not able to attend.

Do You Know What You Believe and Why?

2009-12-11T11:39:00.000-08:00

In a recent report, USA Today report (here) Americans and Christians are mixing religious beliefs. Here are some of the reported findings:

Even though Americans' overwhelmingly claim allegiance to someone they call God (92%), 70% said "many religions can lead to eternal life" and 68% said "there's more than one true way to interpret the teachings of my religion."
The percentage of people who call themselves some type of Christian has dropped more than 11% in a generation, and so many have moved into the "None" category for religion that it is now at 15%, the third highest "religious" category after Catholics and Baptists.
Reincarnation: 24% of Americans believe that they will be reborn in this world again, and 22% of those who call themselves Christians believe the same
29% of Americans believe that they can get in touch with the dead, and 29% of those calling themselves Christians believed the same thing.
26% of Americans believe the could get "spiritual energy" in trees, etc., and 23% of those calling themselves Christian believed the same thing.
18% of Americans had a ghostly experience, and 17% of those calling themselves Christian had the same experience.
15% of Americans have consulted a psychic and 14% of those calling themselves Christian also had the same experience.

Our goal here at Valley Grace is to help you understand God's truth and be firmly grounded in it so that you can respond to the errors and lies set forth by the enemy of our souls. We encourage you to be part of Sunday School, the Grace Institute (meets Wednesday evening), and other opportunities to learn and grow.

Jessica Semler & Paul Veen Engagement

2009-12-03T07:09:00.000-08:00

Jeff and Kerri Semler of Clear Spring announce the engagement of their daughter, Jessica Semler, to Paul Veen of Michigan. Jess and Paul are planning a June 12, 2010 wedding.

Angelo, Robin & Taylor Shusko Dedication

2009-11-24T18:46:00.000-08:00

We ask for your continued prayers for Angelo & Robin Shusko as they seek to raise their precious daughter, Taylor for the Lord. They dedicated themselves to providing a Christian home so that Taylor might come to know the Savior, and we dedicated ourselves as a church family to support them in this awesome undertaking. We gave them a Children's Story Bible with 365 stories so that they might start teaching Taylor at an early age the truths of Scripture.

Operation Christmas Child ~ Thank You!

2009-11-19T05:47:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all of you who participated in "Operation Christmas Child." Let's pray that those who receive these gifts come to know Christ.

Jack Shillingberg - Celebration of Life Service

2009-11-12T06:06:00.000-08:00

Jack went to be with his Savior on Wednesday morning about 9:00 am. We are planning a Celebration of Life service for Jack on Saturday, November 14 at 11:00 am at Valley Grace. A fellowship meal is to follow. If you have a memory of Jack you are encouraged to leave it in the comments section.

Note: if you are planning to come to the service, it would really be helpful if you would park in the "lower lot."

Reflections on Veterans" Day

2009-11-11T10:29:00.000-08:00

My earliest memories of American soldiers occurred during our time in the Philippines. Clark Air Force Base and Subic Naval Station were located on Luzon, the main island of the Philippines. We would have the privilege to interact with these young men who had come for some R&R from the battle in Vietnam. They were only a few years older than I was, and I respected them for their response to the call. As we often have heard, "Freedom Isn't Free" - someone paid for it. I salute our military personnel at home and abroad, those veterans who have serve in foreign wars, and those who have given their lives so that we might enjoy the freedoms which we share.

From time to time it has become the popular thing for some of our own people as well as foreign nations to discredit our military and our country. Peggy Noon wrote (here) an interesting piece in which she observes the following:

... America has gone to Europe twice in the past century to fight for peace. This is an old concept, and has to do with killing killers so they can't kill anymore. It cost America a lot to do this, and we kept no territory, as they say, beyond the graves where our soldiers lie. America then taxed itself and gave its wealth not only to its allies but to its former adversaries, to help them rebuild. We didn't actually have to do this. We did it to make the world better. We did it to foster peace. (They should give us a prize.)

America hasn't just helped the world, it literally lit the world with its inventions, which are the product of its freedoms. The lights under which the Peace Prize judges read, and rejected, the worthy nominations? Why, those lights were invented by an American. The emails the committee members sent to each other, sharing their banal insights on leadership? They came through the Internet. Who invented the Internet? It was a Norwegian bureaucrat with a long face and hair on his nose and little plastic geometric eyeglasses? Oh wait, it was Americans. The members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee are healthy because they have been inoculated against diseases such as polio. Who invented the polio vaccine, an enfeebled old leftist academic in Oslo? Nah, it was a man named Jonas Salk. He was an American.

Today, we salute you who have served our country and served us by risking your lives. May God Bless You in a special way!

Seeing the Harvest

2009-11-06T07:44:00.001-08:00

Jesus said, to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. "Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." (Matt. 9:37-38 NASB)

Ed Stetzer writes about the church, "We’ve sped up the music, spiced up the messages, & spruced up the barns, but the wheat is still not harvesting itself."

This is a good reminder for us to continue to be on mission for Christ in introducing people to Him. Many of you are involved in this on a regular basis. Let's continue to focus on the harvest! We live in days of great opportunity.

A "Thank You" to Valley Grace!

2009-11-05T09:33:00.001-08:00

Pam and I want to express our gratitude to the church family at Valley Grace for your expression of kindness for Pastor Appreciation. There was obviously a good deal of thought placed into the items which appeared in the basket, and we will enjoy the gift certificates. It is a privilege to be on assignment here by Our Lord!