Being Orange Friends

Revisiting Verses

2012-01-25T11:42:00.000-05:00

Psalm23

A psalm of David.

¹ The LORD is myshepherd, I lack nothing.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
   for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
   through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
   forever.

In class a couple weeks ago we were asked to take this scripture and pray over each line. Many things came to mind when I was taking time to break down this, my favorite scripture. Normally I focus on the first initial parts of the scripture. “ He makes me lie down” ....Thank you Lord for giving me time to rest. Or “He leads me beside quiet waters”.... Thank you Lord for filling me up with living water. But recently I got an interesting picture of his rod and His staff.

I grew up on a farm and for our 4-H project, we raised pigs from the time they were babies till we sold them at the county fair. As they were growing up we would take them on walks with a walking stick. Sometimes the pig was on its best behavior and the walk was easy. Sometimes the pig did whatever it wanted to do and we had to use our walking stick to guide it with a tap to the side.

This memory made me laugh because I know I am a little messy, but a pig, God? :)

What does it mean to be comforted by being guided by His staff? For me, I am reassured that when I am having one of thosewalks where I feel like I can do anything, even something that might hurt meor do something that is off of the paththat God wants for me, He gently (well sometimes gently) guides me back on thepath He wants for me. I am comforted byknowing that He already know where I should go and where I shouldn’t. Even if the tap on the side hurts sometimes, I know that He has the best plan for me.

Prayer:

Thank you Lord for the guidance and refining that you havedone in my life. Father, I give you permission to continue to refineme and mold me into what You would have for me.

Amen

A challenge for you todaywould be to take a favorite scripture, or one you know reallywell, and reexamine it asking God to show you something new.

-Sierra

Resting… in Scripture?

2012-01-13T09:09:00.002-05:00

Have youever rushed through something because you felt like it was the acceptable wayof doing something? At work, school, even chores around the house seem to needto be done at the speed of light because we are in an instant gratification,all-the-information-you-need-at-your-fingertips kind of culture. Even with the Biblewe can experience this feeling that we must read through the Biblein a year or we consume a passage or verse quickly and we pull the life lessonout and apply it so we can move on with our day. There is nothing wrong withthese approaches to scripture… in fact, I encourage you to read through the Biblecompletely and seek out application (even if you are short on time some days).But… we need a challenge to slow down. We may be missing an incredible blessingin “centering down” on one verse or passage… slowly mulling over it, sittingwith it, allowing the Word of God to chew on us a little,rather than the other way around.

Thenext three weeks we will try to slow down. We will have a short series called“Jesus and You” focused on John 4:1-45, the story of the Samaritan woman at thewell. In light of this story of the interaction between Jesus and this woman,we will settle down for three weeks on issues of culture, love, relationships, andwhat we assume to be acceptable behavior. So, specifically, settle in with meon the story of the woman at the well. Read it, meditate on it, memorize partsof it… slow down. Once you are bored with it… go back to it and ask God, “Whatam I missing because of my own blinders and distractions that you want me tosee and therefore be transformed like only You can do?”

Have you ever slowed down andfocused on a particular verse or passage for a concentrated time?

How was your experience? How didGod transform you as a result?

-Pastor David

Rend Your Heart

2011-12-28T15:00:00.001-05:00

One of my Favorite Jimmy Needham songs is called “Rend”. Look it up on YouTube or follow this link after you read the article. It’s a greatsong that goes along with this scripture.

Joel 2: Rend Your Heart

¹²“Even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

¹³Rend your heart
   and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
   for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
   and he relents from sending calamity.
¹⁴ Who knows? He may turn and relent
   and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
   for the LORD your God.

Joelwas a prophet who heard the word of the Lord and declared to a pridefulpeople that the plague that they were under did not have to last forever. The Chaldians were facing one on the largestplagues that anyone could imagine. Locusts swarmed their field and had left their land barren. Joel came on the scene and let them know thatGod had not left them, and that they were missing out on the love of God. It didn’t have to be this way.

If my life, there have been times where I felt like my life,my pride, my possessions got in the way of the love of God – in the way of whatGod had for me. All the things I triedto put in front of God left me feeling empty and alone – like a barren wastelandcovered in bugs…. gross.

But here’s the thing, God did not leave me to be eaten awayby bugs. He said come back to me dearone and I have got some great things in store for you.

The LORD’s Answer

¹⁸ Then the LORD wasjealous for his land
and took pity on his people.

¹⁹ The LORD replied^[a] to them:
   “I am sending you grain, new wine and olive oil,
   enough to satisfy you fully;
never again will I make you
   an object of scorn to the nations.

If you finish the chapter, there are more promises. These were the promises for those people atthat time, but take time today to search your heart and find out what they meanfor you.

What does it mean when God asks you to rend your heart? What are you in need of surrendering?

Join us this Sunday. THE FIRST SUNDAY OF 2012! as we explore more.

-Sierra

$300,000! …Are we there yet?

2011-12-14T21:48:00.001-05:00

It seemslike we have heard it a million times. The often repeated question… “Are wethere yet?” You know, the one that comes from the back seat as your familymakes the trek to Grandma’s house, a vacation destination, or to wherever ittakes over the “reasonable” 30 minutes or so of travel. Then, when you aretruly “almost there”, the entire car builds with excitement for what is instore at your anticipated destination. Maybe it is the excitement of openingpresents or eating Grandma’s homemade goodies or the relaxing visit with thoseyou have not seen in awhile.

Well,our Orange Friends Church family has been asking “Are we there yet?” with ourbuilding debt for several years now. We can finally turn to one another andsay, “Yes, we are almost there!” We can feel the excitement building as weanticipate what God is going to do among us as we arrive at this long awaiteddestination. We have been on the road of paying off our mortgage for a verylong time and it feels good to pull in the driveway of being a debt freechurch.

At thebeginning of December we began a debt elimination campaign with a little under$25,000 remaining on our mortgage. As of today we have about $10,000 left to go!The over $15,000 that has come in so far has been given by only 15 families!Just imagine what we could do if every family at Orange Friends Church gave!

Maybeyou are newer to OFC and you were not able to be part of the building of theFamily Life Center in 2001. God gave a vision (or destination) to our church atthat time to reach out to the community by building a space for sportsoutreach, teen ministry and a clean and safe nursery for our preschool agedchildren. We now worship every Sunday in that same space. Whether you were herewhen our church family stepped out in faith to build, or whether you are newerand are enjoying the fruit of that vision, will you consider a generous gift tocompletely eliminate our debt on this building?

Once wearrive at this destination of being debt free as a church family, imagine whatGod wants to do with our ministries and work. I believe that this will meanthat we are freed up financially to…

Impact the lives of children and their families through the "Next Generation" vision. This plan includes converting the Chapel (previous sanctuary) into effective children’s ministry space and hiring a Director of Children’s ministries in order to reach out to more families in our community.
Help hundreds of individuals and families to overcome addiction (CRACK House ministries), receive provision in the midst of homelessness and hunger (Faith Mission), and provide escape from human trafficking for young girls (Gracehaven ministry).
Provide food, shelter, clean water, education and other practical needs for those around the world who are in need.
Provide the necessary building and property improvements/maintenance so that our church property can continue to be a beacon of light for Jesus Christ in the surrounding community.

Pleaseconsider participating in the debt elimination at Orange Friends Church. Youcan make a difference no matter what you are able to give. Be sure to send yourgift marked for “debt elimination” to the church office (or place it in theoffering plate) before December 31 to get the tax benefits for 2011 and toensure that we are financially free for the 2012 ministry year.

As wearrive at our destination let’s celebrate and rejoice for God has been generousand has provided everything we need.

Pastor David

December Stress

2011-12-02T09:18:00.002-05:00

December is one of the most stressful times of the year. OR does it have to be? About five years ago I asked a mentor of mine, who happened to be a worship director, how she made it through the Christmas season. I knew that she had three programs to plan, family to entertain and gifts to buy. She shared something with me that I will never forget – You can choose to be stressed out or to not. We are to live out everything we do as an act of worship bringing Glory to the Lord. How are we doing this if we are so stressed out during a time of Celebration in Him that we end up hating the season?

1 Peter 5:7 says
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.”

Matthew 11:28 says
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”

I don’t think that a God of peace and comfort desires us to be upset and stressed out during a time of celebration. Now that I am in the shoes of my mentor and doing a million things at a time during this season, I need to hear this more than ever.

Join me in casting our cares on the Lord this season so we can focus on the celebration of Christ’s birth.

-Sierra

Absolute Commitment

2011-11-16T12:07:00.000-05:00

This last weekend of football tested my “fanhood” and that of many others in Ohio. The Bengals lost by a touchdown and the Browns lost by a field goal. The Buckeyes lost by a blocked extra-point after what was to be the game winning touchdown in the 4th quarter. Tough times have driven away many “fans” over the years. But… tough times have also galvanized many other followers of their teams over the years.

Jesus states that many people will fall away from following Him when times get tough (Matthew 13:20-21; 24:9-11; 26:30-35). In fact, many who welcomed Him into Jerusalem shouting “Hosanna, in the Highest!” shouted “Crucify Him!” just a few days later (Matthew 21:1-11; 27:15-23).

