TRANSITION

Today we spent our last Sunday at Baker City Christian Church. It was a wonderful day celebrating what has been accomplished over the last 12 1/2 years, and looking forward to what God is doing as everyone looks to the future of the church. It was sad, but there was also great joy in loving, hugging, and celebrating our friendship with so many people.

Of course it was also a wonderful celebration of baptisms for Emma and Dallas Hardesty, Jasmine Fillebrown, and Joe Boyd. Also the dedication by Father and Mother, Clay and Lynette Simpson of their new (only 2 week old) baby daughter Susan Louise Simpson.

It is definitely not a "woe is me" attitude at the church. Jesse Whitford was recommended to the congregation by myself, the Elders, and the church board. When Jesse was announced to the congregation he got a standing ovation in both services. Nothing could please me more than to pass the leadership of BCCC over to Jesse, and I was so pleased to see the positive reception.

Now we begin our trek and transition over to leading Myrtle Point Christian Church. What a challenge! But God is all about stretching us and challenging us to new heights. I know He is with us as we begin our new ministry. We will spend some time dreaming and resting, as we make our way to Mytle Point, and in a week we will hit the ground running. What a Joy serving the Lord God Almighty!

Love you all, and thank you for your faithful love and support in return.

Roger and Sherrill

Are You Listening?

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Proverbs 9:10

Only the foolish would not desire wisdom. Yet this verse has left many wondering what it is to "fear the Lord."

God, whose desire it is to bless us with all heavenly blessings, does not ask us to be afraid of Him. No, that is not the kind of fear that King Solomon wrote of. Rather, this fear is one of "holding in extreme awe."If you think on that idea, it should be easy to hold in awe such an awesome God. More than that, God desires that we have an awesome relationship with him -- a personal relationship with such a loving, blessing God.

"Awesome,"the youngsters among us will say with ease. "Awesome."Try saying it with the reverence that comes when you know the One True and Ever-Loving God. This week as we begin counting down toward our National Day of Prayer in May, pray that our President, leaders and nation will sincerely fear God and seek His wisdom, longing to know Him and understand His awesome ways.

God Bless and have a great day and week!

Roger

Additional Reading: Proverbs 9:7-12

This article adapted from PrayerTeam@Presidential-Prayer-Team.org "Vantage Point" Devotional April 12, 2010

Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday, the women visited the tomb (Luke 24:1-8), the disciples gathered (John 20:2-10), and the resurrected Lord appeared (Matthew 28:5-10).

Easter — Resurrection Day! The silence of a Saturday, and then, like a sunrise or the beauty of a freshly blooming garden, it is Easter!

In truth, there is a time for everything. Solomon's words ring loudly to all of us this Easter season: "A time to be born and a time to die" (Eccl. 3:2). That one phrase sums up the human predicament. We will all, in His time, move from this world into eternity.

Yet, what about the afterlife? Is that not one of the major messages of Easter? What if we gain the whole world in life, but lose our souls in death? To those who believe in Christ, "Death has been swallowed up in victory" (1 Cor. 15:54). Paul wrote, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. ... If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied ... But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead" (1 Cor. 15:17,19-20).

It is estimated that 40 percent of those who will sit in church on Easter do not have a personal relationship with the resurrected Lord. We must offer life to those who live in death. "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26). What a privilege to show the way to eternal life. People need to remember that Easter was and is for them. [Yet, sadly only 42 percent of those contacted in a recent Barna survey link Easter to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.]

"The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: "He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him"'" (Matt. 28:5-7).

Be Blessed, and Be a Blessing

Roger

Drew Brees Super Bowl Quarterback on Faith

In an interview last week with Sharing the Victory magazine, Drew Brees, MVP quarterback in last weekend's Superbowl, talked about how his faith affects his life and his game:

“I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart on my 17th birthday...Before that, I'd gone to church with my family, but I didn't fully understand it or accept it...I remember my pastor talking about God 'looking for a few good men.' All of a sudden the light bulb went [on] in my head and I was like, 'Hey, that's me; I can be one of those few good men!'”

