New Hope Christian Fellowship

An Evening of Justice and Worship

2011-09-21T14:47:00.001-07:00

YWAM Modesto proudly presents "An Evening of Justice and Worship" from Steps of Justice, an educational, inspirational and practical initiative from Youth With A Mission. Come join us for a night of music and challenge with Phil and Amy Cunningham and Chris and Jenna Wilson. They will be with us on Tuesday night, October 18th at 7pm at New Hope Christian Fellowship, 300 Trask Ln. in Modesto. This night is open to all. A free-will offering will be taken to help support these families on the road with a most important message.

You can find out more about the tour, hear some music and read about Steps of Justice over at their website...CLICK HERE. If you have any questions, call Chris Whitler at 209-404-4027

John Wason

2011-06-20T14:51:00.001-07:00

Psalms - Inspiration for Life

Next week will be John Wason's 4th tour to the Modesto area. John is from YWAM Canada's Word To Life Theatre Arts, he performs large portions of memorized scripture presented with excellent story telling. (Check out last year's tour HERE)

If you're a Modesto local, come on out Tuesday night for a live performance of...

Psalms - Inspiration for Life
Tues night, June 21, 7pm
New Hope Church
300 Trask Ln
Modesto, CA

A free-will offering will be taken. There will be no child care services but kids of all ages are welcome.

John will also be performing at Shelter Cove's M2 Saturday morning men's bible study at 4242 Coffee Rd in Modesto, June 18 at 8:30am

Truth Project

2011-05-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

Just a note to let you know that the "Truth Project" is well under way. If you haven't joined a group yet, talk to Ken, Mike, or Mark to get hooked up with one.

Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance,
Mark

Steps of Justice

2011-03-06T15:21:00.000-08:00

Join YWAM Modesto and New Hope Christian Fellowship as Chris Whitler leads us through the 30 day prayer guide... begins March 14th with the first meeting on March 17th at 6:30pm at New Hope Christian Fellowship - Modesto.

Check out Steps of Justice or check out New Hope Christian Fellowship'sFacebook page for more info.

Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.
Mark

Important Article

2010-12-21T08:57:00.000-08:00

Please take time to read this article. And if you have time, visit this site.

Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.

Advent Week 4

2010-12-19T19:32:00.000-08:00

Readings:
Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25

An Advent Meditation from around the world Click Here.

Advent Week 3: Joy

2010-12-12T07:34:00.000-08:00

Readings:
Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 146:5-10
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11

Find Joy here
and here

Advent Week 2: Love

2010-12-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

Readings:
Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:1-12

In one of the most popular readings of scripture, 1Corinthinas 13 also known as the “Love” chapter, we find a description of Love starting in verse four. The author begins the description by saying “Love is patient…” This second week of Advent we will consider the virtue of Love and how it expresses itself through patience.

Wordweb Online defines patience as: tolerance of delay or incompetence. Certainly a trait we admire in others, ask for, but all seem to lack in varying degrees. It’s what we expect from others, but are least likely to give. Patience does not indicate a present reality. Patience is not known in the “right now.” Love, being patient, expresses itself optimistically as, “not yet.” It indicates a future where things will be.

Love expresses itself through patience in that it seeks righteousness and justice. Patience is not a reflex to circumstances. Patience does not rush to judgment. Patience seeks to expose motive it does not presume only by what is seen or heard.

This weeks readings indicate God’s patience. He is waiting for the time when, “the wolf will live with the lamb…” and “when the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy…” Our God, expressing love through patience, “… is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9).

Advent Week 1 - Hope

2010-11-28T06:25:00.000-08:00

As it was in the days of Noah

Readings:
Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:36-44

Advent means, according to WordWeb online, Arrival that has been awaited (especially of something momentous). And in the Liturgical Season of Advent that is what we celebrate in both a “He did!” and a “He will!” sense. Jesus Christ has come! But equally as important and exciting, “Jesus Christ will come, again!” This first week of Advent we will consider the virtue of Hope, as it relates to Jesus’ Advent.

For whatever reason, the Bible authors tended to not record the years between the revelation and the realization. Rarely, if ever, is there even indicated a passage of time. But we know from context, history, and academic criticism that there are often years between anointing and crowning. So what drives people crazy in our culture is the waiting, the down-time, the in-between. Hope is the key to keeping our head between the remarkable times.

Jesus, being human, surely suffered from the anxiousness. Being God, he was willing to address it for us. I think that is why He includes the “in-between” when He is telling us of His second coming. In the Gospel reading this week, He says, “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” I think He means, “People will be doing what they always do. Don’t expect anything different when my next trip happens. You know this, so don’t get distracted by the daily grind.” Knowing He is returning gives us the Hope to stay focused through the “days of Noah.”

The seasons of the Church keep these things fresh in our minds. This season, let’s try to be less distracted by the “things people always do” so we can better focus on being ready. Ready for celebrating Jesus’ Advents!

Greetings!

2010-11-21T19:55:00.000-08:00

The Holy-day season is upon us. Thanksgiving is this Thursday, and this Sunday begins the season of Advent. Be sure to check back here for some reflections. Also, there are some resources here to help guide whatever time you choose to spend with God. There is a Bible reading Calendar, daily readings, a link to daily prayer, and so on.

More coming soon. Peace and blessings to one and all.

Mark

Sustar Send Off!

2010-09-14T10:24:00.001-07:00

We are hosting a send off fund raiser for the Sustar family, preparing to leave us here in California to work with our partners in Thailand at Compasio. So, save the date and c'mon out to...

Salida's Kountry Kitchen
4702 Broadway in Salida
Tuesday night, September 21
From 5 - 8pm
$10 gets you a burger (with all the fixins), fries and a drink.
We'll have some live music and entertainment from our community
Get some plates to go or stick around to enjoy the food and company.

All profits go to help the Sustars get on the plane for their new adventure. Do you want to know more? Folow their journey at their blog...CLICK HERE!

Tickets are on sale in advance and available at the restaurant or from the YWAM Modesto guys
For more info, call Chris at 209-404-4027

9/11 Airport neighborhood clean-up day!

2010-09-11T13:57:00.001-07:00

Thanks to our friends at Advancing Vibrant Communities and some good hard working partners from Millcreek Church and...um...Sam (pictured below).

This...

is no longer there...

!

It was a great day to be working together with the body of Christ in our city. Lots got done. Let's hear it for good, filthy work!

"If" - Pastor Ken 9/5/10

2010-09-06T17:24:00.000-07:00

You can listen to this message right here or go to the podcast site where you can download for later or subscribe using itunes here... http://newhopemodesto.podbean.com

Faith and Love - Aaron Alford

2010-08-29T20:27:00.000-07:00

This morning, Aaron shared this short message at New Hope. You can click the player and listen right here or you can go HERE to download and/or subscribe to future posts.

During the message, Aaron showed a video which is posted below so when you hear him talk about starting the video, pause this player and watch the video right here! Don't you just love technology. Enjoy and feel free to leave a comment below.

Also, James shared about his time at YWAM's School of Biblical Studies in Alberta and his mission trip to Thailand. You can see a bit about that at his blog HERE!

Love 8/22/10

2010-08-22T22:11:00.000-07:00

James Harrison

2010-08-16T11:05:00.000-07:00

here's a link to James' blog & update.

http://jamesthellama.blogspot.com/

New Hope Baptism

2010-08-08T23:49:00.001-07:00

Summer Kids Program Dance!

2010-08-07T23:25:00.001-07:00

From the last night celebration...

Conviction 2 - From Bible Study

2010-07-30T04:39:00.000-07:00

Conviction 1 part 2

2010-07-23T10:15:00.001-07:00

Conviction 1 part 1 - Tuesday Night 07/20/10

2010-07-23T10:13:00.000-07:00

Revelation of Empire

2010-07-20T09:03:00.000-07:00

I have spent years consumed with orthodoxy - trying to decipher “right teaching.” I have delved into creed upon creed, studied church history, and peered into theology and philosophy. (Now, just quickly look back at my last sentence. Look at the list of sources and resources I used to find orthodoxy. What is one glaringly obvious source missing from my list? That's right:Holy Scripture.) In my search for orthodoxy I marginalized scripture, particularly the Gospels. I bought into the Empirical assertion that Scripture should only be interpreted through orthodoxy. I applied premises, tradition, and commentary to Scripture, rather than allowing scripture to inform and instruct. I realize I became an accomplice to the Empire of Christendom.

Briefly, the Empire of Christendom had it's beginnings when the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity. This took the Church mainstream, and almost instantly required compromise and collusion. The Church was no longer “Good News for the poor and the oppressed”1 but began to be associated with “status, wealth, and force.”2 The Church became central to Christianity and Jesus' teachings were moved to the margins to be properly interpreted by the Church. Christendom prevailed in the world by conquest and indoctrination.

So a couple years ago, God started preparing me for liberation. I began a Bible Study that focused on Jesus' words in the Gospels. We started in Matthew. During the study, I began to recognize that there certainly was a large gap between official doctrine and the literal words of Jesus. It was frustrating to be struggling with what my understanding of what the text should mean (or allow) and what the text actually said - even in the original languages. About a year and a half later, I started reading “The Irresistible Revolution” and 2 others by Shane Claiborne and “The Naked Anabaptist” by Stuart Murray. And I am starting to see the elements of Empire in the Church, and in myself.

I have not gotten free completely. I honestly don't know what that is going to look like. But I'm starting to break out of this Empirical shell and honestly look at what it means to not just worship Jesus, but to follow Him. Become like Him. To see Him disguised in others, especially the poor, the oppressed, the persecuted, the marginalized, and all the others He said were “Blessed.”

1 & 2 - from "The Naked Anabaptist" by Stuart Murray

From James Harrison's Blog

2010-05-27T14:08:00.000-07:00

Thanks a Bunch!
Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord.
Thank you, thank you, thank you Lord Jesus.
You are the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God.

You came to establish your throne as a king, but the way you did it was so different. You did not come as a violent revolutionary or as some conquering king. You did it by teaching and healing, by silently dying, and by being raised.

When you taught, it was on how to love God and our neighbors, and how to gain eternal life. When you healed, it was beautiful and touching, and a shadow of the restoration you promise to those who believe.

When you died, it twas to take our sin with you. Our flesh, full of sin, can die with your death, so you can peal away selflessness and throw away pride and sin.

When you were raised, it was to breathe life into our spirits, to foster the new man, to adopt him and make him your own. It was to show that we will die once, but not twice, and will have life and life abundantly.

Thank you, very, very much.
-Your Friend James

James' blog is here: http://jamesthellama.blogspot.com/

Advent 2009 Week 4

2009-12-22T08:52:00.001-08:00

Advent 2009 Week 4
“Love and Freedom”

John 3:16 (NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Galatians 5:1 (NIV) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

As we approach the “Christ Mass” take time to pray and ponder the implications of these verses. Over the next couple of days, share your own insights with us.

Mercy, peace, and love be yours in abundance.
Mark

Advent 2009 Week 3

2009-12-13T07:01:00.000-08:00

Advent 2009 Week 3
“Joy and Recovery”

Amos 9:11 (NIV) "In that day I will restore David's fallen tent. I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be…”

Joy is the virtue of the third week of Advent. In keeping with our focus, we will consider how joy is a fruit of recovery. Recovery is: 1) a return to an original state; 2) gradual healing; 3) regaining or saving something lost. Joy is: great happiness.

Recovery is the predominate theme of scripture: God’s plan and purpose for saving the lost, healing the human condition, and returning our relationship with Him to its original state. From Genesis to Revelation the course of recovery is put on display. What a great and glorious thing God has done in and through Jesus Christ: healing, saving and returning us to Himself.

In and through a saving relationship with Christ Jesus we not only have hope and consolation of the recovery of our relationship with God, but we also have the resource to see recovery of our temporal relationships. Paul instructs us in the book of Romans, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Rom 12:18” Jesus makes it possible to live at peace, through recovery of relationship that has been victimized by sin and neglect.

As far as joy being a fruit of recovery, just consider the parables Jesus uses in the Gospels. Consider the shepherd, leaving the 99 sheep to go find the one that was lost and the joy he experiences when it is found. Think about what Jesus is trying to communicate when He tells the story of the lost coin, and the rejoicing He describes when the tenth one is recovered. Remember the parable of the Lost Son. Ponder the joy the father has when his son is recovered, alive. The father’s joy is so great, that he is not satisfied with the healing of the father son relationship. He goes to the stubborn brother, and begs for recovery of that relationship too.

During this third week of Advent, pray for the people in your life that have not experienced Jesus’ first advent and the joy of the lost son in being found. Also, with the joy of the Lord as your strength, seek recovery of the relationships in your life that have been hurt or neglected. Finally, may mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance as we celebrate the coming of Jesus as a babe in a manger and look forward to the coming of the Triumphant King.

In Christ Jesus,
Mark

Advent 2009 Week 2

2009-12-05T20:15:00.001-08:00

Advent 2009 Week 2
“Faith and Deliverance”

Luke 1:67 (NIV) “His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied…”

And so John the Baptist’s father begins the canticle known as Zechariah’s Song, which prophecies rescue, salvation, and deliverance for the people of God. Traditionally the second week of Advent encounters the virtue of Faith. We will be looking at faith as both a product and source of deliverance.

In the 4th chapter of Luke’s Gospel we find Jesus, out in the desert, being tempted by the devil for 40 days. The devil finally leaves Jesus alone, and after being ministered to by angels, He sets out for his hometown. Jesus’ first public act in response to having His own faith challenged, is to proclaim a message of deliverance from the book of Isaiah,

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

From that moment on, Jesus began delivering people from demons, disease, and disorder (sin).

