Archive for the 'Church' Category
Woodbine FWB Church is now Cane Ridge FWB Church. The building we once met in is now the property of a Spanish FWB church. Cane Ridge FWB Church meets each Sunday in the cafeteria and gymnasium at A.Z. Kelly Elementary School. Each Sunday morning the set-up team meets an hour or so before services and sets up the chairs, mics, keyboards, etc. to enable us to meet for worship. The different Sunday School classes gather in groups in corners, behind the drapes on stage, or anywhere that is possible. Sometimes a group will have a loud outburst but usually there is just a quiet hum as the groups discuss the day’s lesson within their own group.
The same thing takes place for the evening services with one difference. After that service is over, everything has to be dismantled, stacked together, and carried out to vans, trunks, and trailers to be stored so we can meet in seven more days and do it all over again.
Is it tiring? Of course it is. Can it be exasperating? Absolutely, if you let it. Do people’s tempers get short? They could, but I’ve not heard that yet. You see, Cane Ridge folks are on a mission; they have set a course toward a goal and have no plans of looking back with regrets, backing up, or sitting down.
Sunday, April 5, 2009, Cane Ridge FWB Church will break ground on the property where we will build the first building of the new Cane Ridge FWB Church! What an exciting time that will be. Scores of us will ride by the property as the building begins to take place just to see how much progress has been made. As the the building takes shape the excitement will mount until one day we drive by and it is almost complete. Just a few more finishing touches and then we can move in. On that day, the glory of the Lord will fall and just as the Children of Israel stepped up the bank of the Jordan River to take possession of Canaan, Cane Ridge Church will take possession of the land and building God has given us with the task of conquering new territory for Him.
Are we up to the challenge? We’d better be. God does not do things halfway and He doesn’t expect His children, His warriors, to fall victim to that attitude either. So, we march on; we work; we give; we pray; we encourage; we remain faithful and the God of heaven and earth has promised never to leave us. He will finish the work He has begun.
Come see what God is doing at, and with, Cane Ridge FWB Church!
Grams
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” — Corrie ten Boom
The thing that is so compelling about this statement is the one who made it. Corrie ten Boom lived several years in some of the most adverse circumstances any woman might find herself in. And yet, after all she suffered, she kept her faith in God. She didn’t doubt Him when she faced the ovens at Ravensburck; she didn’t doubt Him when her sister died while they were inmates in a concentration camp during WWII; she didn’t doubt Him when an infestation of fleas kept the guards out of her barracks, allowing her to continue Bible studies, and I’m sure she didn’t doubt Him on the day she went home to be with Jesus. Faith and dependence such as this causes one to stop and take a second look. And our turbulent times demand that we do.
I’m not the oldest person alive, but I’ve lived a significant number of years and never in my life have I known our country, yes, even the world, to be in the condition it is today. A lot of people say this sort of thing and I repeat it only to add emphasis. We are faced with a future that no one but the Almighty knows the answer to; only He knows what will be the import of what we do today. The future, by its very name, has always held a certain fear or trepidation, but today’s world seems to be unraveling from it’s very foundation. To say one is not concerned would be to refuse to face the truth. We are all a little uneasy.
However, not only do the words of Corrie ten Boom offer hope, but so does the eternal Word of God. My Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, has promised to provide for those who put Him first in their lives; those who live in obedience to His commands. And I think that is where the fear comes in. Most people today know they have not lived in that relationship with Jesus Christ; they are really not in a position to trust anything to Him, neither this present day or a future one.
That is a sad commentary on the greatest nation in the world, a people who have had the truth for hundreds of years and refused to walk in its light. The light has faded and darkness produces fear and fear causes one to lose hope, to fail to trust. And now, those who do not know Jesus as Savior faces an unknown future devoid of “a known God.”
Grams
When I first started working for Randall House, other than trying to get a production schedule in place that would work more efficiently, nothing much changed. We were just trying to maintain the status quo. Now, that was twelve years ago, or close to that. I look back on those days and then take stock of where we are today, and I shake my head almost in unbelief.
What was once a couple of in-house editors, a typesetter, and one graphic designer has grown to include an editorial director, a managing editor, 2 senior editors, 3 associate editors, 1 editorial assistant, and 1 editorial intern. Then across the hall, the graphic design department sports a design manager, 3 designers, 1 typesetter, and a design intern. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention our book acquisitions editor who heads up our book division. Obviously, the number of products has increased as well.