When asked what that meant, Brees answered, “"It means that you trust in the Lord, you trust that He has a plan for your life. You trust that He's never going to put anything in front of you that's too hard for you…so no matter what comes your way, you'll overcome it and it will make you stronger. [It's] the ability to influence—in a positive way—so many other people, and just be able to spread the blessings that God has bestowed upon you.”

He also talked of his career-changing injury: “When I had that injury...in San Diego, I felt that was the worst thing that could've ever happened to me at the worst time—potentially career-ending—and you start to feel sorry for yourself. You start to ask, 'Why me, why now?' I looked back a year after that—after I'd already been [in New Orleans] a year—and I said, 'You know what, God? That was probably the BEST thing that could've happened to me!' ...Otherwise, I would've never had the opportunity to be a part of this community, to be a part of this rebuilding effort. I feel like I'm a mentally tougher, and stronger person for it; both with my job as a professional football player, as a husband, soon after as a father, and then with my faith.”

A great football player, but more important a great husband, a great Dad, and a proud witness for his faith in Jesus Christ. That's what Jesus has called us to be, no matter what we are doing in this life, we are called to give glory to God through Jesus Christ for how He is interacting with us and forming us in this life.

Thank you Drew Brees,
Roger

Sharing the Victory 2/2/10

Rose Bowl 2010

I just realized, Sherrill and I went to the Rose Bowl and then never said anything about it.

It was lots of fun, a loooooong drive, and on top of that our Oregon Ducks LOST! I'm sure a lot of my friends were glad of that for fear they would never hear the end of it if we had won.

Here we are in front of the Rose Bowl. Then we went back to our car to have a nice lunch on the parking lot. Can you believe it? At the Rose Bowl they park the cars on an 18 hole golf course. What a beautiful setting for a picnic.

But we had so much fun, and we were so proud of the Oregon football team. They played well, made a couple of crucial mistakes, and in the end we lost, but it was a good game, and Sherrill and I had so much fun, it was impossible to be TOO disappointed.

Watch out for Chip Kelly and those high flyin' Ducks next year.


Hey...........how do you like those pants I have on! I sure got a lot of envious looks and comments from Oregon fans about them.

God is soooo good to bless us with the opportunity to travel and enjoy some of the exciting adventures we have had over the last couple of years. Life is good, and so is our God. AMEN!

Yours and His
Roger & Sherrill

GOOD LEADERS ARE GOOD FOLLOWERS FIRST

Jesus said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:42-45).

If you want to be a good leader, start by being a good follower and a good servant! Sometimes, people want to lead before they learn how to follow. Non-followers make terrible leaders. They are self-absorbed and don't deal very well with people in general.

Occasionally, folks will come to me and offer their services in a leadership capacity. My usual response is "you can start your leadership journey by jumping in and helping others. The best leaders know how to follow well."

Sometimes, they walk away with a sniff. "I'm happy to be up front leading, but how dare you ask me to serve behind the scenes? Aren't you aware of my tremendous gifts and abilities?"

Yes -- and I am also aware of an over-inflated ego.

A gentleman graduated from college and signed up as an officer in the Salvation Army. He was a good Christian man, and was excited about his new role and looked forward to providing visionary leadership for the cause.

But he was greatly dismayed when on his first day at work, the very fist assignment was to polish a room full of boots -- filthy, worn, ugly scruffed up boots!

"I can't believe they're doing this to me!" he grumbled, "Don't they know that I'm here to lead? I am an officer for heaven's sake! I've just graduated with honors! Why on earth would they give me such a crummy task? I didn't apply to be a servant!"

Then, the truth dawned on him. In order to lead, he had to be a good follower. There is no job too small for a great leader. If you think a job is "beneath" you, that shows you aren't ready yet. Your job isn't beneath you, YOU are beneath the job!

The best leaders are servants. From underneath, they lift up those around them and possess a "whatever it takes" attitude.

Getting along with others is a golden rule of leadership.