Although we may stumble and fall at times we are challenged by Jesus to not be “fans” but to be disciples. “Disciple” literally means “follower”. Not in a casual sense but in a radical leave all, forsake all, transform all kind of way. In Luke chapter 14 you can find an almost unbelievable challenge towards being much more than a fan of Jesus. In this passage Jesus states that to be a true follower of His we must hate our family, consciously choose death row, and meticulously account for our personal assets and level of strength as indicators on whether to follow Him or not. In the economy of Jesus there is absolutely no room for partial commitment or fair-weather behavior. It is all or nothing.

This level of devotion is way beyond any other aspect of your life that may demand attention. Rather, every aspect of your life must be impacted by the demand for complete devotion to Jesus Christ.

Choose absolute commitment over fair-weather fanhood!

-Pastor David

Lame Excuses

2011-11-04T10:10:00.002-04:00

“I am too busy”, “I have school work to do”, “The devil made me do it”, “It’s not my fault, my parents raised me that way”

Excuses are a fun way to let yourself off the hook for a certain behavior, action, or lack of action. I have my own laundry list of excuses I tell myself in order to make myself feel better about certain things. Not exercising that day (“I am just too tired and today is my day off”), sneaking in some chocolate in the middle of the day (“my friend didn’t give me these buckeyes for them to go to waste”) , rushing through my quiet time with the Lord…… the list goes on. I am not proud of these things, so I tell myself little excuses so I don’t feel the guilt of the transgression.

I was reminded in my quiet time today that I am not alone in this.

Read Genesis 3:12- Adam blames Eve for the sin of eating the fruit.
Exodus 32:24- Aaron uses an excuse for making an idol.
Exodus 4:10- Moses tells the Lord that He didn’t create him to be a good speaker.

The list goes on. It is so human for us to excuse ourselves from the temporary guilt of being honest with ourselves. We blame it on our heritage, our tiredness, or even on God.

The truth is that with God we can do all things. If He is in us, He is continuously renewing us and taking more of our fleshly excuses and making them into His strength. Though Him we have the strength to resist temptation, we have the strength to do things we never thought we could. So let’s start being honest with ourselves and honest with God.

Pray with me.

Father, I sometime like to lie to myself and to you by making excuses. No matter how big or how small they are God, I am sorry. Please help me to rely on your strength today. Help me to rely on your renewing of my mind. Continue making me more like your Son Jesus.

We pray in that Holy Name

Amen

-Sierra

The Absurd Commands of God

2011-10-19T18:26:00.004-04:00

“The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.” Psalm 19:8 (NLT)

Have you ever read something in the Bible and thought, “God wants me to do that!”? You know, the sudden discovery of a command that does not make sense to us because it seems so extreme, so outside of our experience, so absurd. For instance, we are asked in scripture to pray without ceasing (I Thess. 5:17), not to be anxious about anything (Philippians 4:6-8), hate your family (Luke 14:25-33), and love your enemies (Matthew 5:43-48; Luke 6:27-36). All of these seem… well… absurd! We don’t wish to be disrespectful or question God but some things we read in the Bible can be a bit uncomfortable at first glance.

Over the next several weeks we will explore just a few of these “uncomfortable” commands and, hopefully, find comfort in them. You see, His commands are meant to bring joy, not discouragement. They are to be clear, not muddy and confusing. God’s instruction and commands are meant to really help us have clarity for living this life the best we possibly can. But this takes some exploration of the meaning of these “absurd” commands and putting them into practice.

Here are a few suggestions as we go forward and as you seek God through His Word:

1) Seek clarity and understanding. The answers are available to those who seek diligently.

2) Seek His Truth through prayer. Tell Him when you are unclear. He won’t be mad for your questions.

3) Seek out community. For 2000 years Christianity has been lived out in a community called the church (not a building, but a people). Let’s explore, study, and seek the answers together.

May God bring joy to our hearts and insight for living as we fully seek and find Him in all His commands.

Pastor David

Sour Grapes

2011-10-05T11:50:00.003-04:00

Have you ever woken up in the morning and just felt heavy? I have. I immediately go to the coffee maker or espresso maker and count on my caffeine in the morning to give my day a jolt. About an hour and a half later, I feel heavy again – sluggish and drained. I blame it on the weather, I blame it on my mood that day, then I blame it on my husband who probably did something wrong (I just can’t think of anything right now). My day continues with slow moving traffic and other small annoyances that seem a lot bigger than they actually are. What went wrong today? Did I wake up on the wrong side of the bed?

John 15:5-8

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

I woke up this morning and felt heavy. I opened my bible and read this scripture and Christ reminded me that He is with me. He desires to be in my day. In my small annoyances, in my conversations with my husband. I thank Him for the rain. I ask Him to be with me all day.

He agrees :)

What does it mean to bear fruit in your day? What are the benefits of starting your day connected to the Vine?

Father, Guide our days. Father, forgive us when we lose focus and try to do this life without you. Humble our hearts Lord and remind us that we are not alone and we cannot do this life alone. We love You.

Amen

-Sierra

Getting Together

2011-09-22T08:34:00.003-04:00

“All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47 (NLT)

The early Christians in the book of Acts made it a habit of gathering together. They would meet in the temple courts, in homes, as they were going about their business throughout the day, etc.,. There was a tremendous unity among them.

This is not to say they did not have their fair share of relational challenges and disagreements. Read on in the book of Acts and you will see clearly that not everyone got along all the time. This is the challenge of being together. As a wise person once said, “Where two or more are gathered… there will be a disagreement!”

What sets us apart as Christians is our firm conviction that God is in charge, that the Holy Spirit should be part of every relationship, and that Jesus modeled what healthy relationship should look like. This week meditate on the relationships that were formed in the early life of the church (Acts 2:42-47). What were there priorities? What drove them? Who was their focus?

This weekend we will celebrate together at OFC with our Annual Small Group kickoff Picnic. This all church event will be a great time to build relationships, have a good time with your church family, and possibly connect with a small group if you are not connected already.

I will be there. I hope you are as well!

Blessings,
Pastor David

James and Jesus

2011-08-24T13:34:00.002-04:00

It is thought that James, the writer of the New Testament letter, was the brother of Jesus. Whether he was or not is uncertain but we know that his letter is amazingly similar to the direct teachings of Christ! Let’s look at how James' teachings were right in line with the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus gave and you can find in Matthew chapters 5-7:

Being Friends with Vision

2011-07-25T12:47:00.002-04:00

Some folks have asked for the sermon notes from this last week. I preached a sermon based on the address that the General Superintendent of the Evangelical Friends Church- Eastern Region, Dr. John Williams, delivered to the Yearly Meeting delegates on July 18, 2011. If you were not at OFC on Sunday this is your opportunity to catch what you missed.

“Vision with action in the context of dependency on Christ brings about renewal”

Be part of something NEW!

A) We are New Creations in Christ- 2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

B) We have a New Command in Christ

John 13:34-35

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

C) We are Ministers of the New Covenant -2 Corinthians 3:6

D) All in the context of Romans 15:20-21

My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says,

“Those who have never been told about him will see,
and those who have never heard of him will understand.”

Therefore, we should seek newness through:
1) The Local Church Body- “Each church should seek to launch 4 new fresh initiatives this next year”

a) For Orange Friends this means:

1. Next Generation Ministry- Children’s Ministry, becoming debt free, facility upkeep/stewardship

2. Parenting class in the Fall 2011, Capital campaign Fall 2011, FCA camp this week (July 25-28)

2) The Surrounding Community

(This is where missional living begins! “Everyday Christians being missionaries in their everyday lives” Matthew 28:18-20 “as you are going”)

a) See a Need, Fill a need!

b) Would you skip church to serve others? What about the entire congregation skipping church to serve others?

3) The Region in which you live and worship

a) Get involved with ministries like CRACK House ministries

b) Partnership with Central Ohio Evangelical Friends Churches- Church planting! Let’s plant 10 churches by the year 2020!

4) Global missions

Know our specific mission field better- Evangelical Friends Missions International (http://friendsmission.com/ )

6 Focused Dreams for the EFC-ER

#1 That every church will be attractional and missional
#2 That every believer will be a contagious , spiritually transformed witness
#3 That every church will grow as a sending church- sending out pastors, missionaries, and disciple makers into the market place
#4 That our churches will multiply in people and ministry- engaging weekly 20,000 or more who love to worship, study, and serve (we presently have 16,000 in average attendance)
#5 That every church will grow in outreach giving - locally, regionally, globally- giving away a tithe or more of the local church income

This includes Great Commission Budget, mission fields, church plants (10 by 2020), youth/young adults

#6 That our EFC movement will be radically revived so that the "radical message of sin and grace and the cross will become more powerful and central"

Yearly Meeting

2011-07-20T16:04:00.000-04:00

Hebrews 12:1-3
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (NIV)

Yesterday, the worship team had the amazing opportunity to lead worship for the last session at Yearly Meeting. It was amazing to see so many people from so many different churches worshiping together. During the recording time of the service, the recorded pastors and Christian workers got together to sing in one unified choir the hymn “Bless the Lord, Oh My Soul”. What an amazing opportunity and example for us all. After all the business meetings, these leaders came together with one purpose – to Glorify The Living God! I was overwhelmed with joy and this verse came to mind.

