Barry's Blog

Giving It Away

2010-03-26T10:01:00.000-07:00

You might have read this poem before from Sam Shoemaker, which has been used in the STEPS tradition over the years. It really fits for preparation this Sunday as we anticipate closing our series on “Filling the Holes in Your Soul.”

I stand by the door.

I neither go too far in, nor stay too far out.

The door is the most important door in the world -

It is the door through which people walk when they find Christ.

There is no use my going way inside, and staying there,

When so many are still outside and they, as much as I,

Crave to know where the door is.

And all that so many ever findIs only the wall where a door ought to be.

They creep along the wall like blind men,

With outstretched, groping hands.

Feeling for a door, knowing there must be a door,

Yet they never find it . . .

So I stand by the door.

The most tremendous thing in the world

Is for people to find that door - the door to Christ.

The most important thing anyone can do

Is to take hold of one of those blind, groping hands,

And put it on the latch - the latch that only clicks

And opens to the person’s own touch.

People die outside that door, as starving beggars die

On cold nights in cruel cities in the dead of winter -

Die for want of what is within their grasp.

They live on the other side of it - live because they

Have not found it.

Nothing else matters compared to helping them find it,

And open it
And walk in

And find Him . . .

So I stand by the door.

Hot Fudge Sundaes

2010-02-18T15:37:00.000-08:00

I read this interesting story about hot fudge sundaes. The combination of hot and cold got my attention. I hope you enjoy this little piece of history: In 1890, a Wisconsin merchant named Smithson came up with a creative way to cope with his Sunday afternoon shortages of ice cream. With no Sunday deliveries, but with crowds of people with a welcome day off wanting ice cream, he thought of a way to stretch his supply. He began cutting back on the amount of ice cream he scooped and added toppings of chocolate sauce or fruit syrups instead. These Sunday creations became all the rage. Soon “Sundays” were being requested every day of the week. Not until some sensitive souls complained about using the name of the Sabbath for a sweet treat did Smithson change the spelling of his delicious invention to “sundae.” Who doesn’t enjoy a good hot fudge sundae . . . on any day of the week?!

It is that hot/cold double identity that makes the hot fudge sundae the perfect post-modern dessert. Post-modern culture is in love with combining opposites. Post-modern culture is about “both/and” reality. However, sometimes that is nothing more than the middle ground. Have you looked around and noticed that the middle ground isn’t near as safe as it use to be? What is happening to the middle class, middle management, or the middle-sized business? Middle use to be considered safe, defensible ground. Now it is a place where you can get hit in both directions and not know which end is up. We should have all listened when we told our children that it is just not safe to play in the middle of the road.

This analogy couldn’t be any more true than when you read the message of the Bible. Jesus never claimed, “I am the middle ground.” And when it comes to being in the middle, our Scripture this Sunday is going to point to how nauseating it is to the Lord that so many people choose to walk the middle of the road when it comes to their commitment to Christ. Sunday will be challenging, however the possibilities are especially exciting.

"He Loves Me"

2010-02-12T11:27:00.000-08:00

“He loves me; he loves me not. He loves me; he loves me not.” The picture is of a little girl standing in the background chanting as she plucks petals, one by one, from a daisy and drops them on the ground. At game’s end, the last petal tells all: Whether or not the person desired returns the affection. We may not take seriously that game because of the fickleness of chance, but too often we approach our spiritual life with God in a similar vein.

I got a raise. He loves me.
I didn’t get the promotion I wanted; I lost my job altogether. He loves me not.
Something in the Bible inspired me today. He loves me.
My child is seriously ill. He loves me not.
I gave money to someone in need. He loves me.
I let my anger get the best of me. He loves me not.
Something for which I prayed actually happened. He loves me.
I stretched the truth to get myself out of a tight spot. He loves me not.
A friend called me unexpectedly to encourage me. He loves me.
My car needs a new transmission. He loves me not.

How stable can a life be when internally we respond with such a haphazard and fickle approach? Obviously it doesn’t work. It is one of the key reasons why our lives are described in the Bible as being tossed about like the waves of the sea.

We began with the first principle last Sunday in an eight-part series on spiritual principles that lead to deeper growth. Our series is entitled “Filling the Holes in Your Soul.” The first principle was “admitting your need for help.” The next principle is believing that God wants to help you . . . that he really loves you.

Faith Reflected in Love

2010-01-16T10:06:00.000-08:00

As I preparing for Sunday, I was studying in 1 Corinthians. The Corinthians were an immature lot, but genuinely saved. They were focusing on minor subjects and missing the major issues. Several times in the first letter to the Corinthians the Apostle Paul tries to motivate them by reminding them that they would stand before Christ one day. As I was reading through the letter I came to this most marvelous chapter on love. Agape love. The word for love is the Bible is the foundation of maturity. The Apostle Paul told the Galatians the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. You probably know 1 Corinthians 13 fairly well. It says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast . . .” In verse 3 the Apostle Paul wrote, “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” There is no value to doing these things without love; without the right motives there is no reward. Love is risky. A lover is a risk taker. Loving children is risky, marriage is risky, loving people of other nations is risky, and loving people in church is the most risky of all. The more we love the more likely we are to get hurt. Jesus took the risk of loving and was crucified. But what is not acceptable for us is to bury our “talent” of love in the ground and refuse to take the risk of loving. When I use that word “talent,” I am referring to the parable of talents, when one person was given five talents, another two talents and then another person only had one talent and buried it. Love is the bottom line of a faith lived out. When we stand before Jesus one day, I believe he will be evaluating how we loved. You know what the Bible says, “Love never fails.” Won’t you risk loving? . . .

Teach Our Children

2009-10-23T13:20:00.000-07:00

Praying is on my mind. I was delighted to have so many people respond this past Sunday with the commitment to seek God in prayer on a daily basis. May the Lord bless you as you pursue him. One of my strongest prayers is for our investment in the lives of children. Jesus showed a clear sense of love and concern for children, something that was rare in that day. As we follow the steps of Jesus and bless children, God will bless us. There is a calling on a church body for the development of spiritual understanding for children as they learn the truth of God’s Word. We are the dispensers of that truth. Our Children’s Ministry is key to whether God will bless us or not. If we are faithful to our children, God will put us in charge of even more things.

The Scripture is clear when it challenges parents to instruct their children. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 says it in a very clear and challenging way.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

May our relationship with Jesus Christ be expressed and impressed on our children as they see our faith as the most integral part of our lives, then the covenant of Jesus will be passed down in a healthy and strong way, and the legacy of our faith will continue well beyond our lifetime.

Just Do It!

2009-10-16T11:44:00.000-07:00

When Johnny Jones, living in a middle-class suburb in central California, made a commitment to pray five blessings on five neighbors for five minutes a day for five days a week for five weeks, surprising things began to happen. One neighbor asked him how she could have a personal relationship with Christ. When Johnny shared the Gospel with her, she accepted Christ as her Savior. A drug-dealing neighbor asked Johnny to pray for him and help him turn his life around and get out of the drug business. A Buddhist couple from across the street asked if they could go to church with Johnny’s family. And a Hispanic couple living next door asked him to start a Bible study for their neighborhood. Johnny Jones’ prayers mattered to God. They provided God the opportunity he was looking for to work in the hearts and lives of Johnny’s neighbors.

