Dear Roger & Friends,   How am I supposed to relate to a God I can't fully explain? I feel like my confusion gets in the way of my faith.   Sincerely, Jamie Hi Jamie, That question lingers like a stone in your shoe—the kind you can't ignore, no matter how much you want to, because it gets right to the heart of something we all experience. It takes me back to a morning years ago on the Oregon coast with my kids. I remember the cool, damp air and the sand between my toes as I watched them play. Like most kids at the beach, they each had a plastic pail and were determined to capture the Pacific Ocean. I watched my son run to the water, wait for a wave, and quickly scoop some up. He'd hurry back, water dripping down his legs, proud of his catch. He showed me the bucket, convinced he had captured the ocean. The water was salty and wet, so it was from the ocean. But did he really capture the ocean? Of course not. The real ocean was still there, huge and powerful. His bucket just held a small, manageable part of it. This is how we try to understand God. We approach His endless nature with our tiny buckets of logic and reason, desperate to contain Him. We want to scoop Him up, study Him, and say, "Now I get it. Now I have God figured out." But the truth is, a God who fits in our bucket is far too small to meet the real fears and questions life throws at us. And deep down, we know it. The Tension of a Manageable God It's hard to connect with a God we can't fully explain. Sometimes we wonder: Is my faith just wishful thinking? Does God really care, or am I just speaking to the ceiling? The confusion can make us feel distant from Him, like we're missing something important. And when others ask us about our beliefs, we aren't sure how to answer. The mystery can even be maddening. But here's the tension: If you think you have God all figured out, are you really thinking of the Creator who spoke galaxies into being? If God were small enough for us to explain fully, would He be big enough to save us when our world falls apart? He exists beyond time, space, and matter. Trying to contain Him is like pouring the Pacific Ocean into a sand bucket. It doesn't work—and maybe it shouldn't. The Apostle Paul felt this same sense of awe. He wrote in Romans 11:33, " Oh, how great are God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways !" (NLT) We want a God who makes sense to us, at least until we need a miracle. We want a God we can fit into a spreadsheet, until our finances don't add up and we need help. And yet, we trust things we don't fully understand all the time. Most of us can't explain quantum mechanics, but we use smartphones every day. We rely on gravity and electricity without thinking about how they work. So, why do we expect the Creator of everything to be simple enough for us to figure out?   Let me share a bit from my own faith journey. For years, understanding God felt like trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces. I knew Jesus as the caring Savior who walked with the hurting. I knew the Holy Spirit as a source of comfort and guidance. But God the Father often seemed distant, someone I respected but didn't really know as a loving Father. It was like I was only seeing part of who God is, loving some parts and missing others. This limited view didn't just affect my own faith; it also gave others a wrong idea of God's greatness. I realized I could end up passing on a dry, intellectual faith instead of a real, life-giving relationship with God. Why Does Understanding the Trinity Change Things? Everything changed when I accepted the deep and beautiful mystery of the Trinity. The word Trinity  isn't in the Bible, but its truth is found throughout Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. We see a clear example of this at Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River. " After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy '" (Matthew 3:16–17).   Notice what happens here. All three Persons of the Trinity are present and active. God the Father  speaks from heaven, affirming Jesus and declaring His identity. Jesus, God the Son , obeys and identifies with us, showing what it means to follow the Father’s plan. The God, the Spirit  comes down, giving Jesus the power for His mission.   This is a powerful picture of a God who is deeply relational—distinct, yet united, loving and working together for our redemption.   God is three-in-one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I had to surrender my urge to make sense of Him, to stop treating God like a puzzle. Faith isn’t about having every answer—it’s about trusting the One who does. And when I finally admitted my need for certainty was getting in the way, I found something deeper: a relationship that was more than logic, more than explanation, and more than I could have imagined. From Solving to Swimming This brings us back to the beach. The goal isn’t to keep scooping water, trying to solve the mystery of God. We’re invited to drop the bucket, to run wild into the waves, and risk everything by swimming in the vast, untamable ocean of His grace. That’s where faith lives not in answers, but in awe. We are called to live in the tension, not avoid it. When we stop trying to fit God into our limits, we can finally be honest about our questions—and stand in awe of His greatness.   Think about the universe. Even with all our science, we’ve only begun to understand it. We can’t explain black holes or dark matter, but we keep seeking, we keep asking. Why should faith be any different? If God is small enough for us to figure out, He isn’t big enough to carry our burdens or change our lives.   Living in the Freedom of Mystery So how do we do this? How do we move from being frustrated by the mystery to celebrating it?   1.     Worship with Wonder, Not Just Words Take time to stand in awe of God's greatness. It's like the feeling you get at the edge of the Grand Canyon or when you look up at a sky full of stars. King Solomon, known for his wisdom, understood this when he prayed, "But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built!" (1 Kings 8:27). This week, try spending five minutes in silence. You don't have to ask for anything. Just say, "God, You are bigger than I can imagine." Let yourself feel the wonder.   2.     Trust in Relationship, Not Just Reason The Trinity shows us that God is relational by nature. He is a perfect community of love, and He invites you in. Think about your closest relationships. I've been married to my wife, Kathy, for many years. I know her better than anyone, but I don't know everything about her. There are still things I'm learning, and that mystery is part of what makes our love a lifelong journey. I don't have her all figured out, but I'm fully committed to her.   