PRAYING THROUGH THE FIRST 100 DAYS

Pray for godly influence at every level of the White House
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.—I Peter 5:8(NIV)

Holy and beautiful Lord God, You are glorious, righteous and good. You are the source of all goodness and truth, and there is nothing that is good or true that did not have its source in You. You dwell in unfathomable light and glory, and darkness cannot abide with Your presence.

Lord, we know that we have an enemy—an enemy of our souls that would love to gain a foothold in the halls of influence and power, particularly in the White House and the West Wing. We ask today that godliness and holiness will be the order of the day every day, at every level in the White House. May godly character be valued and sought out by those who lead our nation, so You may be glorified and Your purposes served.

In Jesus’ name, AMEN.

www.presidentialprayerteam.org

Pray For Our President

Pray for President Obama to have the spiritual support and nurture needed to excel in office

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. —II Timothy 3:16(NIV)

Heavenly Father, we praise You today for Your active involvement in the writing of Scripture, an involvement so powerful and pervasive that what is written is the infallible and authoritative Word of God. It is our life manual, by which we can know how to live a righteous life, through Your direction, that is pleasing to You.

Knowing this, Lord, we now intercede for President Obama, that You would place men and women in his life that would teach and, when needed, correct him from the pages of the Bible. Help President Obama to be open and desirous of this instruction, and guide him, O God, to seek the Scriptures for himself so that he may have the principles and wisdom necessary to excel as our president. In the name of Jesus we pray, amen. (taken from www.presidentialprayerteam.org. Praying Through the First 100 Days. Day 16)

Today (Thursday, Feb. 5) President Obama addressed the National Prayer Breakfast. In personal terms, he talked about the role of faith in his life, from his Muslim-born father and a mother skeptical of organized religion to his own embrace of Christianity as a young man.

"I had a father who was born a Muslim but became an atheist, grandparents who were non-practicing Methodists and Baptists, and a mother who was skeptical of organized religion, even as she was the kindest, most spiritual person I've ever known. She was the one who taught me as a child to love, and to understand, and to do unto others as I would want done," he said.

President Obama planned to sign an executive order later in the day creating the White House Office on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. It would expand and refocus the faith-based office founded by former President George W. Bush.

The president will also appoint Joshua DuBois, a 26-year-old Pentecostal minister who headed religious outreach for Obama's Senate office and later his campaign, to lead the partnerships office and name 25 religious and secular leaders to a new advisory board.

May the Lord God Almighty bless us and guide us as we go through a very difficult time in our nation.

Love you all,

Pastor Roger

Every Knee Will Bow

"When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." Exodus 7:5 (NLT).

Teaching the truth of God's word to an unbelieving world is a hard thing to do. In the biblical story found in Exodus, God sends His servant, Moses, to free the Israelites from the bondage of slavery in Egypt.

Egypt does not know Jehovah God, and therefore sets up it's own idols of worship. Pharaoh even ventures to ask Moses, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey Him...?" (Exodus 5:2).

When people, in pride, look to their own strength, or to gods other they the one true God, God's intention is to humble them and cause them to look to Him, whether they want to or not. When His judgments thunder over their heads, darken their skies, destroy their harvests, and slay their firstborn sons, they begin to catch a glimpse of Jehovah God's power.

God allows such things to happen in the earth so as to bring skeptics to their knees. We don't need to be worried about the hardness of mankind's hearts in rejecting God and His ways, for the LORD can take care of His own name, and He will do so with great power and effectiveness.

The salvation of His own people was another potent means of making Egypt know that the God of Israel was Jehovah, the living and true God. No Israelite died by any one of the ten plagues. None of His chosen people were drowned in the Red Sea.

The day will come when the salvation of God's people (the church), and the glorification of all true believers will make even the most obstinate of God's enemies acknowledge that Jehovah, is the one true God.

Romans 14:11 it says, "As surely as I live," says the LORD, "Every knee will bow before me; and every tongue will confess to God."

We also read in Philippians 2:10, "Therefore God exalted him (Jesus) to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Just as we sing in that wonderful song, "Come, now is the Time to Worship,"

One day every tongue will confess you are God,
One day every knee will bow!
Still the greatest treasure remains for those
who gladly choose you now.

The day is coming when believer and unbeliever; Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, and Atheist will all bow their knee to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He is God and there is no other. Those who refuse to submit to him now will one day regret that decision when they finally discover they he is undeniably the Lord of Hosts, the King of kings, and the LORD of lords.
They will suffer great loss as they bow their knees. But believers will be saved, and be rejoicing in his presence and worshiping his holy name.

Pray today that revival will sweep across this land saving thousands, millions, and even billions of souls for all eternity. May the convicting power of the Holy Spirit go forth through the teaching, preaching and encouraging word of His people. May more and more discover the joy of bowing their knees to Jesus as LORD today, rather than the shame and suffering they will feel when bowing to Him when it is too late.