Do you want to become a better leader? Start serving!

Lessons Churches Have Learned from the Economic Crisis

Most agree that the financial crisis has forever altered our economy and culture, and most people agree there are lessons to be learned for ministries and those who lead them. Few of these lessons have been easy; most of them are painful. In an article this week, Mark Holbrook, a provider of banking resources to evangelical ministries across the country, has seen three particularly important lessons emerge.

Early Recognition and Response Matters

Holbrook says churches need to recognize the scope and severity of economic conditions and make prudent, sometimes difficult, decisions sooner rather than later. "Ministries that did this generally weathered the economic storm better than those that just kept hoping things would get better. In the early stages of the economic crisis, we heard some ministry leaders say things such as, 'We believe the Lord will see us through,' or 'Our people will step up.' Some of them realized later that the real message from the Lord was probably more like, 'You need to trim expenses and learn to live on less.' In addition, before the decline, effective ministry was often defined in terms of programs, projects and paid staff; in fact, effectiveness may be more accurately measured by factors such as depth of relationship, relevance of message, and the presence of a spirit of joyful volunteerism.

Financial Management Matters

Holbrook further explained that prudent financial management is a must. "More effective ministry does not mean spending every dollar that comes in. While many ministries have learned the critical importance of maintaining adequate reserves and managing cash flow, others consider it almost a moral responsibility to spend every donated dime. Proverbs 6 suggests a wiser approach: Setting aside funds now for the coming season is part of good stewardship."

Relationships Matter

"Now more than ever, leaders are learning the value of relationships and resources that are available beyond the walls of their ministries," Holbrook added. "No church possesses all the expertise needed to pursue their mission well. We all need to recognize the value of outside resources. Interdependence is biblical, as is consulting with people who know things we don't and have done things we haven't." Holbrook suggested networking with ministry peers to find people better versed at handling difficult ministry tasks, such as renegotiating service contracts, project management, budgeting or financial forecasting.

He told the story of one large Southern California church that began its 2009 budgeting process early in the fall of 2008. Church leadership foresaw budgetary issues in the coming year, so, they developed three budget scenarios—one based on the church's giving history, one based on their best guess given what was happening in the economy, and one based on a worst-case scenario. They ultimately went with a hybrid of the best-guess plan, but they also regularly reviewed and adjusted the budget based on current reality. Along the way, they sought counsel from our ministry development team and others with whom they have relationships. In the end, this church not only weathered the storm, but became stronger in the midst of it.

God Bless, and may the Lord bless us as we attempt to be good stewards of His resources.

(from Church Leaders Intelligence Report)

Practicing the "One Anothers"

Did you know that the phrase "one another" is used over 26 times in the New Testament to describe how we are to relate to one another in the Body of Christ? Often times people ask me, "You don't have to go to church to be a Christian do you?" Or they say something like, "I'm a Christian, I just don't see how the church is relevant to me and my life today." Or one other comment, which I'm afraid the church can easily fall into this trap, "Church is so boring, I just don't get anything out of it."

Well, there may be a grain of truth (or maybe a boulder) in each of those statements, but the reality of Church, as the Body of Christ is this: Church life is absolutely essential for us to practice our Christian life as Jesus and the Apostles taught us.

Why do I say that? Well, there are many reasons, but let me just highlight one today. If we are to practice the "One Anothers" of scripture, there is no way of doing that independent of Church Body Life. Let me just list below those one anothers for your perusal and then maybe you can look up the scripture that explains each one.

The "One Anothers" of the New Testament

-Love one another - John 13:34; 1 John 3:11, 24

-Be Devoted to one another - Romans 12:10

-Honor one another - Romans 12:10

-Live in Harmony with one another - Romans 12:16; 1 Peter 3:8

-Do not Judge one another - Romans 14:13

-Accept one another - Romans 15:7

-Instruct one another - Romans 15:14

-Greet one another - Romans 16:16 (and numerous other scrpture)

-Agree with one another - 1 Corinthians 1:10 (that sounds like a hard one, huh?)