I read that story in a magazine article on the subject of prayer, of course. If you take a close notice of the story, you will realize that four neighbors are mentioned and yet the story presents five neighbors being prayed for. I think that is realistic also. Nevertheless, prayer matters to God. As I conclude this series on prayer this coming Sunday, I have a sense there is more to learn about prayer. I also believe that what God wants to do for us in prayer is just beginning. There is so much more that he has in mind. I know that things don’t just change around after a six-week series on prayer, but I do hope you will sense how significant this gift is as a real and deep connection with God, inviting us to release our request and to know him better, and to be totally honest with our loving God.

Prayer Changes Me

2009-10-02T11:48:00.000-07:00

Here is another thought provoking story – Four associates were playing a round of golf on Sunday morning. None of their scores was good. On top of their embarrassment it began to rain. The men returned to the clubhouse only to learn that the electrical power line had been hit by lightening so the restaurant was closed. As the men prepared to rush for their cars, one of them remarked, “We could have just as well gone to church this morning.” Another of the men disagreed, “Oh, I couldn’t have gone to church, anyway. My wife is sick in bed this morning.”

The title of that story is “Bad Day for Church.” I know pastors are supposed to care about church attendance. At times in church history, church attendance had been associated with being a “good” Christian. There are many different mixed messages about attending, which can feel like obligation, or even legalism. But there are two things that come to my mind when I think of people making church a priority.

1. The Bible commands the followers of Christ to assemble together. In Hebrews 10:25 it says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” The word is assembled, and sometimes translated “worshipping together.” It is something God wants us to do.

2. I have noticed over the years a correlation between God at work in someone’s heart and seeing them at church more often. When God is stirring someone about their spiritual condition, the challenging circumstances of their life or many other kinds of needs, people move towards God through attending church. Your spiritual temperature will often dictate your desire to worship God, be with other believers and study His Word. If those things aren’t very important to you, that usually indicates your spiritual fervor is stagnant or even on the decline.

Like so many people do in blogs, if you have a comment on what I have just said, feel free to send me a note as a reply to this e-mail. I want to fan your desire to be a part of our worship connection here at New Harvest because God commands it and it reflects your desire for the things of God.

Repeating the Same

2009-07-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

The definition of insanity has become mainstream. I have read that it is attributed to Albert Einstein. Simply put it says – “Doing something over and over expecting different results.” We have enhanced the wording to say, “repeating the same behaviors and expecting different results.” Of course that is the same definition. It is so much easier to point at others who you know that keep doing the same thing over and over again, and yet on the other hand, just miss how often you and I live up to the definition as well. The phrase that would fit would be “creatures of habit.” There is a sense of comfort in doing what comes natural, even if it is actually harmful to our well-being. One author said that it takes quite a bit of pain for us to finally realize that what we are doing isn’t working. There is evidence of this tendency at work in the disciples as we look at the feeding of the 4,000 this Sunday. Yes, I said 4,000 not 5,000. That is an interesting aspect in and of itself. I think God has given me some helpful insights into this repetitive behavior that is actually very predictable and leads to the same results. Hope you will join me this Sunday as I share a message entitled “Repeating the Same.”

John Stumbo's Blog

2009-04-03T11:59:00.000-07:00

I want to use another blog like I did last week. This blog comes from John Stumbo, who is the Pastor at Salem Alliance Church. John has been through a “Job-like” journey with an unknown illness and disease that almost took his life. Maybe you have prayed with me for him. He is on a very slow path to recovery. At the same time, God is stirring in his heart and mind some deep thoughts. His blog is entitled, “An honest look into a mysterious journey.” About a week ago, he wrote these words:

For the past 25 years I went to church because I “had” too – after all, I was the pastor. For the past two months I’ve gone to church because I’ve needed to.

I confess that I sometimes don’t feel like attending. It is work to get out of my chair, haul my sore body and walker out to the van and get into church. It doesn’t feel convenient. I couldn’t get there without my wife. But it is good and essential. Looking back over the last few months, I realize that by attending church …

…I think thoughts I would not otherwise think
…I hear truths I would not otherwise hear
…I sing songs I would not otherwise sing
…I meet people I would not otherwise meet
…I give offerings I may not otherwise give
…I rejoice in mission’s efforts and in new followers of Jesus that I would not otherwise know about
…I receive encouragement and challenge I would not otherwise receive
…I shed tears I would not have otherwise shed
…I receive a blessing I would not otherwise have received
…I pray prayers I would not have thought to pray
…I meet God in a way I would not have met Him had I stayed home in my chair.
…And, perhaps, my attendance is an encouragement or testimony to someone else.

When I’m there, I may not like every song or agree with every word spoken. But that’s not the point. I may have wrestled with Him all week; but come the weekend I publically present myself again to acknowledge my allegiance to Him.

I now understand how easy it is for people to slip out of the habit of church attendance. And I now understand even more fully the significance of the words in Hebrews admonishing us,
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another— and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

House of Cards

2009-03-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

It is amazing what we can find on the internet these days. I punched in house of cards and found several YouTube clips of the world's tallest house of cards to the "domino effect" of a house of cards. I enjoyed viewing the amazingly intricate and fascinating ways to build from normal playing cards. There is actually quite a lot of interest in this hobby. I think that it fits our society really well. Lots of people are building their lives with a sense of fascination similar to the excitement of building a house of cards. But then you see one card kicked out and how all the other cards follow in place leaving just a pile of cards. Jesus said, "If you hear my words and do not put them in practice you are like a man who builds his house on the sand" . . . like a house of cards. What is the key to a strong life? Jesus the teacher wants his followers to have a life that works - a life that is built on the rock - a life that is more than knowing the right things, it's doing the right things.

Serving God

2009-03-08T08:33:00.000-07:00

The Lord has put on my heart the challenge to encourage our church body to engage in the service of the Lord. I have this vision that you and I will stand before the Lord one day in eternity, and I want you to experience the joy of recognized service which according to the Scriptures is "gold, silver and precious stones." The Bible says this kind of ministry will be rewarded.

But in actuality, I find that many people respond to this kind of message with excuses. There were people in the Bible that had plenty of excuses. They could have avoided being involved in ministry, because as Rick Warren said in his book The Purpose Driven Life: "Abraham was old, Jacob was insecure, Leah was unattractive, Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Gideon was poor, Sampson was codependent, Rahab was immoral, David had an affair and all kinds of family problems, Elijah was suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed, Jonah was reluctant, Naomi was a widow, John the Baptist was eccentric (to say the least), Peter was impulsive and hot tempered, Martha worried a lot, the Samaritan woman had many failed marriages, Zacchaeus was unpopular, Thomas had doubts, Paul had poor health and Timothy was timid." That is quite a variety of misfits but God used each one of them in his service. Obviously, the point is that he will use you too if you stop making excuses. "For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)

Disciple or Apostle?

2009-02-20T10:49:00.000-08:00

Would you rather be a disciple or an apostle? I am sure you think that is a very curious question, and in some ways it is. In fact, the choice might not even be yours, but it is an interesting analogy. Disciple is a very nice term and a great title that was used of those that followed Christ. Apostle was a more select term. But when I look at the definition of the two, I would suggest that most of us unknowingly prefer to be a disciple more than an apostle. Who is a disciple? Someone who believes the right things. Who is an apostle? Someone sent on a specific mission. Do you see the difference? Get ready for some contrasts as I speak on Jesus and his beginning as the Messiah. What does that mean? The title - "What's Next?"

