What an incredible summer we had! Despite the hot weather, we saw that God continues to be good and faithful to us. He continues to invite us to be a part of His Kingdom work.
Nearly 90 children came for Vacation Bible School and learned to see God's presence everywhere.
We took a team of 43 people to minister to the community in San Carlos for our Summer Mission Trip. We came back rejoicing over what we saw God did.
Our Student Ministry teamed up with a local church to minister to the teenagers for the Annual Youth Retreat. Over 70 young people attended. We saw lives being changed.
These are things that I say, "Only God!"
As we approach a new season, God continues to bring new people to our church and along our path. As a people of faith, we are to be diligent to demonstrate God's love and grace to everyone He brings our way. You don't know who you will touch if you would be willing to listen to the "prompting" of the Holy Spirit to go up to someone and just talk to them. You might end up discovering that "only God" had ordained that encounter. Won't you take some time to listen to the "whispers" of God's Spirit and then do what He says.
Baptists & Lent
Wednesday, March 25 2009 16:59
I grew up a Baptist most of my life. My experience with Easter starts on a Good Friday holiday from school and shopping for new Sunday clothes and ends on Easter Sunday and Easter egg hunting. We learned some of the stories about the events that led up to Jesus’ crucifixion and subsequent resurrection, but other than that, there was no emphasis on waiting, listening, fasting, repenting, reflecting or preparing. We just jumped straight to Celebrating.
As I get older and understand a little deeper the significance of the Easter season, I think it’s ashamed that we Baptists want to celebrate without the going through the crucifixion. We want to rejoice without identifying with Christ’s rejection. We want to shout “Alleluias” without feeling the agony of the bitter cup. We want the Party without the Passion.
Lent Season (the forty days leading to Easter) should be a time for the believers to identify with Christ and walk the path that he walked. So that when we have endured it, we will have a greater reason to enjoy the Celebration.
While there is still some time, go to a lonely place by yourself and leave the crowds and noises behind. Take your Bible with you and just begin reading through the Gospel. Let God’s Word come to life and take the journey that Jesus took for you. Once you have been in the Word, you will emerge and see things that you may never see before with new eyes and renewed focus because of the Resurrected Lord.
Sense of Humor a Spiritual Gift?
Thursday, February 19 2009 17:13
George Barna is the market research guru specializing in studying the religious beliefs and behavior of Americans, and the intersection of faith and culture. His company, the Barna Group, recently released a report where they found that a third of Americans who identify themselves as Christians have never heard of spiritual gifts. What’s more startling is that 21 percent of those who say they understand spiritual gifts claim to have gifts that the Bible never mentions. Here are some of the things they listed as spiritual gifts: a sense of humor, singing, health, life, happiness, patience, a job, a house, compromise, premonition and creativity.
The survey concluded, “Between those who do not know their gift (15%), those who say they don’t have one (28%), nearly two-thirds of the self-identified Christian population who claim to have heard about spiritual gifts have not been able to accurately apply whatever they have heard or what the Bible teaches on the subject to their lives.”
When I first read that some Christians think a sense of humor or happiness is a spiritual gift, it saddens me more than it shocks me. What that tells me is that Christians don’t know the Bible. They don’t read it. The irony is that the Bible is the all-time bestselling book year after year and many Christians own two or three Bibles, yet people don’t really read it and discover God’s truth for themselves.
Imagine if all Christians read God’s Word, discover their spiritual gifts and then put them to use. What kind of difference would we be making in our world?
Here is a list of some of the spiritual gifts. Which one is most evident in your life?
interpretation of tongues (1 Cor. 12:10; 14:27-28)
pastor (Eph. 4:11)
Bad News
Tuesday, January 27 2009 19:34
In today’s San Antonio Express-News, the headlines are filled with gloomy news. There’s a report of a global recession with major companies planning to layoff some 75,000 workers around the world. The U.S. unemployment rate is slowing inching to 7.5%. There was a crime on the North Side with a man shooting a father, son and then turning the gun on himself. A student at a nearby high school was sexually assaulted while walking to school. The temperature is going to take a dip and San Antonio is going to be cold tonight.
It seems like there are lots of cold and negative reports lately. But this is nothing new. Bad news have always been around. In fact, the Bible is filled with bad and negative reports. Brother killing and abusing another brother. People lied and stole from each other. Flood, destruction, war, sexual assaults and global famine and recession are all found in the Bible.
In all of these cases, things didn’t get better until God showed up. I think in our ever shrinking global community, things are going to continue to get worse until God shows up. After September 11, so many turned to God for help and answer. And now instead of turning to God, people are turning to the government for bailout and for hope. I wonder when will people get it that our only answer and hope is for our Creator to show up.
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” 2 Chro. 7:14
Happy New Year
Monday, January 12 2009 04:11
Last year we celebrated 85 years of God's faithfulness. We saw how God has been good and faithful to us through the years. Because God is the same yesterday, today and forever, we can continue to see His faithfulness to His People.
As we journey together in 2009, we are reminded that God goes before us and leads, and He stands beside us and is with us ("Immanuel"). Much uncertainty and fears may cross our mind, but we can trust our faithful God to take care of us.