-Serve one another - Galatians 5:13 (you can't do that at home alone)

-Be Patient with one another - Ephesians 4:2

-Be Kind to one another - Ephesians 4:32

-Speak to one another in song - Ephesians 5:19

-Submit to one another - Ephesians 5:21 (ouch! That's not popular)

-Bear with one another - Colossians 3:13

-Forgive one another - Colossians 3:13 (not very easy to do, but necessary)

-Teach & Admonish one another - Colossians 3:16 ( we don't like to be admonished)

-Encourage one another - 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13; 10:25

-Spur one another on toward love and good deeds - Hebrews 10:24

-Do not slander one another - James 4:11

-Offer Hospitality to one another - 1 Peter 4:9

-Be Humble toward one another - 1 Peter 5:5-6

Make sure and go to church this week and see if you can put some of these into practice. God will be glorified, and unbelievers will have one less reason to criticize the church.

Loving one another,

Roger

MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCE

I recently went on a backpacking trip into the Three Sisters Wilderness with two of my boys (Joshua and Nathan) and two grandsons (Jonas and Maysen). We had a great time and really enjoyed being outdoors in the wilderness.

On one of the days we spent there in the wilderness we decided to climb the South Sister. It is a very rigorous and strenuous climb, although it is not a technical climb at all. So we thought we could take my grandsons up with us (4yrs old and 6 yrs old). It was difficult and there was a lot of tears shed in the attempt to reach the top. They made it a long ways, much further than I expected. In fact they made it almost to the very top, but eventually it was too much for the little ones, so their dads turned back with their boys.

But for Grandpa, it was too tantalizing for me to turn back, since the top of the mountain was within my reach. We had been climbing for about four hours, and I knew that I was only about a half hour from the peak.

So I determined to reach the top while the others turned back. It is always exhilarating to reach the top, but at the same time, terribly disappointing to do it without the rest of the climbing party. I ended up on top of the mountain all alone, so it was bitter/sweet, but it was quite a thrill indeed.

It always reminds me of Jesus' Transfiguration on the mountaintop in Matthew 17. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up on top of a high mountain. "There he was transfigured before them in all the glory of God himself. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes shone as white as light. Also, the prophets Moses and Elijah showed up and began to talk with Jesus."

What an incredible moment, so incredible that Peter suggests that they build some shelters and just stay there forever. He has seen a glimpse of heaven, and he doesn't want to ever leave. But Jesus shows them that no matter how glorious the top of the mountain may be, we must always return to the normal day to day living where our ministry can really make a difference in the lives of people.

Mountain top experiences are awesome, exciting, exhilarating and enjoyable (they also take a lot of hard work, sweat and effort), but you can't stay in a mountaintop experience, you have to come down off the mountain and get back to work, doing the will and purpose of God in "the trenches" of life.

Love you all and God Bless

Roger

Seven Keys to Lifelong Love

From Dr. James Dobson, Ph. D.

For anyone contemplating marriage, here are seven straightforward recommendations that will increase the chance of living happily ever after.

1. A Sunday school teacher once gave me some advice that I never forgot. He said, "Don't marry the person you think you can live with. Marry the one you can't live without."

There's great truth in this advice. Marriage can be difficult even when two people are passionately in love with one another, but it is murder when they don't even have that foundation to build on.

2. Don't marry someone who has characteristics that you feel are intolerable. You may plan to change him or her in the future, but that probably won't happen. Behavior runs in deep channels that were cut during early childhood, and it is very difficult to alter them. In order to change a deeply ingrained pattern, you have to build a sturdy dam, dig another canal and reroute the river in the new direction. That effort is rarely successful over the long haul. Therefore, if you can't live with a characteristic that shows up during courtship, it may plague you for the rest of your life.

For example, a person who drinks every night is not likely to give up that habit after the honeymoon. If he is foolish with money, or is basically unkempt, or tends to get violent when irritated, or is extremely selfish — these are red flags that you should not ignore. What you see is what you get! Of course, we all have flaws, and I'm not suggesting that a person has to be perfect to be a candidate for marriage. Rather, my point is that you have to decide if you can tolerate a quirky behavior for the rest of your life, because that's how long you may have to deal with it.