If that's true for my marriage, it's even more true for our relationship with God. We're not meant to be investigators who have every detail about Him figured out. We're invited to be children who know our Father's heart. Paul summed this up well in his blessing: " May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all " (2 Corinthians 13:14). Think about the areas in your life where you worry or try to solve things on your own. Give those to God, trusting His character even when you don't see the answer yet.   3.     Share Your Faith with Humility When someone asks you a hard question about God, it's okay to say, "I don't know the full answer, but here is what I do know..." Point them to God's love, Jesus' sacrifice, and the peace He offers. We can't contain the fullness of God's wisdom in our minds, but we can share the simple, powerful truths He has revealed in His Word. Jesus said, " You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free " (John 8:31-32). A humble and curious posture keeps us rooted in Him.   It’s Time to Drop the Bucket   Jamie,   A faith that celebrates tension and mystery is stronger than one that demands certainty. If you demand certainty, is it really faith at all? God’s greatness is our security. It’s good news—He can’t be contained in our small buckets, and that’s what makes Him worth trusting. What if, this year, you let yourself live in awe and wonder? God isn't asking you to understand everything; He wants your full trust. It's time to drop the bucket, run into His presence, and learn to swim in the vast ocean of His grace. That's where you'll find the freedom you've been searching for.   In Christ,   Jeff

She was one day old with the brightest bluest eyes, a bald head, and the cutest little ears that stuck nearly perpendicular out of her head. We checked out of the hospital's front desk, and we walked to our car with our baby girl in the car seat. As the safety officer checked out the security of our car seat base, a wave of fear came over me. Why would they let us take this beautiful baby home? Hi, my names is John Beeson. Welcome to the Beehive. To be a parent is to experience fear. Will they be safe? Will they be bullied? Will they make friends? Will they like me? Will they survive in a sexually confused world? Will they avoid addiction? Will they go to college? Will they launch from our home? Will they be successful? Will they get married? Will they still want to be with us as adults? What are your fears for your children? In the face of a threat, we tend toward one of three classic responses: fight, flight, or freeze. When fears rise in you about your child, which response do you ten toward? To fights is to try to control your child, your circumstances. When we take flight, we jump to appeasement. To freeze is to shut down and withdraw. For many of us, our intuitive response to a threat to our children is different from our response to a threat to ourselves. There are a lot of mama and papa bears who respond to threats to their children by fighting, but who flee or freeze when it's a threat to themselves. A fighting, controlling parent will lean toward legalism, creating rules to protect our children from danger. Legalism provides faux security. We fear for our children's safety so we don't let them go to the park. We fear that our children will be addicts, and so we allow them no screen time. We fear our children won't be successful, and so we demand straight A's. A fleeing or freezing parent will lean toward license, granting unrestricted freedom. License provides faux self-protection. Because we fear what our children will think of us, we abdicate our responsibility to guide them. We allow them to eat what they want, watch what they want, and do what they want. Gospel-shaped parenting falls neither into the trap of legalism nor the trap of license. Right after God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments, Moses instructed them that the covenant they made was to shape the culture of their homes. He says this here, O Israel, the command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligent diligently to your children. And you s hall talk of them when they sit in your house. And when you walk by the way, when you lie down, when you rise, you shall bind them as a sign on your hand. They shall be as frontlets before your eyes. You shall write them on the doorpost of your house and on your gates. The declaration begins with the character of God and a call to set our hearts on him. Look ahead in the story and you will see that this is no accident. God is preparing his people to enter the promised land. As Moses hands over leadership to Joshua, he assures them, "It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed." Moses urges Joshua to keep the people's eyes on the Lord. He will dispel fear. God repeats the same message to Joshua after Moses's death. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. . How can we break through the trap of fear-based parenting? Look to the Lord in his character. Speaking the Lord's character to ourselves into our children in the morning, at lunchtime, at dinnertime, before we go to bed, and every time in between. The Lord's presence and leading are the only hope we have to dispel fear. And how does the Lord lead? What does the Lord say to us? If we look just before the Ten Commandments are given, I think we get a sense of that. Before God speaks commandments over the Israelites, he declares an identity over them. Now, therefore, you will indeed obey my voice and keep my commandment. You shall be my treasured possession among all the peoples for the earth is mine and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are words that you shall speak to the people of Israel. Before God calls the Israel Israelites to do, he reminds them who they are. Gospel-based parenting echoes God's statement of identity over our children. Consider how Paul speaks to his children in the faith. In the first line of almost every letter, Paul addresses the churches as saints. He doesn't leave it there. He reminds them that they are sons of God, heirs of God's promise, the body of Christ, the temple of God, and on and on. Gospel-based parenting cuts through the world's lies and reminds our children who they tr truly are. I want my parenting to be free of the fears that so easily rise within me. My only hope is to point myself and my children to who God is and to who we are. The gospel-based parenting can release us from the grip of the world's fear and into the arms of our protective father.

Worship, bowing the knee, kissing the Hand of the Master in devotion and obedience, is what man was created to do. The Bible is filled with examples of how we are to worship God and express our love for Him.