Let me share this story with you. There is an old story that when Jesus arrived in heaven after the ascension, a member of the heavenly hosts asked him who he had left in charge and what institution he had placed to carry out his work now that he was no longer walking the earth himself. Jesus replied, "Well, I have left about 120 followers." The heavenly host member looked at who those 120 were and said, "That's it? They aren't a very impressive band. Their leaders are just fisherman, tax collectors and the like. What if they fail? What's Plan B?" And Jesus replied, "If they fail there is no Plan B; I have no other plan." Jesus left about 120 people, barely the size of a small congregation. That small entourage, empowered by the Holy Spirit, accomplished God's purpose and it's still going on today.

Looking For Love

2009-02-15T10:42:00.000-08:00

The subject of love is real for everyone. We all long for a genuine love that will touch us deep within. The most prevalent definition of love in our world is about the love that is shared between a man and a woman. This is the love that we emphasize at Valentine's Day most often and that's a very good kind of love. For example, the prince was enraptured with Cinderella's intelligent, sensitive conversation; he was smitten by her wardrobe and her teeny, tiny feet. The same theme goes for Snow White and Sleeping Beauty. This love is known as "eros" love. It's the love of a treasure hunt - a love that grows out of need, admiration and desire. It is real, but it is a love that has to be earned. Does your soul long for a more giving kind of love? I know it does because that's the way God made you. Welcome to a service where we express the most satisfying love . . . the Bible calls it "agape."

Ask yourself, "What is real love? In what ways has your soul been nourished by love?"

Honest Blogging

2009-02-08T11:49:00.001-08:00

I have had an interesting experience as a father . . . I’ve been reading my oldest son’s blog. He told me the next step is to actually make a comment about his blog. We’ll see . . . What I have noticed about my son’s blog is that he is very honest. He is not afraid to question the traditions of church, whether his own church, or the church in general. He will talk about his own questions and struggles. His readership has grown from a few to hundreds. I am proud of him and I am inspired by his honesty.

Let me attempt at being that honest – I have a love/hate relationship with being a pastor. There is a sense of fulfillment and excitement that is really energizing. For example, on January 11th we reenacted the response that we saw in the Magi by offering our own personal gifts to the Lord for 2009. There were a couple hundred sacrificial responses within our church body, indicating our desire to give our all to the Lord. As I read through some of them I was so encouraged and inspired. It was the mountaintop. But my heart sinks when I experience the prevailing discouragement that so many live with – an apathy about God and a wondering in life, pulled in every direction . . . losing one’s grip with the Lord. I struggle with the responsibility of the spiritual well-being of people that call New Harvest their home. People have told me that I don’t have to carry that weight, but I do. I have a love/hate relationship with being a pastor.

As I was reading ahead in 1 Samuel, these words got my attention, “Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the LORD was grieved that he had made Saul king over Israel.” (1 Samuel 15:35) Samuel is God’s appointed prophet, as the first several chapters of 1 Samuel indicate. Samuel mourned for Saul. (15v35) Saul had drifted far from his original humility and obedience to God. I guess mourning is part of the call to leadership in the church because you see people drifting away, like a guy named Saul. I mourn like that for those who drift. However, the words “the Lord was grieved that he made Saul king,” were even stronger for me. I am a pastor because God has called me to be a pastor, and my commitment is to finish well. I pray that I will not be a man that would grieve God. I don’t like the travail that sometimes grabs my heart concerning the condition of the church . . . New Harvest and the church in general. But more than anything else I want to please the Lord. He has called me to be a pastor and I will continue to say yes.

If I can't eat

2009-01-30T14:35:00.000-08:00

There was a little boy with a quarter to give during a Sunday offering. This Sunday, however, happened to be Communion Sunday, and as the elements were being passed the boy’s parents told him not to take any. “You’re not old enough,” they explained. Later, when the offering plate came by, however, the boy’s parents urged him to put in his quarter. He responded emphatically, “If I can’t eat, I won’t pay!”

I thought I would begin with a little humor as a way of announcing to you that we have the privilege of participating in the Lord’s Table this Sunday. Pastor Perry will lead the service, which will highlight the significance of participating in Communion. There is no doubt that Communion has been a very important part of the church and a reminder of what the Lord Jesus has done for us. The invitation to come to the Lord’s Table has been one that has thrilled the hearts of believers for centuries and I hope that you anticipate the worship, the meaning and the teaching that will surround the Lord’s Table this Sunday.

This Sunday will also highlight Pastor Perry Webb. Because of the membership vote of approval for our new budget, Perry is now serving as Associate Pastor of Care on a part-time basis and will receive compensation for his service at New Harvest. Perry has been as a volunteer pastor for two years, and now we are excited to acknowledge him in this new way to our church body. His ministry will focus on visitation, prayer and pastoral care, along with missions. Perry will work in partnership with John Doan, our new missions director. I look forward to you getting to know John as well.

These are exciting days at New Harvest Church. You can see the growing attendance and the hand of God at work.

"I'm Dreaming . . ."

2008-12-19T14:15:00.000-08:00

A fellow had gone through hard times in his life and made many poor choices. He found himself at a Catholic church just a few days before Christmas. He met the priest and said, “Father, I’ve been floating around long enough. Could I join your church and settle down?” The priest replied, “Why yes. But first let’s find out how much you know about the Bible and the Christian faith.” With Christmas coming soon the priest asked, “Where was Jesus born?” The man replied, “In Pittsburg.” The priest shook his head and the fellow tried again, “In Philadelphia?” Again the priest shook his head and not wishing to embarrass this broken man anymore and said slowly, “Jesus was born in Bethlehem.” Quickly the guy declared, “Oh yea. I knew it was somewhere in Pennsylvania.”

Christmas is such a marvelous time. Maybe this year the real significance of Christmas will be the focal point in more lives. That’s what we are hoping for as we present a service entitled, “I’m Dreaming . . .” This Sunday service is meant to touch the lives of the people who will come, both those that know Christ and know a lot about Christmas, and those that know very little but realize their need for help. Please pray with me that many will come, that the weather will cooperate and that God will use it to draw people to the true gift of Christmas.

It is a privilege being your pastor and sharing in such a meaningful time of the year with Christmas love and service to others. Thank you for partnering with me for the sake of Christ.

Hidden growth

2008-12-07T11:17:00.001-08:00

I feel led to just share an interesting thought with you that is connected to the wonder of God’s creation. I don’t know if you have viewed Jupiter, Venus and the moon shining brightly in the sky these last few days. In a similar way I was reading about the Ring Nebula, which looks like a smoke ring in the constellation of Lyra. It is a star in the process of exploding. Light from its explosion first reached the earth in 1054 AD. It was a supernova at that time, but now it is not so bright, but still exploding. It actually expands at the rate of 70 million miles a day. It is interesting to look through binoculars at something expanding 70 million miles a day. It does not budge. Its appearance size does not increase. Photographs of the Ring Nebula taken 15 years ago seem identical to photographs of it taken yesterday.

This brings up a spiritual point. Sometimes significant happenings are not visible to the naked eye, especially in the spiritual realm. But that’s only true from our perspective. If we could see from heaven’s standpoint we would know all that God is doing and intending to do in our lives. We would see God working in hearts in ways we cannot know. We would see God orchestrating circumstances that we know nothing about. We would see a galaxy of details being set in place for the moment when God brings the answer to fulfillment. The bottom-line – you can trust God, he is at work.