3. Do not marry impulsively! I can think of no better way to mess up your life than to leap into this critical decision without careful thought and prayer. Remember, the dating relationship is designed to conceal information, not reveal it. Both partners put on their best faces for the one they seek to attract. They guard secrets that might be a turn-off. Therefore, many newlyweds get a big surprise during the first year of married life. I suggest that you take at least a year to get beyond the facade and into the inner character of the person.

4. If you are a deeply committed Christian, do not allow yourself to become "unequally yoked" with an unbeliever. You may expect to win your spouse to the Lord at some future date, and that does happen on occasion. But to count on it is risky at best, and foolhardy at worst.

Again, this is the question that must be answered: "Just how critical is it that my husband (or wife) shares my faith?" If it is essential and non-negotiable, as Scripture tells us it should be for believers, then that matter should be given high priority in the decision to marry.

5. Do not move in with a person before marriage. To do so is a bad idea for many reasons. First, it is immoral and a violation of God's law. Second, it undermines a relationship and often leads to divorce.

Studies show that couples who live together before marriage have a 50 percent greater chance of divorce than those who don't — based on 50 years of data. Those who cohabit also have less satisfying and more unstable marriages.

6. Don't get married too young. Those who wed between 14 and 17 years of age are twice as likely to divorce as couples who wait until their 20s. Making it as a family requires some characteristics that come with maturity, such as selflessness, stability and self-control. It's best to wait for their arrival.

7. Finally, the ultimate secret of lifelong love is this: Simply put, the stability of marriage is a by-product of an iron-willed determination to make it work. If you choose to marry, enter into that covenant with the resolve to remain committed to each other for life. Never threaten to leave your mate during angry moments. Don't allow yourself to consider even the possibility of divorce. Calling it quits must not become an option for those who want to go the distance!

Taken from, "Seven Keys to Lifelong Love" appeared in Focus on the Family magazine. Copyright © 1995 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved. International copyright secured

A PRAYER FOR OUR COUNTRY

Billy Graham prayed a prayer for our country that, in a very short and concise way, really says it all. Billy Graham is one evangelist that has always had an incredibly clean record. He has never been caught doing something wrong, not even any false charges have been brought against him. He is a man of the highest integrity.

So read his prayer for our nation, and see if it isn't a prayer that you too can join in on.

Heavenly Father,
We come before You today to ask Your forgiveness and to seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good" (Isaiah 5:20), but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.

We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and have called it building self-esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.

Search us, oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, "The Rest of the Story," and received a larger response to this program than any other he had ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called "One nation under God!"

God Bless,
Roger

The Cost of Faith in Christ

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
--Jim Elliot (Missionary to South American Indians who lost his life at the hands of those he was reaching out to; from the book "Through Gates of Splednor" by his wife Elisabeth Elliot)

"Whenever Christ calls us, his call leads us to death."
--Dietrich Bonhoeffer (A pastor in Germany who resisted Hitler and the Nazi regime, and was ultimately killed for it, from his book "The Cost of Discipleship")

"Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."
--The Apostle Paul (2 Timothy 3:12)

"I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."
-- Jesus Christ (John 12:23-26)

"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
--The Apostle Paul (written while in chains and held in prison by the Roman government, Philippians 1:21)

May your life be a testimony to the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on our behalf.

Love and Blessings,
Roger

PLEASING GOD, NOT MEN!

One of the most challenging Scriptures in the Epistles is Galatians 1:10 when Paul says, "Am I now trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

Paul is writing in the context of preaching the full Gospel. Parts of the Gospel message were offensive to listeners. And it required great courage for him to preach the whole Gospel and not just the parts that were easy to swallow.