"They lay their crowns before the throne and say, 'You are worthy, our Lord and God'" (Revelation 4:10,11) A good pattern for earthly worship is heavenly worship. It's very safe to assume that whatever goes on in the throne room is good and that it pleases the Trinity because if anything ever happened there that God didn't approve of, He could fix it real fast, just like He did when Lucifer had thoughts of insurrection. Also, based on how Jesus taught us to pray ("Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven"), it's safe to assume that whatever is going on in heaven would be a good thing to be involved in here on the earth. So let's take a look at heavenly worship! First, slowly read Revelation chapters 1 and 4 and picture in your mind the sights and sounds of heavenly worship. You might observe that: 1. Preparation for worship is important. Although John was in a distressful situation, "I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos" (1:9), he was honoring the Lord's day "On the Lord's day" (1:10), and was spiritually prepared for worship, "I was in the Spirit." Most of us, when we're in an unpleasant environment, find an excuse to neglect spiritual matters. But the aged apostle was ready for church, even though he was going by himself! 2. God initiates the call to worship. "I heard behind me a loud voice... before me was a door standing open in heaven" (1:10; 4:1). God always initiates; we simply respond. It was so in our coming to God (1 John 4:19, John 6:44), and it is so in worship. The beautiful call to worship extended in Revelation 3:20 begins with God's initiative: "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock." God is the catalyst in worship. 3. There is only one object of our worship - God and His Son Jesus. "And there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it" (Revelation 4:2). Several years ago my family moved into a pre-owned home, and for several months we continued to get some "resident" mail being sent to the former owner of the house. One piece we received was a catalog of various paraphernalia used in false religions. There was something for everyone: if you were into mysticism, there were crystals and pyramids for sale; if Eastern religions were your thing, you could purchase incense, statues of Buddha, and other relics; if one were a New Ager, there were hypnotic tapes and books on horoscopes - the catalog was full of assorted accessories to use in idolatry and witchcraft. There seemed to be no conflict between the various religions represented and no "religious jealousy". Combining several different elements was very permissible. But our God is a jealous God; He has declared, "You shall have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3) and "Do not bow down before their gods or worship them or follow their practices. You must demolish them and break their sacred stones to pieces" (Exodus 23:24). Other religions are not so exclusive but Christianity is; there is only one object of our worship - Jesus Christ. 4. We're all going to gather around the throne. Around the throne, the worshipers are not referred to as Methodists, Charismatics, Baptists, or Presbyterians, just blood-bought saints. We will all discard our denominational credentials, prejudices, and predilections when we gather around the throne. Worship is the call of unity among the body of Christ. 5. Worship involves our bodies, souls, and spirits. Heavenly worship is physical - they sing, cast crowns, fall down, cry out, play harps; it is soulish - they worship God willfully, emotionally, and mentally; and it is spiritual - they worship Him in spirit. The psalmist has declared that "we were formed for the praise of His glory." Our entire being has been fashioned as an instrument of praise. Just as a master violin maker designs an instrument to produce maximum aesthetic results, so God tailor-made our bodies, souls, and spirits to work together in consonance to produce pleasing expressions of praise and worship. 6. In worship we should concentrate on what pleases Him. There are some unusual sights and sounds around the throne: four living creatures full of eyes and with heads of an eagle, ox, lion, and man, each with six wings; flashes of lightning and peals of thunder, etc. It sounds like a horror movie to us, but obviously God enjoys it. I'm not suggesting that we dress up church members in costumes and have them run around our auditoriums during the worship service; I am saying that worship is for God and we shouldn't worry so much about what pleases us as we do about what pleases Him. 7. The closer we get to God, the more we want to worship. I believe the book of Revelation shows us a picture of the throne room of heaven. Obviously there's more to heaven than just the throne room because Jesus said, "In My Father's house are many rooms" (John 14:2); and there are probably other things to do in heaven besides worship, but the closer everyone gets to the manifest presence of God, the only appropriate thing to do is worship. Likewise, earthly worship will become more intense and real when we make a concerted effort to acknowledge His omnipresence and to seek His manifest presence. 8. Worship is our natural response to God. What is the appropriate thing to do when you meet God - ask questions? play golf? plan? - no, worship. Worship is the most natural and appropriate thing to do in His presence. 9. There is a reason to worship. If for no other reason, we should worship God because He is God. But the praise of heaven is prompted by distinct revelations of who God us and what He has done. We worship God because He is: holy (4:8), God Almighty (4:8), eternal (4:8), creator (4:11), preserver (4:11). We worship Jesus because He: has purchased us by His blood (5:9), is worthy to receive power, wealth, thanks, wisdom, and strength (5:12), sits upon the throne (5:13), salvation belongs to Him (7:10), He has all power (19:1), His judgments are true and just (19:2), He has conquered the enemy (19:2), He reigns (19:6), and He is our groom and has prepared us for marriage (19:7,8). DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Does the worship service in most churches resemble, in any way, what is described in Revelation? 2. Considering the nine observations listed above, what changes could be made in most worship services that would honor God? ASSIGNMENT Read Revelation 1-4 again and underline all phrases which refer to worship.