In the world of publishing, the staff I just referred to is quite small. Even with all the increase we have had, we have room to substantially increase product and thereby personnel. When someone says, the sky’s the limit, I sometimes wonder if that person really understands what he has alluded to. But that sentiment definitely holds true for Randall House today. With all that has been, considering where we began and where we’re going, those of us who are looking from the inside out know that today we can say, “The sky’s the limit.”
In the spring quarter of 2009 Fusion will replace CLEAR Living as the new adult devotional magazine. After many hours of researching, talking, thinking, and praying for God’s guidance, we believe this product will more closely meet the needs of today’s adults facing life in our anti-Christian culture. The aim is once again to help families connect together around the Word of God. Fusion is a positive step in that direction.
More new products and product lines are coming in 2009. The fall quarter will see the first issue of The Brink, a young adult curriculum line designed to target young adults age 18-30. The content remains biblical, but the approach to application will cause those in this age group to look at how that biblical content impacts where they live. It will be different, but it will also be a mighty tool to reach one of the most neglected groups of adults in our culture. We are all very excited. What else is coming remains to be seen, but I’d keep my eyes open and my ears peeled if I were you.
This incredible journey I’ve been on for the past 12 years has really been a joy in my life. Has it all been easy? Well, no! But, things that come easy usually do not last nor do they have the eternal impact struggles do. It has been, and is, a trip worth taking.
Grams
The Foot Log
The gray sky hung low and heavy, almost touching the ground. A mist rose to mingle with the rain, soaking and chilling as it fell. No wind. All was quiet and just plain cold. No birds, no sounds, nothing. I wondered if this was the way it felt when the earth was young.
I wasn’t the only one feeling like we’d made a big mistake in coming on this camping trip. I could tell from their faces that others shared my sentiments also. There was no way it had been this cold and wet when we left the comfort of our beds to spend a day “roughing” it in the woods. Maybe it’s colder and wetter in the woods. I don’t know, but that sounded logical to me.
Daddy had agreed to take the boys from the church on a hunting/camping trip and, of course, we girls wanted to come along too. So, in trying to be fair to all the youth in the church, he had agreed to take anyone who wanted to go. That was his first mistake. His second? Going camping in the fall after the winter rains had set in. In all fairness to him, he had planned the trip for just the guys and it was to be a serious hunting trip, not a social for the young people at church. His third mistake was failing to understand the reason girls would want to go on a hunting/camping trip in the first place.
We had ridden into the wilderness (that’s what it seemed like to me) a long way over bumpy, potholed, dirt roads. Finally it was time to park the vehicles and walk to the campsite. That meant all the gear had to be carried and everybody had to do their part. I didn’t remember this being part of the deal. But, not to be outdone, we all grabbed a pack and started for the campsite.
Before we could set up camp we had to cross this creek. Now the problem was that the rains had caused the creek to be higher than it was supposed to be. Someone had this “great” idea of a foot log, which lay perfectly across the creek and offered convenient access to the campsite. So, across the foot log we would go.
Daddy went first. Now in an effort once again to be fair, my daddy was a woodsman. He hunted and fished and knew a lot about survival, long before all the survival shows we have today. I never doubted his ability to take care of us while in the woods. He had the heaviest pack and carried his shotgun. He told us he was going to clear the leaves off the log so our footing would be sure. The rest of the group waited as he started across. He walked carefully, kicking the leaves off the log before each step. He was walking in rhythm, swinging his leg and kicking the leaves. Then the inevitable happened. For some reason, still unknown, daddy lost his rhythm and instead of kicking leaves, his right foot kicked his left ankle and there was this big splash. Daddy had kicked his feet out from under him and gone feet first into the creek. Remember the rains? He went all the way under. Only his shotgun could be seen; he had managed to hold it above his head and avoided getting it wet.