The Message says “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”

Over the course of church history there have been changes, countless times of struggle and victory. Over all of this has been and always will be a God who is in control, a faithful God who knows what race we are pressing through and sees the finish line. So today, take heart because even though the race is hard, the end result is worth it. And you are not alone. Let’s come together and consider what God is doing today.

A Story to Tell

2011-06-08T14:47:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite memories as a child was when my brothers and I were tucked in to bed each night and our father would read us a story. If there was a night he had forgotten we would quickly remind him and beg for another story to be read. We loved it so much we would ask for the same book to be read again and again until he finally would pronounce the end and the lights would go out. Even after the lights went out there was an ongoing story from that book that would continue to play in our young minds. Imagination would win over the moment and the story would take on new life.

We are all drawn to a good story. Our whole lives are spent in relating to one another as we string one story with another. Think about the last few times you had the opportunity just to visit with a friend. Was the conversation filled with story? What about around the water cooler at work or in between classes at school… are we filled with one story telling experience after another? We were created for the narrative of life!

The Bible is almost completely narrative. It is not only a grand story of God’s interacting with His creation but this greater narrative is made up of many personal, individual, and interesting stories of life. Each one represents real people in a real time with real hurts and pains and real blessings and victories. Each one speaks of God’s story in history.

You have a story. This story is not just a short boring tweet of how you ordered a latte at Starbucks or that you just ran 2 miles tracked by your Nike iPod sensor. It goes deeper than, “You’ll never guess what happened to me the other day!” Your story is the story of how God is seeking and experiencing you and how you are seeking and experiencing Him! Every day and in every way. Your narrative is God’s narrative. God’s narrative is your narrative.

With this being said… recognize, tell and celebrate the “God story” you possess. Recognize how He is present in all things. Tell others of His movement in your life. Celebrate before God that He is present. You have a story to tell that others need to hear. You have a God who loves you passionately that deserves the glory that telling your story brings Him.

What is your story? Who do you need to share your “God Story” with today?

-Pastor David

Dusty Shoes

2011-05-27T10:12:00.003-04:00

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” - Acts 20:24

I started running again these last couple of weeks and I found out really quickly that I am nowhere close to where I used to be in endurance. I took a couple of the colder winter months off and now, running feels like a completely new activity to me. As I trudge on, I find my muscles fighting to find the place they used to be, my lungs aching to find the freedom they once knew, and worst of all, my brain trying to find the focus and endurance spirit it once knew!

It reminds me of sometimes when I get into a funk in my spiritual walk. If I take a break for even a day from my spiritual discipline and meeting with God, I find that the enemy will find any way to tear down my spiritual muscles and add on a layer of FAT! (Fat meaning junk that I just don’t need in my life – sin, depression, fear, etc.) IT’S TIME TO GET MY RUNNING SHOES OUT AGAIN!

Galatians 5

"You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty."

Yeah he will!

And don’t forget we are not alone in this friends!!

Hebrews 12

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Pray with me.

Father, I want you. I want to fix my eyes on you. Father help me dust off my running shoes. Take away this layer of crud that is holding me down and help me to pursue a life worthy of the calling you have given me! AMEN

As you continue in this race I will be praying for you if you will pray for me.

Let me know how I can be praying for you today… Email me at sierra@orangefriendschurch.org

Want more information about how you can get connected with other racers? Visit us at www.orangefriendschurch.org

What Now?

2011-04-25T09:26:00.002-04:00

Do you ever wonder what happened with the disciples after Jesus rose from the dead? Not right after the resurrection because we see that they interacted with the risen Christ in different ways and places (I Corinthians 15:3-7; Matthew 28:16-20; Luke 24; John 20 & 21). Not 50 days later as Pentecost occured because we have that incredible and exciting story in Acts 2 (and the growth of the early church through the rest of the book of Acts). I mean with each man and women that just experienced following Jesus as teacher and leader and now having witnessed, experienced,.... and being thrown head-long into... the death and resurrection of Jesus!
What were they feeling as they went to bed at night? What were their emotions as they contemplated what it meant to "wait for the promise", "go into all the world", or "feed my sheep"?
Did Thomas have little doubts come up in this interim period between resurrection visits and Holy Spirit filling? Did Peter kick himself for denying Jesus with the benefit of hindsight? Did John build on a mother-in-law suite for Mary in obedience to Jesus request to care for His mother?
Have you had those moments where you have just experienced something incredible from God but you can't quite fully explain it? Have you just celebrated the risen savior but you find yourself back in your cubicle of life wondering how this all fits together?
Well, we have the benefit of the disciples hindsight. We know what happens as the story unfolds. Because we have this insight we can deal with the "day after" in victory. We have the benefit of knowing how to live this resurrected life that extends beyond an annual trek to church and family lunches and egg hunts.
Today, the day after "the big day", resolve to live the resurrected Christ through every thing you do and say. This is a commitment to living out Romans 10:9 "...confess with you mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved." This is not a single isolated event but an ongoing confessing from our mouth, an ongoing making Him Lord, an ongoing believing that God became man and died for our sins and has risen from the dead! This is Monday morning stuff!
What about you? do you have Easter Celebration hangover? Do you feel like you are in the "interim" between Resurrection and Pentecost? How do you confess and believe 24/7/365 rather than just once a year or even just on Sundays?

*A tool that may help you live this resurrected life are the daily devotions based on the Sermons at Orange Friends Church. You can find these at http://www.orangefriendschurch.org/devotions.html

Am I Connected or Disconnected?

2011-04-19T16:06:00.005-04:00

"No man is an Island".... how many times have you heard that?
Well, the truth in that statement hits home more times than not in our lives. I cannot tell you how many times I have tried to launch out on my own to find that I really need people and, ultimately, I need God.
I cannot sing with Frank that "I did it my way!" and feel good about the results. I would rather chime in with "I did it with others" and "I did it God's way".
We were made for connecting with others and with God. We were given this "relationship gene" that drives us towards one another. We have a God shaped hole in our lives that only He can fill.
What about you? Have you experienced this longing for genuine and authentic relationships? Have you considered what it must be like to have a true relational connection with God that transcends "religious" activity or just being a "good" person?

Let me know what you are thinking.

No Turning Back

2011-04-06T13:00:00.001-04:00

Sticking by your choices can be a challenge. We all “waffle” in different decisions in life. Especially big choices like where to go out to eat when with your spouse. “Where do you want to go?” ,“Oh I don’t know where do you want to go?” , “No, really, where do you want to go?”, and on and on it goes. Well, actually, there are bigger choices.

There is a classic song, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”, that affirms a solid choice. This is the most important decision of your life. The chorus ends with “no turning back, no turning back”. Have you turned back? Either consciously or unconsciously. How have you stayed focused on the path ahead?

Consider a life of “no turning back”:

• Daily renew your path towards Jesus. This includes a deliberate conversation with God that says, “Today is Your day, Oh, God”

• Balance your time between other followers of Jesus and those who have yet to choose this path. Being around other disciples will help with encouragement and accountability. Being around those who are not yet will allow you to be salt and light like others were for you before you became a Christ follower.

• Restore your love for Scripture. If you never had a true love for scripture, plead with God until you get this passionate abandon for His Word.

• Worship daily. Fully engage in Corporate Worship. No turning back is the act of running to God even if you see things that will trip you up on the path. Run, and Run hard after Him in worship.

• Live as Jesus did. Love as Jesus does. Hope for things Jesus will do in the future.

What do you think? How do you follow Jesus with a “no turning back” attitude? What else would you add to the list above?

“No turning back” with you,

Pastor David

Are You Giving Your Best to God?

2011-03-24T15:36:00.003-04:00

Romans 12:1 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." Malachi 1:8 "And when you offer the blind as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, is it not evil?..."

What are we offering God today?

This verse struck me as I enter into my work exhausted. I woke up this morning with a headache and a back ache and an everything ache. I got my coffee and started the list-making in my head of everything that I needed to do. “OK, so eat breakfast, squeeze in God time, work out, lessons, more lessons, planning time, and if I have the energy at the end of the day, maybe I will stay awake long enough to do a little Bible reading.”

Does this sound familiar? And this is from a person without kids! I can’t imagine what the schedule of a working mom or dad looks like, (actually I can because I have friends who share), but today these verses struck me and I was convicted in my heart about my complaining. By dreading our day we are not giving God a worthy sacrifice. By complaining we are not worshiping in spirit and in truth with everything we do. Then what are we working for? Are we working for the treasures of this earth or are we working for a greater treasure in heaven?

Matthew 6:19-20 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

We work for God. Not just me…. Not just the Pastor. YOU! We work for God as an act of worship. So offer God your pleasing sacrifice today.

Sierra

Spring has....... uh, not quite

2011-03-11T16:09:00.005-05:00

I was just enjoying the sunshine and mild "Spring is coming soon" kind of weather when all of the sudden I woke up this morning and see snow covering the ground! Don't get me wrong. I love Winter. I love snow. But I get to the point toward the end of each season where I get a little excited for the next one to come. For me, Ohio weather is perfect because each season is so distinguishable from the one before and the one following.

What other areas in my life do I "anticipate" something the way I do the seasons changing? Even bigger I suppose is the anticipation of new phases of my kids growing up... you know, first steps and first words turn into a drivers license, first dates, and graduation. I anticipated each date with my wife when we were first together and now I anticipate growing old side by side as we learn everyday what it means to be married to your best friend.