The Gospels record how people flocked to Jesus, in order to be delivered. They had faith that God had given Jesus the power to heal. And when Jesus healed them, he did so stating, “… your faith has healed you." Jesus demonstrates that faith in Him is a source of deliverance.

We also see, how faith is a product of deliverance, in the disciples’ response to Jesus when he asks them if they to will leave him in John 6. They state simply, “We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."

The author of Hebrews, in chapter 11 verse 1 tells us, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Practically, what does this mean for us? The surest way to grow faith is to spend time getting to know the One in whom we believe. Making time to read the Scriptures, to pray, to worship, and to spend time with His other disciples is a proven path to nurturing faith. As our faith is strengthened, and informed by the Holy Spirit, we will see deliverance in our own lives and in the lives of others in the community of the People of Hope.

Take time during this season of Advent to grow faith so that deliverance will come and the community can sing as Zechariah in his canticle, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.”

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.
Mark

Advent 2009 Week 1

2009-11-29T04:58:00.001-08:00

Advent 2009 Week 1
“Living as People of Hope”

1 Thessalonians 5:6 “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.”

Living as people of hope is not easy. It requires that we live consciously, purposefully, and intentionally. We do not have the luxury of cruise control, autopilot, or habit. As we enter the Season of Advent, let’s take a moment to wake ourselves from slumber, break from routine, and embrace the hope of Jesus’ coming as it is revealed to us in and through the Holy Spirit.

Living consciously means seeing the world as it truly is. The, “… others, who are asleep…” see the world in their own way: Either in dreaming or in some other state of altered consciousness, the harsh realities of poverty, disease, and injustice are rationalized, marginalized, or outright dismissed. People of Hope see the world in all its brokenness and embrace it. The darkness of the human condition does not overwhelm the hopeful. As we live consciously, each person, situation, and circumstance is unique. People of hope do not profile, discriminate, or trivialize. Living consciously means embracing, “…what God arranges for… (Gal 3:11 MSG)” us.

Living purposefully means responding not reacting. Joshua 24:15 says, “…choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…” People of Hope start with a decision of the will to submit to Jesus’ direction from Mark 8:34 (NIV) "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” I cannot deny myself unintentionally. My natural tendency is to consider myself before all others. But the Spirit of God infuses me with the ability to choose. Teaches me to anticipate needs. And, informs me how He will use me. All of this precludes autopilot. Living purposefully means deciding: first thing, and moment by moment, to serve Jesus in whatever capacity we find Him. Remember the parable of the “Sheep and the Goats” from Matthew 25.

Living intentionally means nothing happens by accident or habit. Prayer is a spiritual rhythm fixed by the resolve to be in relationship with God. From this arises the determination to know and be known, and to love and be loved within the community; be it family, church, neighborhood, etc… A place where, “Fine” is not an acceptable response to “How are you?” But silence is understood. Where we see lived out Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Living intentionally means practically living out, 1 Corinthians 10:24 “Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

Living as People of Hope, with Jesus Christ as the source and aim of our lives- empowered by the Holy Spirit- we will see deliverance, recovery, and freedom in the lives of all of those around us. Peace and Blessings in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Mark

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T07:18:00.001-08:00

1 Chronicles 16:8-11 (NIV) Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.

I am thankful for you! Every time I pray, I thank God for merging our lives together on this journey.

As we move in to the "Holy"day season, may this time be a source of love, peace, healing and renewal for your family in and through Christ Jesus our Lord, by the power and working of the Holy Spirit.

+ The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.+

Mark

Anticipating Advent

2009-11-17T07:12:00.000-08:00

Over the last few years I have written and taught about the season of Advent. I have discussed the meaning, looked into its history, and tried to pass on the significance. We looked into the scriptures and contemplated hope, peace, joy, and love as they applied to the incarnation and the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This year, I would like to look at Advent in a different way. Not as some academic pursuit, or a liturgical exercise but as a practical focus for our hearts as we enter the “Holy days.”

The first week of Advent we will still focus on hope. We will look at what it means to be a “people of hope” and how that applies, practically, to our daily lives. The last 3 weeks of advent we’ll put a spin on the traditional virtues of faith, joy and love. Within the context of these virtues, we will consider deliverance, recovery, and freedom. Through out all of this we’ll try and discover how the “first things” need the last to justify and validate. Why the “Alpha” must also be the “Omega.”

If you would like to follow the scriptures for the season of Advent, I will post a link or a document with the daily readings.

Peace and blessings to all, in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Mark

Link to Advent Readings:Advent Readings

Remembering Matt

2009-10-02T07:39:00.000-07:00

Matthew Thomas Barrentine was born to Tom & Cindy George on September 27th, 1968 in Pasadena, Texas. He never fully recovered from being born in Texas, and spent 41 years as a Cowboys fan. He grew up in Houston, Seymour, and Wichita Falls. He loved playing Football, Soccer, and Baseball.

When Matt was 10 he went to stay with his Mom in California. When he was 13, Cindy’s husband Kevin Barrentine adopted him. On Mare Island, Matt joined Boy Scout Troop 30. Throughout his scouting career Matt served as a Patrol Leader, was selected to become a member of the Order of the Arrow, and attained the rank of Eagle Scout – the Boy Scouts of America’s highest honor.

At age 14, Matt hit a bit of a rough patch. He was diagnosed with “Hydrocephalus” and required surgery. After various complications, Matt slipped into an 8-week coma and eventually pronounced “brain dead.” On the day the family gathered together to say “good-bye” he began to trigger the respirator that had been keeping him alive, taking a breath on his own every so often. The Doctors said, “It’s not enough to keep him alive” and “If he lives he’ll be a vegetable.” But they were all wrong! Matt made almost a complete recovery from that near fatal episode. The brain damage caused by a loss of blood and lack of oxygen left him with a present memory impairment and epilepsy. But that did not hold him back.

Matt continued his career in scouting: scaling a portion of the Grand Tetons and snow cave camping. Matthew completed the necessary requirements for his High School Diploma, and graduated from Vallejo Senior High School in 1988.

Matthew loved model building, drawing, and painting. He loved to sing, and was a member of his High School Chorus and Church Choir. Matt loved horses, particularly Mustangs. What most fascinated Matt, though, were airplanes. He was obsessed with them. His greatest dream and most frequent product of his imagination was being a pilot.

My brother’s greatest strength was his faith. He truly believed. And if you were fortunate enough to spend any length of time with him you know that to be true. Matt loved Jesus! And he would take every opportunity to tell people about Him. This love made him a man of prayer. And Matt’s prayers were effective.

Matthew is survived by his Mother Cindy Barrentine, his adoptive Father Kevin Barrentine, his birth Father Tom George, his sister Sarah Barrentine, his Brother Mark Barrentine, his Nieces Jessika & Hannah, his Nephew Tommy, and many Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and friends.

New Compasio Video

2009-09-09T12:05:00.001-07:00

Our friends at Compasio have a beautiful new video about their work with street kids on the Thai/Burmese border. I couldn't get it to look right embedding it on the blog so please CLICK HERE to watch. So worth a 5 minute investment!

All we need.

2009-09-05T21:23:00.001-07:00

This is the Brunswick Hall. Our little church has moved and this is the way we gathered at our last service in the old property. We had already moved the sound board, instruments, screen, mics, CD player..you get the idea. We left only the essentials, some chairs around the communion table. We sang, prayed, shared and ate the Lord's Supper together. We had all we needed. Now, in a new location, we still do: God and others.

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3

Justin Fox live!

2009-08-12T15:23:00.000-07:00

Youth With A Mission Modesto and New Hope Church present a day with recording artist Justin Fox!

Sunday, August 16 at 7pm, come out to hear Justin in concert in the Brunswick Hall at New Hope (corner of Dale and Pelendale behind the new bank). The concert is free and an offering will be taken to help cover Justin's expenses. Please bring your friends to an evening of great music! If you haven't heard Justin Fox's music before...go to his website here...justinfox.com

And ,as a special bonus...

Would you like to learn more about the song writing process? Justin will be offering a song writers workshop on that same Sunday afternoon (August 16) from 1 – 5pm (suggested donation $30). Bring your guitar, paper, pen and a willingness to try something new.

If you are interested in the workshop and would like to register or have more questions, please call Chris at 209-404-4027 for details.

Remember, two great events in one day...

Song writers workshop with Justin Fox, Sunday, August 16 from 1 -5 pm ($30 suggested donation)

and

Justin Fox in concert, Sunday night, August 16 at 7pm (free with offering)

at

New Hope Church (4220 Dale Rd. Modesto, CA) in the Brunswick Hall

GLONK HERE for a map

One Prayer... let's do what we can.

2009-06-03T19:18:00.000-07:00

New stuff...

2009-01-28T08:07:00.000-08:00

A great way to bless the community from the Modesto Bee's "Every Monday Counts" by Matthew Emerzian

FACTS

61 percent of low-income families have no books in their homes.

43 percent of adults with the lowest level of literacy proficiency live in poverty.

Only 4 percent of adults with strong literacy skills live in poverty.

55 percent of children have an increased interest in reading when given books at an early age.

Children with a greater variety of reading material in the home are more creative, imaginative, and proficient in reading. They are also on a better path toward educational growth and development.

There is only one age-appropriate book for every 300 children in low-income neighborhoods, compared to 13 books per child in middle-income neighborhoods.

TAKE ACTION TODAY

1. Go through your bookshelves...

Read more here

Also, this is Ken's sermon from last Sunday - 1/25/09. You can listen right here or download the MP3 at the bottom of this page...New Hope Podcast.

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Luke 15

2009-01-19T08:08:00.000-08:00

Howdy folks, this is me sharing at our church yesterday. You can listen to it right here or download the MP3 directly at the bottom of THIS PAGE. Enjoy!

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The 9th St. BBQ

2008-11-09T17:39:00.000-08:00

Follow this link below to pictures from our BBQ on Sat night, Nov 8th

11/08/08 BBQ

Notes from Bible Study

2008-06-18T10:54:00.000-07:00

Some notes on last nights Bible Study. From the series Disciplines of a Godly Man

Big hearts, the enlarged hearts that God uses, are laboring hearts which, though weary, will willingly be expended as necessary. You may fancy that you have a ministering heart, but if you are not laboring for the gospel in the place where God has put you, and do not find yourself being inconvenienced by your commitment, you are deluding yourself. Ministering hearts are disciplined to labor, for they regularly move beyond their comfort zones, they put themselves in vulnerable spots, they make commitments which cost, they get tired for Christ's sake, they pay the price, they encounter rough seas. But their sails billow full of God's Spirit.

We are all naturally more comfortable when we are reaching out to others like us — likes winning likes — the rich winning the rich, lawyers lawyers, basketball players basketball players, clerks clerks. But that is not the ideal set by Jesus and the Early Church. Rather, we are to have a heart so filled with love, so willing to go the extra mile, that we reach out to anybody we come in contact with, regardless of any barriers.

Keith Green Video

“Ministering Hearts are aware…They know there are
No relational accidents.”

Thailand audio report

2008-06-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody, for an audio report from Jimmy and Aaron about their recent trip to Thailand...Glonk here!

Bee article

2008-05-26T20:25:00.001-07:00

Glonk here for a good article from the bee about last Saturday's march.

New Messages

2008-05-24T22:32:00.000-07:00

Howdy folks,

I've posted a few more additions to the New Hope podcast...a bit of Josh's message and Ken's message on 5/18. You can listen to them right from the website or download them for your mp3 player or to burn a CD.

Glonk here...New Hope Podcast

Enjoy!

Gang violence

2008-05-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

Hello family,

Here are a few ways from the Modesto bee that we can be involved in the gang violence issue...

The Modesto Police Department and the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department, along with the city of Modesto, Stanislaus County, Modesto City Schools and the Stanislaus County Office of Education, are hosting a community forum on gangs and violence Wednesday at 7 p.m. The forum, called "Break the Cycle," will be held in the Modesto High School cafeteria at 18 H St.

Area residents are invited to participate in a "March Against Gang Violence" from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 24. The march will start at the Stanislaus County Courthouse in downtown Modesto and end at Modesto High School. The event is sponsored by the Community Action Coalition of Stanislaus County, the city of Modesto, the Stanislaus County Office of Education, the Stanislaus County Community Gang Task Force, the police and sheriff's departments, the Hispanic Leadership Council, the NAACP and the Weed and Seed program. For information, call Jeremiah Williams at 568-3096.

Also on May 24, the community is invited to participate in the "Raw and Real Hip-Hop Symposium" about youth-on-youth violence, a collaborative effort of community mentors and educators. The event is sponsored by the NAACP, the King-Kennedy Memorial Center and Fathers Who Care. Details on the location of the event will be announced soon. For more information, call Jai Gullatt at 408-0277.

2008-04-19T12:59:00.000-07:00

April 19, 2008
Expanding the Church's Horizons
Acts 1:1-8

The line where the sky meets the earth is called the horizon. It is the farthest point of land or water that a person can see. But, the universe extends far beyond what the eye can behold.

In a similar way, the church's vision can be limited. God's mandate is to bring the gospel to every nation. Some believers often confine their outreach to what they see as manageable. Sometimes what holds them back from fulfilling God's command is their limited experiences and understanding.

In other words, the believers frequently act according to logic. Our Father calls His children to obey in faith. Rational thought might lead people to avoid missions in a foreign country because of safety concerns or a language barrier. No excuse can nullify the truth of Jesus' statement from Luke chapter 18:27: "The things that are impossible with people are possible with God."