Winsome

2008-11-23T10:56:00.000-08:00

Did you know that George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789 although some were opposed to it? It fact there was discord among the Colonies, many feeling the hardships of a few Pilgrims did not warrant a national holiday. And later, President Thomas Jefferson scoffed at the idea of having a day of thanksgiving. However, Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, eventually became the catalyst through journalism to help establish a day of thanksgiving. After a 40 year campaign of writing editorials and letters to governors and presidents, Hales efforts became a reality, so that in 1863 President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a National Day of Thanksgiving.

I thought that was interesting in light of the day we live in. Some people scoff at the idea of God being the source behind all good things. Plus, the challenges in our world today are fairly difficult. We can even focus on circumstances and forget that God is in control. I want to help us look past the challenges and disappointments of life and focus on God’s faithfulness. We are going to study our last “W” which is a sermon entitled: “The Best ‘W’ of All.” It is going to be a glorious Sunday to be together as we lift up our praises to God.

It’s Thanksgiving time, and of all people on the face of the earth we understand the importance of gratitude and the good God who is behind all things; so let us come to our worship service this Sunday with a song of thanksgiving on our hearts.

We Worship

2008-11-14T11:46:00.000-08:00

Let me begin with something I read this week about worship:

You can no more command someone to worship God than you can command someone to appreciate other pieces of beauty. Can you imagine saying to a grandmother, “Now listen: In just a minute I am going to take you into the nursery to show you your new grandson for the first time. When you see him, you want to get tears in your eyes, draw a sharp breath, and then say, ‘Oh my, he is beautiful!’ Ok? You ready?” No, no. Life doesn’t work that way, and neither, therefore, does the worship of God. A person needs to see and understand God and God’s work first – worship is the response that naturally follows.

Are you ready for our second “w” in this special series in November entitled “www.newharvest.now”? How high on the priority list is worship in your life? Would you call New Harvest a deeply worshipful church? What does worship mean to you? If you want to do a little reading ahead, open the Bible to Hebrews 12:18-29 and get ready for Sunday morning at New Harvest Church. This is an exciting time in the life of the church and I hope to see you.

Let me just say that I believe that this holiday season may be one of the best we have ever had as individuals and as a church. The challenges of the economy will help us reprioritize the kind of focus that God intends for us during these special holiday times like Thanksgiving and Christmas. I hope this will be one of the best holiday seasons for you because what really matters will rise to the top for you and me.

The Deborah Factor

2008-11-09T09:21:00.000-08:00

This Sunday I begin a three-part series on some specific topics that I believe are very important to the health of our church. I have entitled the series “www.newharvest.now.” Each of these topics are separate and the only connection is they all begin with “w.” I will only tell you about the first. You could begin with this statement, “Women want to be treated as equals not sequels.” Or how about this statement, “Cosmetics is a boon to every woman, but a girl’s best friend is still a near-sighted man.” I am not sure that is a compliment, I just thought it was funny. Or this statement from Will Rogers, “There is two theories to arguing with a woman, neither one works.” “Being a woman is a terribly difficult task, since it consists principally in dealing with men.” Margaret Thatcher said, “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” That’s a good lead-in to our message this Sunday, found in Judges 4. The title of the message, “The Deborah Factor.” I hope you will make your way to New Harvest at 9 or 10:45 am this Sunday, November 9^th.

Just a personal note of gratefulness for my trip to Southern California. I enjoyed a few days with both of my daughters. There was a swim meet, a dinner date, great conversations and a lot of laughs. The Lord is blessing Karissa and Hannah in their educational pursuits. I am proud of them.

This has been a busy week as planning begins for ministry during the holidays. We have Thanksgiving Boxes, Angel Tree gifts, a Christmas Special, Children’s Choir, extra music, Women’s Brunch and more. It is going to be a wonderful holiday season as we thank God for his goodness to us and celebrate the coming of the Lord through the Christmas story.

It's Just Stuff

2008-10-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

I was reading in the October 13 TIME Magazine something about our economy that was on the lighter side: Instead of calling the “recession” try one of these new, upbeat terms . . .

$ Quality Family Time
$ Frugalfest
$ Saving Spree
$ American Idle
$ The Scrimpadelic Era
$ The Ramen Dynasty
$ Recess!

It’s hard to feel optimistic in the economic environment of our world these days, but you know that the Bible says that we are not to be anxious about anything, nor do we have any need to fear if we place our faith in the right source. What is the source of our happiness? What is the surest investment? How are we to view money and possessions? Again I have a few questions for you that I hope to address this Sunday as I bring a message entitled, “It’s Just Stuff.” This is the third message in our series about living in the United States in the volatile days before an election with so much uncertainty filling the air. Plus, this Sunday we will enjoy the inspiration of seven people being baptized, as well as Pastor Chad introducing us to a teenager who has just come to Christ. It is going to be an exciting morning to be together as a church.

I was listening to KLOVE Radio station this week and they mentioned the exciting story of a Baptist Church in Texas that was struggling which decided to deed over their property to the Assembly of God church that was being blessed by God even though they met in a school. This made national Christian news, affirming the unity we have as believers. We have been a part of such a miracle as well. The uniqueness of God’s blessing and the power of unity in the body of Christ is nothing short of a miracle. I just wanted to affirm to you again the wonder of what God has done here at New Harvest, as well as the connection with North Salem Baptist Church as we form one church for Him.

Timothy

2008-08-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

This Sunday I will speak on a biblical character that reminds me of me. I hope that doesn’t sound too grandiose. Of course, his character isn’t too well known in the Bible, but he plays an important role in the life of the church. He happens to be the pastor of the church of Ephesus and his name is Timothy. Timothy is a genuine follower of Christ who was willing to serve and wanted to do everything he could for the cause of Christ. Paul was speaking of Timothy when he said in Philippians 2:20-22, “I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.” I know that sounds complimentary and we are not supposed to give ourselves compliments, but I am a devoted man to the work of Christ. However, Timothy had this other side to his life that appears more fragile. Sometimes he was timid and would avoid conflict. I told Timothy reminds me of myself. That’s the part of Timothy I want to speak on. It seems like Timothy hid behind fear or shame, wanting everybody to like him. Paul challenges Timothy not to hide behind a mask. Timothy will be our character this Sunday as we look at a man who is both passive and passionate.

Do you think we all hide behind masks from time to time? We have a tendency to fall into the same patterns of living which are comfortable to us. Yet God wants us to experience so much more than what comes naturally to us. As we come to this last message on some of the more hidden characters of the Bible, I want you to be honest about the two sides of the coin of your life. One side being your human tendency; the other side being your love for Christ. Which is more predominant? How could Christ become more alive in you?

Mary Magdalene

2008-07-25T11:28:00.000-07:00

A few people have asked me about my point in last Sunday’s message concerning John the Baptist – I suggested he threw his “pearls to the swine.” In the case of King Herod and his adulterous with Herodias I thought John may have been too daring. There is a sense that he proclaimed this publicly and he continued to do so. Whatever the case, the Bible uses the phrase, “Do not throw your pearls to the swine.” That phrase is attention getting because it is so blunt. There are times when it is not wise, or even God’s desire, that we continue to challenge, or even to help or stay involved in someone’s life that has the potential of hurting us. There is a book title that said When Helping You is Hurting Me. Just today in Mark 11 I read about Jesus refusing to answer the chief priest, and teaches the law, when they asked him, “By what authority are you doing these things?” He gave them another question and asked about John the Baptist, whether he was from heaven or from men. They didn’t answer him and Jesus said, “Neither will I answer you.” I think this is an example of not throwing your pearls to the swine. This is an issue of wisdom. When will our help just enable people to stay stuck in their present behaviors? When will a confrontation actually make a person more hardened and even retaliate like John the Baptist experienced? This is not a clear cut subject, but I wanted you to know that there are times that you withhold your involvement so that God has room to move. What do you think?