Praying for mankind together,
Roger

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

Do you have any family traditions for Christmas?
Sherrill and I have a family tradition: We celebrate Christmas Eve in the church candlelight service with our church family, and then we drive the 400 miles through the night from Baker to the Willamette Valley to celebrate Christmas day with our children. It's a long drive, and sometimes we have to battle bad weather, but it is worth it to be able to gather with our children and grandchildren.

But it wasn't always that way. Sherrill and I can remember when our four children were still living at home, and much younger. Our tradition in those days was to wake up Christmas morning, still in our pajamas and bathrobes, and open our gifts together just the six of us. The kids would come out of their bedrooms excited, bouncing about the house, waking Sherrill and I up so they didn't have to wait any longer.

But before we would open any gifts, our tradition was to read passages of the Christmas story from the Bible. As the kids got older they would read the passages themselves, we would then pray and thank God for the most precious gift...Jesus, and for the gift of salvation, and then we would slowly and patiently take turns opening one gift at a time.

It was a precious and cherished time. It was family time, and it was time spent recognizing that this is truly a day to worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Yes, we had lots of meals and extended family dinners planned. We had lots of running around to do to see everyone we could. But for that morning, it was reserved for our immediate family, to slow down, express our love for one another through the giving and receiving of gifts. But most of all to start it all off with a recognition of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Do you have any Christmas tradtions? I hope you do. For many it all starts off with a candlelight service on Christmas Eve. That is what we have established here at Baker City Christian Church, and I know for many families that is their tradition, to come to candlelight service, and then go home and gather with family.

Sometimes tradition is looked upon as being a negative thing. And it can be if it takes away from the joy of celebration. But tradition can be a good thing, when it develops deep seated memories of a special message, and cherished thoughts of God and family.

Life on this earth is not about things: "how many gifts did I get, how expensive were they, did I get JUST what I wanted." No... life on this earth is not about money, possessions, and things; it is about our relationships with one another, and with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all you soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second it like it; 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40).

There you have it. The most important thing, and the greatest gift you can give this Christmas is your love; love for God and love for those around you. It is those relationships that make a difference. In years to come the most cherished memories of Christmas will NOT be what gifts you got for Christmas, no, the most cherished memories will be the time spent together as family; your biological family, and your church family, and worship of the Savior.

Start building those special Christmas traditions in your family and you will leave a legacy that will carry on for generations to come.

Love you all
Roger

Baker City Turkey Trot

Sherrill and I decided to walk the Baker City Turkey Trot together this Thanksgiving. The Turkey Trot is one of the very few organized runs that take place in Baker City. It is a 5k run, but we decided to just walk it.

There were lots of walkers as well as runners. It was lots of fun and a surprising number of people turned out for the event. It was very chilly, around 20 to 25 degrees, but we just bundled up and started walking. It was a very clear day, so as the sun came out it wasn't so cold at all.

We had a real good group of people turn out with us from the church. In the above picture you see Sherrill's good friends and walking partners Jonet and Jessica.

The Bowers family turned out in force. Here's Sylvia and Lena or Stella, I have a hard time telling them apart because they are twins. Also, Dad, Bruce Bowers, as well as Franklin were all there.









The Maddox Family made a good showing as well, with Dad, Greg, Daughter Amy, and Amy's little one, Isaiah.
Amy did a great job pushing the stroller all the way. Greg hung in there supporting her and obviously enjoying every step of the way. That's also Emma and Dallas who joined them near the end.


That wasn't all! We were also joined by the Coles, Don and Glenda. They did a great job considering they are just a little bit "older" than the rest of us. They are a great encouragement to us all, showing us that you don't have to let age slow you down too much.

It was kind of sad for Sherrill and I being away from our own kids and family for Thanksgiving Day, but all in all, with church family, and a beautiful day, we had lots of fun.

The Bible tells us to "Rejoice in the Lord always!" And we rejoiced because of the blessing of beautiful weather and good friends. Baker City is a great place to live, and Thanksgiving Day 2008 was a great day.

May God Bless You All! Not on just Thanksgiving Day, but every day.

Pray for our Presidents in Transition

As we pray for our nation, and pray for our new President-elect Barack Obama, be sure and remember to pray for our incumbent President Bush. He has some important decisions to make and things to do before he leaves office. He is still our president, so he needs your prayers too. The following is some points of prayer to pray for both President Bush and President-elect Obama.

Pray for President Bush today as he continues to work diligently, putting plans in place with his transition team, seeking to create a smooth transition for President Elect Obama's team. Pray for God's grace and strength as he also works with members of his team on the economy and negotiations with Iraqi leaders, seeking to keep that nation stable as US troop presence decreases...

Pray for the members of the Republican Governors Association as they gather in Miami, FL today, seeking to share information that will help each one serve their constituents better...

Give thanks for all that God has done in the past eight years through the work of President and Mrs. Bush. Pray that He will prepare wonderful experiences and blessings for them as they return to Texas...

Give thanks for the millions of veterans who have served our nation and the cause of freedom so faithfully, asking God to strengthen each one and to provide for their needs...

Pray for President Elect Obama as he works with his new Chief of Staff, Rep. Rahm Emanuel, and other key advisors, making plans for his administration and considering key appointments and staffing decisions. Pray for humility, wisdom from God and strength for every day...