While daddy was scrambling up the bank, the rest of us hurried on across. The next thing on our agenda was to build a fire. Daddy needed to get dry and warm as fast as he could. He was our guide, caretaker, provider, and anything else we needed. We had to take care of him. So, as only young people can do, we immediately set up camp; one of the other men built a fire and looked after the preacher. Before long we had a semblance of a meal ready and daddy was in some dry clothes; well, they were almost dry. We sat around the fire, talking about what had happened, and laughing at the preacher who had been the only one to fall into the creek. Somewhere along the way we had forgotten the rain, the cold, and the discomfort. We were actually enjoying ourselves.
There are several lessons one can learn from a day like I’ve just described: don’t be over confident; plan carefully, considering any and all possibilities; be prepared for emergencies; make the most of a bad situation; even cancel plans when conditions warrant it. But the one thing that has come to my mind down through the years when I recall that day has been people’s ability to laugh at bad situations; to turn a bad day into an enjoyable outing. And that’s what it was–a good day.
Grams
You’ve just received word that the company is downsizing and your job has been eliminated. Fear, anxiety, anger, even a sense of hopelessness flood your mind. What will you do? Where will you go? In the back of your mind you know that you may have to relocate. Change.
The last few months you have spent hours going over brochures of colleges, trying to decide which one is the right choice to make. You want your son or daughter, as the case may be, to be satisfied with the decision, but finances play a major role in the choice that is made. Finally the day arrives when that one who has been a major part of your life for 18 years is leaving home, going off to college. Your stomach knots up as you struggle to hold back the tears. It won’t be the same, ever again. Change.
The church’s facilities are old and in need of major repair. The demographics of the city have shifted and to be affective, the church must consider its future role in its present community. Avenues for outreach have almost come to a standstill due to language and custom barriers. In the back of everyone’s mind is the nagging question of what to do. If we move, where to, when, and who will lead? Whatever the church decides to do everyone knows that things will never be the same again. Change.
People fear change. It is an unknown and in that quality resides the fear that both causes change and hinders it. Today it’s called stepping out of your comfort zone and I guess that’s a good name for it. Still it means you have to do something you’ve never done before; embrace another man’s vision and decide whether or not you can trust him. That’s what it comes down to in the long run. Trust, pure and simple. But have you noticed just how hard that can be, to place total trust in someone, regardless of who he or she may be?
Have you ever considered why God placed men over His flock; why He gave mortal men the responsibility of looking after His children while in this life? Give that some thought, I mean beyond the textbook answer. Maybe, just maybe, God knew us well enough to realize that if anything substantial was ever to be accomplished on planet earth, we needed someone to follow; someone we could see, talk to, build a relationship with; someone physical with the same sinful tendencies we all have, yet able to live a life that inspires us to walk closer to our God. I know we have God’s Word and I believe it is the infallible, inerrant Word of almighty God, but at times I still need that human interaction, that human example of faith, of depending on God, of standing for what’s right.
Look at the apostle Paul. He’s the one who said, “Follow me as I follow the Lord” (paraphrase). The prophets of old admonished the people under their hearing to listen and do as they said. Then of course there’s Moses, possibly the greatest leader of all time. He returned to a people, who had sought his life, with the command of God to lead those same people out of Egypt to a land “flowing with milk and honey”–the Promised Land. Now that was change, and the people followed, complaining and griping all the way.
If God has placed you in a position of leadership over a group of people much like the Israelites headed for Canaan or even 1st century Christians, take heart. You stand in the gap; you are the one most will look to, not the Lord. Most of your people will follow the Lord only as you do. And in that you will be able to inspire some to train their eye on Christ and not on you. And when that happens you will have instigated change. You will have forced people out of their comfort zone. Where once your people looked only to you for how to live, what to believe, how to trust, and how to serve, as time goes by they will keep their eyes on Christ and follow where He leads; live as He teaches; believe what He says, and serve where He leads.
The neat thing about the entire process is that it never stops. There will always be others to take the place of those who have matured to the point that they will follow Christ, even if, God forbid, you don’t. They will have changed–stepped out of their comfort zone–and the church takes another step forward. And that’s a good thing.
Whether your voice speaks from time past; whether you walk out of the desert or come down from the hills, God has called you to be a catalyst for change. And that will impact people’s hearts, minds, and emotions. In order for you to accomplish what God has for you, you too may have to step out of your comfort zone. You up to it? I sure hope so.