I would have to say that following Jesus is full of anticipation. I anticipate learning new things about Him, getting together with others to worship God, and what exactly life will be like after this present life is through. Following Jesus is not always a "bed of roses". Let's be honest that when we mess up we may have hard time "anticipating" God's reaction. Or when life has given us a raw deal and disappointment it is not exactly peaches and creme.

But if I were really honest, I would say that even with life's disappointments (self-inflicted and outside of my control) I anticipate the love and hope that Jesus has to offer in the midst of the valleys and the storms. It is this very attitude that helps keep me centered whether it is a "dark Winter" or a "fresh Spring" kind of day in my soul.

What about you? Do you anticipate spending time with God privately and publicly? What are the roadblocks to anticipation?

Unified

2011-02-24T15:06:00.002-05:00

Psalm 133

How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

Unity- Agreement- Harmony- Accord- Unison- Union – Concord- Unanimity

One of the greatest things that God desires for His people is to live in peace and unity. He says that when there is unity in the church He WILL bestow His blessing in that place.

1 Corinthians 1:9-12

God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ."

I was researching how to accomplish such unity with a family of such different personalities, job areas, and goals in life. I came across a devotion by Joe Medway. (I can’t take credit for this)

Unity requires several things
1. LOWLINESS
= Humbleness and Humility; we have to walk in humility in our lives.

2. MEEKNESS
= Gentleness; enduring all things with an even temper, tender, free from naughty self-sufficiency, (meeting one’s own needs)
Tenderness of Spirit. We realize who God is. We can walk with meekness towards people if we have the heart of Christ.
The church cannot keep its unity if the heart of Christ is not living in the hearts of the people.

3. FORBEARING ONE ANOTHER
= To bear up, hold up, endure, bear with each other, forgiving one another.

4. LOVE
= The uniting bond of perfectness. There can be no unity evidenced outside of love. Binds together; completeness has reached its full and intended end.

These are things I am trying to instill in my heart for my family, my marriage, and my church family. These are the things that will produce unity and spiritual growth.

Pray on these things and join us this Sunday morning at 10:45am for our ALL CHURCH WORSHIP!

-Sierra Stephanoff

Facebook Parenting

2011-02-01T15:49:00.002-05:00

It can be very interesting to throw out a random question to people to hear their responses. Some answers make us laugh, some make us think, and some answers may raise our blood pressure a bit!

I asked my Facebook friends a pointed question last week and here are some of the responses:

What has been the most effective parenting tool you have used? Or that your parents used with you?

Following through with punishments! -Kathy

To some degree I'll agree w/ Kathy and additionally; admitting to your child when you goofed and asking for forgiveness. -Bruce

errr....I guess I should have said discipline instead of punishments....punishments sounds kinda harsh....but tomato/tomatoe. lol :) But also following through with promises and rewards! :)
-Kathy

The "rod" ;) Truthfully, open communication and leading by example has been the mainstay for us. Kids will outgrow our "authority", but the influence we have on their lives can last a lifetime if we live worthy of their honor and respect. PRAYER is the foundation, and loving Jesus and living openhandedly with each other is key. -Barb

When my parents failed me, it mattered that I knew they loved me. So, expressing love is very important. -Kim

When they are little: obedience, as they grow older: obedience + dialogue...I'm assuming as they grow through HS, there will be lots and lots more dialogue! -Chris

Don’t coddle and tell your kids every time they do something that it’s great, be truthful about it. If they stink at something let em know. U won’t be doing them any favors by always tellin them how great they are if they’re not. -Marc

Eat broccoli. Go on long ride. Lock windows. Problem solved. -Ray

Working on having an honest and truthful relationship. Sometimes that gains the most respect, and if you are honest with your kids- they will learn that it is ok to be honest with you. Then the trust issue simply follows...... -Kim

Wait till your father gets home? -Nancy

LOL to "wait till your father gets home"!! I must of heard that one a zillion times growing up.....it must have worked, cuz I turned out ok: P -Kathy

Sounds like a good title for a sermon too . . . -Nancy

I'm not a parent, but I work with kids and teens so I see the goods and bads of parenting. The best that I can come up with is to be the parent. Parents are the one that make the rules, not the kids. Parents are the ones that are there to train and guide their children. Don't think that teachers and church volunteers/workers are the ones in charge of that, they are just there to reiterate the teachings from home. I hope that makes sense! Also open communication is huge tool! "I don't know," "I don't care," & "Because I said so" are not answers to all of life's issues. -Molly

"Praying with & for them & allowing them to hear that. Moms In Touch was very instrumental in our lives in their growing up years. Holding to your godly standards, not Hollywood's (i.e., movie ratings), how they dress & talk.....No compromise!" -Judy

Love em even when you don't want to, that's why love is such a precious gift -Alex

Both parents working as a team to raise up their children. It doesn't work very well when one is the parent and one is the buddy! -Ina Jean

What about you? What do you think is effective parenting?

What has God said in His Word to help us with this area of our lives?

Have a great week,
Pastor David

A Surprise Invitation

2011-01-20T17:37:00.001-05:00

Worship had just ended and Wendy came directly for us. She put out her hand and introduced herself and her husband. As we had typical introductory words she asked something that I really did not expect. Wendy said, “Have you guys been invited to a small group yet? Would you come to ours?” It was our first Sunday at this church!

Theresa and I have visited many churches over the years. Mostly when on vacation but this time we were visiting churches after moving to a new area because of work. I was not the pastor at a church but we were looking to be regular attendees. That morning we decided that this was the church for us! Of all the churches we explored, most were similar in many ways but this church was set apart. This one was different because Wendy and her husband David saw a new family and did not hesitate to extend an invitation to a small group that was a very important part of their own lives.

Good small group life has that effect on people. Good small group life is about worship and applying the Bible to everyday life but the most important component are relationships! Healthy relationships invite authentic worship of God because inhibitions can be set aside in the midst of caring friends. Healthy relationships encourage growth in the Word of God due to accountability, grace-filled connections and mutual love for one another.

We ended up attending David and Wendy’s small group. We formed strong relationships that are still evident today. We shared life together. Interestingly enough, we found that the DNA of that church was to value small group life. It showed through people like Dave and Wendy who invited freely and often to their small group. It is no wonder that there were many new groups formed in this church because of this grow and multiply mentality.

What about you? Are you engaged in a small group? Are you crossing the sanctuary to invite that new person to something that is a very important part of your life?

-Pastor David

There is So Much More!

2011-01-06T13:35:00.003-05:00

Last night I had a dream. The only part of it I remembered was a young child walking up to me and asking “Miss Sierra, Can I show you something?” The child took out five marbles and counted then one by one, then stood back with an accomplished look. I clapped my hands and said “that’s awesome; now let me show you something, there is so much more!”

I woke up and had a moment where I couldn’t just let it go. Was God speaking to me? The answer was yes as my mind started to race. I remembered all the things He has taken us as a church through in the past year; the plays, the move from the Chapel to the Worship Center, the worship, the testimonies, and the Word. I felt pretty good knowing how God has transformed lives and we got to be a part of it. But, then I heard in a clear voice (in my head of course, otherwise I would have been a little freaked out.) “That’s awesome; now let me show you something, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE!”

Mark 10:13-15
The Little Children and Jesus

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Quiet your mind and think about how a little child would learn. Sitting at their parent or teacher’s feet like a sponge, taking in as much information as they can. Now think about how big God is and how small we are. How can we not humble ourselves and sit at the Master’s feet and soak in any information we can. Sometimes we are tempted to stand back feeling accomplished and stop looking for new information. This year let’s make it a point everyday to listen to the voice of God who IS speaking saying, “NOW let me show you something, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE!”

-Sierra

Commissioned for Christmas

2010-12-09T15:08:00.001-05:00

Matthew 28:19-20

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

One of my students is singing a song by Casting Crowns which has been ringing through my ears this morning. God is with us! Many times in the business of this season we get so obsessed with the decorations and presents and family and schedule and…… did I get the cookies out of the oven and who did I forget out of all the cousins! Remembering that Jesus is the reason for the season is important, but even more important at this time of year is that Jesus is not just a baby in a manger. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life, and the Hope for all Nations. He has promised to be with us as we celebrate His love with family and presents and cookies. He has promised that if we seek Him this season, He will show up and He wants to do a work in you today.

Sierra Stephanoff

Thank God it is Thanksgiving!

2010-11-24T13:24:00.001-05:00

Aren’t you glad it is Thanksgiving? I mean, if we jump back a couple hundred years we wouldn’t have NFL football, the Macy’s Parade, or Black Friday. If we were celebrating Thanksgiving in the 16th century (reported to have been the earliest evidence of the occasion being celebrated in St. Augustine, Florida) or in the 19th century (when the holiday began to be regularly celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November in the US) we might not have had so many distractions, and would have had less, so we would be more thankful. The Encyclopedia Britannica claims that the Turkey Day in the US and Canada is secular in nature today although it has “religious origins”. I suspect that they are correct. I don’t like it but I am not naïve. I am aware of the many distractions that can hinder people from the “thankful” part of Thanksgiving and the “who are we thankful to” part of Thanksgiving. I am aware of the “curse of the abundance” that can make us feel self-sufficient and less willing to recognize Divine Sovereignty. I am aware that the world has no interest in recognizing the Almighty but reserves greater admiration for parades that end with Santa, Lions and Cowboys on the gridiron, and contributing to retail financial health.