As a servant of Christ, we are called to please one person - Jesus Christ. How easy it is for us (especially those of us who are natural people pleasers) to seek the accolades of people. Let's face it, we all appreciate an encouraging word or a "well done" slap on the back from others. The rub comes when things are not going so well in our ministries. Attendance is down, giving is down, or there is a critical spirit in the church or the leadership.

This is when the temptation arises to try and change things, to make things better. Later we realize we are operating more in the flesh than the spirit. And all our efforts and energy have not generated a lasting change, but merely placated some of the nay sayers.

Thankfully, when we choose to please God and Him alone, we will please those who are seeking the Lord as well. But there will be times when we can't make everyone happy. It's during those times that we need great courage to walk the path of faith, choosing to please the only One who gave up everything for us.

May you be blessed as you seek the Lord,

Roger

Adapted from Jimi Williams, worshiptogether.com

Uncertain Time, Certain God

Have you prepared for a journey, studied your map and still made a wrong turn…finding yourself in an unknown place? Confusing, wasn’t it? Maybe even a little frightening.

"So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes." - Daniel 9:3

In Babylon, the Jewish people were in exile and Darius had just become king. Change, confusion and probably fear were in the wind. Yet Daniel knew the Scriptures; he knew what the prophet Jeremiah had foretold. He had the road map for the future of the people of Israel.

So Daniel did what was his norm. He turned to the Lord. He interceded for the Israelites from his own determined depths. He fasted and put on the clothes of mourning. He petitioned the Lord for His own sake to have mercy on the people and on Jerusalem.

Perhaps change has you befuddled; maybe your neighbor is frightened. Won’t you be a Daniel in this time? Make God’s Word and prayer your norm. As Daniel interceded for Israel, you can intercede with determination for God’s mercy on our nation.

Spend some time today praying for God's hand to be upon our nation, leading our leaders, and reviving the church to rise up and lead our nation back to God and His Word.

Love you all,

Roger

TOE NAILS ARE FOR SISSIES!

That seemed to be the theme for the week as we traveled to the Willamette Valley, more specifically Eugene, OR for the Eugene Marathon, and all the surrounding activities in Eugene.With all the training Sherrill did, with her good friend Judi Brooks, it became a reality; toe nails do take quite a beating in walking or running 26.2 miles in a short period of time.
I also got a chance to stretch my lets out a little, I participated in a 5K run (related to the Marathon festivities) on Saturday, the day before the Marathon. Yes, it took me 35 min. and 43 seconds to run 3.1 miles, but I was glad to have done it under 36 minutes.

But the main focus of the trip, and the majority of our time was dedicated to Sherrill and Judi completing the full marathon (lots of people do a Half-Marathon that same day). It started out a very rainy Eugene day as Sherrill and Judi took off from the starting line.As they progressed through the distance and the day the weather got better and better.
It even finally got so much better that the ground dried out and and they were able to get down to their normal walking clothes.
Finally they came across the finish line in record setting time (for them). They had hoped to finish in 6 hours and 30 minutes. But they did better than that, they finished in 6 hours and 12 minutes, which figures out to about 14:12 per mile. What a great accomplishment!
They were very pleased and excited (especially glad to be done), and we were all very proud of them too. Way to go ladies!It was a fun day, and with all these runners and walkers around, and all the dedication to physical fitness it reminded me of the what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 9:24-ff,
"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever."

With all the hard work it takes to be in the physical condition to do a Marathon, it makes you stop and think of how hard we should all be working to achieve the "spiritual fitness" we are called to be in to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Maybe we can't all get into the physical condition to run a marathon, but we are all called to be spiritually fit, and to work hard, through "strict training" to prepare ourselves for the ultimate crown, the crown of life!

God Bless,
Roger

The Importance of Prayer

"In God’s name I beseech you let prayer nourish your soul as your meals nourish your body. Let your fixed seasons of prayer keep you in God’s presence through the day, and His presence frequently remembered though it be an ever-fresh spring of prayer.

Such a brief, loving recollection of God renews a man’s whole being, quiets his passions, supplies light and counsel in difficulty, gradually subdues the temper, and causes him to possess his soul in patience, or rather gives it up to the possession of God."