Pray for President-Elect Obama and his loved ones as they mourn the loss of his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who passed away November 3 in Honolulu, HI following a battle with cancer. Pray for comfort and strength and for wisdom regarding arrangements...

Pray that the strongholds of greed, wherever they lie in our nation, will be removed, and be replaced by repentance and a desire to serve the common good in America...

Pray for our troops as they work to safeguard our freedom, giving thanks for their sacrifices on our behalf. Pray that they will be guided and protected by God as they serve...

Jesus says, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:7).

Pray, and know that God hears us. Not only does God hear us, but he will answer our prayers as we live in Christ.

THE FOURFOLD CALL OF A DISCIPLE

The God of all creation wants you! He wants you so much that He sent His own Son to die for you. He has saved you and redeemed you. And as you put your faith in Jesus Christ, he is CALLING you, and beckoning you to be His devoted follower and disciple. Just as God called His prophets, and just as Jesus called his apostles, God is calling you in four specific ways.

1. He is calling you to HIMSELF.
Jesus said in what is commonly known as the Great Commandment, "Love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all you soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment" (Matthew 22:37-38).

The highest calling we receive as Christians is to love God with our whole being. Basically, that is why we were created, to love God and find our delight in Him.

How do you love God? By loving Jesus, and obeying His commands. Jesus said, "If you love me you will obey my commands" (John 14:15). Does that mean I have to know every command in the whole Bible? NO! Not at all. Jesus said, as we just read in the Great Commandment, you are to love God, and secondly...

2. He is calling you to LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
The second call of a disciple of Jesus is to love one another. As we continue reading the Great Commandment it says, "And the second is like it, love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:39-40).

Here you have it... To answer the call to love God is to obey His commands. And more specifically, Jesus said if you love ME, you will obey MY commands. Jesus simplified things a lot by saying if you just do these two things, love God and love others, you will fulfill all the laws that are found in the Old Testament.

Jesus also pointed out in John 13:34, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have love you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know you are my disciples, if you love one another." How do you demonstrate to yourself, and to everyone around you that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ? By loving your neighbor as yourself, and especially demonstrating that love toward your brothers and sisters in Christ.

The church is the Body of Christ. If I love Jesus, I love the church, because it is his presence here on earth. Someone may say, "I don't have to go to church to be a Christian." That may be true in theory, but in practice it is actually being disobedient to Jesus. Jesus said we are to love one another, be devoted to one another, care for one another, and bear one another's burdens. How do you do that if you are not involved in the local church. And actually we need to be more involved in church than just attending on Sundays, we need to be involved in other Christian's lives through participating in a small group. Getting to know their needs and cares, actually loving them through relationship, and doing the third thing we are called to...

3. A Disciple is called to MINISTRY.
Jesus said, "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 10:45.

In Greek, "serve" and "ministry" are one an the same word. Jesus gives us the example to follow, and that example is to ministry in the church, serving those in the church, helping to make the church better.

In 1 Corinthians 12:7 we are taught, "A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other." Help each other do what? So that we can help each other make the church all that Jesus intended it to be. Ministry is making the church more effective by serving those who are INSIDE the church. The church (that is the people) is dependent on one another to help each through ministry in order to accomplish the work that Jesus has called us to do.

The church today is often crippled in its ability to accomplish it purpose because too many believers expect the church to take care THEIR needs, but they don't offer their abilities and resources to help others out in any way. Too many Christians do not participate in church, just living for themselves. Some may go to church on Sundays for an hour, but then they just go back about their own business, pursuing their own personal agendas.

Each and every Christian is called to make a difference in their church, to help make it better than it was before they became a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 says, "Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a [vital and integral] part of it." Christians are having less, and less impact on the culture around us because too many Christians are not actively involved in ministry in a local church body.

4. Finally, Every Disciple is called to MISSION
In the Great Commission of Jesus we read, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have command you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).

As disciples of Jesus Christ we are all called to a mission. Missions is reaching out to those who are OUTSIDE of the church. Every Christian should have a MINISTRY serving people inside the church, and every Christian should have MISSION reaching out to people outside of the church, outside of the family of God.

Ministry is what makes the church strong and effective in encouraging and equipping disciples to be prepared for the MISSION outside the church. Without effective ministry going on inside the church, our mission to those outside the church is severely weakened.

The world is much too used to seeing Christians who are failing miserably in their walk, unhappy, burdened down with their own sin and guilt. Or on the other hand the world sees Christians as unloving, angry, condemning, judgmental, and acting as if they are better than everyone else.

If you are a disciple of Jesus you can make a difference. When you answer the call to love God in Christ, when you answer the call to love others as much as you do your own family and yourself, when you answer the call to ministry and mission, you will discover a new and powerful purpose for you life. Your life will never be boring again. You will discover an exciting adventure in service to Jesus and others. People will be amazed and impressed by the changes they see in you, and most importantly, they will be amazed by your God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

My prayer is that you will answer the four-fold call to discipleship and begin making a difference for Jesus Christ in the world around you.

God Bless,
Roger