ALONE WITH HIM “You fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 KJV What a drastic difference salvation makes! To the one who doesn’t know God “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31); but for those who know Christ personally He is “able to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy.” (Jude 24)! Think about it…we can stand before Him-now-present tense, blameless and with great joy. Joy, the commodity that is so elusive for those who look for it in the world, is available in full measure—in God’s presence. R.A.Torrey once said, “There is more joy in Jesus in twenty-four hours than there is in the world in 365 days. I have tried them both,” and he was exactly right. Principal Rainy, of whom a child once remarked that she believed he went to heaven every night because he was so happy every day, once used a fine metaphor about the Christian’s joy. “Joy,” he said, “is the flag which is flown from the castle of the heart when the King is in residence there.” The primary motivation for worship must always be the simple fact that God is worthy of worship. Worship is for God, not for us. But an ancillary benefit of worship is the delight that it brings to the worshipper. We don’t worship for selfish reasons, but God, in His goodness, has so designed the worship experience for mutual satisfaction. Duty becomes desire, and in the process of giving Him glory and adoration He gives us peace and joy. Worship is a wonderful experience. To gain an audience with God we don’t have to wail, cry, of cut our bodies like the worshippers of Baal; He invites us into His presence to dine with Him, and the meal is always satisfying. Judson Cornwall speaks of a craving only satisfied by worship: “Several years ago while pasturing in Eugene, Oregon, where we were involved in a building program, I had a rare evening off. Seated alone in my front room after having a delicious meal, I became aware of a deep longing or a craving for something. Rationalizing that I had not taken time to listen to music for many weeks, I put some classical music on and sat back to relax and enjoy its soothing sounds. But the music only increased my edginess. Thinking that it was the wrong type of music for my mood, I changed to Christian music, but its effect upon me was no better. I began to read in silence, assuming that my intellect needed feeding because my involvement in the building program had consumed my reading time. Nevertheless, I couldn’t find any type of literature that satisfied me. Almost absentmindedly, thinking that my craving was for food, I wandered into the kitchen and prepared myself a large roast beef sandwich. But inasmuch as I had already stuffed myself on my wife’s cooking less than an hour before, I soon realized that my craving was not physical, emotional, or intellectual. This left only my spirit; so I got onto my knees to pray and began to touch the presence of God. Total satisfaction swept through my being. All along it had been my spirit yearning to contact God’s Spirit. I had misread it as a craving in my soul or my body. Finally, the deep crying of my spirit had been satisfied in God’s presence.”* In like manner, we will discover that the deep longing in our lives will be fulfilled-in His presence. After reading the following verses, list some of the advantages of being in God’s presence: 1 Samuel 30:3-6 Psalm 31:20 Acts 3:19 Jude 24 1 John 3:19 Notice in these verses that when God removes His presence, it is always a sign of grave judgment. Genesis 4:14 Exodus 33:15-16 2 Kings 17:22-23 Jeremiah 23:39 When you spend time with God, is it a restful, peaceful, joyful experience? There is a difference between God’s omnipresence and His manifest presence. The fact that He is omnipresent means that He is everywhere at all times; even in every wicked place on earth. His presence is also in the midst of His faithful followers who have gathered to acknowledge and worship Him. In what situations is God most likely to manifest His presence? List some ways you can develop a hunger for God’s presence. Write down some times that you have experienced God manifest presence, both in worship with other believers and in your private time with God. What were the circumstances that surrounded those special times? Spend some time in Psalm 131. Picture yourself being held in the gracious arms of your Heavenly Father. *Judson Cornwall, Let Us Worship, pp. 9-10, Bridge Publishing 1983. *Dr. Don McMinn, A Heart Aflame! pp. 10-12, NCM Press, 1993. SCRIPTURE STUDY PSALM 16:11 JUDE 24 1 SAMUEL 30:3-6 PSALM 31:20 ACTS 3:19 1 JOHN 3:19 GENESIS 4:14 EXODUS 33:15-16 2 KINGS 17:22-23 JEREMIAH 23:39 PRAYER FOCUS Dear Jesus, Show me how to enter into your presence in quiet worship. May I learn to experience the joy of fellowship with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This is a diagnostic test for pastors and church leaders to determine if their church culture is "guy-friendly" or not. Each question covers a different aspect of how your church can reach men for Christ.

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. (Heb.13:4) No doubt, our culture is sex-obsessed and desperately in need of God’s healing and restoration. But if the oxygen supply of impurity is ever to be choked off in this nation, the healing must begin with us. So let’s be done with it. Let’s diligently confess any active impurity in our own hearts and minds, holding ourselves open to the searchlight of God’s Word. Let’s keep our relationship with Christ holy and daily enough to avoid ever being blindsided by temptations that, if acted upon, could tear our families apart. And just as fervently, let’s pray that all sexual sin will be exposed in our culture for the devilish deception it is. What it eats away from our national conscience and our Christian confidence is more damaging than we can begin to measure. This is not too big for God, and it is not too late for a Christ Awakening. Purity can indeed be reborn in our land, in our hearts, and in our churches. Pray and pray hard for righteous relations between men and women; decrease in divorce rates, cohabitation, same-sex relations, sexual abuse, sexual trafficking, out-of-wedlock children, and STDs. The Lord is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. (Mal. 2:14) HD TV, 3D TV, and a host of other technological advances change the shape of our society. The American church needs a similar overhaul. It must either make the necessary modifications or no longer be relevant on a cultural platform that has zero tolerance for archaic “rabbit ears.” American Christianity seems to be more analog than digital. Surveys ranging from Barna to Pew Research exhibit a lack of connectivity between Millennials (those born after 1980) and the church. The U.S. church stands in a state of crisis where the signal of who God is and what He is saying sounds broken and blurry. For example, Sunday mornings exist to placate a culture obsessed with consumerism, while simultaneously injecting motivational overtures to a spiritually impaired audience. Meanwhile, scandals fill the pulpits, divorces destroy the families, and our youth embrace universalism while we preach more about money than we do the soul. Rabbit ears—nothing more than the church still using a set of archaic rabbit ears.Just as high-definition (HD) TV changed our viewing by exponentially enhancing the quality of televised images, so must we get rid of our old receptor modules and embrace digitized spiritual platforms. What then, does an HD church look like? A Church That Loves First it presents a crystal-clear picture of the gospel: a living God who repudiates sin while loving the sinner. Without a doubt, a fresh holiness movement needs to take place sans the vestiges of legalism, yet with a commitment to simultaneously address a sin-tolerant culture as a church