Grams
Up ahead gaped the open mouth of a large cave. Hungry and thirsty, he stumbled into its darkness. Exhaustion forced him to the ground. He had been running for days and now all he wanted to do was rest. And sleep! Sweet, peaceful oblivion! That’s what he needed.
Sometime in the night a strong wind tore across the mountainside. Elijah went out upon the mountain as the winds blew harder and harder. The storm blew with such force trees and rocks were jolted from their places. Then as if on cue, the mountain began to shake, seeming to crumble underneath him. Fear gripped his heart like he’d never known before. Never in all his life had he lived through such a rage of nature.
What was that he smelled? Smoke. He smelled smoke! A bolt of lightening must have struck a tree, causing a fire to burn what little was left standing. Elijah stood as if in a trance. He looked all around him; there was nothing left. What had not been destroyed by the great wind and mighty earthquake, the fire had burned. Now what would he do?
In that one night all the forces of nature had converged upon one spot. Wind; earthquake; fire! What a magnificent display of the power of God! But wait, what was that? That sounded like someone whispered my name!
Elijah crept out from his hiding place, shivering from the fear that still held him in its grasp. There it was again–the sound of a low whisper. The voice spoke again; it was the whisper of God.
Another time a storm raged. This time is was on the Sea of Galilee and the twelve disciples were trying to reach the other side. But the harder they rowed, the farther from shore it seemed they were. Waves of water washed over the sides of the boat. At any moment the boat could sink. It was filling with water faster than they could bail.
Down in the bottom of the boat Jesus lay sleeping. Someone shook Him awake. “Master, don’t you care we are about to sink? Help us!” Jesus stood up, walked to the front of the boat, and raised his arms toward heaven. Then in a quiet voice, almost like a whisper, Jesus said, “Peace! Be still!”
Once again the whisper of God could be heard above the raging torrents of nature, turned loose to wreak its havoc. Once again the tumult ceased. Where do you look for the whisper of God? Do you see His handiwork in the mighty displays of nature? Do you observe His power in the transformation that takes place in people’s lives when they come to know Him personally? Do you look for Him amid the fears, uncertainties, and doubts of everyday life? Have you found Him yet?
Let the winds die down; let the thunder and lightening subside; wait for the trembling to come to a standstill; look for a lull in the storm and you will hear it–the low whisper of God. Just as He did with Elijah; just as He did for His disciples years later, Jesus gently nudges you from out of the storm. “Child, what are you doing here?”
Now it’s your turn to speak. What will you tell Him?
Grams
Andrew raised his arms and threw with all his might. The net sailed over his head and out into the water landing exactly where he wanted it. Slowly he began the arduous task of hauling in the net with its catch. A smile played along his lips. He enjoyed being out on the water, tasting the salt in the wind as the waves rocked the boat back and forth. Business was good; all the hard work he and his brother had done was finally paying off. They even had plans of adding another boat to their fishing business. Maybe that could happen before the next fishing season got under way.
Walking alongside the Sea of Galilee, Jesus stopped to watch as Simon and Andrew cast their nets. He called to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of me.” The Scripture says that they immediately left their nets and followed Him.
The nets symbolized everything about those two men. They were fishermen; this was their livelihood; the way they paid their bills. It was their identity; who they were. But at the call of Jesus both unhesitatingly dropped their nets, docked their boat, and got in step with Jesus. These men left behind all they had been previously and followed Jesus of Nazareth.
When Jesus calls us today, He asks us to do the same thing Simon and Andrew did–to leave all and follow Him. Maybe we do not have to change our occupation as those two did. That depends upon the role Jesus has for each of us in His kingdom’s work, but our decision to become a follower of Jesus Christ entails a complete surrender of who we are, our dreams and aspirations, as we give the Lord Jesus Christ first place in our lives.
Why would two fishermen willingly turn their backs on who they were to become completely different? Why should you and I be willing to do that? Could it be because Jesus has made a better offer? How does the best this world has to offer stack up against what you have when you become a follower of the Son of God? How do you think fishing compared to eternal life? When Jesus calls you to come follow Him, lay aside whatever you’re doing and get in step with Jesus. You will become a fisher of men.
Grams
She comes in all shapes and sizes, with differing personalities, gifts, and abilities. She may step to the forefront, driven by a desire to lead, or give place to those around her, content to remain in the background. Either action brings criticism. Bravely she looks to the future and accepts her role in God’s plan for her family.