God's Word

2008-06-27T13:06:00.000-07:00

I have another story for you told of Harry Cohn. For many years he was the head of Columbia Movie Studios. In the early days Harry’s brother came out from New York and was criticizing the way Harry did things. They got into a heated argument. Harry said, “I bet you don’t even know The Lord’s Prayer.” His brother replied, “What’s that got to do with anything?” Harry again said, “I just bet you don’t’ know The Lord’s Prayer.” His brother confidently said, “Well of course I do! Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake. I pray the Lord my soul to take.” Reluctantly, Harry said, “Oh well, I apologize. I didn’t really think you knew it.” Many times we think we know what’s in the Bible, and yet it is impossible to really know the marvelous truth of God’s Word without reading it. Again, I challenge you to commit yourself to reading the Word of God on a daily basis.

Right now we are reading in the Book of Hebrews. Today I read this marvelous statement, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Now listen to what the Life Application Bible says about that marvelous verse: “The Word of God is not simply a collection of words from God, a vehicle for communicating ideas; it is living, life-changing, and dynamic as it works in us. With the incisiveness of a surgeon’s knife, God’s Word reveals who we are and what we are not. It penetrates the core of our moral and spiritual life. It discerns what is within us, both good and evil. The demands of God’s Word require decisions. We must not only listen to the Word; we must also let it shape our lives.” Our theme 2008 is found in Romans 12:2, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” How’s God’s Word renewing your mind?

Our entry into our new facility begins soon with Wednesday night for a special gathering of study and prayer held there on July 9^th and our first workday on Saturday, July 12^th. You will hear more about it in church. These are exciting days to be a part of our fellowship.

Commitment

2008-06-22T12:09:00.000-07:00

I have another story for you: A big-game hunter went on a safari with his wife and mother-in-law. One evening, while still deep in the jungle, the lady awoke to find her mother gone. Rushing to her husband, she insisted on them both trying to find her mother. The hunter picked up his rifle and started to look for her. In a clearing not far from the camp they came upon a chilling site. The mother-in-law was backed up against a thick, impenetrable bush, and a large male lion stood facing her. The wife cried, “What are we going to do?” “Nothing,” said the hunter husband. “The lion got himself into this mess, let him get himself out of it.”

There are numerous stories like this that pertain to mother-in-laws, but none of the stories about mother-in-laws are quite as powerful as the one found in the Book of Ruth. Naomi is the mother-in-law of Ruth, and their story will be the highlight of my message this Sunday. Along with preaching about Ruth, will be the recognition of North Salem Baptist Church, as we invite them to partner with us as church making a difference for Christ. It will be a great Sunday to be here and affirm their generosity, and our desire to partner with them.

We have had several meetings this week, and even more to come about our move-in to 4290 Portland Road. You will notice a banner sign on the property that says “Future Home of New Harvest Church.” It is an exciting time in the church. We are going to use the summer to prepare rooms, paint walls, landscape property and more, preparing us for an exciting launch as we begin the fall school year. With that in mind, please pray that God will lead us to a church that may utilize this facility by taking over our lease. We have a six-month lease which can be broken earlier if there is another church to take our place..

This is a very exciting time in the life of our church as we are recipients of God’s goodness and his abundant favor. I continue to pray that we will use this opportunity to the fullest for His Glory.

2008-06-08T09:55:00.000-07:00

Could things get any more exciting?! I had the privilege to be a part of the signing and the exchange of $110,000 this past Thursday morning. This sale has been filed with the State and we are the owners of 4290 Portland Road and the 6.2 acres surrounding the facility. God has been so gracious to us. This is a real gift, generated in the hearts of the North Salem Baptist members, entrusted to us by God that we would be faithful to this opportunity. As the scriptures say, “make the most of every opportunity,” and that literally means “redeeming the time.” We not only have the privilege of buying this property, but we need to also buy up this opportunity to represent the Gospel of Jesus Christ well from our new setting.

This Sunday is going to be a wonderful time at church also. Chad and the Youth Group are spearheading this Service and Chad has a good message for the graduating seniors and for us. I really want to encourage you to be here so that you can see the growth that is taking place in our Youth Ministry, not just in numbers but also in depth. There will be several testimonies, as well as recognition of the High School seniors who are graduating. We want to congratulate them and pray for them. They have a hopeful future in Christ even though statistically High School seniors entering college and/or the job market have been challenged in their faith like never before. Let’s help our seniors succeed as followers of Jesus Christ as they step into the future.

Pastor Steve and I will be over at North Salem Baptist Church for some of the morning. I will be teaching a adult Sunday School class at 9:30am, sharing the vision of New Harvest Church with a group of 30 or 40 adults. Pastor Steve will be a part of their worship service and do the preaching for their Sunday Service. North Salem Baptist Church will have one more service at our new church setting on Father’s Day, June 15^th. Then they will be taking the steps to dissolving their corporation and hopefully linking arms with us in our effort to serve Christ.

Did you know that we have had 18 new professions of faith this year so far? Chad will be recognizing a young lady from our Youth Group Sunday morning as well. This is a marvelous time to be a part of New Harvest Church.

Communion

2008-06-01T10:00:00.001-07:00

Obviously one of the most important things on my mind is this exciting opportunity to gather at North Salem Baptist Church this Sunday night at 6 pm to have a membership vote for purchasing the church and property surrounding the church. However, in preparation for this very important evening together we will meet Sunday morning for Communion. Communion has been a very important aspect in the life of the Christian church since Jesus instituted it the night he was betrayed. I want to have a great meeting Sunday night, and I think the forerunner to it is to have a deeply honest connection with Christ Sunday morning. Communion is a marvelous way to renew and affirm our love for Christ.

Maybe you remember Pastor Steve mentioning something about the Amish and their preparation for Communion. In the Amish culture they only celebrate Communion twice a year. When they do they prepare for a whole month of what is called “a season of preparation.” During that season the Amish take seriously the admonition that if anyone holds a grudge against his brother he is not to partake in the communion until he has put things right. If forgiveness isn’t offered, then how can forgiveness freely flow in our hearts?! Jesus said if we refuse to forgive there is a similar disconnect with the forgiveness that he gives. The forgiveness in this case is not based upon one’s salvation, but on the ongoing relationship that we have with the Lord. If we hold a grudge then there is an obstacle to our relationship with God. Likewise, if we are practicing sin, then there is an obstacle to our relationship with God. If we are living a compromised life, then there is an obstacle with our relationship with God. If we have taken the word sin out of our Christian vocabulary, we are missing the kind of depth that God wants to work in our lives that brings incredible freedom and joy. I challenge you to take some time before Sunday morning to prepare your hearts for the communion meal Sunday morning at our church.

Promises

2008-05-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

Each day I ask you this question when you read the Word of God: “What is the Lord saying to you? Or, how would you apply it to your life?” This morning I read this vow that Jacob made to the Lord in Genesis 28:20-22, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.”