The Lord expects His followers to obey when He says in Matthew chapter 28:19, "Make disciples of all the nations." But He knows human limitations. So Acts chapter 1:8 tells us He empowers through His Spirit. The Holy Spirit provides guidance, wisdom, and strength to accomplish His will.

The church is to share the gospel. God will call individuals to fulfill this commission in different ways. All believers are to participate through prayer, giving, and action. Pray for direction and wisdom in communicating the good news of salvation to the world. The Holy Spirit will lead and empower you.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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James Finley's website

2008-04-06T18:41:00.000-07:00

Here is the link to James Finley's web site. Be sure you stop by and check it out.

http://kingdombuilders.wetpaint.com/

Love you guys,

Mark

The podcast is up!

2008-03-30T21:16:00.000-07:00

Ok, I got a little podcast going for the messages at New Hope.

Listen and download by clicking here.

The first one is Mark's Easter message and Ken's post JPUSA trip message will be up soon. If you missed the service or wanted to listen again, check back regularly.

Chris

New Hope Baptism

2008-02-11T14:08:00.000-08:00

Hey yall,

I just uploaded a severely edited version of the Baptisms onto You tube. It was edited to run in the time alloted by you tube, and formatted to fit the screen...

In Christ Jesus,

Mark

http://www.youtube.com/markbarrentine

Word from Sunday 01/14/08

2008-01-15T19:14:00.000-08:00

"… [S]imply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us." (Romans 8:4)

Intricate and intimate design brought you here, to this place, for this time.
Now that you're
listening I can let you in on my plan.

This next wave will require you to be at the top of your game. Take the time now
to
refresh and condition the body. Moving through the basics will prepare you for
what's
ahead. This is how it is.

Look and see. I'm standing here calling you out! Like Lazarus from the grave,
I'm calling
you forth. "Come out!"

When you step out of this "not-real-life" you will still be bound by the grave
dress you
were wrapped in. As alive as you are, your movement is restricted by the cadaver
clothes
left hanging on you.

The cadaver clothes are those things that "encumber and entangle" you. The
relationships
that keep you bound to the grave. As long as you insist on them, you will wander
like a
mummy, very much alive, but useless for anything.

The command I gave to the witnesses of Lazarus' resurrection, I give now to you,
"Unwrap
him and let him loose."

So, let the unwrapping begin. Sever relationships with the dead. Cut loose
attachments
with the corrupting, decomposing, and the perishing.

You are unwrapped through the Word, through prayer, through tithes and
offerings,
through fasting and works of justice. Commune with Me, fellowship with the Body
of
Christ, be attached to the eternal.

Embrace what the Spirit is doing and the relationships your Heavenly Father
arranges.

Some notes on fasting...

2008-01-08T22:39:00.000-08:00

Here are some notes while listening to Mark's message this week. Thanks for the insight, Mark. Please pray about participating in this weekend's community/personal fast on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Mark's actual notes are below.

On fasting...

- "We need to challenge what we say we believe by doing it."

- Fasting is abstinence from food, sleep, sex, etc for a specific period of time to give priority to spiritual exercise.

- Scriptural purposes include repentance, intersession, seeking God's will, intimacy with God and hearing God's voice.

- How do we fast? Don't focus on the sacrifice you're making but focus on being in right relationship with God and others. Don't make a show. Carry on with life as usual.

- The outcome of fasting is guidance, healing, purpose, deliverance, joy, peace and physical benefits.

Fasting Outline from 01/06/08

2008-01-06T14:22:00.000-08:00

Fasting

- In seeking a revival in our own souls, or the souls of others, it is needful to compare what we profess with the manner in which we go on, that we may be humbled and quickened to hold fast that which remains.

I. What is Fasting?
A. abstinence
1. food (Lk 4:1-2)
2. liquid (Ex 34:28)
3. any other abstinence for a predetermined time (1 Cor 7:5)
B. set amount of time
1. a fast has a clear beginning and end
2. the length of a fast will be revealed before it is started.
C. Purpose
1. Medical
2. Therapeutic/holistic
3. Give priority to spiritual exercise (pressing in)
II. Biblical Fasts
A. Day of Atonement
1. Only fast prescribed in Mosaic Law
2. Lev 23:26-32
B. During Captivity other fasts observed
1. Capture of Jerusalem
2. Burning of city and temple
3. Murder of Gedaliah
4. Siege of the Holy City by Nebuchadnezzer
5. The fast appointed by Esther (Purim)
a. Celebrated in 07 March 3rd
C. Public National fasts on account of sin or supplication
1. 1 Samuel 7:6
2. Nehemiah 9:1-3
D. Local Fasts
1. Judges 20:26
2. Ezra 8:21-23
E. Private Fasts
1. Daniel 10:2
2. Acts 9:9
III. Scriptural Fasting
A. Purpose
1. Repentance (Dt 9:18)
2. Seeking God’s will (Acts 13:2-3)
3. Deepening relationship (1 Kings 19:8-13)
B. How?
1. Isaiah 58:3-7
2. Matthew 6:16-18
C. Results
1. Isaiah 58:8-14
2. Deliverance (Mark 9:29 KJV)
3. “Seven things you can look forward to in fasting:” By Greg Escher
1. Your taste buds will be rejuvenated and food will taste soooo good. You'll      appreciate it more.

2. Your stomach will shrink and you won't need to eat as much as you did before      to feel full.

3. Your body will cleanse itself of toxins and impurities. Drink plenty of water!

4. Junk food becomes less attractive. You'll have less of an appetite for sugar,      caffeinated drinks etc.

5. Fasting becomes easier every time you do it. The first time and the first day are      the hardest but once you get over the hump its all downhill after that.

6. Physical infirmities are often reduced or cured as the body purges itself and      allergic reactions cease.

7. It works! Strongholds are broken and prayers are answered. God's favor is      gained.

IV. Let’s Fast
A. Friday January 11th – Sunday January 13th
1. Noon on Friday to after church on Sunday
2. I will be staying at church
B. Time for prayer
1. Organized (liturgical) times
2. Spontaneous
3. For individuals, Families, New Hope, The Church, the City, the State, the Nation, the World.
C. Time for worship
1. All are invited to come and worship, as they feel led.
2. Celebrate communion each day
D. Time to share
1. Friday we have opportunity to go with YWAM to minister.
E. Spend an hour, spend all weekend

Advent Week 4 - Love

2007-12-23T06:43:00.000-08:00

Advent Week 4 – Love
Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm 80:1-7
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25

Immanuel
By Michael Card

A sign shall be given
A virgin will conceive
A human baby bearing
Undiminished deity
The glory of the nations
A light for all to see
That hope for all who will embrace
His warm reality

Immanuel
Our God is with us
And if God is with us
Who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

For all those who live in the shadow of death
A glorious light has dawned
For all those who stumble in the darkness
Behold your light has come

Immanuel
Our God is with us
And if God is with us
Who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

So what will be your answer?
Will you hear the call?
Of Him who did not spare His son
But gave him for us all
On earth there is no power
There is no depth or height
That could ever separate us
From the love of God in Christ

Immanuel
Our God is with us
And if God is with us
Who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

Immanuel
Our God is with us
And if God is with us
Who could stand against us
Our God is with us
Immanuel

[Buy this CD]

Advent Week 3 - Joy

2007-12-15T15:59:00.000-08:00

Advent Week 3 – Joy

Isaiah 35:1-10
Psalm 146:5-10
James 5:7-10
Matthew 11:2-11

In the third week of Advent we discover joy. Joy is a spiritual condition that is experiential and relational in nature. Joy comes through active participation and intimate working knowledge. This is most easily demonstrated if we consider a popular book entitled “Joy of Cooking” by Irma S. Rombauer and Marion Rombauer Becker and Ethan Becker.

The “Joy of Cooking” is most certainly a cookbook. It contains recipes, guides, and helpful hints on preparing food. However, even if I sat and read that book from cover to cover, I would never have the “joy” of cooking unless I went into the kitchen and cooked. The Joy of the Lord, as expressed during this Advent season, is discovered quite the same way.

The readings for this week are resplendent with miracles that flow from the revelation of God to His people. Isaiah 35, Psalm 146, and the reading from the Gospel of Matthew all portray God healing the blind and the lame, providing for the poor, and defending the persecuted. In as much as experiencing such a powerful and transforming touch from God through or Savior Jesus would bring lasting joy to life, I think the reading from James shows best the way to find the joy of the Lord.

“Be patient… and stand firm (NIV).” The Message says, “Stay steady and strong.” The way to stay steady and strong is to spend time with Our Heavenly Father in prayer and reading His Word, daily. This is like reading the cookbook. Living out the Gospel and walking with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ everyday produces lasting joy. This is like actually cooking in the kitchen. Experiencing the life God the Father has called us to in Christ Jesus is the source of joy that is our strength through the power of the Holy Spirit. And that joy is what we celebrate in Advent.

Official YWAM statement

2007-12-10T11:40:00.001-08:00

A lone gunman entered a Youth With A Mission training center in the Denver,
Colorado suburb of Arvada early Sunday morning, opening fire and hitting
four members of the staff. All were taken to local hospitals and two later
died of their injuries.

The two wounded remain in serious condition. The gunman has not yet been
apprehended, and police are continuing their search for him.

The deceased have been identified as Tiffany Johnson, 26, from Minnesota,
and Philip Crouse, 24, from Alaska. Both served as staff members at the
Youth With A Mission Arvada campus. The third victim, Dan Griebenow, 24, has
a bullet in his neck and is listed in critical but stable condition. The
fourth victim Charlie Blanch, 22, suffered gunshot wounds to his legs.

Peter Warren, the Director of Youth with a Mission Denver says they had just
finished a Christmas banquet when the suspect arrived and asked a
22-year-old woman from Minnesota if he could be housed for the evening. When
she told him they could not house him, that's when, Warren says, the suspect
opened fired with an automatic handgun, hitting four people. Police say they
do not know whether the shooting was random or if there was a motive.

Warren says, "The young man - I don't know who he is; I don't think [the
victims] knew him - but he must be going through a lot personally in his own
life to do something like this. Our belief is that only God is the judge and
our place is to forgive and that's a difficult thing to do, but really, I
think it's the right thing to do," said Warren.

There are about 80 people living on the Arvada campus and they have been
transported to the group's mountain campus near Golden, Colorado where they
will stay while the murder investigation is processed at their residence.
Warren says they are trying to deal with this situation as best as they can.

"There's no blueprint for this," said Warren. "You know, we're just going to
be honest, we're going to pray with one another and cry with one another.
These kids were like our kids, you know. It's just such a tragedy, but who
knows what's going on in this young man's life."

Youth With A Mission (YWAM) is an international and interdenominational
Christian movement with operating locations in 171 nations. Launched in 1960
as a means for young people to get involved in short-term missionary
service, it now has over 16 000 staff working in 1180 centers and trains
over 25 000 people each year to be involved in the organization' s primary
goal - to know God and make Him known. YWAM is hugely varied in its
approach, operating such ministries as drop-in centers for street children
in South America; hospice care for AIDs victims in Africa; literacy and job
creation programs throughout Asia; and is well known for its quick response
and long-term commitment to global disasters, such as the 2006 tsunami.

YWAM International Chairman Lynn Green released this statement: "We feel a
deep sense of loss today and we grieve with the families and those who were
very close friends of the victims. Our surviving students and staff are
being well cared for and we have total confidence in those who are
responsible for the training program in Arvada to care for those who have
been subjected to this assault.

"Those who lost their lives had dedicated themselves to serve and we feel
the sorrow of their absence. Yet we take comfort from the assurance of
everlasting life for those who follow Christ in loving service to others.

"It is a great tragedy that our culture seems to produce so many deeply
troubled people who express their frustration in violence. We forgive the
assailant and we rededicate ourselves to serving young people in the hope
that we might bring healing to other needy youth."

Advent Week 2

2007-12-07T10:07:00.000-08:00

Advent Week 2 “Peace”

Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:1-12

Traditionally, the virtue for week 2 of the Advent season is “PEACE.” Most often peace is understood as a cessation of hostilities. Peace can also mean the absence of stress or anxiety. These frequently are the topics of Advent reflections. As we look forward to celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are quite aware of the peace He brought between God and us. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection brought an end to hostilities between God and man. Also, in Christ Jesus we have salvation from the law of sin and death, which condemns men to eternal punishment. Knowing we are saved from the wrath of God being poured out on sin in Hell alleviates stress and anxiety as we contemplate eternal life. But for this Advent reflection, we are going to consider peace from a different perspective.

An alternative understanding of “PEACE” lies in the concept of harmony, which is: making things right, proper, and well ordered. Harmony is relational in nature. This is the focus of the readings for us this week.

Isaiah radically demonstrates this idea of peace. Contextually, we can see the relationship between a society that promotes justice for the poor and needy and the harmony between the wolf and lamb, the leopard and kid, calf and lion, cow and bear, and child and snake. All of these relationships express a harmony that is the result of a, “…living knowledge of God ocean-deep, ocean-wide.”

The theme of peace expressed through harmony in the relationship of society and it’s poor is continued in Psalm 72. The writer of the Psalm indicates that wise and just rule comes from God and includes, “…standing up for the poor…” and caring for the “children of the needy.”

The reading in Romans expresses that we need to get along with each other as Jesus gets along with each of us. This is the result of maturity from God that makes our lives sing (metaphorically) in “harmony.” This Peace is the result of being in right relationship with our God and with each other.

John the Baptist, in the Gospel of Matthew, illustrates the harmony Jesus came to establish by proclaiming, “He’ll place everything true in its proper place before God…”

The peace of Advent is rightly expressed through harmony in our relationships with each other: our brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors (remember the story of the Good Samaritan), and with God in Christ Jesus.

