Monday, August 27, 2012

Here's How You Can Pray...

Hi all,
I just wanted to give you an update on how you can be praying for me this week.

  1. I have the honor and privilege to get to be the speaker for Upland Christian Academy's retreat, this Tuesday and Wednesday. The theme is, "For God and For God Alone." Please pray for me as I prep, pray through and preach at this retreat.
  2. On Wednesday night at FLOOD we are looking at the topic of "PURE." It's a one night look at what the Bible calls us as Christian to — to live lives that are truly set apart for Christ, pure in word and deed. It is true that we are saved by grace through faith. It is true that salvation is a free gift, paid for by the precious blood of Christ. However, the life that we are called to is a life of obedience. Discipleship will cost us everything. Please pray for me as I prep, pray through, and preach this message.
  3. This weekend I get the opportunity to speak for a dear congregation from the San Jose area. This congregation has become very dear to me. The theme for their retreat is, "In Christ Alone." 
This summer has been so busy with ministry at PFB and outside speaking opportunities. This is the home stretch of a great but very tiring summer.

Thank you so much for praying for me. It means more than you know. I love you all.

Monday, August 20, 2012

IGNITE IS COMING!!!

Prayer for this Week...

Hi all,
Thank you so much for your constant support and encouragement through praying for me and the ministry that God has called me to. I personally have a week off from teaching this week, but ministry is still going on at PFB and at FLOOD. Please be praying for our junior high and high school ministries as they organize a huge outreach this Wednesday before FLOOD. It is the "Back to School Rodeo." They are going to have games and crazy stuff from 5:00-7:00pm in the parking lot at PFB. Then, at 7:00pm, everyone will come in to the FLOOD worship service for a time of praise and listening to God's word being taught by my cousin, Megan Marshman (yes I'm a proud cousin - she is the preacher of the family).

Please pray for this outreach. We want to see students and their families who come with them surrender to Jesus and find a church home at PFB if they don't already have one.

Also, please be praying for me on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the young adults of FLOOD are going to Mothers Bay in Long Beach and then lunch on 2nd Street (I know - tough job). I really want to see community build and grow within the young adult ministry of FLOOD, so these types of events are huge. But please pray for me as I will be driving from Long Beach on Saturday afternoon/evening to Hartland, CA (about 5 hours north) to speak at Hartland Camp for a fundraiser worship service on Sunday morning.

Thank you so much. Love you all more than you know.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

JESUS: Our Lord Before Our Savior

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." — 1 Peter 3:15, NIV

Revere Christ as Lord. Lord. The word Lord in the Greek language is kyrios. Here are the definitions that come up for that word
  • he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
    • the possessor and disposer of a thing
      • the owner; one who has control of the person, the master.
      • in the state: the sovereign, prince, chief, the Roman emperor.
    • is a title of honor expressive of respect and reverence, with which servants salute their master
    • this title is given to: God, the Messiah.
I know that it is popular to hear pastors/preachers invite people to accept Jesus as their Savior. The only problem with that is that it's not correct. Here Peter tells us as followers of Christ to revere Christ as Lord. Paul, when writing to the church in Rome, told them this: "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [kyrios] and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9, ESV). 

A good friend of mine uses this line often when preaching to others: "Christ cannot be your Savior until he is your Lord." We are called to set apart Christ as Lord (master, owner, supreme authority). If we do that, our lives will show that we have made that decision and have that conviction. Because if Christ is kyrios of my life, then I will do what he commands me to do.

My life should be proof that Christ is the Lord of my life. Understand me: I am in no way stating that what we do will make us right with God. Rather, our lives and the things that we do will prove that we have been made right with God. Isn't that what Jesus meant when he said:

"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples." — John 15:5-8, ESV

We are called to be different. We are called to holiness. We are called to live lives that are set apart for Christ. We should look different. We should be different. But it starts not with willpower or self-discipline, but rather starts with setting apart Christ as Lord and then actually living our lives as if we have truly done that, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It's all about Jesus. It always has been.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Prayer for This Week...

Hi all,
Thank you so much for praying last week. We saw four people profess their love for Christ through believer's baptism. It was such an incredible thing to be part of and to witness.

Here's how you can be praying for me this week:

On Wednesday night at FLOOD I am finishing up our two-week series called, "LOVE GOD. LOVE OTHERS." Last week was an incredible look at the first commandment. Believe in the one true God and love him. This week: how to love others.

Please pray for me as I pray through, prep, and preach this message. I am praying for the Holy Spirit to move in such a way that people in FLOOD sense his leading and accept the call that he has on each one of their lives, accepting the mission that he is calling us all to. I am so excited.

Thank you for praying.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Congratulations Steven and Calie

I saw this video of a surprise engagement. It brought so much joy to my heart because Steven was part of my youth ministry back in the day.

Congratulations, Steven and Calie. I'm so happy for you both.