But we are in the world but not of this world. Which means we are thankful to the Creator of all things, the Sustainer of life and the Giver of all good gifts while rooting on our favorite team, seeing floating Snoopy and waking up at 2am for “the deal that will never be here ever again”. We are a peculiar people. We choose to not just recognize but to adore and express our gratitude toward God.

So I thank God for Thanksgiving. You and I join a long line of believers through the centuries who are caused to pause for a day and reflect on His goodness. We then join a great cloud of witnesses each Sunday celebrating a “mini-thanksgiving” (minus the cranberry sauce and football and turkey-induced nap). Finally, we can wake each morning like many that have gone before us and like many around the globe today with gratitude in our hearts and thanksgiving on our lips!

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! Scream at the TV for your team, clap for the 3-story Barney in Manhattan, shop till you drop and all the while give thanks to God for all things!

Pastor David

Holy Blessings!

2010-10-22T15:26:00.001-04:00

1 peter 4:14-16

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Recently I have been taking some flak for being a Christian and living in a Christian relationship. People who are in the world don’t get it! How could you dedicate your life to something you can’t see? How could you set boundaries in your life, on your habits, and in your relationship? Doesn’t is inconvenience you? It seems like such a hassle!

The answer is yes, of course. It is hard to walk a Christian life! No one said it would be easy. It’s not fun to be made fun of for the choices you make, and it is not easy to commit to boundaries.

But, can I tell you how much fun it is when God says, “I see you, my dear one. Guess what I have in store for you!”

Today for instance things are just going really well. I got to have a conversation with a friend that I have been praying for for a while. I got to share my faith in a real way and God answered a big prayer for me. Even though my trials are still there and there is always going to be a mountain, God is allowing me to climb. I have the blessed assurance that He has my back the whole way. He is faithful ALWAYS. He desires to bless me!

Praise you and you alone God!

-Sierra

Ballparks and Bratwurst

2010-10-06T16:19:00.000-04:00

The baseball playoffs are upon us! I love baseball! There are so many "seasons" within a season of baseball: spring training, pre-All-Star game, post-All-Star game, post season. And there are many senses of baseball: the smell of fresh cut grass, the look of a good ballpark, the taste of a stadium brat. In fact, I can "taste" baseball through every aspect of the game....ok, ok, I know enough of the baseball talk, right? Well, I also love the "taste" of other areas of life. Like ....Missions. Missions? Yes... a Taste of Missions is when you experience what God is doing through His people throughout the world. The living out of the Gospel can be seen, heard, felt, smelled and tasted... yes, tasted... both globally and locally.

Sunday night the 10th of October is the annual Taste of Missions event at Orange Friends Church. We will have the privilege of tasting missions through meeting missionaries that live out the Gospel in many cultures and context. If you come to this event you can literally "taste" missions. There will be a huge table of food representing many of the mission fields that will be represented at this event.

So come on out Sunday night. Doors open at 5:30pm and we will wrap-up around 8:00pm. Come taste what God is doing in Ohio, Haiti, India, Romania, and much more. I hope you come and watch some amazing missionaries and experience a belly full of God working in our world!

Blessings,

Pastor David

God of Provision, Protection, and Direction

2010-09-22T16:36:00.002-04:00

Genesis 26:24
That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."

At school this week we are talking about the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible). I had been through these books over and over again but each time I find a new jewel of knowledge. God is constantly showing me more and more about His character and how He arranges history for His glory and better yet arranges MY history to glorify Him.

Throughout Genesis, God is constantly reminding His followers of their history and how He has provided in the past and will provide in the future. Abraham had to trust God through impossible circumstances for an extremely long time, though humiliation, and against all odds. God promised him descendants even when there was no foreseeable way for this to happen. Finally when Abraham acknowledged Him and believed what God had promised, He brought it to pass. God said I will provide, I will protect you and your family, and look out here to the land I will give you. Abraham trusted Him and it was “credited to him as righteousness.” God is Truly a God of Provision, Protection and Direction!

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph all endured great trials and had to wait to see what God had promised come to pass. God always comes through! IN HIS WAY. IN HIS TIME.

This week I am learning about how God is always faithful and if we trust in Him, He lets us in on it. I encourage you to dig deep into our rich history of God’s faithfulness this week!

-Sierra

Be Fruity

2010-08-25T17:47:00.004-04:00

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:22-23

Have you ever seen those “hybrid” trees that produce apples, pears, peaches, etc., all at the same time? That is amazing. I have never grown them myself… in fact, I am a little bit of a skeptic. But I am still amazed at how they can get a tree to produce something it is not normally supposed to produce. Ultimately, the “laws of nature” rule the day… an apple tree produces apples and a pear tree produces pears. The pear tree does not say ‘Oh my, I produced a pear! AHHHH!’ The apple tree does not produce bananas in frustration! At their core, a pear tree is a pear tree and an apple tree is an apple tree! This is not very profound, but why do we as Christians seem to struggle in producing the fruit of the Spirit when it should start at our very core?

Lesson #1 is this…. Be who God has planted you to be. This means putting off the “old man” and taking on the new. Walk in the Spirit – which is to say – walk in who you have been created to be in Christ.

Lesson #2… Being more loving, joyful, peaceful, etc., is less about trying harder and more about connecting with the source of all life… Jesus Christ. That is not to say that we need to “work out our salvation”, but we should rest in His sustaining power and stop striving.

Like an onion, there are many more layers to this. Maybe the simple lesson for today is to allow fruit to grow out of your core. If you do not like the type of fruit your life is producing, allow the Holy Spirit to renew your core.

Have a fruitful day!

Pastor David

Tiny Church

2010-08-13T14:48:00.003-04:00

Psalm 46:10 (New International Version)

10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

I wanted to share with you my second favorite part of my vacation to Arizona. The first of course was when Andrew proposed! But before that, my future Mother and Father-in-law took us to one of the smallest churches in the United States. Along US 95 there is a tiny church built by a farmer in honor of his wife. The sign on the outside of the church reads “Stop, Rest, Worship”. The church was about 7’ by 12’ with pews and a small pulpit. On the pulpit was a sign-in book. People from all over had written in prayers for healing and words of encouragement for weary travelers.

God’s presence was in this tiny church. As you enter, you can almost feel the stories of the people who wrote in the sign-in book and the prayers that had been lifted up there. I was encouraged by the simplicity of this church. There wasn’t a great deal of detail put into the construction of this building, but God showed up there!

Where is your Tiny Church? Is there a sacred place you have set aside to reconnect with God on a daily basis? I encourage you this week to find a quiet place where you can be still and listen to the whisper of the Heart of God.

-Sierra

Casting Your Cares

2010-07-30T12:52:00.003-04:00

When I was a kid, my family and I went camper shopping. We searched for hours for the perfect pop-up camper. We walked into one and I got super excited. I brought my sisters in and showed them what I had found. This pop up camper had a paper towel holder built into the kitchen! Something so insignificant to most people, but since we didn’t have one at home, for some reason it made this camper THE ONE!! My parents eventually bought it for other reasons, but they still remind me about the time I got so excited about the paper towel holder.

This story although silly, says a lot about who I am. For some reason it’s the little things in life that get me the most excited, especially when God comes though on those little things to make something perfect just for me. The things in life that most people find insignificant, God brings to my attention and whispers in my ear, “that was just for you”. This not only brightens my day, but increases my faith. God loves me for me and created me so He could share His love with me.

Last night I had a terrible anxiety dream about the wedding. Nothing was done and we were hours away from the ceremony. I woke up to the sound of my cell phone going off. It was my sister, so honestly I pushed ignore and went back to sleep. I couldn’t fall back to sleep though, so I called her back. She wanted to know if we could get together to go over wedding details and she wanted me to make a list of ways she could help. She also reminded me that I’m not alone in this and not to stress out. This made my day! God really does care about everything in my life and desires all of us to cast our cares upon Him.

^{Psalm 55}

²² Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.

If you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious today, I encourage you to read the rest of Psalm 55. God really does care about the things in your life, as big or as small as they are; He desires for you to fully rely on Him.

Sierra Hanna
Orange Friends Church
Director of Worship Ministries

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of... our Birthright!

2010-07-14T21:58:00.001-04:00

As a citizen of the USA we have certain rights and privileges… Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. We have the freedom to speak out, carry a gun, to worship whoever we want or no one at all, gather with others without an oppressive government coming in and arresting us…. These are our rights because we were born citizens of the USA. Some of my dear friends enjoy many of these privileges as a visitor to this nation. Some of my friends have gone through the legal process to become a citizen of this great nation and enjoy all the full rights of a natural born citizen.

Citizenship in God’s economy is not naturally born but it is supernaturally given. We cannot visit the kingdom of God for a short time to enjoy its rights and privileges and then return to our natural land. We do not need to get a temporary stay, wait 7 years, jump through hoops, and say a pledge or go through a swearing in ceremony for this supernatural citizenship.