Now I close with the blessing from Romans, + “May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!”+

In Christ Jesus,
Mark

Advent Week 1 2007

2007-12-01T05:31:00.000-08:00

Advent Week 1
Isaiah 2:1-5
Psalm 122
Romans 13:11-14
Matthew 24:36-44

Welcome to the season of Patriarchs, Prophets, and the Pregnant. The four weeks of Advent is a celebration of expectation. Dogmatically, Advent is a looking forward to the celebration of Christmas. But, in a more lithe interpretation of the season, Advent is the time we celebrate God’s Promises – those He has fulfilled and those that will be fulfilled.

Traditionally, the first week of Advent is characterized by the virtue of Hope. Hope can be defined as expecting something to happen; anticipating something to be true. So, this week we celebrate the veracity (truth or precision) of our God in Christ Jesus as our coming Savior.

As the patriarchs and prophets of the Old Testament waited for the promised coming of the Messiah, which we now anticipate was fulfilled in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ and we celebrate at Christmas, we now expect the promised second coming of Jesus in the last days. Our expectation is like that of a pregnant woman, we are fully aware and sense the time is imminent for the arrival of our Lord and Savior.

The readings for this week stoke our awareness. In the excerpt from Matthew, Jesus tells us plainly He is coming again. We can’t and don’t know when but He is coming! Romans warns us to, “… make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The Message” The reading from Psalms reminds us, “To give thanks to the name of God — this is what it means to be Israel. The Message” And finally, Isaiah invites us to, “…climb God's Mountain, go to the House of the God of Jacob. He'll show us the way he works so we can live the way we're made. The Message”

The season of Advent, can be that jolt to wake us if we have become “oblivious to God.” This season, let’s “…climb God’s Mountain…” together! Let our Heavenly Father “…show us the way he works so we can live the way we're made.” Let us give thanks to the Name of the Lord our God for, “this is what it means to be Israel.”

Love in Christ Jesus,
Mark

Waiting

2007-11-25T06:37:00.000-08:00

Daily Devotional From In Touch Ministries
www.intouch.org

November 25, 2007
God's Will Is Worth the Wait
PSALM 27:13-14

13 I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

Waiting is one of the most difficult disciplines Christians are called to practice. This is especially true when a heart's desire is within reach and we are sure that God is about to bless us. But He always has a clear reason for asking us to wait, even when we cannot discern His motive for months or even years. Although difficult, waiting is essential to living a successful Christian life of obedience and reaped blessing.

One of the main reasons believers step out of God's will--and consequently out of fellowship with Him--is overeagerness to act on their own, without first receiving divine guidance. Too often, we make this mistake while trying to do something we believe will bring pleasure to the Lord. But we please our Father by following the Bible's frequent exhortations to wait.

It is possible, however, for us to confuse waiting with idleness. Pausing for further instructions from God requires a determined stillness--a decision not to act until He provides clear direction. His plan for our life requires no guesswork on our part; He will give instructions when the time is right, so we must be in prayer and in the Word if we are to receive His directives. God works in this way because His plans are interconnected: what we do affects others as well as ourselves, both now and in the future.

Waiting is hard. We don't want to stand still when our natural inclination says, "Grasp the prize before it slips away!" But wise believers wait until they have heard from God. Only then can we step out with confidence that we are walking in His will.

Ken's Birthday Video

2007-10-29T10:33:00.000-07:00

click on the link to view a video from Ken's 60th birthday party.

http://www.youtube.com/markbarrentine

Keeping Up

2007-10-26T05:35:00.000-07:00

Greetings to all,

I just wanted to let everyone know we're still here. It's been a while since anyone has posted anything, so I figured I would take this opportunity to say I love you in Christ Jesus. I am stoked about what God is doing lately in our part of the body of Christ. Growing together in Christ, becoming the church He intends, and discipling each other and all those Jesus brings to New Hope is very exciting.

May Almighty God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you and keep you. May the grace of God, our Heavenly Father, in the working of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, grant you peace, wholeness, and holiness through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Mark

Conviction

2007-07-21T08:37:00.001-07:00

I am under conviction. The Holy Spirit is bringing to mind many things in my life that are in conflict with how I should be living. I live an “indulgent” lifestyle. I do not tithe, fast, or evangelize.

What do I mean by indulgent? It’s not that I live a life of gratification, though that is part of it. What I mean by indulgent is the tolerance and justification for the sin in my life. At one time in Church history, an indulgence – temporal release from guilt and punishment - could be purchased to satisfy or justify the action committed (i.e. murder, adultery, etc…). This kind of activity has been judged and criticized as bad (even evil) -rightfully so- by the “enlightened” and “reformed” both Catholic and Protestant. I have been critical of the practice, and now I stand as a mark in my own protest. I am indulgent, because I sell out my conscience and the grace of Christ Jesus every time I justify sinful actions and behavior, and tolerate the prevailing condition of my person (body, mind and spirit) that enables such abuses.

I need to repent! I need to submit myself completely to my God and Father, in and through Christ Jesus His Son, by the power and working of the Holy Spirit.

I know how: First, tithe. By tithing I am bringing what God gives me to live on under His control. In the tithe I am acknowledging my dependence on Him. Through tithing, I worship God in my resources. When I tithe my relationship with God, in Christ Jesus, is properly ordered. Jesus said, “You can’t worship God and money.” (Matthew 6:24) When my life is properly ordered in the tithe, I am more in tune with God’s heart towards those who are close to Him (the poor, the widowed, the orphan, etc…).

Second, fasting. This is where I am indulgent in the sense of gratification. I do not deny myself anything, ever. My cravings and urges control me. I lack discipline! Fasting properly orders my body. Paul says the spirit and the flesh desire opposing things. In fasting, the flesh is quieted. The spirit is tuned to the proper setting. When my body is properly ordered in the fast, I am more likely to hear God’s voice in the scriptures and in my brothers and sisters. I am also more likely to hear the cry of the needy and respond appropriately.

Third, evangelism. As I tithe and fast, my life becomes properly oriented and that in itself is a form of evangelism. But I am guilty of not declaring the Good News to those around me. I don’t know my neighbors. I don’t even think they could tell you for sure I am a Christian. I give out Bibles occasionally, but that has become a substitute for actually witnessing, praying with, and generally entering into relationship with those in my “sphere of influence” or in more Biblical terms: my neighbor. When my relationships are properly ordered in evangelism, I am more likely to experience the moving of the Holy Spirit in the exercise of the gifts. I am also more likely to experience the Love of God in Christ Jesus, as He is received by those He offers Himself to.

Apart from Christ I can do nothing! Lord Jesus, have mercy on me! Receive this as my prayer and confession. I repent!

+In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit+ Amen.

in answer to the exclusive inclusive God

2007-07-06T11:28:00.000-07:00

Pluralism

From a purely philosophical standpoint, it’s easy to conclude that we are on an equal epistemic footing: i.e. we are using the same Bible, we have similar experiences, and our exposure/access to fundamental doctrines and teachings is equivalent. Equally as important: I think you are a smart guy. I believe you are meticulous in your studies, thorough in your assessments, and passionate in your faith.

From a theological perspective, I think your ideas regarding the revelation of God in Christ Jesus, through various aspects of other religions is intriguing and interesting. Especially as they relate to the “problems” of the human condition: i.e. the problem of evil… And worthy of discussion, discourse, and dialogue.

On a spiritual and intellectual level, I have problems with the “inclusivism of God” as you put it forward, quoting Pinnock. I believe you and Clark Pinnock both make dangerous assumptions and Brownian (Dan Brown – author of the De Vinci Code) extrapolations to arrive at pluralistic assertions.

One dangerous assumption made by Clark Pinnock is that the Holy Spirit is universally active and present outside the boundaries of Christianity. There are two primary flaws in this assumption: first, is the exclusion of any alternative or ulterior spiritual influence (Satan); second, the particularly corruptive effects of sin in relation to the human condition is not considered. Throughout scripture, from the Genesis narrative through Revelations, there is clear evidence that both of these elements serve to deceive human nature and provoke God through lies, perversion, and idolatry. Based on this evaluation of evil and sin, it would be inaccurate – to say the least – to compare the revelation of God in Christ Jesus through Christianity with any other theistic system.

An example of a Brownian extrapolation is in your “precedent” of Job. You claim that, because the God of the Bible had a relationship with a “pagan” – Job – before there was any manifestation or revelation of Covenant, Law, or Messiah means that it would be done now. Similarly, Pinnock extrapolates that because God’s Spirit “… blows where it wills…” that He is “…not limited to the Christian sphere.” Both of these examples lack contextual scriptural support and logical development. God’s revelation has proceeded from covenant to covenant. Why should there be a double standard?

Perhaps, the revelation of God’s Word is what this is really about. The teaching that the Bible is the revealed, true, and inerrant Word of God is orthodox and proper. Pinnock puts forward that “…God may have more to say than He has said in the Bible…” and “…there is more truth in the history of God’s dealings with humanity than is available simply in Christian traditions.” These claims are neither proper nor orthodox, and undermine the authority of scripture. One of the errors of “inclusivism” (pluralism) is the equivalency of religious literature. Bible, Quran, Book of Mormon, are all valid “revelations” of God. Amos Young, quoted by Pinnock states, “Jesus’ reference to other sheep speaks of the Spirit bearing witness, not only to those in non-Christian faiths, but perhaps also through them.” This is the primary claim of the LDS church regarding the Book of Mormon.

It is my opinion that God is able to choose whom he will, but I believe that God chooses people in and through Christ Jesus as revealed in the Holy Bible and that’s what makes Christians

Youth Group, Tuesday the 26th

2007-06-27T22:06:00.000-07:00

Well, this past Tuesday, Arlene Johnson was our guest speaker at youth group. If you have not read the book about the mission her family was involved in down in Peru, you need to. It's available in our Sunday morning sharing library. It's an easy read and a great challenge to our lazy mentality we have about sharing the gospel. These folks sacrificed all they had and didn't stop when things got rough.

Arlene has some great stories to tell. When you can, have her over and ask her about her time in Peru and her interesting family. Not only did she share stories from her life, she also gave us some good teaching from the scripture with encouragements to "Love the Truth" and be available to God no matter where we are.

We ended the night putting Arlene on the spot to play and sing us a couple of songs...She played a fun Spanish song and ended with "He is Lord." We were a small group Tuesday but we had fun with Arlene (she's pretty good at "Pass The Pigs" although David W. won!) and learned a lot from her.

Next week's youth is out at the ole fireworks stand. We're just going to hang out and see what creative ideas we can get to drum up some business. With all the construction out there we need all the help we can get!

Needing feedback

2007-06-24T17:09:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone,
I've been speaking on the "Apostle's Creed" on Wednesday nights, and I just spoke this morning on "Swarm Theory and the Church". I've been outlining my messages and using those notes to speak.
What I'm wondering is twofold: is there any interest, outside of those who come on Wedenesday, that I should post these things on my blog? Second, should they be in outline format or do you want me to take the time to write an essay from them?
Let me know what you would like.
Mark

in answer to an answer

2007-06-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

I am quite impressed with your skills as a writer. Your vocabulary and syntax are fantastic. You are expressive and lively. The questions and issues you raise are pertinent and essential. I respect your thoughts, opinion and perspective. I value your judgment.

I, however, lack in the literary skills. Representative of this was the feeble attempt at comedic sarcasm with the “Calvinist” comment. Perhaps opening with such a flop merited such a dismissive and acerbic response. I never intended to offend you. Please forgive me.

That said, let’s get started…

First, my soteriology (The theological doctrine of salvation as effected by Jesus) is neither reformed nor universalist. Quite the contrary, my position is both biblical and orthodox, as demonstrated in Paul’s discourse to the Athenians in Acts 17, “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

Second, I take issue with your statement, “God is exclusive…” as being dogmatic. You seem to be making an empirical statement without including your observations or experience. You have provided no derivations to support your assumption.

Third, let’s go to the American Heritage Dictionary to define exclude:
To prevent from entering; keep out; bar.
To prevent from being included, considered, or accepted; reject.
To put out; expel.
By assuming that God is exclusive, you are asserting that God through His own volition prevents, bars, rejects, and expels. This, my friend, is contrary to the revelation of God in scripture. The appearance of exclusion by the Almighty enters the narrative as a result of free-will. As an existentialist you should be able to appreciate the idea that a human being can choose to participate in and or reject the Divine nature.

Fourth, my brother, Jesus died for all men. The bible is clear on this. Romans 5:18 demonstrates this most observably: “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.” This sounds explicitly “inclusive”.

Love ya Shayno, keep it dangerous dude!

Let's put some life into the church blog!

2007-04-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

By which I mean, let's actually start writing. I really appreciate Mark's posts and perspective. Whad'ya say we inject a little life into this thing. So first off, let's get some stuff up here, get the congregation to look here and just make another run at it. Do we know your email address? Do you check email? Do you read blogs? Comment here. Would the email group be better? How do we participate more?

So, some things coming up to pray for and know about...

Tuesday, 6pm, We are hosting a memorial service for Dawn Norton's friend, John Eggers who recently passed away (Dawn helps us run the bread truck). Luann is providing food for the family and your prayers are appreciated.

This week, Jess is in Washington DC. We had an excellent time of prayer for her on Sunday as God inspired many of the congregation to encourage Jess beyond prayers of blessing for her travel. One of those times when it's good to be New Hope!