that incorporates God’s eternal mandate to “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16). The cross shows us that we have both a vertical and a horizontal existence. We basically live two lives, and the balancing of that life is the secret of success. And the strongest point of our journey here on Earth lies in that nexus, that convergence—at the perfect place where vertical connects with horizontal. Vertical living means to stand upright in all that we do. Vertical living is love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, goodness, gentleness, temperance, mercy, and faith. Vertical living means concomitant, communication with God. It’s being crucified daily. It’s renewing your mind. It’s becoming more like Jesus. It’s Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” A Church That Reforms Second, an HD Christian movement in America will require direct interaction with the culture. American culture can’t just be engaged by the church; it must be reformed by it. In recent years, it’s been the reverse. Homosexual lifestyle is no longer even an issue in our culture. Now our culture laughs mockingly at any referenced images of Moses or Paul admonishing us to stand against perversion and deviation from God’s marriage model. It’s obvious that we need a clear picture, a biblical and righteous transmission of God, family, marriage, morality, righteousness, and justice. A Church That Addresses Real Needs Third, HD Christianity requires programs, systems, institutions, and communities that can all facilitate clear and viable transmission of the gospel via multiple screens. Just as digital television enables viewers to multitask onscreen, the church must stand ready to address the social, spiritual, physical, and intellectual needs of all its constituents. It’s this addressing of “real” needs in the name of Jesus that moves us from irrelevancy to relevancy. I see it every time we reach out to those in need. I see it every time we see a smile on a child who’s impoverished and we provide some sort of resource—even if it’s only for a day or a week or month. I see it in the little things, and I see it in the big things. I see it in the individual accomplishments and doings and acts. And I see it corporately. That’s where I see it. Whenever we restore a smile and bring a couple one step closer together, and their troubled marriage one step further away from divorce. When we give hope to a young man who was involved in gangs and tell him, “You may have grown up without a father, but one day you’ll be a wonderful father—if you follow the Father and adhere to the following principles. Your true heritage does not come from the father who abandoned you, but rather, the Father who has created an incredible future for you. You have the ability within you to change your destiny.” At the end of the day, churches that upgrade their tools of transmission will be relevant in twenty-first-century America. Our nation needs an ecclesia that embodies “habitus Christi”—the life and habits of Christ – with a clear signal that transmits an image of a God who still saves, delivers and heals and will return. Good-bye rabbit ears, welcome revival. Insights and Impressions Thanksgiving _ Thank You, Lord, that we experience support through the church as we “carry each other’s burdens, and in this way...fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). _ Jesus, we are grateful that we can share Your acceptance in the church as we “accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted. . .in order to bring praise to God” (Rom.15:7). _ Dear God, we are grateful that we can be comforted within the church—“that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble” (2Cor.1:4). Confession _ Is there a church that loves? Forgive us, Lord, for not loving and sacrificing for our marriages. _ Is there a church that reforms? Cleanse us, Dear God, for not allowing You to transform us into a family unit. _ Is there a church that meets real needs? Jesus, we regret that we haven’t let You build Your character in us. Petition _ Lord, may we purpose in marriage to model Your love, motivated to please You: “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it” (2 Cor. 5:9). _ Lord, may we witness a decrease in divorce rates, cohabitation, and same sex relations as marriage is viewed as a gift from You: “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD” (Prov. 18:22). _ Jesus, help us to honor You through our marriage relationship: “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral” (Heb. 13:4). The Father’s Promises for you A Church That Loves Lord, may You use the church to shape us into effective ministries to others: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10). A Church That Reforms Dear God, might You involve the church in the process of building the values, attitudes, morals, and character of Your Son within us: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Rom. 8:29). A Church That Addresses Real Needs Jesus, might we encounter true intimacy and authenticity in our relationships as we come together in Your name: “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them” (Matt. 18:20). Award-winning Sam Rodriguez is president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, the Hispanic National Association of Evangelicals, serving 15 million Latino believers and 18,000 churches. www.nhclc.org Excerpts from Ministry Today, May/June 2009, p.12. and The Path of Miracles (New York, New York: NewAmerican Library, a division of Penguin Group, 2009), used by permission.

We must act upon our faith by loving our community and serving others well. Love Your Neighbor Love your neighbor as yourself. (Matt. 22:39) _ In the end, it always comes down to this: actions still speak louder than words. That’s not to say that the “words” of Christianity are not vitally important. The Word of God is absolutely, unapologetically essential in defining who we are and how salvation through Christ is revealed to mankind. But for Christianity to come full circle—for a Christ Awakening to genuinely begin ripping through the raw pavement of our city streets—our faith must take to the road. Good intentions and agenda items must become hands-on activity. Physical and relational need must be lifted away by the strong arms of applied compassion. Until it does, we are rightly accused of keeping our answers to ourselves and not caring who lives or dies while we’re worshipping. God’s plan—based on purposes known only to Himself—is to use us, His fallen but faithful servants, to be the flesh-and-blood means by which He touches a hurting world. We need it as much as our nation does. So may our hearts cry out for . . . Neighborhood transformation and an accompanying decrease of social ills through increased expressions of “loving your neighbor” in service, compassion, and unity. This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. (1 John 3:11) _ Adapted from The Great Commandment Principle by David Ferguson* The dawn of the twenty-first century finds our world facing multiple crises. Headlines everywhere proclaim, “AIDS Crisis Mounts”; “Teenage Pregnancy Hits Crisis Level”; “Marriages and Families in Crisis.” Like a forest fire whipped by fierce winds, the crises in our culture seem to get worse by the hour, and more lives are consumed by the flames. The hurt is real. The pain is deep. Anxiety, emptiness, disconnectedness, alienation, and aloneness reign in the human heart. Inner turmoil surfaces in broken relationships, violence, abuse, addictions, and suicide. The “not good” of human aloneness cries out for a solution. Seeing People as God Sees Them — So We Can Love Them as God Loves Them Imagine this scene from John 9. It is a warm Sabbath day morning in Jerusalem, and we are strolling with Jesus and His disciples. Then Jesus stops suddenly. We