In the Old Testament we read about the Patriarchs (Genesis 12-50) and the “birthright blessing” the father would impart to his firstborn son. In a similar way our heavenly Father has imparted a “birthright blessing” that we cannot obtain on our own effort. This is a blessing of provision, of spiritual victory and of relational healing and peace.

What is our birthright?

1. God created us and knows us. Psalm 139:13-16

2. God loves us. Psalm 139: 17-18, John 3:16

3. God has a plan for you. Jeremiah 29: 11-14

4. We must respond to our birthright. Jeremiah 29:12-14, Proverbs 3:5-6, John 3:16

In light of this, we must recognize that we are in this world with an illegal status. Spiritual amnesty is the only answer for us. As a result, after we have accepted unearned favor into citizenship with all its rights and privileges we walk in a way that exemplifies a grateful citizen of the ultimate “land of the free and home of the brave”!

In His Grip,

Pastor David

Bringing Life into Focus

2010-07-02T11:51:00.003-04:00

I love to make fun of TV commercials. In fact, it’s one of the reasons I like to watch sports. The TV commercials are hilarious. Recently there was a product being advertised where there were five women around a rhino with blindfolds on. Each one can only feel what is in front of them and it was ridiculous. Then when the blindfolds were taken off, they said with a sigh and a giggle, “ooo, It’s a rhino.” I, on the other hand, would most likely have had another reaction involving screaming and running in the opposite direction.

I guess God uses everything around to try and teach me because it came to mind while I was praying this week. The enemy would love to keep your eyes only focused on the one thing that is in front of you and distract you from God’s bigger, better plan.

Genesis 15 talks about the covenant between Abraham and God. God knew that Abraham had no descendants and knew that it was a big deal in Abraham’s life. But, even as big as the problem was, God’s promise was bigger! “Look up at the heaven’s and count the stars, if indeed you can count them, so shall your offspring be.”

God made the impossible possible for Abraham because he was faithful and believed. In my life, I need a constant reminder of God’s bigger plan, the blessing he has given me, and the promises he has already put into action.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

Come join us Sunday morning as we continue exploring just how big and awesome our God is, and how he has been in control from the beginning.

Sierra Hanna
Orange Friends Church
Director of Worship Ministries

Time is running out... what then?

2010-06-08T12:03:00.003-04:00

⁴ “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.
Remind me that my days are numbered—
how fleeting my life is.
⁵ You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.
My entire lifetime is just a moment to you;
at best, each of us is but a breath.” Psalm 39:4-5

Our Days are numbered… 3 people die every second in the world…180 die every minute…11,000 die every hour…250,000 people go to heaven or hell everyday!

People have been thinking of what happens after this life since the beginning of time. In light of this, there are a lot of misunderstandings and fears that people carry. Well, there is no need for ignorance or anxiety.

“There is no need to be worried by facetious people who try to make the Christian hope of 'Heaven' ridiculous by saying they do not want to 'spend eternity playing harps'. The answer to such people is that if they cannot understand books written for grown-ups, they should not talk about them.”

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

The Bible provides for us enough information to form a good theology of Heaven and the “after-life”. What does the future hold? (use the following as a Bible study or small group lesson on Heaven)

1. Our Final Destination

a. New Heaven and New Earth and New Jerusalem –Revelation 21:1-8

b. Three Parts but One unit. A coming together…

i. Ephesians 1:10 “to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.”

ii. The ultimate Goal… Redemption

iii. God with Man= He will come to us and dwell with us!

2. A Physical and Spiritual Reality

“Aim at Heaven and you will get earth ‘thrown in’: aim at earth and you will get neither.” CS Lewis

a. New Glorified Bodies- Romans 6:5, Philippians 3:21, John 5:28-29

b. Restored Eden- Genesis 2:9, Rev. 2:7, 22:2

c. Revelation 21:1-8… This is Physical and Spiritual!!!!

3. An immediate and intermediate place upon our death…

a. Luke 23:43- the thief on the cross

b. Philippians 1:23-“I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;…”

c. 2 Corinthians 5:8- ^“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

4. Here Comes the Judge

“Christians who did the most for the present world are those who thought the most of the next.” CS Lewis

1^st … A Judgment of Faith (Salvation)- Revelation 20:11-13

2^nd … A Judgment of Works – For those whose names are in the Lambs Book of Life…Romans 14:10-12, II Corinthians 5:10, I Corinthians 3:10-14

There you go… all cleared up! J

Well, maybe not, but I hope this little study helps you become more informed and more curious about where we will spend eternity.

See ya on the other side!!!

Pastor David

Chewing on the Cud

2010-06-01T13:27:00.003-04:00

This weeks blog by Sierra Hanna.

I had an interesting vision the other day as I was walking around the farm while visiting my parents in Holmes County. I was stewing over a “my timing verses God’s timing” issue and decided to ask God to teach me something through this.

I looked into the field and saw a cow chewing on some grass. A cow will chew on the same piece of grass for hours before swallowing. Then later the cow will bring it back up to chew on it some more. I know... it's kind of gross but... eating is a process in order to receive all of the nutrients in the grass. ( Don’t ask why I was thinking about the digestive system of a cow)

Psalm 139 1-12
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.
5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

“Investigate my life” The Message says “my life is an open book to you.” It goes on to talk about how God sees everything and darkness is light to him. There is no hiding from God. Even the smallest emotion or deepest darkest secret is known by God. When you open up your life to Christ, expect him to do surgery! He can see things that are deep inside that need to be brought out in order to make your life, your relationships, and your walk better.

Like this cud... even if you have been on your journey for a while, God can and will teach you something new about yourself, your calling, or his character. Even when you think he is done working on you for a while, he will bring up new things for you to chew on. It has been so beneficial in my life to sit every morning and invite God into my day opening up my hands to his plan. Then, when I least expect it, I find myself in the middle of a lesson on how to break down another wall, worship more freely, be more forgiving, and ultimately grow close to the father.

God wants to draw us closer to his glory to make our lives better. HE wants our relationships to be healthier. He wants to free us up from bitterness, shame, and fear. This honors Him! This week I encourage you to sit and listen to what new thing God is doing to grow you. It never stops and the blessings are amazing!!!

Have a great week,
Sierra

Why I Believe in Satan

2010-05-24T14:31:00.006-04:00

The belief in the existence of Satan has come under quite a bit of scrutiny in the last several decades. Barna Research has found that nearly 60% of the people who identify themselves as Christians believe that Satan is not real but merely symbolic of evil in this world. Nearly another 10% are not sure who Satan is... these would be Beelzebub Agnostics :)
(See http://www.barna.org/barna-update/article/12-faithspirituality/260-most-american-christians-do-not-believe-that-satan-or-the-holy-spirit-exis)

Ephesians 6:12 states that we are in a spiritual battle. You have lost the battle already if you do not even believe that the enemy camp exist in reality. Denial is not victory for your side it is defeat.

I believe in a literal Devil and the spirit world of his minions:
1) Jesus believed in the existence of a literal Satan.
2) The parables that Jesus told were stories that do not need to be literally true. The temptation of Jesus in the wilderness is not a parable but told as a literal historic event.
3) Satan is dealt with in scripture with such specificity that we must take note of the intention of the text with his existence. Why waste our time on a fictional symbolic character when we have such detail and he has such a key role in the story of God?

Ok that is my top 3. I am not to saying that there is a demon under every rock but I am encouraging Christians to wake up to the spiritual realities of the world around them. The world you live in is about more than Starbucks, big box stores and your weekly dose of American Idol, The Office and 24! Reread Ephesians 6:12... just for the fun of it!

For the sake of space I will leave you with the main text that deal with "the old pitch fork and horned man". Enjoy your study of the Great Dragon!
Be diligent in your study. Be prayerful in your study.
The more you know the stronger your faith will be in the Word of God.

Biblical descriptions of Satan:

1. Lying spirit (1 Kings 22:22)

2. The adversary (1 Peter 5:8)

3. Evil spirit (1 Samuel 16:14)

4. Belial (2 Corinthians 6:15)

5. Kingdom of, to be destroyed (2 Samuel 23:6,7)

6. The power of darkness (Colossians 1:13)

7. The father of all lies ( John 8:44)

8. The liar ( John 8:44)

9. The murderer ( John 8:44)

10. Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15)

11. With the context of (Matthew 12:29;13:30; Luke 11:21,22; 1 John 3:8)

12. Our common enemy (Matthew 13:39)

13. The prince » Of this world ( John 12:31;14:30;16:11)

14. The prince » Of demons (Matthew 12:24)

15. The prince » Of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2)

16. The prince » Ruler of the darkness of this world (Ephesians 6:12)

17. The prince » Satan (1 Chronicles 21:1; Job 1:6; John 13:27; Acts 5:3;26:18; Romans 1)

18. The prince » The serpent (Genesis 3:4,14; 2 Corinthians 11:3)

19. The prince » The spirit that works in all disobedient people (Ephesians 2:2)

20. The prince » The Tempter (Matthew 4:3; 1 Thessalonians 3:5)

21. The prince » The god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4)

22. The prince » Unclean spirit (Matthew 12:43)

23. The prince » The wicked one (Matthew 13:19,38)

24. The ancient serpent (Rev. 12:9 and 20:2) the Dragon (Rev.20:2) and The Accuser of the brothers (Rev. 12:10)

History: Isaiah 14:12-15, Ezekiel 28:14-17

Will They Survive? Yes… With Your Help!