On September 27, 1980, I made a promise to my bride, Wendy. I have not been the perfect husband, but I have honored my promise and been faithful to her. Jacob is making a promise to God. As God is faithful to him, and the Lord watches over him, Jacob will follow the Lord all of his days and will be sure to express his gratitude by giving a tenth back to the Lord for his kingdom purposes. The principle of the tenth (or the tithe) runs through the whole scriptures. There is a sense of commitment behind it and gratitude. When you release a tenth of your income to the Lord’s work, you are showing that he is #1 in your life and that all that you have is his. You become a participant in what God wants to do at New Harvest, in Salem/Keizer, and throughout the world as you give generously. God’s people have been marvelous examples to the world during the hardest economic times by continuing to give generously to God’s work. I know the Lord is going to take care of me, and I am assured of it through his promises. How ‘bout you? Won’t you continue to trust God by releasing a tenth of all that you receive from him for his kingdom work?!

Something is stirring in my heart about Sunday. I believe there is an exciting message from God for us as a church found in Acts 23. Also the music that is being prepared for worship gives me a sense of anticipation for the opportunity to worship God and be together as his people.

Can Satan Read Your Mind?

2008-04-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

Wednesday night we had a lively discussion about the power and limitations of Satan and his angels. There are over 200 references to Satan, the devil and demons in the Bible. As I was studying this broad subject for my message on April 13, I received an insight that I believe was from God that gave me a great deal of comfort and confidence. You and I are “one” dimensional; Satan and his demons are “two” dimensional; but God Almighty is “THREE” dimensional. I said something about the devil and his workers being two dimensional because they know our thoughts. Since then, I have studied that idea and we participated in a discussion Wednesday night about that fact. I see no clear reference in the Bible that says that demons know your thoughts. The references are mostly about how he can influence your thoughts through temptation, deception, lying . . . to entice you to sin.

In Ephesians 6, the Bible uses the words “flaming arrows.” This is a general description of the devil’s opposition to us as followers of Jesus Christ. It can refer to our vulnerability for fear, doubt, anger, lust, depression, shame, etc. These attacks come from the external source of enemy forces and try to penetrate a person’s mind, will or emotions. The purpose is to tempt or compel a vulnerable Christian into committing sin, and thus weaken our testimony. With those kind of preoccupations, he can entice us away from the purpose of our lives and cause us to be ineffective. This is serious, as I mentioned in the sermon on April 13. There is no doubt that Satan and his angels have greater power than you and me. That is, we are one dimensional because we are only aware of what is true in us as individuals, but he is two dimensional, knowing ways to effectively attack each of us.

However, when we are sincerely connected to the Almighty God in the name of Jesus Christ, we have power to resist the devil and put on the full armor of God. I want you to put on the full armor of God and watch our three-dimensional God, who knows all, protect you with the spiritual gifts of truth, righteousness, peace, faith and his eternal Word. There is no need to fear, but neither do we want to be ignorant. Brothers and sisters, I encourage you to extinguish these flaming arrows with a faith that is strong and growing. Faith is Jesus Christ and an intimate knowledge of his Word will protect you. “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then . . .” (Ephesians 6:10f) You are encouraged to stand firm in the faith. Remember the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and his ultimate victory. You have everything from God that you need to stand firm!

The Lord's Will Be Done

2008-04-18T17:34:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Chad Harvey, as our church unanimously voted for him to begin his full-time service at New Harvest on June 1. This is an ideal time because the summer has lots of potential for our young people to connect with each other and reach out to their friends. There is more discretionary time during the summer, as well as the already scheduled events like our mission trip from June 13-21. FYI - The membership voted 51 (yes) to 0 (no); the regular attenders who were a part of the meeting this past Sunday voted 31 (yes) and 0 (no). We are delighted with how God is using Chad and Jessica in our midst and we look forward to what he will do in the future. Please pray for them and our young people as this is such a strategic season in the life of a teenager, as well as a wonderful opportunity for us as a church to see God work in even greater ways among our students. May the Lord bless Chad and Jessica.

This Sunday the message will highlight an event in the Book of Acts found in chapter 21. There is a phrase that has caught my attention, and I can’t get it out of my mind – “The Lord’s will be done.” This is a key phrase in the New Testament. The Apostle Paul said something similar in Acts 18:21, “I will come back if it is God’s will.” How am I to understand God’s will? When Lila Troutman heard of her husbands drowning at age 50, she quoted Psalm 115:3, “Our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases.” Dawson Troutman, the founder of the Navigators, tried to rescue two girls who were thrown from a speedboat when he ended up drowning himself. Dawson’s wife took comfort in the fact that God does all things well, even if she didn’t understand it. You can know that whatever the future brings, our God has a plan and nothing surprises him. We may ask why, but in the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, we can take comfort in knowing that God knows what is best. Please join me as we investigate this important subject as well as offer you a special invitation to enter into a very deep relationship with God that is built on trust.

We will also enjoy several baptisms as a part of our worship service this Sunday. It will be a grand time to be together. Did you know that there were 316 people that attended church last Sunday? This is a great time to be a part of New Harvest.

The powerful documentary, Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, is scheduled for release today, April 18. The film exposes a campaign of intimidation, harassment, persecution and a career-assassination that has been carried out for years against those who question the reigning orthodoxy of neo-Darwinism. You will love this movie!

The Number 13

2008-04-11T09:56:00.000-07:00

This Sunday will be April 13. That doesn’t seem like such a big deal. But it got me to thinking about the number 13. We all know the number is thought of as an unlucky number. This Sunday I plan to give you the “scoop” on the number 13. Is it really unlucky? What is that idea based on?? Since April 13 is this Sunday, and not a Friday, are we ok? Is this reality or superstition? In our story from Acts 19 we read about people using handkerchiefs and aprons from Paul to heal the sick. What’s that all about? Is that superstition or reality? In that same story, when some people use the name of Jesus but don’t know him personally, what happens? The story goes on to tell that one man beat up seven Jewish exorcists and all seven of them ran away naked and wounded. Is that reality or superstition?

Have I got you curious enough to check it out? Well, I am not sure of all the answers to even the questions I have asked, but I am going to give it a try this Sunday as we look at how much is a part of the unseen world. In the Book of Acts, just when we think there is great advancement, it seems like something comes out of the blue and tries to bring a stop to what God is about through the good news of Jesus Christ. That is not surprising, it’s happened throughout history. We will look at it again with a message entitled, “Backstage – What You Don’t See.”

I hope you will also make a point to come to our special congregational meeting as our Youth Ministry is presented, along with our half-time Youth Pastor, Chad Harvey. We have a very important proposal that we want the members and regular attenders to hear firsthand. We will take a vote for members and regular attenders will also be able to give their opinion. The meeting is planned for 12:30pm this Sunday.

It's just math

2008-04-04T11:58:00.000-07:00

I’d like to have a little fun with you. For some of you this might not be as much fun as it is for others. It is a mathematical problem which could be entitled “Restaurant Math.”

1. First of all, pick up the number of times a week that you would like to go
out to eat (more than once but less than 10).
2. Multiply the number by 2 (just to be bold).
3. Add 5
4. Multiply it by 50
5. If you’ve already had your birthday this year, add 1,758 . . . if you
haven’t, add 1,757.
6. Now subtract the four digit year that you were born.