approach Jesus to inquire, but we are quickly silenced by the intensity in His eyes. Following His gaze into a shadowy corner, we discover the object of His attention: a blind beggar huddled alone beside this teeming river of humanity. Before the Master moves to touch the needy, blind beggar, one of the disciples shatters the tender moment. “Master, whose sin caused this man’s blindness? Did he do something wrong or were his parents at fault?” We are struck by the contrast. The Master’s focus is, “How shall I minister to this poor man’s need?” while His men are wondering, “How can we get this sinner squared away?” Here is a significant insight into the irrelevance of the twentieth-century church: God’s heart is captivated by human need; God’s people are too often preoccupied with human sin. But we must not stop there. God dealt with sin for a purpose: to restore relationships—people to God and people to people. God’s heart longs for relationship. If we are to restore Great Commandment love to ministry, we must enter the compassionate heart of God who is as concerned about human aloneness as human fallenness. We must align our focus with that of the compassionate Father who is intent on meeting people at the point of their total need. Paul boldly declared, “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). The God of All Comfort Has Comforted Us — In Order that We May Comfort Others Reaching a pain-filled world with the relevant message of the gospel requires the compassionate heart of the Savior. Jesus’ ministry in the Gospels is an example to every believer. While others around Him responded to situations out of fear, judgment, or legalism, Jesus was moved with compassion and acted out of love. The Pharisees saw the disciples picking grain on the Sabbath and condemned them for breaking the law, but Jesus was moved with compassion because His men were hungry. Christ’s exhortation to the Pharisees seems applicable to the twenty-first century church: “If you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent” (Matt. 12:7 NASB). Like Jesus, a Great Commandment church is as concerned about the pain and aloneness people suffer as it is about their sin and fallenness. Unbelievers who enter our doors as seekers, who occupy the office or workbench next to ours, or who live near enough to borrow eggs and sugar often live painfilled lives. Multitudes of the men, women, teens, and children we encounter during the week are victims of one or more of the “plagues” of twentieth-century culture: broken homes, physical violence, sexual abuse, addictions in the home. Yes, these people must eventually deal with their own sin issues in order to receive God’s forgiveness and experience new birth. But will they be drawn to the Savior more effectively by our condemnation of their sin or our compassion for their pain? Christ’s example compels us to share the Good News with these people through the doorway of compassion for them. Ministry Beyond Our Comfort Zone Great Commandment love cannot be limited to our comfort zone. This seems to be God’s message to Peter in his God-ordained encounter with the “unclean” Gentile Cornelius (see Acts 10). As certainly as the first-century church broke through barriers of all types to minister to others, we should seek to provide a safe place for those in need by engaging in purposeful ministry beyond our comfort zone. For example: _ A suburban, college-educated congregation may take on an inner-city ministry to unwed mothers on welfare. _ An inner-city, ethnic congregation may seek to develop a supportive sister-church relationship with a dissimilar ethnic fellowship. _ A congregation comprised largely of high-tech professionals may take on an English-teaching and day-care ministry to rural migrant families. _ A church with a strong base of nuclear families may target the residents of a single-parent apartment complex for compassionate ministry. _ A blue-collar church may embrace a hospitality ministry to international students at a nearby state university. _ A seminary or Bible-college church may give itself to seeking out AIDS or substance abuse victims for compassionate ministry. Restoring Community One Relationship at a Time As intimate relationships are established with God and within friendships, marriages, families, and the church, both the community and the surrounding culture are positively affected. God-honoring friendships become positive examples to children and teens. Couples building strong marriages become mentors to newlyweds. Troubled marriages in the community can be rescued, even reducing the divorce rate. Families are enriched and restored to their intended place of safety and refuge. Child abuse, violence, and teen suicides diminish. Such bold predictions are not the result of a cultural revolution but of a restoration of biblical Great Commandment love. Dr. David Ferguson, along with his wife Teresa, has authored more than twenty books, including The Great Commandment Principle with Tyndale and More Than Married with Word Publishing. Their Intimate Encounters marriage workbook is in its tenth printing. Principles of relational theology are the focus of their two newest releases: Relational Foundations and Relational Discipleship. Visit www.GreatCommandment.net or call 800-881-8008. Insights and Impressions Thanksgiving _ Thank You, Lord, that we will see neighborhood transformation as we fulfill Your commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39). _ Jesus, we are grateful that there will be a decrease of social ills as we “serve one another in love” (Gal. 5:13). _ Dear God, we appreciate that “we know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers” (1 John 3:14). Confession _ We are guilty at times of not seeing people as God sees them. Forgive us, Lord, for not loving others as You love them. _ The God of all comfort has comforted us, and yet we have often not been good stewards. Dear God, cleanse us of our sin of not comforting others. _ We are often not involved in ministry beyond our comfort zone. Jesus, we repent of only reaching out to those of our own socioeconomic stratum, ethnicity, and professional level. _ Sometimes we doubt that restoring community one relationship at a time is possible. Lord, change our thinking. Petition _ Lord, may our unity transform our community, to help “bring all things . . . on earth together under one head, even Christ” (Eph. 1:10). _ Dear God, might social ills decrease as we demonstrate compassion toward the distressed and downcast as Christ did: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them” (Matt. 9:36). _ Jesus, help us to create change in our neighborhoods through expressions of service, just as You are among us “as one who serves” (Luke 22:26). Prayers to Offer Seeing People as God Sees Them Dear God, might we witness neighborhood transformation as we carry out this command: “Whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:21). The God of All Comfort Has Comforted Us Lord, as we practice the ministry of comfort, might we observe a decrease of social ills in our society: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows” (2 Cor. 1: 3-5). Ministry Beyond Our Comfort Zone Jesus might we have the courage, like Peter, to minister beyond our comfort zone to change the face of our community: “Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right’” (Acts 10:34-35). Restoring Community One Relationship at a Time Lord, might our churches bring healing to relationships at all levels in our neighborhoods, for “the land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God; we sought him and he has given us rest on every side” (2 Chron. 14:7). Write your own prayers below:

The account of the miraculous spread of the Gospel after Christ's ascension teaches us about how to pray for God to bring a harvest of souls.