Saturday, John R. and Chris (me) will be taking off to Mexico with the Shelter Cove youth group. Please pray for us and our whole team as we seek to bless a homeless Mexican family with a new house. We'll build it in about 3 days! The team feels up for the challenge. Pray that we accomplish all that we were sent to do.

Speaking of the Mexico team, this past Sunday after church, John, Aaron and myself lead this team in a team building BBQ at Chavez park (4th and Sierra). We had a great time serving about 60 hot dogs, chips, drinks and snacks. The team handed out some "gospel" bead bracelets, hung out with folks and practiced being out of their comfort zone. We had a blast. It was so easy that we got to thinking it'd be fun to do as a church sometime. If you're interested, leave a comment here and let's start talking about it...we'll just set a date and do it.

Don't forget that Sunday is the big day! We'll have an all church breakfast at 9am followed by our Easter service at 10. Bring family and friends and let Butch know if you can lend a hand with food prep. Wish I could be there! Hope you have a great time together.

Lastly, please keep the Whitler family in your prayers. After Mexico, we'll be soon going to Kentucky to see my Dad who is suffering from a dementing illness. These times are hard...transition is never easy. Pray also for Amie's Grandmother who is recovering from a fractured pelvic bone in Evergreen Convolesant home after a bad fall. She should be released by Easter time.

have a prayer request? Leave a comment here and let Marge know so she can include it in our weekly bulletin.

Lent is coming

2007-02-10T11:32:00.000-08:00

Wednesday February 21, 2007 is “Ash Wednesday” and the beginning of the Lenten season. Traditionally, Lent is a time for penance through fasting in preparation to observe the Lord’s passion and death during Holy Week, and celebrate the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Penance is “an act of devotion to show sorrow for sin or wrong-doing.” This is a practice that is embraced by many of the mainline denominations: Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant. Penance is practiced throughout the year on a personal level, and communally during Lent. We, in the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement have not had much experience with this Lenten Penance tradition.

Some would argue, that the reason we don’t participate in such activities, is that you can not add to the work of Christ on the cross. Forgiveness of sin, in Christ Jesus, is complete. This is most certainly a valid point, but comes from a misunderstanding of what penance is. Penance, showing sorrow for sin and wrong-doing, are not “works” to add to or take away from the all encompassing Sacrifice. Penance is the well-spring of “godly sorrow” which “brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret…”(2Cor. 7:10). Repentance is a turning away from sin, and we are all called to that!

Christian history, bolstered by the Hebrew scriptures, is resplendent with acts of penance, both corporate and personal. When Israel sinned, her leaders would declare national fasts. Prophets would often perform symbolic acts of penance, in order to inspire repentance. A brief examination of Church history would demonstrate a prolific use of penance, in Apostolic and post-Apostolic eras. Finally, Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us there is a “…time for every activity under heaven…”

One way to practice penance is through fasting. Fasting is “the act of abstaining from or eating very little food.” Within all traditions there is a great deal of freedom in the practice of fasting. There are ascetics who practice total abstinence from food during a declared fast. There are those whose abstinence only entails certain foods. Some practice fasting during certain hours of the day, and eat meager meals before sunrise and after sunset. During a declared fast, some may pick only certain days to fast, such as Friday (traditionally the day the Lord was crucified). How you fast is between you and God.

Maintaining your focus during an act of penance is singularly important. Penance, in any form, does not give you “credit” with God. Remember, Isaiah says, “…all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” (Is 64:6). Your act of penance should be intentionally chosen to deal with a specific sin. Weather, your focus is a communal repentance for corporate sin or personal repentance for individual sin, your penance should be specified.

Most importantly of all, is prayer. Communion and communication with our Heavenly Father is vital! Not just during holy seasons or on certain days but every day and for all time after. Only in communion with God in Christ Jesus, can penance become more than just self-discipline.

I would like to invite you to participate, in communion with the Saints, in a Lenten fast. Let our Lord help you choose your focus. Is there a personal sin you are struggling with (or caving in to) regularly? As you fast, pray that God will give you the spiritual insight and might to turn from it. If your particular church participates in Lent, join in the corporate intentions, and pray that God will bring change to your nation, state, community, and local body.

Lent is a grand season, full of expectation, hope, and transformation. This is the season of “being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2Cor. 3:18).

Carolyn goes home

2007-01-03T20:23:00.000-08:00

CAROLYN ANN HEWITT OCT. 30, 1944 - DEC. 30, 2006 Carolyn Ann Hewitt, 62, of Modesto, went to her rest on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2006. She leaves her husband, Paul Hewitt; her children, Kevin Hewitt, Cyndee Hewitt, Amie Whitler, and Daniel Hewitt; Nine grandchildren; her mother, Margaret Nelson; her brothers, Larry and David; and a multitude of other loving relatives and friends.

Carolyn was born to Elmer and Margaret Nelson in Minneapolis, Minn. on Oct. 30, 1944, the youngest of the three children. She graduated from Hopkins High School. She married Paul Arthur Hewitt on Feb. 7, 1964. She spent the last few years as a caregiver for seniors.

Viewing services will be held at New Hope Christian Fellowship, 4204 Dale Rd., Modesto, on Thursday, Jan. 4th, 2007 from 5:00- 8:00 pm.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate her life at New Hope Christian Fellowship, 4204 Dale Rd., Modesto, on Friday, Jan. 5th, 2007 at 1:00 pm.

Advent Week 4

2006-12-24T06:55:00.000-08:00

Advent Week 4
Peace

Micah 5:2-5
Psalm 80:1-7
Hebrews 10:5-10
Luke 1:39-55

We have traversed the Advent Season together, and what an incredible journey it has been! We began our journey in Hope. Proceeded in Love. Experienced Joy. Which brings us to Peace.

Peace is one little word that can describe a single person’s being or the entire globe’s condition. The popular definition of peace is the absence of war and or hostilities. Particularly during this time in our nation’s history that is significant, as the brave men and women of this country and others are facing war every day so that we may not be subject to the hostilities of those who intend to do us harm. I’m going to get radical on you now and say quite plainly, peace is not just the absence of war. Peace is the fruit of war. What on earth can I be saying?

The Bible constantly reminds us that we are at war. Weather it be against our own flesh, or spiritual wickedness in high places we are at war. War is being made at all times, on every side, and in every way.

With that said, let me get back to my radical statement: Peace is the fruit of war. Peace on a global scale depends on wars being fought. Weather those wars are fought on a temporal battlefield with tanks, guns, and soldiers, or those wars are fought in the depths of the human heart with sin, bitterness, and forgiveness. Peace is the fruit of war. Temporal war is the result of men choosing not to fight the war within themselves: pride, bitterness, jealousy, greed, lust, etc...

What does any of this have to do with Advent? Just this: without the coming of Jesus Christ to earth there would never be any hope for peace. No peace between nations. No peace between neighbors. No peace between brothers. No peace within. No peace with God.

Only through Jesus Christ do we have peace with God in the forgiveness of sin. As Hebrews points out to us today “bull and goat blood can’t get rid of sin.” Once Jesus Christ becomes your Lord and Savior, it becomes possible for the churning seas of the heart and mind to be stilled and comforted through the power and working of the Holy Spirit. Once this inner peace is won, Jesus commands us to live a life of love towards our brothers, and neighbors. In love peace is won in “defer-ense” and “prefer-ence“. From local church to global community peace comes through Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

May the Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace of this Advent Season be yours as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christmas is here! Peace on Earth and Goodwill to all! Halleluiah!

Advent Week 3

2006-12-17T06:23:00.000-08:00

Advent Week 3
Joy
Zephaniah 3:14-20
Isaiah 12:2-6
Philippians 4:4-7
Luke 3:7-18

This third week of Advent, we focus on Joy. Initially, I was going to go after the etymology and definitions of joy. I was going to try and explain the differences between “joy”, “happiness”, and other like words that so often get interchanged in the English language and particularly in the language of the Church. Instead of all that, I have been directed to pursue a more practical approach.

With that said let me just make a vital distinction. Happiness is an emotion, situational and dependent on how things are going for you right now. Joy, on the other hand, is a spiritual condition that is derived and nurtured through experience and experiment.

No one can be taught how to “joy”. There is no class or book on “joy-ing.” Joy can only be known through practical experience. Think of some of the titles of some popular books on varying subjects such as: “The Joy of Cooking.” Consider a very closely related subject to this advent celebration and that is: “The Joy of Christmas”. Weather you’re talking about food or holy days Joy comes through experience.

The Joy of this advent season, the Joy of the Lord, the Joy in our lives comes through experience by way of service. Service to God, in Christ Jesus, through our brothers, sisters, and neighbors. Serving others in Love is the catalyst for Joy.

Nehemiah 8:10 (The Message)
10 He continued, "Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don't have anything: This day is holy to God. Don't feel bad. The joy of God is your strength!"

In the Gospel reading today we find John the Baptist telling people what they should do. Give and serve is his answer. Give to those in need and serve honestly and faithfully in what your hand has been given to do.

What we discover is that Joy, will change your life! John the Baptist says, “It’s your life that must change...” then he continues to tell people how to change their life. What changes their life is the joy that fills their hearts from the Holy Spirit as they give and serve in Love.

The final thing, then, is giving and serving in love brings joy! Joy changes your life! It’s your life that must be changed! So give and serve in love!

Experience Joy: find a way to give to and serve your brothers, sisters, and neighbors; especially during these holy days, but also throughout your whole life.

Advent Week 2

2006-12-10T05:03:00.000-08:00

Advent Week 2
Love

Malachi 3:1-4
Luke 1:68-79
Philippians 1:3-11
Luke 3:1-6

This second week of Advent, we celebrate Love! It is because of God’s love for us that we have anything to celebrate at all. Deuteronomy 7:7 tells us, “God wasn't attracted to you and didn't choose you because you were big and important—the fact is, there was almost nothing to you. He did it out of sheer love, keeping the promise he made to your ancestors.” Because we are loved by God, we can love Him and because we love Him, we are able to love others. In all this loving we celebrate the greatest demonstration of God’s love, He sends us His Son:

Jesus Christ comes to us in a temporal, physical, tangible, and historical way. God sent us Jesus on that night some 2000 years ago to live and die for us. By way of the Holy Spirit Jesus Christ comes to us, here and now, to live with us making a home in our hearts. In the last days, this same Jesus Christ will come again in glory to take us to the place that has been prepared for those who believe.

Our Heavenly Father demonstrates His love in sending His one and only Son. Jesus Christ demonstrates His love for His Father and for us in coming to us. We demonstrate our love for God in Christ Jesus by going into the world as witnesses.

What is the purpose of all this sending, coming and going? God’s purpose is to restore relationship with those He loves. That’s it! That’s why we have Advent, Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, etc... The reason for every season is, that God in Christ Jesus has made a way for us to live in love-relationship with Him. We then become messengers of this love as we live out our love-relationship with Christ in the world.

Celebrate Love! The readings this week remind us we are messengers of love. Celebrate Love! Love motivates God! Celebrate Love! Love is humanity’s loftiest virtue (1 Cor 13:13). Celebrate Love! Love is expressed in intentional relationship.

I close with Philippians 1:9-11 “ So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.”

Celebrate Love!

Advent Week 1

2006-12-03T05:21:00.000-08:00

Advent week 1
Hope

Jeremiah 33:14-16
Psalm 25:1-10
I Thessalonians 3:9-13
Luke 21:25-36
(all readings are from The Message)

Happy New Year! Today, we begin the season of Advent. It’s not Christmas yet. As a matter of fact, it’s not even technically the Christmas season, as some retailers would have you believe. The Christmas season begins on Christmas day. So, we are in Advent Season. The Advent season is a time where we celebrate anticipating the coming of Christmas. That’s actually what Advent means, it means “coming” or “arrival” particularly of something extremely important. What could be more important, especially to we who have been saved, than the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This first week of Advent, we experience Hope. Hope fulfilled in the virgin-birth of Jesus some 2000 years ago, and the ever present hope of this same Jesus who was crucified, died, resurrected, and who ascended into heaven, is coming again. We don’t just have hope for this world, but also for the one to come. Paul says, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” (1 Cor 15:19).

The readings today teach us that God, our Heavenly Father, has a plan for our lives. Not just a general plan for humanity, but a specific plan for each of us that takes place under His direct supervision. Remember some of the key phrases from the readings: “God Has Set Things Right for Us” and “He... leads them step-by-step...”.

We also know from the readings that Jesus, our Master, plans to return: not in some metaphorical, allegorical, or mystical way, but He is coming in a magnificent, amazing, and visible way. God, our Father, knows the specific day and time He will be sending Jesus back. He won’t say when, but He’ll give signs. Just as you can tell from a tree “...that summer is right around the corner.” We’ll know when the time for Jesus to return is near.

Celebrate Hope! The hope we have in our God who has done what He has said; who cares for and plans our every breath; who has made a way for us to be with Him.

Celebrate Hope! The hope we have in our “Coming” Savior Jesus Christ; who came on a specific night, long ago, as a baby born of a virgin in a lowly manger; who is returning on a specific day, at the appointed time, as a victorious and exalted king and will take us to be with Him.

This first week of Advent: Celebrate Hope!!!

Our 4th BBQ

2006-09-25T16:53:00.000-07:00

A great BBQ yesterday (which was Sunday, Sept. 24). We had about 150 folks out to our church from the downtown community and we all enjoyed a delicious tri-tip meal together. For you easterners, tri-tip is an excellent little cut of beef sort of in the shape of a triangle that everybody uses out here (especially our lovely taco trucks...mmmmm!). What I love about this annual event is how much more “family” oriented is has become. It was virtually stress free.