2010-05-18T10:16:00.005-04:00

I was so excited… I usually am about this time of year…the days are warmer and that means we can work outside, play outside, just be outside! So I went to the local big box store and bought seeds and plants for my soon to be bountiful garden. I brought it all home and threw it in the ground. The new seeds did great but within one week my tomato plants were hit by frost. They didn’t make it.

This reminds me about the parable that Jesus told of the sower. In this story seed was sown on 4 different types of soil (Matthew 13). Some made it some did not make it. Some of the plants in my garden are going to make it and some have died already. Jesus was making a point with this illustration of how some come to faith and fall away and some come and follow and grow and continue on the journey even through the bumps and the bruises of life.

Did you know that many people who become a Christian fall away in the first 3 months? Just like my tomato plants… the first frost comes and they are not prepared. Did you know I could have given my plants the chance to survive if I had covered them properly? If I had watched for the signs of a coming frost and taken action to help them make it through those early nights of being in this new garden space they would have made it. Pastor Grant Edwards, founder of First Steps ministries, asked the question, “Do you know exactly what to do to maximize the chances that a new believer will reach maturity in Christ?”

Well,… how about it? Do you know exactly what to do?

Most Christian (and many pastors) would say “No”.

We have an opportunity to learn a proven method that has worked well for 2000 years! It’s called discipleship. Discipleship is intentional on the early days of this new faith. Discipleship is one-on-one relationship. Discipleship is focused on the basics of the faith. Discipleship helps new and young Christians overcome temptations that they have not been used to resisting.

Orange Friends Church is committed to seeing people come to know Christ. But “conversion” is not enough! Making disciples is what we desire! (Matthew 28:18-20)

Because of this passion for discipleship we are training disciplers in a six week class starting Sunday, June 6th in the Courtyard room at 9:30am. We will be learning a specific and effective discipling process called “First Steps” (http://www.disciplinganother.com/). It is based on a 10 week one-on-one discipling curriculum. Don’t worry… we will give you all the training. You do not have to be a Bible Scholar or Theologian! You just have to love Jesus, love people and have a willing heart to help others move along towards maturity in Christ.

So, will you join me? Will you come along side those who need our help to make it through the first few days in a new garden? The door is open… walk through it!

If you have any questions or want more info… e-mail me. david@orangefriendschurch.org

Pastor David

The Wrath and The Mercy

2010-05-17T10:26:00.004-04:00

The Wrath of God is awesome and complete. Some do not like to deal with this aspect of God because it seems ugly and cruel. We don't mind the big flood because we didn’t know any of those people. In our ideal world everybody makes God’s mercy list except for people like Hitler, bin Laden and maybe people like Hugh Hefner or Paris Hilton. But there a key themes that go through the whole bible and God’s wrath is one of them. It is important for us to understand His wrath so that we can understand His sovereignty, his disdain for sin and His mercy and love.

My work in the yard (aka- David's wrath and mercy in his quarter acre kingdom!):

Things I hate and deserve my wrath: Poison Ivy, crab grass, dandelions, plants that have out-grown usefulness, black spots/aphids/grubs, hornets, wasp, bees, mosquitoes, snakes that bite, skunks, ground hogs, coyotes, bunnies (it’s ok… I am talking evil bunnies not cute fluffy bunnies!), deer, neighborhood dogs that tear up my flower beds.

Things I love and get my mercy: the smell of fresh dirt and fresh cut grass, rose plants in bloom, seeds popping up and the bounty that comes from them, the golf course look, humming, red, blue, song (birds), Chainsaws, relaxing in a comfortable chair with a cold drink after a hard day of wrath and mercy!

The Wrath and Mercy of God in His Kingdom:

Things God Hates and deserve His Wrath: Sin and all its by-products.

Things God Loves and get His Mercy: His Creation, the World, you, preserving you, protecting you, making a place for you in eternity after a short time of wrath and mercy.

For more good reading on the wrath and mercy of God see the book of Revelation. To hear the message this blog is based on go to http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/orange-friends-church-podcasts/id311369084 "Why does it end this way? Seals and Trumpets of the Book of Revelation"

Simple Observations

2010-05-11T10:44:00.003-04:00

Lord, through all the generations
you have been our home!
Before the mountains were born,
before you gave birth to the earth and the world,
from beginning to end, you are God.
Psalm 90:1-2

He is Lord.
I represent one generation. He has been here through ALL generations... what do I know?!
Home according to the great "Wiki" : "A home is a place of residence or refuge comfort. It is usually a place in which an individual or a family can rest and be able to store personal property. Most modern-day households contain sanitary facilities and a means of preparing food. Animals have their own homes as well, either living in the wild or in a domesticated environment. As an alternative to the definition of "home" as a physical locale, home may be perceived to have no physical definition--instead, home may relate instead to a mental or emotional state of refuge or comfort.There are certain cultures in which members lack permanent homes, such as with nomadic" What else can I say about that...He is our "home" and we are not "nomadic".
I was thinking that Mountains were pretty big but then the Psalm had to throw in Earth and World! WOW!
He is Eternal.
He is big but in His "big-ness" I am His. His thoughts are on me.
He is God. In all my victories. In all of my defeats. In all my manic days. In all my depressed days.
He is never surprised even when I am.

Snakes in the Grass

2010-04-20T13:05:00.004-04:00

I am presently in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Ahhhh... I love the Smoky Mountains. It is absolutely beautiful. The kids and I went on a hike this morning and went up to a high mountain lake and made our way around it. The lake trail is right off of "Rattlesnake trail" which takes one to "Rattlesnake" Summit and "Copperhead" Summit. Yes, we had to watch for snakes on the trail as they warm themselves in the sun. In fact, we were out about an hour and sure enough there was a big black snake on the trail. The trail lives up to its name. So the conversation with my kids started off with ... "don't pick up any long sticks... they may slither away!" and ended with "Isn't there a "Bunny Rabbit" trail around here?"
In Matthew 24 Jesus warned His disciples and us to watch out for those who are false prophets and deceivers in life. In fact, he said that times will get so difficult many Christians will be tricked into thinking that these liars are speaking the truth!
As you are walking this journey.... which is sometimes a difficult and strenuous walk... watch out for the snakes. Not every stick that is in the path should be picked up! It may eventually slither away!
How do you spot a snake on your hike?

Know the Word of God better each and every day. Seek Transformation not just Information.
Allow yourself to be accountable to others who are hiking the same path. I walked part of the Appalachian Trail with a friends when suddenly I stepped right beside a rattlesnake. After passing the snake I turned to warn my buddy who was fast approaching. This could of been a bad situation if he had not headed my accountability in order to keep him safe.
Be a person of prayerful obedience. Pray on all things and be open to the Holy Spirits moving in your life. When you live a Holy Spirit conscious life you are aware of the snakes that would like nothing more than to interrupt your journey.

Happy Hiking!
Pastor David

Focus for your Day...

2010-04-16T10:56:00.003-04:00

This is one of my favorite translations of this passage from Colossians 2:6-23 it is from the Message translation by Eugene Peterson. Enjoy!

^6-7My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.

^8-10Watch out for people who try to dazzle you with big words and intellectual double-talk. They want to drag you off into endless arguments that never amount to anything. They spread their ideas through the empty traditions of human beings and the empty superstitions of spirit beings. But that's not the way of Christ. Everything of God gets expressed in him, so you can see and hear him clearly. You don't need a telescope, a microscope, or a horoscope to realize the fullness of Christ, and the emptiness of the universe without him. When you come to him, that fullness comes together for you, too. His power extends over everything.

^11-15Entering into this fullness is not something you figure out or achieve. It's not a matter of being circumcised or keeping a long list of laws. No, you're already in—insiders—not through some secretive initiation rite but rather through what Christ has already gone through for you, destroying the power of sin. If it's an initiation ritual you're after, you've already been through it by submitting to baptism. Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as he did Christ. When you were stuck in your old sin-dead life, you were incapable of responding to God. God brought you alive—right along with Christ! Think of it! All sins forgiven, the slate wiped clean, that old arrest warrant canceled and nailed to Christ's cross. He stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets.

^16-17So don't put up with anyone pressuring you in details of diet, worship services, or holy days. All those things are mere shadows cast before what was to come; the substance is Christ.

^18-19Don't tolerate people who try to run your life, ordering you to bow and scrape, insisting that you join their obsession with angels and that you seek out visions. They're a lot of hot air, that's all they are. They're completely out of touch with the source of life, Christ, who puts us together in one piece, whose very breath and blood flow through us. He is the Head and we are the body. We can grow up healthy in God only as he nourishes us.

^20-23So, then, if with Christ you've put all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? "Don't touch this! Don't taste that! Don't go near this!" Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention? Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice.They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and ascetic. But they're just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important.

Enough Said!

Have a Great Day!

David

The End is Near!

2010-04-12T13:14:00.003-04:00

“The Earth is degenerating today. Bribery and corruption abound. Children no longer obey their parents, every man wants to write a book, and it is evident that the end of the world is fast approaching." an Assyrian tablet, c. 2800 BCE.