What kind of woman willingly leaves behind everything familiar to serve a group of people who, for the first twelve months, watch every move she makes, deciding if she will fit? What kind of woman smiles, even when her heart breaks from lack of acceptance and friendship with the very people God has sent her to serve? What kind of woman hugs a child, all the time remembering she has been on the receiving end of the mother’s caustic tongue?
What kind of woman lies awake during long, sleepless nights praying with her husband for another’s wayward son or daughter, the hard times others may be experiencing or their lack of spiritual growth? Then, after friendships and relationships deepen and the Lord says it’s time to move to another place of service, what kind of woman can smile through the tears, release those she has come to care for so much and go somewhere else to start the process all over again?
What kind of woman? A very special woman uniquely gifted to continually put herself last so others may go first. She is a woman God calls and places alongside the under shepherd of His flock. She is the pastor’s wife.
A certain mystique surrounds her. While there are other women in the congregation, there is only one pastor’s wife. That alone makes her the most important among all ladies in the church. No one else holds her position. After all, she has the preacher’s heart. More important to some, she has his ear. Her influence with him is something to cultivate. Friendships become cloudy; what was thought to be heartfelt is nothing more than a ploy to gain an advantage. But, all is not lost. God is good and He sends someone along who is genuine–someone who is real. And a lasting bond develops; the wrenching of the heart is replaced with a reminder of God’s faithfulness. So, she continues on, opening her heart to those who will let her and loving even those who do not.
With her bright smile, her knowing glance and her reliance on the truth of God’s Word, she stands firmly and proudly beside her man, the preacher, the one God has placed at the helm. Together they steer a straight course, looking over their shoulders as if to say, “Come on, follow us as we follow the Lord.” What is the mystique that surrounds this gracious lady? It’s her ability to be all things to all people. (Together With God, [Grams])
Grams
Today is the Saturday before Easter Sunday and in my town it was a day for Easter egg hunts. Even when I was a child I remember there were always Easter baskets, new clothes, and the traditional egg hunt.
While the excitement and thrill of the tradition still carries on, for some people the reason for the egg hunt has changed. I’m sure the egg hunt is still part of the Easter activities for many families, but it seems as if more communities are having community-wide egg hunts. And that’s a good thing. Even churches are participating.
Today my church held a community egg hunt. There were a lot of plastic eggs with individually wrapped candy inside; areas marked off by age-groups; and prizes for those who found prize eggs and for those who found the most eggs per age group. Parents helped the younger kids while the parents of older kids hung around and talked. New acquaintances were made and possibly new friendships established. It turned out to be a great way for the people in our church to introduce themselves to the community where we will be building a new church.
There was not really anything spectacular about what we did today as far as some people are concerned; just connecting with our soon-to-be neighbors; establishing contacts; making friends. But that in itself is spectacular because meeting neighbors, establishing community connections, and making friends in order to introduce people to Jesus Christ is living out the charge Jesus gave His followers before He ascended back to His Father after the resurrection. And isn’t that what Easter is supposed to commemorate, the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Tomorrow is Easter and those of us who believe that Jesus is the eternal Son of God will go to church and celebrate His resurrection from the dead. Included in that celebration is realization that without the resurrection new life in Christ would not be a reality. But because of that one historically accurate fact, I have eternal life and the promise of life with Jesus in heaven when I die. Before Jesus left this world to take His rightful place at the throne of God, He directed His disciples to teach others what He had taught them. And so it has continued down through the centuries.
Today while we hosted a fun activity for our new community, we were faithful to the task Christ set for us as His disciples. In the process of having a great time at an Easter egg hunt, we introduced ourselves, opened our doors to the community we plan to be a part of, and connected. Will everyone who came to the egg hunt reciprocate? No they won’t. Some were there only for the fun time but there will be others who came to check us out in the process; to see if there was something worth connecting to.
After today’s activities I’m convinced Jesus meant for His followers simply to connect to those around them. In the process of connecting you may actually introduce someone to the love of Jesus. Then the same hope that fuels your life in Him will take up residence in that one’s heart. Definitely not in the words of Jesus, but in my own I tell you to simply get connected.
Grams