Every year, we shuttle our homeless friends from downtown out to the church. Last year a local car dealer provided us with big vans to do it. That fell through this year and nothing else surfaced no matter how hard we tried to find something. In the end, we felt convinced that we just give the problem to God, so we did and the body of Christ came through with plenty of donated vehicles.

Also, we had a bunch of ice donated from our local icery...whatever they’re called but we were not aware that we had to get it at a certain time. We were too late. Again, no panic, just go with it. My friend Josh and I went up to the supermarket and the manager just gave us 140 lbs. for free! So awesome.

The first year was all about the event and it went great. The next year was about political action and from that came the salvation army shelter at 9th and D. last year was really small as we planned our event on the same day as the now defunct “international festival”. This year was just right...a good group of people happy to be together, sharing music, food, scripture, prayer and fun. That’s the kind of stuff I love to be a part of.

Thank you

2006-09-22T07:19:00.000-07:00

It’s been a week since Stella’s surgery. Last Wednesday and Thursday were the longest days of our life so far...especially the time that the surgeon had our girl. We have had a lot of grace on us. Stella did fine. Her mouth is healing and her pain is decreasing. We have another few doctor’s visits coming up to check her progress.

Thank you, friends, for your prayers, help with our boys, help with food and kind, encouraging words. Nothing can compare to the support of God’s family in times of trouble.

Manifesto

2006-09-14T11:58:00.000-07:00

The dictionary defines a manifesto as:a public declaration of principles, policies, or intentions...

I have been an Elder for about 6 months. Over the past few months God has had me working on this "mission statement" or "manifesto" if you will. I share it here in order to make it public. I make it public in order to be held accountable.

Some of this I am doing. Some of this I do sporadically. Some of this I don't do at all and need to get my arse in gear. Pray for me, as I pray for you.

In Christ Jesus,

Mark

In submission to God my Father through Christ Jesus my Lord and Savior, by the power and working of the Holy Spirit, I endeavor: To die to myself moment by moment - day by day - that "He might become greater and I might become less." (John 3:30) To exercise the gifts God's Holy Spirit has made manifest, to nurture the fruits of the Spirit, and to, "not put out the Spirit's fire." (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

Following the command of Christ Jesus my head, I will: make disciples, baptize, and teach (Matthew 28:19-20). I will be active in sharing what I believe in order to understand every good thing we have in Christ (Philemon 6).

Heeding carefully God's warning I will dutifully: Strengthen the weak, heal the sick, bind up the injured, bring back the strays, and seek for the lost (Ezekiel 34:2-4). I will work to: Loose chains of injustice, untie ropes that hold people as slaves, set the oppressed free, break every evil chain, share food with the hungry, provide homeless people with a place to stay, give naked people clothes, and provide for the needs of my own family (Isaiah 58:6-7).

Sincerely desiring to be a faithful servant and tenant of the Father's vineyard (Mark 12:1-2) I will: Yield (give way) to God's will over my time, resources, talents, and money. I will endeavor to tithe (Deuteronomy 14:22). I will whole-heartedly seek to live in equality with my brothers and sisters in the Lord (2 Corinthians 8:13-14) and my neighbors in the world (Luke 10:30-37).

Finally, with my God and Father contending for me (Psalms 35:23), I commit to the UNITY of the Body of Christ (Romans 15:5-6) in and through LOVE (Colossians 3:14, 1 Peter 4:8). Always believing and acting in the knowledge that the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power (1 Corinthians 4:20).

We should do this...

2006-09-02T11:46:00.000-07:00

Does anybody read this? Comment please.

Thailand Team Values

2006-06-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

We asked the team to show on thier faces how they were feeling about leaving...this is what we got! They have safely arrived and we are waiting to hear some good report. Mark asked me to post the team values so that you could be praying...here they are...

* We value right relationships with those we are serving and those with whom we are serving. We will relate to each other and those with whom we come in contact with respect, honesty and love. We will speak the truth in love. We commit to “being real” in our relationships which includes loving confrontation and reckless kindness toward each other.

* We value “team”. We will work together for the common goal of serving those working full time in Thailand on behalf of the children. We will not serve our own agenda. We have a team leader, Linda Martinez, and we will defer to her in all matters of differences of opinion.

* We value working for a future. We recognize that this trip may be the start of a new relationship between our group and some Thai ministry we are there to serve. We commit to allowing God to lead us into further relationship and future ministry in Thailand if that is his will for us.

*We value work. We commit to give ourselves to any project that is offered to us as a team and do the best job we can do for God’s glory.

Expectation and Confidence

2006-02-11T12:08:00.000-08:00

What is the difference between “expectation” and “confidence”? Is there a difference? Without playing semantics, is there a difference? I believe there is and the Bible demonstrates it.

In 2 Kings 5: 1-14 we see the story of Naaman, a commander in the army of the King of Aram. Naaman is a great warrior, who has leprosy. A captured slave girl from Israel tells him there is a prophet in Israel who can heal him (Elisha). Naaman asks his king for permission to go to the King of Israel to seek healing. The king of Aram sends Naaman with a letter for the king of Israel simply stating: “I sent my servant to you so that he may be healed from leprosy.” This is where it gets interesting.

The king of Israel (Jehoram) receives Naaman and freaks out! He says, “Am I God?” The king of Aram is just trying to “pick a quarrel with me.” And he tears his robes. Why? What reason is there for Jehoram to behave this way? One word: Expectations. His judgment is perverted by his expectations causing him to be cynical not just of his fellow man, but of his God as well. Fortunately, Elisha hears what has happened and calls for Naaman to be sent to him anyway.

Naaman shows up at Elisha’s house, and one of Elisha’s servants comes to the door. As, Elisha’s messenger, the servant tells Naaman to go wash 7 times in the Jordan river and he will be healed. Now Naaman’s expectations are challenged. Naaman says, “"I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.” Wow! Here he stands on the verge of a miraculous healing and he won’t do what he is told to do because he expected it would happen a different way. He goes on to complain about the Jordan, believing the rivers of his homeland are “better” and he leaves. Naaman nearly misses out on a miracle because of his expectations. The faith he had when he started his journey, was quenched by the “expectations” he had of how things should be. Does that happen today?

Thankfully, Naaman has a servant that convinces him to follow Elisha’s directions, and after the 7th washing in the river he was healed. He was not healed after the 6th wash, but after the 7th.

In contrast to all of these expectations, let’s consider the leper in Mark 1. Here, this man begs Jesus to heal him. He is not expecting a miracle. He is simply confident, that if Jesus is willing to heal him, he will be healed. If, however unlikely, Jesus were to pass by him he still would believe that Jesus could and would heal him if he was “willing”. There are no preconceived notions. No skepticism. No cynicism. Just complete confidence in Jesus. What happens next? “Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.”

I have heard it said, “Expectations destroy relationships.” At the very least they hinder relationship. Expectation prevents us from receiving, from doing, and quenches the fires of the Spirit and faith. Confidence on the other hand is freedom. When we approach each other and our God in confidence, there are no requirements. No presumptions. Each one is free to be themselves.

Rich talked last week about “dreaming big” with God. In dreaming, the walls of expectation are dissolved by possibility. And the limitations of probability are absorbed by His willingness. We are confident that if our Heavenly Father in Christ Jesus is willing, “All things are possible with God.”

On my way back

2006-01-23T12:44:00.000-08:00

Brothers and Sisters,

Well, I’m on my way back. The surgery went very well and the doctor believes this time it should “stick.” My wife has made sure that the past few weeks have been extremely restful and recuperative. She has taken very good care of me and continues to encourage me in taking care of myself. Through Tina, God has proven his Word true when He says in Proverbs 18:22 “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.”

During my down-time about all I’ve managed to keep up with is, the daily bible readings. I read them faithfully though often times muddled by pain medications. To be honest, I read mainly out of habit and boredom. Mostly, what came through were merely words on a page. However, God in His faithfulness, managed to break through the “clouds” and speak into my life. The challenge before me now is to translate my notes- as you can imagine they’re not very clear- also to evaluate and verify that in fact what I heard was the Holy Spirit and not Vicodin. I am looking forward to sharing more later.

May our Heavenly Father bless you in the name of His Only-Begotten Son Jesus Christ through the mighty and powerful workings of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

In Christ Jesus,
Mark

The parable of the septic tank

2006-01-18T07:10:00.000-08:00

Last week was a mess. Jimmy and I noticed a spot on the church property that was wet and kinda weird. There was a perfect dome of grass with water leaking out one side. When I touched it with my foot, the dome wavered like gelatin or a water bed. Jimmy said, “This is the part in the horror movie when we run...” It smelled clean so we decided it was probably run off from the parking lot cause we’d had a lot of rain lately.

It didn’t go away. Then it started to look gray. With sinking hearts, on monday of last week we decided to check the septic clean outs. Unscrewing one lid we found standing water in one. Unscrewing the next one down, it exploded in a varitable fireworks display of things that are supposed to go down into the septic tank. We couldn’t believe it! Either we had a broken line or the tank was full and overflowing and nobody has been able to locate the tank for quite some time.

We set ourselves to the task though and God met us. Within hours, someone had rented us a little back hoe and brother James from church (who has much back hoe experience) came to help us dig. By late afternoon, James had found the tank and had it completely uncovered, a septic pump truck was called and we had dug around a bit of line that got broken in the process to get it ready for repair. Wisdom, advise and help came to us in many ways to do this huge, messy job that we didn’t now how to do. Jimmy and I spent most of the time down in the trench with wader boots on trying to find any other problems.

We got to the place where we were going to close up the septic line and fill in the hole when it cam to us that we should just see if the line was clear all the way. We stuck a hose in to see if it would flow into the tank and the water just ran back out on us. Jimmy dug down to the point of resistance and wouldn’t you know it, right through our septic line, right where the ooze was a tree root had broken through and caused a clog. We stuck our shovels in and out flowed...er...all the things that should go into the septic tank! AHHHHH!!!

So we dug back and wouldn’t you know that that piece of the pipe came out really easily and evenly...which is bad. It looked like that long ago, when the septic line was laid, no one bothered to GLUE THE PIPES TOGETHER! So we tied it together correctly, filled in the hole and two days later the job was done and everything was flowing again. Yeah!

So what have we learned here kids. To keep a system flowing properly you have to...

1. Maintain it...regularly clean out the gook that could stop you up

2. Guard it...be on watch for outside dangers that want to come in and cause trouble

3. Do it right the first time...the words of my father haunt me and I’m passing them on to my sons, “If you are going to do something, do it right.” Work like there is a future

4. There is wisdom in many councilors...each person that came to help us figure out this puzzle had a piece, not the whole of the solution. I am grateful for it all and I am really grateful that it is done.

Love sermon

2005-12-19T09:09:00.000-08:00

There are many things I believe a little differently than others. Mostly because the things I think about are obscure, if not irrelevant, and always exceptionally boring. And it’s these obscure and boring thoughts that make my ideas different. Take for instance, the concept of free will.

Now most “normal” Christians profess the notion that God created humans with free will- meaning, we are free to choose our own destiny. There are some who will argue, wrongly, that there is no such thing as free will. I believe we were created with potential for free will. I believe that until you are born again, you can not exercise your free will. So, you don’t have free will until you receive Christ as your Lord and Savior. Before this, you only have one path you can follow. “And without faith it is impossible to please God…” (Heb 11:6). After grace, we can choose to please God or not please Him. Boring, right? Well with this in mind, let’s talk about Love.

Love is a confusing, profound, misused, abused, over-used, under-used, kind of word. Mostly it is used to describe an action, behavior, or feeling. The Greeks have three different words for the English “love”: Eros- sexual/desire; Phillia- platonic/brotherly; Agape- divine/unconditional. But, again, they are simply descriptive not definitive.

I was reading 1Timothy and came across this verse: “The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Tim 1:5).

Before we can define love, we have to get a few things down. First, we need to understand that according to 1 Tim we can not love until we have a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. Actually, what I should say is, we can only love according to the measure we have attained these things. As we increasingly purify our hearts, clear our consciences and grow in faith our ability to love increases. I’ll explain more of this later.

Next, I need to define a few other terms I am going to use in defining “love.”

Atmosphere

The totality of surrounding conditions and circumstances affecting growth or development.

Interface

A point at which independent systems or diverse groups interact.

Ecology

The science of the relationships between organisms and their environment

The relationship between organisms and their environment.

Finally, a term created specifically for defining what “Love” is,

Relational Ecology

The interface of spiritual, emotional, psychological, and physical atmospheres in which a relationship develops and matures.

You may, or may not, be curious what all of these technical terms have to do with so flowery a word as love. Some people believe “love” is a “feeling” or emotion. Or, they believe it’s some kind of black hole or pit that you can fall into and out of as readily as you put on a shoe.

“Did you fall in love with her?” “Yeah, man. I fell for her, and I fell hard!”

But these beliefs are a fallacy as they concern the idea or concept of love. I have been taught, believe and experience love to be greater than all of these. I believe God, our Heavenly Father, has demonstrated that love is a decision; a powerful, reality altering, paradigm shifting, divine participating, decision.

Love

A decision of the will creating a relational ecology which is dynamically sacrificial and essentially nurturing which pursues the most advantageous means to ensure the best possible ends.

What does all that mean? Well, let’s take it point by point.

Decision of the will means strictly that. It is purposeful and determined.

Once made, the decision creates a world. (improv)

Dynamically sacrificial means dying to self and preferring the beloved.

Essentially nurturing means needs are anticipated, provided for, and intentionally infused. (feeding a baby)

Pursues the most advantageous means requires that there be a proactive search for a course of action that holds the greatest benefit for the beloved.