The heart of God working in the heart of man doesn't look the same on everyone when it happens. But whether in the quiet stirrings of our spirit or in the gushing fount of our own visible emotions, we are rarely left to wonder when the Lord is passing by.

Psychologist Dan McGee creates an instrument to evaluate the spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of a minister. Every pastor will benefit.

There are just over 105,000 U.S. military members currently deployed to Afghanistan and other contingencies around the globe. Each of these has mothers and fathers they have left behind. A great many have wives or husbands and children who remain at home. We, yes, I am one, have homes, friends, churches, bills, school, pets, and many other things we have left behind for the sake of serving our nation. I am currently on my second deployment to Afghanistan and was often told by people before leaving that they would be praying for me. I imagine this same comment has been made thousands of times in America as our men and women have left home to fight the wars of our nation. Some of you reading this may have spoken those very words, a promise to pray for a soldier, airmen, marine, or sailor while they are away on their deployment. But what do you pray? Using the 23rd Psalm, I will guide you to pray for the warriors of America. I also hope to give you a glimpse into the every day life of those of us who chose this line of work. "The Lord is My Shepherd;" Think of a shepherd. A shepherd is a leader, provider, protector of the ones under him. He plans and orchestrates the events of those under him. He doesn't just say what to do, but he provides the means to do it. It is no surprise to anyone that the military is very structured. Every person, with few exceptions, enters the military as either an E-1 (Enlisted) or and O-1 (Officer). Everyone progresses and with each new rank comes more responsibility. Early in our military careers we are groomed as leaders. We are expected to follow the orders given to us, but soon become responsible to guide and direct others. Pray for those is leadership positions. This includes many different ranks within the military. Each is a shepherd; some good, others, well, they need more prayer. Each day these leaders are making decisions about what others are doing. Some are directing people to go conduct combat missions. Others are deciding what to cook or where people will sleep. Every decision made by one of these leaders affects other people. Pray for wisdom for those who lead, guide and direct the daily military operations. Pray for those under leadership. Military life is about following orders. Every person in the military is taking orders from someone else. From the lowly E-1 to the highest four star general. Pray for obedience. It is God who has placed us under the authority of others. Therefore, If we are to honor God, we must obey those in authority over us. "I Shall not want." I cannot imagine a harder moment than just after kissing my wife and saying goodbye to my five year old daughter and one year old son. I want to be with them and hold them and kiss them so badly. Our warriors give up so much for the sake of our nation. When we wake up in the morning there is no wife to to kiss goodbye as we go to work. There are no kids running and jumping in the bed with us. There are no meals with the family or walks in the park. Birthdays and anniversaries come and go. It is not just family we are without, though. Every post has a small, what we call, exchange. This the place were we can by toothpaste, socks, knives, boots, soda, etc. It has the basic necessities, but it doesn't have everything. We don't have the convenience of Walmart or Target or Walgreens. What they have is what we get. There's no options and most of the time they are out of what you need. There is one dining facility on each base. We call them "DFAC." Now imagine eating three meals a day 7 days a week for at least six months at your least favorite cafeteria/buffet style restaurant. It get's old pretty quick. One thing you learn quickly at the DFAC is the local and third country national we hire to cook our food just can't fry chicken or grill meat quite like it is done at home. Our cooks do a great job providing food for the large number of people they must serve, but I don't think there is a Paula Dean equivalent in Afghanistan. As you can see there is much to be desired; the comfort of family, the familiarity of home, Chipotle! Many soldier’s days are spent in misery longing for what they cannot have at the moment, and this destroys some. I can assure you our basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, and bullets will be met. But each of us longs for home. Pray for our minds. The mind is a power thing. By nature of what we do we must be sharp and on point, ready to act when called upon. Pray that the desires of home would not be so great that we cannot function. Pray for opportunities for communication with mom, dad, wife/husband and children. There are many great tools with the internet today, but not every soldier will get the opportunity. Pray that those opportunities will be given to them and that the time will encourage them to press on with the mission that is before them. Pray for the the wives of the husbands who are deployed. Loneliness and depression come so quickly. They sacrifice as much as the one deployed. Many are living in a city with no family near by. Some are even alone in a foreign country. They want their husbands with them, but at this moment it cannot be. Pray for the husbands of the wives who are deployed. They, too, carry a heavy load when their wife leaves. Not only do they carry the burden of caring for or maintaining their household, but they have great worry for their wives who are in harms way. Pray for the wives with children at home or pregnant while the husband is deployed. Caring for children was not meant to be a solo job. Pray for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These moms get no breaks, little rest, and little help. They do all of the cooking, cleaning, diaper changing, and dog walking. Pray for the conflict that will arise between husbands and wives during the deployment. Conflict will come. Dealing with conflict when you are separated for six months or a year is very difficult. It can be easy for some to avoid the problems all together and stop communication. Pray for the children of those deployed. They do not understand what is happening. All they know is their mom or dad is not coming home. For the past few Skype dates with my daughter she has told me that her greatest desire for christmas is me. There is a hole in her heart. There is a hole in the heart of every child whose parent is deployed. "He leads me beside still waters." War is busy and hectic. The typical soldier, airmen, marine, and sailor works 12 hours per day 7 days per week. No days off. No nap time. No privacy. Life is go, go, go. Someone is always wanting