—François Fénelon, 17th century theologian and writer

May you be blessed as you seek the Lord today in prayer.

Roger

An Historical View of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Had Christ not risen we could not believe Him to be what He declared Himself when He "made Himself equal with God." But He has risen in the confirmation of all His claims. By it alone, but by it thoroughly, is He manifested as the very Son of God, who has come into the world to reconcile the world to Himself. It is the fundamental fact in the Christian's unwavering confidence in "all the words of this life."
— Benjamin B. Warfield, pastor and theologian


Benjamin B. Warfield (Nov. 5, 1851 - Feb. 16, 1921) was the principal of Princeton Seminary from 1887 to 1921. Some conservative Presbyterians consider him to be the last of the great Princeton theologians before the split in 1929 that formed Westminster Semiary and the Othodox Presbyterian Church.

For a short time in 1876 he preached in Presbyterian churches in Concord, Kentucky and Dayton, Ohio as a "supply pastor" — the latter church calling him to be their ordained minister (which he politely refused). In late 1876 Warfield and his new wife moved to Germany where he studied under Ernst Luthardt and Franz Delitzsch. Warfield was the assistant pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland for a short time. Then he became an instructor at Western Theological Seminary, which is now called Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He was ordained on April 26, 1879.

In 1881 Warfield wrote a joint article with A. A. Hodge on the inspiration of the Bible. It drew attention because of its scholarly and forceful defense of the inerrancy of the Bible. In many of his writings, Warfield attempted to demonstrate that the doctrine of Biblical inerrancy was simply orthodox Christian teaching, and not merely a concept invented in the nineteenth century. His passion was to refute the liberal element within Presbyterianism and within Christianity at large.

Throughout his life, he continued to write books and articles, which are still widely read today.

May we today, in 2009 continue to stand on the foundational principles of the Christian faith, declaring that Jesus Christ is exactly who he claimed to be: equal to God the Father, God in the flesh, the very Son of God who provides the only way to salvation and everlasting life.

Just as we read in the Holy Scriptures: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

Belive, and obey! God Bless,

Roger

PRAYER: The Big Picture

Do you ever get frustrated, discouraged, or disappointed in prayer? I know I have experienced thoughts like: "Does God really hear me? Does He care? Am I just fooling myself that prayer makes a difference?" Those thoughts arise in most of us when going through very difficult times, and not receiving the answers we hoped for, or expected. Well, listen to what C.S. Lewis has to say about prayer, and maybe that would be helpful for you to see the "BIG PICTURE" regarding prayer.

Prayer is either nothing more than an illusion, or a real personal contact between developing, incomplete persons (ourselves) and the utterly whole and complete PERSON (God Almighty).

Prayer in the sense of petition (that is asking for things) is only a small part of what makes up prayer.
Confession and a sense remorse for the wrong we have done is truly the threshold of prayer.
Adoration and worship is the "sanctuary" of prayer.
Experiencing the presence, vision, and enjoyment of God are its bread and wine. At that moment of prayer God actually shows Himself to us.

The fact that He answers prayer is obvious, and not the most important point. The most important point is that He reveals Himself to us. What He does, within the context of relationship, helps us to learn who He is.
(This is my interpretation of what C.S. Lewis says in "The Efficacy of Prayer" in The World's Last Night)

Basically, what I believe C.S. Lewis is saying here is that there is so much more to prayer than just making requests of God. Clearly the Bible supports the action of going to God to make requests, but don't you think God already knows what it is you want? So why pray?

We pray to acknowledge God. We pray to experience God. We pray to thank Him, to worship Him, and give Him glory. We pray to develop a relationship with God. We pray to be in His presence, to begin seeing things through His eyes, to gain His perspective. In the process, He DOES hear our prayers, and immediately begins the process of answering those prayers.

BUT! We have to be careful we don't treat God like some kind of genie in a bottle. Oh how often we wish that we could have a "golden lamp" like Aladdin, and make whatever request we like, and always instantly have what it is we want. But God isn't like that. He loves us, and is developing us, helping us become mature and healthy believers, not a bunch of spoiled brats.