Ensure the best possible ends means that there is no plan B in love’s economy.

What is the model for this definition? I used John 3:16.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

This verse demonstrates dynamic sacrifice. We learn in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is essentially nurturing. We discover in the passion of Christ that his death was the only means for Salvation and that that salvation would mean living forever with Him in heaven. Let’s read John 14: 1-3, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

Now let’s get back to the opening verse:

“The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1 Tim 1:5).

The ability to make an effectual decision to love comes from the heart, the conscience and faith. This is where I get a little weird again. I believe that the “heart” and the “soul” are one and the same. Ken has been talking about how we are three parts body, soul, and spirit. I believe the heart spoken of here is the soul. The heart according to the dictionary is: the vital center of ones being; the repository of ones deepest and sincerest feelings; the seat of the intellect or [and] the imagination. I would also include that our will is the seated in the heart as well.

Having a pure heart means first and foremost that we have been regenerated by God’s spirit, having confessed Christ as Lord with our mouth and being baptized by water and the Holy Spirit. Only in this can our intentions be properly ordered. That is a pure heart, I believe, properly ordered intentions. What we plan to do is right, just, and true.

The conscience according to the dictionary is an awareness of the moral or ethical aspect of our conduct; it is also the source of moral and ethical judgment. Ken has talked about how are conscience is instructed by the Spirit. That is true. Our conscience is continually making judgments. We can only perceive right and wrong; good and bad; righteousness and sin when our conscience is good. A good conscience is one that is not muddled by unconfessed, unrepentant sin. When we sin, we hurt our conscience. It becomes contaminated and retarded, and loses the ability to inform us concerning right and wrong. 1 Jn 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Keeping your conscience good is vital.

A sincere faith is the final component necessary to love. Let’s look first at what is meant by sincere. Sincere, can mean real, not pretend; lacking hypocrisy or pretense. Sincere also means “true” and this is the meaning of the word used here. Ephesians 4: 1-4 says, “There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” We must have the true faith. I am beginning to sound like a radical. Seriously, there is a proper way to believe. There is a right way to follow. Now, the faith we have must also be real. You may ask how someone can have a “fake” faith, and I will tell you to just look around. There are many pretend Christians. Jesus told the parable of the sheep and the goats. The goats pretended to have faith, but it was perverted by hypocrisy, or established in pretense.

So, how does all this come together? Love comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. In whatever capacity we have attained these things in Christ Jesus we can love. The decision to love is one of the greatest decisions that must be made. We are commanded to love. Love God. Love your neighbor. Love one another. Love your enemies. When our motives are right (pure heart), our judgment is sound (good conscience), and our beliefs are proper (sincere faith), we can make wise decisions.

Prayer

Thoughts from the day after...

2005-11-26T09:21:00.000-08:00

The day after Thanksgiving is a holiday for many. People head out to the shopping mall or to the parade to jockey or position. It ‘s the official beginning of the Christmas shopping season (although we’d do well to shop[p throughout the year...not as painful on the wallet. We’ll learn one of these years). I heard on the news yesterday about how people were hurt in fights and overcrowding as the stores opened with their unbeatable deals.

There are many things wrong with the way we live out this season and all we can do is, loosely quoting Ghandi, “Be the change we want to see in the world.” So it’s probably good to not buy things made by corporations that enslave children to make their goods in celebration of Christ’s advent here. Simple handmade gifts are best I guess or “experiential” gifts like gift certificates to local shops and restaurants.

There are a few web sites and stores where you can buy things that help provide a sustainable life for people in the third world. Online stores like global exchange or the YWAMers in Thailand that help former prostitutes learn a trade like making candles and greeting cards to help them start a new life. There are many things we can do (with a little research and preparation) to make this season a little closer to being a “christian” experience.

The day after Thanksgiving, we went back to work as we had a whole van load of bread to deliver. We went to the motels and to the parks. It hit me in a new way that cultural holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, the way we classically think about them, are just not experienced the way we think of them being experienced by the poor.

Quiet time with family over a nice big meal or sharing presents with each other is a distant dream for so many. More than you think. Many more than you think. For the poor, these things are a major source of stress like no other time of year. These holidays remind them that they are not “normal”. We get desperate calls to the church for turkeys or help with presents as people look for any way to help their kids feel like the rest of us. One couple I talked to yesterday had sandwiches for Thanksgiving dinner, another man had to work, many more did not have anything.

Then there are the “working poor”...the ladies at the checkout at Wal-mart or the grocery store where the day after Thanksgiving is just another day at work. Economics is a funny thing. The Christmas season makes up so much of the corporate yearly profits and these corporations (like Wal-mart and Target) give people jobs...not great jobs mind you but usually just enough to keep them off the streets. I know a grandma that works at Target who lives in a motel and can’t get into a house with her income as she supports a daughter and grandchildren. I know another grandma who works at Wal-mart and lives in “low-income housing” and cannot afford a phone or a car. Wal-mart and Target are all these folks have...so you can’t just say “no discount stores!” without sustainable alternatives. Who is stepping up to this plate?

And here I am in the middle of it all lost in a quagmire of thoughts and “well, but the other side of the coin is...”

The Roman church chose this time of year for the celebration of Christ’s advent not because it’s his birthday but because of the symbolism of the midwinter celebration. The days grow darker and shorter through the Fall, at midwinter that tide turns and the days get lighter and longer until summer. I can go along with that...it was using an existing cultural celebration and infusing it with the gospel...the thing missionaries have done for thousands of years in “pre-christian” cultures. Why not just say “pagan”? Because people from every tribe, tongue and nation will be around the throne praising God.

It is my goal this season as I seek to live a christian life in America with integrity...

To make or buy as close as I can to socially conscious gifts for family and friends.

To remember the poor and encourage my poor friends to not feel like they have to measure up but to be content during the holidays with simpler celebrations.

To support other groups like the local Gospel Mission, Salvation Army and international groups like Compassion International or World Vision or Samaritan’s purse that help the poor feel included in the season.

To be kind and patient on the road, in the stores and with clerks.

To mark the dark days before advent during this holiday by meditating on expecting Christ, my only hope in Christ, joy at Christ’s appearance and the love that Christ has shed on my life. To celebrate Christ as the world’s Savior. He has become a light to this gentile. My people did not know God but a way has been made. Thanks be to God.

Fast and Pray

2005-11-07T06:57:00.000-08:00

I wrote this before I read Mark's post and is in no way a response. It is a response to a frustrating season in our work here. All that I say, I say to myself...

I’m not impressed with the streets or “street life” anymore. Created long ago, way under those streets is God’s good earth. It was there first. The “street” is a facade and I will no longer be impressed with it’s culture, menace or power. It is false.

Too many of my friends are under the sway of the “streets”. They feel there is no escape. They feel powerless to get up out of it’s grasp on their lives and I am sick of it.

Isaiah wept this week, so overcome with grief over his life. He doesn’t know why he can’t just get up out of the park and get over it. But it is too overwhelming for him to imagine something else for his life. He wants to change and is scared to death of change. “This ain’t me” he says, “I know what I need to do but I can’t seem to do it.”

Pearl used to be involved in the life and outreach of a church. She’s hooked on drugs and prostitutes herself on 9th street. She says getting to where she is now was one little step at a time and doesn’t see the way back. We offered her our help but fear and addiction keep her where she is.

Patti has let CPS take her children because of her drug use. She is so far inside herself that it is impossible to get a real human response from her. She cannot stop. She is powerless in her addictions. There are so many layers over her heart that she doesn’t even know who she is anymore. She is Gollum. She is almost a non-being. Her room is filth. She is abused and abuses.

For so long, our attitude toward the poor has been to say, “well, they got themselves into this mess and that’s that...there’s nothing we can do.” Good thing Jesus didn’t say that about us. He didn’t help us problem solve our way out of hell. We can’t pull our bootstraps up that far! HE SET US FREE!

“This kind comes not out but by prayer and fasting.” The words of Jesus. How else do we expect it to work? How can we pray if we do not know? How can we know if we are not there? How can we be there if we do not go?

"The people of the land have practiced oppression and committed robbery, and they have wronged the poor and needy and have oppressed the sojourner without justice. I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one.” Ez. 22:29-30

Deuteronomy 15

2005-11-01T17:27:00.000-08:00

Deuteronomy 15
4 However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you,
5 if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.
6 For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.
7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.
8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.
9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: "The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near," so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.
10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

Granted, an entire branch of theology regarding social justice could be developed out of this passage. “…there should be no poor among you…” What an indictment! I had developed an idea of dealing with the poor out of Jesus’ statement to the disciples “The poor you will always have with you.”(Mk 14:7). I had taken into account other things that Jesus said concerning giving to the poor and merely attempted to justify my own apathy towards poverty. I have grievously sinned!

“…do not be hard hearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.” “…do not show ill will… and give him nothing.” Yikes! How many times have I done that?

Jesus said, “Give to everyone who asks you,” (Lk 6:30). In the words of this passage, “… be openhanded…” and “Give generously…” First to our “brothers” that is those in the church and then “toward the poor and needy in your land.”

Brothers and Sisters, pray for me that God, in Christ Jesus, will by the power of the Holy Spirit renew my mind in this matter. Surely this is to weighty for a blog, but I wanted to share with you briefly…

In Christ Jesus,
Mark

You must not worship

2005-10-24T10:38:00.000-07:00

“You must not worship the Lord your God in their way, because in worshiping their gods, they do all kinds of detestable things the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters in the fire as sacrifices to their gods.” (DT 12:31)

This is a warning given through Moses to the Israelites before they entered the Promised Land. They are clearly warned not to practice forms of worship used by the other religions. They are to worship only in the way prescribed by God. But, if you read ahead, you learn that Israel often adopted the practices of the other religions and frequently abandoned faith in the God that delivered them from Egypt, in favor of idols. At one point in Israel’s history you can read that they even sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire.
The Christian Church –and I mean all denominations and non-denominations- as well as our society have committed these same detestable acts before God. We may not use fire any more in our “sacrifices”, but every child that is aborted in the name of “freedom” or “convenience” or “rights” is sacrificed to the idol of self. “Seeker-friendly” Churches that grieve or prohibit the spirit in the name of comfort or dilute the truth to avoid offense are not worshiping the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

Let us be careful to worship as God has prescribed, and not worship in “their way…”

In Christ Jesus,
Mark

Not a normal day

2005-09-30T06:46:00.000-07:00

Just before we set out to give away our big load of bread yesterday, we had a prayer time. After prayer, I like to ask if anyone had felt any specific direction from God. One of the girls working with us said she felt God telling her that it was not going to be a normal day and added that she didn’t quite know what it means.

Typically on bread day, we go to the gospel mission and pick up their leftovers, have some friendly joking around with the guys working there. Then we go to a park in the airport district and distribute to 60 - 100 folks there. After that we go back to the mission to load up again and go to another park in the west side and give it away to about 30 - 50 people.

That’s what happened yesterday. In many ways, it was a normal day. I thought about this later on and wondered about Leah’s impression that is was not going to be a normal day. And I know God spoke to me...

It wasn’t a normal day because I got to meet and talk to Charles, an older gentleman who comes to the bread line. I’ve never spoken to him and he seemed to brighten just by having someone pay attention to him. It wasn’t normal because one of the men working at the mission treated me so kindly that it refreshed my heart. I got to help an elderly (and very cantankerous) lady find the closest thing I could find to a pie. I got to smile and encourage people. The poor, who are usually ignored, looked at with disdain or somehow locked out or expected to jump through hoops, got bread and a dessert for their family without any red tape. Neighbors thought about each other. God was with us all as we were all together.

It was not a normal day. God keeps his promises.

Thanks

2005-09-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to Josh Davenport who is going for it in the area of lawn care. I have been so blessed to see Josh going above and beyond the call of duty. He spent the whole day, all day, yesturday mowing the far Pelendale ditch with a push mower! It looks great.

Pray for Aaron, he is off to Canada for Tim Beatty's wedding. Chris Beatty left for his Discipleship Training School (DTS) with YWAM on Monday. Charlie, Leah and little Josiah are doing good but he still has a ways to go before he can come home.

And a personal tahnks for Leah H. who we met working with Shelter Cove. She has been working with us for 3 weeks now as a special circumstance to fininsh her outreach requirements for her DTS with YWAM in Conneticut. She has been a great help in finishing the new offices and out in the community just caring for people with an open heart.

So we see that they

2005-09-18T08:24:00.000-07:00

“So we see that they were not able to enter, because of their unbelief.” (Heb 3:19)

In today’s reading, the author of Hebrews is writing to people of “faith.” The story of the Israelites in the desert is well known. How they were called out of Egypt with signs and wonders; how they were led by the cloud and pillar of fire. The author then points out, that despite all of this some rebelled. They believed and knew by experience that God could deliver them. The Israelites, under Moses, believed many things about their God. But, it was their unbelief that condemned them. They were not able to enter the “Promised Land” because of their unbelief that lead to their disobedience and rebellion.

I think this is poignant for our time. We are all people of “faith.” God has demonstrated His greatness to us in many ways. He has led us and we have believed in him. But, there are areas in our life that we do not believe God for. What we should be most careful of, what the author of Hebrews is saying, is that our “unbelief” not lead to rebellion.

Unbelief is not a bad thing by itself. We can pray, like another has, “I believe, Lord, help my unbelief.” But, unbelief that leads to rebellion will condemn. Consider the Israelites again. Consider Moses. He believed God for everything, save one. That he could not speak to a rock and have it spring water. Instead of speaking to it, like he was told to, he struck it with his staff. This was enough to keep him from entering the Promised Land. It wasn’t what Moses believed about God that brought him in, it was what he didn’t believe and the rebellion that followed that kept him out.