something from you. Depending on where you are you may have two or three or more rocket attacks in one week. Pray for rest. Working 12 hours per day for seven days equates to 84 hours of work. That is more than two full time jobs. Pray for peace. Working that many hours and being around the same people day in and day out will cause conflict. It will cause conflict at work and it will cause conflict with home. "He restores my soul." There is a great need for the gospel here. I am not talking about taking the gospel to the Afghan people or the people of the nation for which we are deployed to. I am talking about the people of our military. They need Jesus. Sin nature is no less prevalent here than it is in any other part of the world. Pray for the heart of those who do not believe that they will be open to receive the gospel. Pray for those of us who do believe that we would share the gospel unashamedly. Pray for the military chaplains who are deployed. They carry the burden for soul care for all of our warriors. Pray that they would proclaim the gospel boldly in the chapel services each week. Pray for the Bible studies that are taking place on each base. Pray that the Word of God is taught, and that believers would encourage and love one another. Pray for opportunities to attend in the midst of our hectic work schedule. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." Death is inevitable in war. According to the Washington Post approximately 2,000 U.S. military members have died in Afghanistan since 2001. Some were accidental, but many were the result of combat action. Not only have we lost men and women, but we have taken the lives of others. Our warriors have seen death; they have seen evil. Not one of us who goes out on combat missions fails to consider what would happen if we hit an improvised explosive device (IED). Or what if a rocket lands on base right where I happen to be standing? Or what if one of the Afghan National Army or police takes their rifle and begins shooting at us on base, where we are supposed to be safe? These are the daily thoughts of those deployed. Pray for courage for those who believe. For those who believe can say, "I will fear no evil, for you are with me." What great comfort there is in those few words. God is with me everywhere I go, all of the time. Therefore I do not need to fear. Pray for the unbeliever. What can they cling to? Where is their hope? The only hope there is is found in Jesus Christ. They may not believe now, but God may use their circumstances to draw them to Him. Pray for both the believer and the unbeliever. Dealing with death can wreak havoc on the mind. Whether it is loosing someone close to you in combat or killing another, the mind will be affected. This will effect their ability to work, their relationships with their wives/husbands and children, their walk with God, and much more. "Your rod and your staff, they comfort me." What do you think of when you think of the rod and staff of a shepherd? I picture the shepherd using his staff to guide the sheep. The sheep want to go their own way, but the shepherd, with his staff, brings them back. The best place for the the sheep to be is in the presence of the shepherd. This is where they are cared for, find protection, receive provision, and find comfort. A military deployment causes much pain and heartache, not only for the military members, but also for the family and friends. There is much need for comfort. Depression lurks at the door to the minds of many. Relationships have been broken because of the tension caused from the separation. Worry slips into our minds due to the seemingly lack of control we have over situations at home. Where can we find comfort? We can find comfort in the inspired, inerrant Word of God. When events occur in our lives it can feel as if we have no one to turn to. There are no close friends or family to go to with your hurts and pains. There is no church family. Your wife or husband is thousands of miles away. Loneliness can overwhelm. Pray for the military Chaplains who have been charged with soul care for the military. There are only a limited number of chaplains who are available to provide soul care for the warriors here. They cannot provide for all. Pray that believers would wholly rely on the Scriptures for our comfort. Pray that unbelievers would be drawn to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is the only true source of peace and comfort. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;" You cannot have a war without an enemy. Much of the conflict we are in today revolves around the Muslim faith. As believers we know that no amount of social justice will bring peace to this area of the world. There is only one cure, Jesus. We are fighting to restore a government, build schools, and stop and prevent the injustices committed against the Afghan people. But our enemy is doing everything in it’s power to stop us. The Afghan people don't want the help that we are providing, but that does not deter us from trying. They have been deceived and are separated from God. In the Old Testament God used the enemies of Israel. It wasn't typically good for the Israelites in their eyes, but God was using their enemy to mold the hearts of the Israelites. It was part of His plan. God has not changed. He is doing the same today. He works all things. This conflict today is part of God's plan. Pray for the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and other groups with whom we are fighting. They, too, need Jesus! "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” There is not a soldier, airmen, marine, or sailor here who has not thought about the end of their life in some respect. I promise you that it has crossed everyone's mind at least once during their time here. With the exception of the Lord's return, death in inevitable for all of us. Every car that passes our convoys could be a car that detonates. Every Afghan National Army soldier or Afghan National Police officer could be the one that begins shooting. These thoughts are never far from our minds. There is a hope. II Corinthians 5:1-5 explains this so well. For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. This is not an exhaustive list of what to pray for our troops in combat, but I hope it encourages you to spend time praying specifically for the needs of those of us fighting for freedom and those who we left behind. If you know someone who is deployed pray specifically for them. I encourage you to ask them how you can pray for them. We each have our own specific needs and issues that arise during our deployments. Don't forget their families! They too need prayer, but they also need tangible help. The grass still needs to be mowed. The oil in the car needs to be changed. Thank you for your prayers. They are greatly appreciated by those of us who believe. A prayer guide for Christians to come before God for our servicemen and women. The guide is based on the verses in Psalm 23.