You should have a three digit number. The first digit of this was your original number (how many times you want to go out to a restaurant in a week). The next two numbers are YOUR AGE – (Oh yes, it is!) This is the only year it will ever work, so spread it around while it lasts.

I have another mathematical suggestion that will add up to the kind of work that God wants to do in your life in 2008. How many times a week would you like to read the Bible (more than 5 but less than 10)? Reading the Bible will be nourishment to your soul, more than even the best restaurants in town. How are you doing on your Bible reading? Bible reading in and of itself is not the key, but connecting with God through his Word is. The theme for 2008, “Transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2) Your soul will be transformed as you apply the Word of God to your life, all the while being spiritually nourished by the Holy Spirit.

As a Dad I am especially excited about this Sunday as my son Tyler, and his wife Rose, take the leadership role in our worship service. Our worship director, Shane, will be involved, and he has invited Tyler to be with us for this Sunday. It has worked out in his schedule and we will enjoy sharing Sunday morning with them. We will also be back in the Book of Acts. Don’t forget to read chapter 17, it will be the highlight of this message.

We are missionaries

2008-04-01T14:55:00.000-07:00

I read a couple of interesting sayings about missionaries. Each one of these is meant to be funny, of course.

Captured missionary to cannibals: "At least you get a taste of religion."
It’s difficult for missionaries to make a living working with cannibals, they keep eating up the prophet!

That probably reveals more about my sick sense of humor than about the message I am feeling led to share through this e-mail. First thing I want to say, please pray for our Youth Group as there 15 teens and youth leaders ministering in Seattle to the homeless this weekend. Pray for their protection and that God would give them opportunity to share the Good News. This is their fourth mission trip during Spring Break to the inner-city of Seattle.

We want to be missionary church. We are on a mission to reach people and to help them become growing disciples in Christ. Without this God-given purpose life could be rather discouraging, or at least empty. It isn’t very satisfying just to accumulate things in this life when life on earth is short in comparison to preparing for eternity. I remind you in this e-mail that you have a purpose from God as his follower, and that is to make ripples of kindness, ripples of serving, ripples of love, ripples of truth that will touch one life after another. Being a missionary is simply making ripples for God as we point people to Christ.

Easter was great as usual with at least 50% more people in attendance than normal. We had 6 specific professions of faith and we are beginning to follow up on those lives this week. May Easter be a catalyst for a growing effect of our church body on the lives of others. We are missionaries.

Easter

2008-03-21T18:33:00.001-07:00

remember when I was younger and attending church with my family. There was a hymn that had these words, “stricken, smitten and afflicted.” Those words stick in my mind and pertain to Good Friday. The Lord was pierced for my sins and yours. Tonight we are going to focus on the cross and the passion of Jesus Christ. Jesus was passionate for you and gave his life in your place. I don’t know about you, but I want to honor him tonight. I want to draw close to him. I want to be honest about my sin and express my commitment. This past Sunday I handed out a note card for you to use as a personal response to Jesus, emphasizing his sacrificial death on the cross. What would be your confession? How would you express your commitment to Jesus? That’s the emphasis tonight and I hope you will join us at 7pm. (Nursery provided)

Obviously, Easter follows Good Friday and we will gather together with all those that will be attending at 8, 9:30 or 11am this Sunday. It will be wonderful and the Gospel will be shared. I look forward to seeing you then.

One more thing. Don’t forget the Easter Egg Hunt Saturday (tomorrow) morning at 10am. Everyone is invited. Children (toddlers up to 5^th grade) will have a great time. We are excited to host our Angel Tree families for this fun event also.

If you are connected with our church you have probably already heard that Dave Milo has passed away. Dave’s funeral service will be held next Saturday, March 29^th at 10:30 am. The service will be at our church, and there is a visitation on Friday, March 28^th from 6-8pm at Howell-Edwards-Doerksen Funeral Home at 1350 Commercial St. SE, Salem. Please pray for the family, especially Grace and Amanda.

Will you worship?

2008-03-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

News of a terrorist bombing flashes across the TV screen. A politician’s character is assassinated in the name of good competition. Peace treaty efforts yield more violence. The world is a political mess.

A church splinters over worship style preferences. A prominent elder storms out of a congregational meeting. A young Sunday school teacher cries after being scolded by a parent. The world is an ecclesial mess.

Divorce rates climb. Children rebel. Rivalries between siblings rage on. The world is a familial mess.

We haven’t mentioned anything about economics or cultural tension or personal demise. All of these could be added to the story. Life seems to be an unpredictable set of challenging experiences. What do you do with that as an individual? How are we to respond?

In Acts 16 the power of God delivers a slave girl from the bondage of a demon. This is very hopeful and exciting. A few minutes later, the men who have faith to pray in the name of Jesus for the slave girl are being dragged to the city square and accused of arousing the city with confusion and religious turmoil. It won’t be long for these two individuals to be in the inner cell of a jail, experiencing the brunt of a messed up world. What should they do? Where should they turn? What would happen next? I’ll let you know Sunday morning at 9 or 11am, whichever service you choose. This is the gathering of God’s people at New Harvest Church, as well as offering a welcoming heart to our guests and visitors. See you then.

Salvation

2008-03-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

I have a question for you: How much does salvation pertain to heaven verses the here and now? When Jesus offered eternal life, do you think he was also concerned about life right now? And how about this question: When does eternal begin? In Romans 12:1 it says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” The phrase “in view of God’s mercy” points back to the wonderful promise of salvation that is offered through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Romans 1:16 says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes . . .” And then every chapter in Romans gives teaching on this marvelous salvation that offers us eternal life. But the phrase “living sacrifices” is about the here and now. The sense is that God not only wants us to be assured of the gift of heaven, but he also wants us to live these new lives right now. In fact, living heaven right now is more essential to the mission of God than going to heaven later. Our lives right now are the mirror of heaven for the world we live in.

This Sunday we will complete chapter 15 of Acts, which answers the question: What must I do to be saved? Salvation is the gift of faith. But the early church did not end with that alone. It also pointed to how to live life now. How many of us believe we are living heaven now? Not very many of us. I hope that God will challenge us all with these words found in Ephesians 4:1, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”

2008-02-22T17:09:00.000-08:00

As I write this note I am thinking about Sunday and the opportunity I have to speak after missing a couple of Sundays. Acts 15 is a great passage that continues to have a significant impact on our lives today. I will be focusing on the meaning of Acts 15 with a message entitled, “A New Kind of Christian is . . . Uncluttered.”

I read that to be happy, one should be married, a Republican, an evangelical protestant, located in the upper-middle class, live in a warm climate, be Caucasian, and have a security based on one’s financial status. At the same time, Paul said to Timothy in I Timothy 6:6 & 7, “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” Would you rather be happy or content? There are so many confusing messages in our world about what we really need to be satisfied in life. I feel pulled in many directions, don’t you?

Jesus said to seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things would be added to us as well. I want to have a simpler focus in my life. Jesus is the center and his grace is what makes me content. Would you join me in trying to embrace a simpler life; one that agrees with the Psalmist David in Psalm 27:4, “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” Or like Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Matthew 22:37) The greatest is the simplest.

The Gifts of Christmas - Week 2

2007-12-07T16:11:00.000-08:00

Are you ready for a little Christmas quiz?