So, know that God does hear you. Know that God is good all the time, and that He really does care about you. He already knows what it is you want, what it is you need, but He requires that we approach him in prayer to achieve the ultimate end: A mature believer in Jesus Christ, living for His purposes, living a life that is pleasing to Him, and bringing glory to His name.

As the Apostle Paul prays for us in Colossians 1:9-12...
"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of Light."

That's what God wants for us above all else. Yes, He does answer prayer! But He wants us to become mature in Christ first and foremost.

God Bless, and enjoy your time with God in prayer today.
Roger

The Truth Project

Have you heard of The Truth Project yet? Wow!!! What a great study on understanding our world from a "biblical worldview."

Did you know that the vast majority of Christians in America today DO NOT live their lives from a biblical worldview? Maybe you don't even know what that means. Let me expound on that for a minute. A "biblical worldview" means seeing the world through the lens of the Bible; understanding the word of God in such a way that all things you see, do, and say are influenced by the will and direction of God Himself.

Everyone has a worldview, we all operate in the world through some belief system. The problem comes when we fall for lies versus living according to truth. A worldview is basically truth claims about the world we live in. Listen to the following video clip from The Truth Project about the definition of worldview. The speakers are some of the greatest biblical scholars of our time: R.C. Sproul, Ravi Zacharias, Os Guinness, and Dr. Del Tackett.

Jesus said, "For this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me" (John 18:37).

A pretty bold statement indeed! Jesus says if you are on the side of truth you listen to ME! Jesus also said, "I am the way, the truth and the life..." (John 14:6). Jesus is saying that he is the truth, and the only truth that is real truth is found in him.

A lot of people define truth in many different ways, there are competing truth claims all around us. Every day we have to make a decision to believe the truth as it is presented to us by the Bible, and Jesus Christ, or the opposing truth claims of other religions, or the secular world.

The sad news is that the vast majority of people who call themselves Christian today do not necessarily live their lives according to the truth as it is presented to us by God's word. The lies of the world are constantly pulling us away from God's perfect plan for life, and leading us down a path of destruction.

God has spoken the truth into every aspect of our daily living. The truth of God is not just for the church, it is for every aspect of life. Whether we are talking about science, education, sex, work, law, government, family, or the arts and media. It doesn't matter what aspect of life you are in, or speak of, God has given us guidelines and directions for how to live and operate in that area of life. If we ignore God's direction and do it our own way we are destined for disaster.

The Bible says, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way..." (Isaiah 53:6). Our nation today is running pell mell away from God, forgetting God, and doing things our own way. If we in the church do not wake up and impact our culture positively for God, with the teachings and directions of Jesus, we are in for a very dark time.

May the church wake up and become the powerful influence in our culture that God intended. Find a Truth Project group near you and get involved in making a difference: for yourself, your family, your church, community, the nation, and ultimately the world!

God Bless you as you seek the Truth!

Roger

Praying For Our Nation

Pray for wisdom for President Obama and his team as they discern how our nation will remain vigilant in the war on terrorism.

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." --Colossians 4:2 (NIV)

Lord, we praise and thank You for the peace we have in knowing that You are sovereign and in control of all the affairs of mankind. In our concerns for the world around us we thank You for Your kind and watchful care over all things—even events and circumstances that trouble us. Lord, we thank You that when we commit these things to You in prayer, You will bring us peace and hope in the knowledge that You are aware of them and have all things in hand.

Mighty God, we ask You today to help President Obama and those serving under him to be ever watchful of the threat of terrorism against our nation. Give them insight as to how to respond to prevalent and ever-changing threats, O God, and help them to do all that is right and necessary to properly protect our citizens and best utilize the men and women of our military against terrorists. Help and strengthen the President and his team, Lord, and encourage them to seek You as they face this issue. In Christ’s name, amen.

Praying Together,
Roger
(taken from, http://www.presidentialprayerteam.net/100days/48.html)