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." Charles Schultz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip. 4

"Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future." Niels Bohr physicist

"Jesus is coming soon...look busy!" bumper sticker

OK maybe it isn't ending today...but we never know...maybe...
Jesus said no one knows the hour or the day but we can keep our eyes open, our hearts ready and hands busy. This is not just a "Looking busy" but a genuine following heart after his. Jesus encourages us to persevere through difficulties, to stay focused on him during deception and to remain faithful through it all.
Read Revelation anew this month with a heart for worship and awe.

Authentic Love

2010-04-05T10:42:00.004-04:00

Jesus had key relationships: Martha, Peter, Mary Magdalene and John. Each of these profiles of friendship were unique unto themselves. These people walked, talked, loved and were loved by Jesus. Each of us may be similar in some way or another to one or more of these folks but ultimately they walked with Him. What they experienced is special, unique and will never be replicated.

But...

We do share the most important things in common...

the need for and ability to receive His ultimate love through the cross and resurrection. Each of these special people needed to choose to follow, repent and receive the grace and mercy provided through the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is what we share… We must do the same. Jesus Died and rose from the dead for them and for us.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

Time for a Fresh Start

2010-03-27T20:59:00.001-04:00

I love Spring time! Especially when I have the opportunity to get out in the woods on a hike. The smells of the outdoors, the green of the growth coming up in all directions, the trillium popping up from the forest floor-- now that is a God given gift. When the seasons change it reminds me of how everything has its time. When Spring comes it reminds me that there is a time for newness and fresh starts. Not only has God created this natural world with a time to have renewal but He has created us to have times of renewal spiritually and personally. I am glad Easter happens in the Spring time. It represents the ultimate time of renewal. If it were not for the reason behind Easter we have no true renewal! No cross... no recovery. No Resurrection from the dead for Jesus... no hope of new life for us. Just like there is no Spring time without the Winter Time-- there is no Resurrection without the Cross --there is no renewal without repentance-- no change without ....change.
Personally, you and I must have a daily renewal. Corporately, we must place ourselves in a position where newness and freshness will occur. On April 4th our church family will be celebrating the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ in our new Worship Center. This transition is an effort at worshiping more freely, opening the doors more widely and proclaiming his victory over death more clearly. Ultimately, we seek renewal! Do not allow another Easter to pass without seeking the Risen Savior, Jesus Christ. As a church family we will not allow any Easter to pass where we have not made clear to those around us why we have this hope, this wholeness, this love, this fresh start. May God richly bless you as we walk this journey with Him together.

Experiencing Life in Second Place

2010-02-15T19:48:00.002-05:00

www.iamsecond.com

Check out this wonderful site full of peoples stories of faith.
Encouraging stuff!

The Many Faces of Poverty

2009-10-06T14:46:00.002-04:00

This past week I spoke from the pulpit about caring for those who cannot care for themselves (if you did not hear this message go to www.orangefriendschurch.org and click on "Listen" for the Audio Gallery). Poverty has many faces. Here are some organizations who live this out. Find a way to get involved. You can make a difference.

C.R.A.C.K. HOUSE MINISTRIES

1910 Cleveland Ave, Columbus 43211

614-294-6061 www.CrackHouseMinistries.org

Contact: Chris Zeidner 614-354-6092

CZeidner@Columbus.RR.com

FAITH MISSION

315 E. Long St, Columbus 43215

614-224-6617

www.FaithMissionOfOhio.org

(feed/support homeless)

GLOBAL FUND

www.TheGlobalFund.org

(AIDS, TB, Malaria)

HEARTBEAT INT'L

665 E. Dublin-Granville Rd, Columbus, Oh 43229

614-885-7577 Fax 614-885-8746

Support@HeartbeatInternational.org

www.HeartbeatInternational.org

(Abortion- Pro-life)

KENYA RELIEF ORG.

1000 Sixth Ave S.E., Cullman, AL 35055

256-531-2535

www.KenyaRelief.org

PREGNANCY DECISION HEALTH CENTER

665 E. Dublin-Granville Rd, Columbus, Oh 43229

614-888-8774 Fax 614-888-3994

www.PDHC.org

(counsel pregnant women)

SALVATION ARMY

39 W. Winter St, Delaware 43015

740-363-9487

www.SalvationArmyUSA.org

STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN COLUMBUS

Central Ohio Rescue & Restore www.CentralOhioRescueAndRestore.org

Not For Sale Ohio www.NotForSaleOhio.Wordpress.com

Gracehaven House (shelter) www.GracehavenHouse.org

(young girls and women)

WORLD VISION

www.WorldVision.org

(Sponsor a Child)

The True Crime of an ACORN worker

2009-09-11T11:44:00.006-04:00

This last week a couple journalist released tapes from an undercover investigation of ACORN, a national organization aimed at helping low income citizens. (details at htt p://www.biggovernment.com/ )This undercover investigation revealed that workers from ACORN were helping the undercover journalist open a brothel!
This is wrong at so many levels but the part that is sad to the core of all that is moral, godly and righteous is that the ACORN workers did not blink when asked about covering up the use of 13-15 year old girls who would be brought into the country illegally from El Salvador for prostitution. The exploitation of girls and boys for human trafficking is very real and very disturbing.
Jesus calls us to pursue, help and love the least of these. Christianity has cared for the sick and imprisoned and helpless for 2000 years as a result of His charge to love the unloved and to defend the defenseless.
The individual and/or the organization that turns the head away or gives a wink toward human trafficking/sex slavery are evil and wicked.
How is the worker at ACORN any different than Jaycee Dugards kidnapper, captor and rapist for 18 years?

"Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool,..." Proverbs 10:23a

Please become familiar with organizations that are working tirelessly to eradicate human trafficking throughout the world.
www.castla.org
www.hagarproject.org
www.ijm.org
www.antislavery.org

*Special thanks to my friends from Thalon ( http://myspace.com/thalon ) and their work with www.shedances.org . They are doing something about it.

Should Obama address school children? Wrong Question for Christian Parents!

2009-09-04T09:08:00.003-04:00

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/03/parents-object-obamas-national-address-students/

Maybe parents should allow children to hear the Presidents address and then sit down and help them process it afterward (like parents should be doing with anything that is more important than "hey billy, do you want fruit loops or coco puffs this morning?")
Maybe Parents should be less concerned about a President (that they don't like) addressing their child and be more concerned about what the school (that they do like) is teaching their child everyday that may not be in line with what they value (sex ed, sex orientation, evolution, etc.,)

Parents, use your power of influence... disciple your kids.

Some Parents Choose Not to Allow Their Kids to Hear Obama's National Address - Political News - FOXNews.com

2009-09-04T09:07:00.004-04:00

Some Parents Choose Not to Allow Their Kids to Hear Obama's National Address - Political News - FOXNews.com

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Three Lies... Three Truths: Part III

2009-08-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

Lie #3: You are Small and Unknown by God.

Truth: Many people live their lives feeling as if they may believe in God but they are unsure of whether He believes in them. I would say most go through this at some time in their life. We feel like the Who's from Whoville realizing that our whole existence is headed toward destruction and we scream out "We are Here! We are Here! We are Here!". The truth is God knows we are here and He is too! His presence is real.

I Peter 5:7 says:

"Cast your worries on Him because He cares for you"

Action Point: The best way to live this truth out is to serve those who are truly small in the eyes of the world. Be Jesus to the last in this world, the lost in this world, and the least in this world! This takes our focus off of our presumed "smallness" and onto those that Jesus asked us to be concerned with.

Love the unlovely and you will experience the genuine Love of Jesus!

Three Lies... Three Truths: Part II

2009-07-23T12:28:00.009-04:00

Lie #2: Sin/self/World is a better option than God.

Truth:

"For a time is coming when people will no longer
listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and
will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to
hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths."

II Timothy 4:3-4

It is true that at the present time 60% of teens in church reach their 20's and walk away from the faith and that 66% of Americans are considered "pew warming Christians"(apathetic and inactive Christians). In light of these truths we must work harder and pray dependently for the discipleship and depth of the next generation. Many will choose the world and sin over choosing to be faithful to God even though they have all the facts of faith in front of them and the rich experience of the Holy Spirit. They will forget their first love.

Action Point: Parents must pursue the practice of family worship and parent-child discipleship. Teens must engage in Faith ownership as they sit at the feet of Jesus... hear from His Word, pursue sound (healthy) Doctrine, and experience the richness of Christ daily.

May the following be said of this generation:

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained
faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return."
II Timothy 4:7-8

Three Lies... Three Truths: Part I

2009-07-23T11:28:00.006-04:00

I just spent this last weekend with the Evangelical Friends Church Yearly Meeting Senior High Youth. I spoke on the topic of Apologetics (defending your faith). The next 3 posts are the content of the last talk before they left the event for home.

There are 3 lies we will face in life but each has a Truth that we can hold onto.

Lie #1: All Religions are the same.

Truth: It is impossible for all religions to lead to God. The Law of Non-Contradiction clearly shows that different religious doctrine negate one another and invalidate themselves if they embrace this idea of Pluralism (That is of course all but Pluralism itself which is, in reality, belief in nothing in particular). There can only be one Ultimate Truth.

Action point: If the God of the Bible is the one true God and Jesus is the only way to Him, then worship God passionately and with abandon. Anything less than this, is living as if we are not convinced of this Truth.