What state is “White Christmas” set in?
Who is Bing Crosby’s army buddy in “White Christmas?”
In “Home Alone” a young boy is abandoned when his parents rush off to vacation in _________.
What was the first instrument on which “Silent Night” ever played?
What country did the traditional Christmas flower, the poinsettias originally grow in?
How many wise men came to the manger?
Which character in the Christmas story needed an OBGYN?
What was the setting of Jesus’ birth?

Christmas is an intriguing time. In preparing for Sunday, we are entering the most mysterious part of Christmas. Our character this Sunday is the Virgin Mary. Yet the story clearly tells us that she would give birth to a boy named Jesus. How could this be? We are going to be introduced to our second gift of Christmas through the life of Mary. In has an inspiring and softening effect on your heart and mind. I invite you to come and ponder with me the significance of Jesus being born to a young woman named Mary.

There is a lot happening in the church as we have our first Christmas play, entitled “Tis the Season” tomorrow night, December 8^th, at 7 pm. Everyone is welcome. I am looking forward to it with anticipation. The Angel Tree ministry only has a few gifts, around a dozen, left to be distributed in our church body. We will do that Sunday morning. There are still many things to take place before we reach the exciting evening of December 24th when we gather at 5 or 7 pm to worship the newborn Savior. I hope things are going well for you. I look forward to seeing you.

The answers to our Christmas quiz are . . . (see below)

1) Vermont 2) Danny Kaye 3) Paris 4) guitar 5)

Mexico

6) unknown 7) Mary 8) Stable, barn or cave because that’s where a manger would be kept.

The Gifts of Christmas - Week 1

2007-11-30T10:13:00.000-08:00

Let me start with this anecdote from a real life story:

Two fellows opened a butcher shop and prospered. Then an evangelist came to town and one of the butchers was saved. He tried to persuade his partner to accept salvation also, but to no avail. “Why won’t you Charlie?” asked the born-again fellow. “Listen Lester,” the other butcher said, “if I get religion, too, whose going to weigh the meat?”

That may seem like an unusual story to begin my weekly e-mail, which is meant to highlight the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is a time of anticipation of the coming of Christ. Christmas is a great time to deepen your relationship with the Lord as you appreciate the fact that God came to us through his Son. But the way that Advent begins throughout church history is more challenging than you might expect. The first statements of Advent come from John the Baptist when he says, “Prepare the way of the Lord.” In other words, ready your heart for an encounter with the Living God. Or another idea, if you aren’t ready to change, you’re probably not ready to receive what Christ has to offer this Christmas season.

In preparation for Sunday, ask yourself this question, “What’s most important to me at Christmastime?” Let that be a fill in the blank for you. I don’t want you to give an answer that you think is right, but rather one that you truly believe. What is most important to you at Christmas? Contemplate that question as you prepare yourself for our Sunday gathering and the sharing of the Lord’s Table. And if you are so inclined, read Luke 1:5-25, which will be the passage we will study together as a church. See you soon

P.S. Our Christmas program is scheduled for December 8^th, 14^th & 15^th at 7 pm. You won’t want to miss it. It is a great event to bring family and friends to as well. And, it’s free, of course.

World Changer

2007-11-06T15:52:00.000-08:00

An interesting exercise is putting in a title utilizing the Google search engine to see what comes up. I put the title “world changers” to see what I would get and the first several entries had to do with missionary work, which is encouraging. But the first world changer that had more of a secular twist was Oskar Schindler from World War II. We know of Oskar Schindler from the movie “Schindler’s List.” He was listed as a world changer. Sometimes various things claim to be world changers. I was reading a list that included the Fender bass guitar, the Model T Ford, and banana pie. We might not know why these are listed as world-changing innovations, but I have been thinking about that as I prepare for a message on a man named Saul who would soon be called Paul. I want to suggest that his world changed so much so that he became a world changer.

A message on Paul is a great way to wrap up our series for the fall on the Book of Acts. There are two great events that stand over all other events in the Book of Acts and the first is the coming of the Holy Spirit and the second is the conversion of Paul. That’s our study this week.

The story I read goes like this: “A man sitting beside me in a Pentecostal service at a storefront on Brook Avenue (in New York) once said to me, ‘You’re not from the neighborhood.’ When I said, ‘No,’ he shook my hand and said I should feel welcome. ‘If you’re looking to get you some church you came to the right place.’ ‘I’ll never forget that phrase, “get you some church,” because it sounded like good food that you were being offered and could count on it if you really wanted to be filled.” I really believe the Lord uses New Harvest church to give you some good church. It’s Friday but Sunday is coming and we have the privilege of worshipping our God, hearing his Word and being together. Don’t miss it. The Bible says it’s worth the effort.

Because of Jesus,

Barry

Satan's Attack

2007-10-26T14:57:00.000-07:00

That title should piqued your interest. This Sunday I am speaking on a controversial subject because around half of the populace doesn't believe that there is a real devil. The percentage will obviously be lower in our church but it still presses the question is there a real devil and does he affect our lives?

John Eldredge is a popular author and he wrote this in his book, "Wild at Heart" - Satan will throw a thought or a temptation at us in hopes that we will swallow it. He knows your story, knows what works with you and so the line is tailor-made to your situation. Just this morning in my prayer time it was pride, then worry, then adultery, then greed, then gluttony. If I thought this was all me, I'd be very discouraged. Knowing that my heart is good allowed me to block it, right then and there. When Satan probes, make no agreements. If we make an agreement, if something in our hearts says, "Yeah you're right," then he pours it on. For example, if you're a man and you see a beautiful woman and something within you says, "You want her." That's the Evil One appealing to the traitor within. If the traitor says, "Yes I do," then lust really begins to take hold. It can formed into what the Bible calls a "stronghold." This can make a good man feel awful because he thinks he's a lustful man when he's not, it's an attack through and through.

With Halloween a few days away and the sense of darkness both in nature and in the spiritual realm increasing, I am thinking about the devil's schemes and how I can overcome them. My encouragement is found in 1 Peter 5:6-9. Take a look for yourself.

Standing Firm,
Barry

How to understand the filling of the Spirit?!

2007-09-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

Hey Friends,

I appreciate the encouragement for those who recognize my new adventure in blogging. In fact, Sunday it will be in the bulletin. I am not sure what I am getting myself into but here goes nothing, as the saying goes.

As I begin my study of Acts, the ministry of the Holy Spirit intrigues me in a new and fresh way. I especially have been contemplating the idea of being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is mentioned several times in Acts and is repeated in Peter's life 3 or 4 times. So, what does that mean? I invite you to shape my thinking on this with your input. Are you filled with the Holy Spirit? Why or why not? How does that happen and what does speaking in tongues have to do with it?

Because blogging is interactive, give me a comment or two.

Yours, Barry

Anticipation of Acts

2007-08-30T11:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

I am being inspired by God as I read and study the Book of Acts. In 20 years of teaching and preaching, I can't remember doing a series on Acts. I am being ignited by the beginning life of the church. There is a very simple but significant part that highlights this beginning. It isn't an IT, but rather a WHO! I am refering to the Holy Spirit. The launch of the church and the motivation of the believer is summed up by the work of the Holy Spirit. What do you think of that? Even more important, when is the last time your reminded yourself that you can't do anything of eternal value without Christ's Spirit? Anyway, I hope you are open to the inspiration of God's Spirit.

Barry

My first post!

2007-08-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

Hey friends,

Vin Thomas, our worship director, has taught me how to do this. I plan to regularly communicate with you on the blog. So this is it for now!

Barry