The Bible tells us, rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. We can see that rebellion is sown by unbelief. At what point unbelief becomes rebellion is between you and God. In Christ Jesus, we can be healed of unbelief and rebellion once we recognize we are in it. Only by the Holy Spirit can we know our own condition.

While writing this, the Holy Spirit revealed to me my unbelief. Finances and tithing. I don’t believe God in this. Every time I fail to tithe, I rebel. And, God can not do what he has promised to do in my life while I’m in rebellion. So, I pray, “Lord I believe help my unbelief!”

A working definition of love

2005-09-16T08:18:00.000-07:00

A working definition of Love…

Love => a decision of the will creating a relational ecology that is dynamically sacrificial and essentially nurturing which pursues the most advantageous means to ensure the best possible ends.

Relational Ecology => the interface of spiritual, emotional, psychological, and physical atmospheres in which a relationship develops and matures.

To my best understanding and ability, thus far, I have tried to define love. Being a decision of the will, removes love from anything other than consciously purposed. I believe “love” is participation in the divine thus I have included the word “creating.” The term relational ecology demonstrates an actual and determined state of being and represents a point in space-time. Without nurturing and sacrifice nothing lives. Means and ends are love’s vestments.

I realize, as soon as you “define” something there are exceptions. I’ve tried to be as broad as possible in order to include every aspect that love involves. I had to invent the “relational ecology” term. But, the term is useful in describing conditions that exist in relationship. Tina and I, mostly in jest, have had a few discussions about “pollution” of our ecology. It sounds funny, but it develops a word picture that is useful in addressing potential issues.

So, I encourage everyone to study this, pick it a part, and get back to me with your input. Use it, even jokingly, it will develop into a concept that might help you later on. As a modern poet, Javan, writes, “Listen closely to your fellow man, for often very deep truths are revealed in jest.” Don’t hold back! I really want to know what you think.

In Christ Jesus,

Mark

I pray that you may

2005-09-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

“I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” (Philemon: 6)

Now, when I first read this I was brought short because I have not been “… active in sharing…” my faith. Accordingly, I began planning joining the bread truck or visiting 9th Street. These endeavors are fruitful and they would challenge me to step outside of my comfort zone. I look up to the men involved in these outreaches and their influence and instruction in my life would be most beneficial. Then God spoke…

God gives gifts, and they are given without repentance. He gave some to be prophets, some teachers, some evangelists… (I am paraphrasing). I had a season in my life where I moved in the gifting of an evangelist. It was life transforming. Then God changed my heart. He reformed it for the Church. My heart is for discipleship. But, I have not been active in sharing this.

I have grown comfortable in church. My participation is minimal to say the least. I don’t speak when I feel lead, even though I’ve been released to do so by the elders. This is my challenge. This would blast apart my comfort level; to become transparent and vulnerable to people I am in community with. This would be an active sharing of faith. I’ve been waiting for God to “release” me, it’s time. It’s been time for some time!

Not everyone is called to preach on street corners. Maybe you are called to sing in public worship. Maybe you are called to practice hospitality. Maybe you are called to speak prophetic words. Whatever your call is, when you practice it, you are conforming to this verse. You will be “… active in sharing your faith…” and that will lead you to the “…full understanding…” that Paul promises.

In closing, I would just like to put together a modest disclaimer. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. We are the body of Christ, joined together. We should support one another in our gifting. Just because you’re not “called” is no excuse to not participate.

In Christ Jesus,

Mark

Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD

2005-09-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

“Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be darkness, not light.” Amos 5:18

I am guilty of longing for the day of the Lord. I have always considered it from my own perspective, as the day we are caught up to meet Jesus in the heavens. Jesus said we could not know the day or hour, but that, like a farmer we’d be able to tell the season. I am always hopeful when I see the signs of the changing seasons. I even rejoice at the increasing darkness, because it means the day of resurrection is ever closer. This, however, does not appear to be a correct attitude.

In Amos God demonstrates His desire to be merciful to all. For most, the day of the LORD is going to be a day of “… darkness, not light.” And God grieves over this. Elsewhere in the Bible it says that God desires that all might be saved. He knows that many won’t be. They’ll refuse to be saved. These people will be so deceived in trappings of their own devices that they will turn away from the Lord. Jesus will be standing before them, physically; factually in the full light of truth and they will choose to turn away. God is saddened and hurt when his creation rejects him. He did not create the place of wrath for humans. Yet many will, by their own choosing, spend eternity in the presence of the wrath of God.

I must hear the heart cry of God. I should have the passion of Moses that grieves the judgment of God and begs for him to relent. Amos begged God to relent of many judgments he showed the prophet that were coming, and God relented. We, as a people who are loved by their creator, can beg his mercy and bargain for leniency. God’s mind is not made up.

I should not be complacent regarding the day of the LORD. Amos actually goes on to declare “Woe to the complacent…” Woe to me, I have longed for the day of the LORD and have been complacent regarding His judgment. Now, I pray for the courage to stand in the gap and seek the heart of God. I pray that the day of the LORD might be suspended until ALL are saved.

New Links

2005-09-04T07:37:00.000-07:00

Be sure to check out the links section! There is a link to the Bible Reading Calendar that is used for the Sunday Bulletin. This will take you to the NIV text for the day when you click on the text listing. Also, I added a link to the Whitler's YWAM Homepage. I hope this helps... God Bless.

In Christ Jesus,
Mark

So Ive been thinking

2005-08-30T01:10:00.000-07:00

So, I’ve been thinking about love lately. What is love? We all somehow know what love does, and we can characterize it in some degree through its manifestations, but we aren’t sure what it is. What is love? And, for the record, I mean “is” as in being and existence, not in the phony Clintonesque what is “is” kind of is…

I would like to hear some thoughts on the matter. Try not to describe love in terms of doing. I don’t want to use examples of what I’m asking for, because I don’t want to taint the results. Give me your best shot. I’ve got my own ideas, and I’ll be happy to share them later. Right now, I’m interested in your thoughts and ideas. I look forward to hearing from you.

In Christ Jesus,
Mark

Our God Answers Prayer!

2005-08-24T08:50:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, Velma Skinner came up after the service and asked for prayer. She asked if we could pray for Casey, who was expecting triplets. There was a bad report from the doctors concerning these babies with a bleak prognosis. We laid hands on Velma and asked our Heavenly Father for these babies and for Casey.
Tuesday Night, Velma came home and reported that the babies were born by c-section on Monday night, just a few months early. Not Josiah early, but early none the less. She said the babies were all born HEALTHY, and not one of them was expected to have complications.
Thank you gracious Father for hearing and answering our prayer. Thank you Lord Jesus for the promise that anything asked in your name will be done. We believe, Lord, help our unbelief. Thank you Holy Spirit for your healing power.

In Christ Jesus,
Mark

Josiah

2005-08-23T17:16:00.000-07:00

Josiah

Born so small, you fill our hearts
With love and admiration
And with all your tiny parts
We join our aspirations
Our prayer, to God above, we raise
Beseeching divine care
For one so vulnerable yet so brave
In whose life we’ve come to share.

We join our voices, hearts and hands
To your parents, our beloved
And in your triumph we shall stand
Faith to faith in He who saved us
Charlie, Leah, and blessed child
We love you without measure
In Josiah, our Father smiled
Endowing us this treasure

Open hearts

2005-08-22T08:25:00.000-07:00

I have been pondering the thing Ken spoke on this last Sunday for a few months. You may hear me say it a lot in worship but my prayer has been to lift my heart to the Lord. I want to do this more...to consciously open my heart to the Holy Spirit’s scrutiny and let him tell me what he’s proud of and let me know what I need to change.

I was at a youth group last night and the speaker said “There is a difference in being ‘saved’ and having given your whole life to Jesus.” Is there? I don’t know. I think giving your whole life to Jesus is being saved. I don’t want to leave no room for process but it’s the condition of our heart that counts. Are we daily bending it to the will of God.

I would highly recommend Henri Nouwen’s “The Way of the Heart” for anyone wanting to look at this further. It’s a small book but well worth the read. None of us are there yet but do we have the heart of Narnia’s Reepacheep to say “I’ll sail toward my goal and if the wind fails, I’ll row and if the boat sinks I’ll swim and if my arms fail, I’ll die pointing toward my goal.” That’s the heart of pursuit God wants to see and we even need God’s grace for this.

Prayer Requests

2005-08-21T16:42:00.000-07:00

For those who have specific prayer requests, please respond in comments to this post. I will share them with the elders and pray for them myself.

In Christ Jesus,

Mark B.

9th St.

2005-08-20T10:18:00.000-07:00

She was lying on her filthy bed with her closest companions, her cats, milling about the room. A half empty bottle of cheap beer still in her hand as she lay passed out. It was an extremely hot central valley day but she wore a coat. She is mostly inside of herself when she’s awake but as I looked on her sleeping with her motel room door open and the window left wide I was glad she was having this moment of peace. Sleep is rest for the body and a troubled mind. I left the prepared bag of bread and pastries inside the door on a little cluttered table. We try to leave things we know she likes. I realized then that I am just one face in this window. I am here maybe twice a week but she is always here. The realities I see and break over are hers all the time whether I witness them or not.

There is another woman in this motel in a wheel chair. She has a big dog for friendship and safety. He’s quite protective of his mistress so I only see her for a brief minute each week. A knock, then boisterous barking, a shouting match between her and the dog, then the door opens and we hand her a bag of food (she prefers chocolate cookies), “God bless you, Evelyn.”, “Thank you , you too”. and that’s it. Just a face in her door bringing what I can.

This is not enough. More and more, we are being pulled down to 9th Street. We now schedule to go twice a week. But even beyond that we need to engage in real relationships here in the most forgotten place in our town. No lunch truck comes by here. No park for the kids to play. The traffic is fast down 9th. The motels are surrounded by auto shops, trailer parks and vacant lots. It is not a nice place to be. No grass, just unforgiving concrete and broken glass. The working girls walk up and down past the 7 year old girl who has been sent to the store to get something for her drug addicted mother.

Please pray for 9th Street. Pray for us. Pray that God would help us find more ways to engage this toxic neighborhood with his grace, forgiveness and love.

New Borns

2005-08-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

We thank God for his gifts that he has given to the Sustars and the Coffees. Gabriel Shine was born to Jim and Kelly, and Josiah George to Charlie and Leah. We continue to lift up Chris and Amy, and anyone else in our community who is awaiting the birth of a child.

May God grant wisdom, insight, and a keen eye to the elders as they consider the stewardship of our community.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Love in Christ,
Mark

An eventful week

2005-08-15T22:51:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Charlie and Leah on the birth of little Josiah. This little one has come into the world surrounded by the prayers of those who love his parents. I can't wait to get over to see him!

God is really making us into what he wants us to be. It has done my heart so good to see people rise to support the body in this busy time of change. The guys who helped frame the walls of the new office area, those who brought meals to Jim and Kelly, those who gave to help some kids get school clothes, the guys who came to fix our ministry van and there is a fresh hunger to know God and pursue him among us.

My absolute favorite music is when our small congregation really goes for it like we did this week at our gathering. To have the privilege to make music with friends that releases the congregation to express their heart to the Creator is almost too much for me. To look out and see young and old with hearts, eyes, minds and hands raised to God is the best part of my week. Not searching for a passionate feeling but a passionate search for Jesus.

Let creativity bust loose and let church games be done with! I'm ready! Let's get on with it.

C

Prayers needed

2005-08-09T14:08:00.000-07:00

Please pray for Charlie and Leah as they are in the hospital due to pregnancy complications. You can get in touch with me for more information. Chris.

pharisee of pharisees

2005-08-08T07:08:00.000-07:00

Tina and I were discussing a situation the other day about an unmarried couple that is living together. In no uncertain terms, I view this arrangement as immoral and sinful. I asked Tina how we should decline any invitation to their apartment, seeing as how we view the arrangement and how we would not want to lend credibility or validation to such. Tina totally blew my argument to pieces and God used her to convict me as the Pharisee I am.

Tina basically said, and I paraphrase, we should not decline such an invitation but gladly accept it. We should be hopeful for such an opportunity to sow into their lives. What better way, what better time, what better place is there to demonstrate the love of God and to pray for them? Besides (here’s the kicker), Tina said, Jesus went to sinners houses didn’t he?

Oh yeah.

I immediately began some soul searching. When did I become a Pharisee? More importantly, how did I become a Pharisee? Then today, I read 1 Tim 1:5, and God told me how.

“The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” (1Tim 1:5)

Love, it’s what I have been lacking in my journey of faith lately, and by lately I mean for the last ten years. I am cynical which comes from a muddled heart. I am duplicitous which comes from a compromised conscience. And, I have a critical spirit spawned from an artificial faith.

Father, purify my heart, heal my conscience, and give me authentic faith so that I may love.

Good idea!

2005-08-07T08:08:00.000-07:00

Chris here and I love this idea...thanks Mark!

It's been quite the week. Our church is growing in the funniest way possible...We're having babies! The baby now has a name but I will give Jimmy the honor of that post.

My thanks to Steve O. And Mike C. For all their hard work on our junky ministry van. It has been officially named "the van that doesn't matter" but we found out when it's not running that it really does matter! It's running now and able to deliver food better than ever.

And finally, I've been thinking a lot about something Eugene Peterson wrote in one of his books that's not the Bible. He said, "Discipleship is a long walk in the same direction". We have a long walk ahead of us here but I'm willing to stay on the road and it's more fun if we're on it together.