Rogue River Assembly Of God is Debt-Free

Today Holly and I took a check to the bank and payed off the church mortgage!

Thanks Again to Bob and June Robertson for their generosity!

I know a lot of pastors who are heavily burdened by overwhelming debt!

What a privilege to pastor a DEBT-FREE church!

This really is reason to CELEBRATE!

To have such a beautiful facility and be debt-free is amazing in today's society!

God Blesses this kind of responsible stewardship!

PRAISE THE LORD!

Amazing Teachers, Wonderful Students...Another Day At Christian Life School...Now everybody knows what Holly and I do while CLS studies

Nothin But GOOD NEWS at our Annual Business Mtg

Tonight we elected Bob Robertson and re-elected Phyllis Hill to our church board!

GOOD NEWS was shared about the church being completely out of debt because we sold an antique car the Robertsons donated!

We CELEBRATED the many ministries God is blessing and ATE PIE!

(You'll notice from the pictures even our youngest church member was present)

Here is the teaching I opened the meeting with...

Why We Don't Have to Win Every Argument: Ray Pritchard

Romans 14-15
Welcome weaker believers – 14:1

Don't quarrel over secondary matters –14:1

Don't despise someone you disagree with – 14:2

Don't pass judgment on another believer – 14:3

Be convinced in your own mind – 14:5

Live for the glory of the Lord – 14:5-7

Remember that you will answer to God someday – 14:12

Don't put a stumbling block in front of someone else – 14:13

Respect the conscience of others who see things differently – 14:14-15

Be careful about your actions – 14:16

Christ matters more than our opinions – 14:17-18

Your thoughtless words can destroy another person – 14:15

Your thoughtless words can destroy God's work –14:20

Unity matters more than your personal freedom – 14:2-21

Keep your mouth shut about your personal opinions – 14:22

Enjoy your freedom but do not flaunt it – 14:22

Don't violate your own conscience – 14:23

Carry those who are weak – 15:1

Don't please yourself – 15:1

Focus on how to help others – 15:2

Remember the example of Christ – 15:3

As I look at what Paul has said, several thoughts come to mind:
1. This is a very daunting list. 2. If we actually lived like this, most church conflicts would disappear.3. We will never live like this on our own. We need God's help.4. It must be a huge issue because Paul devotes so much space to it.
What Paul Doesn't Say
He never says, "Prove the other person is wrong."
What are we to make of this? Why doesn't Paul encourage them to do what we automatically try to do--convince others of the superiority of our own opinions? A number of answers come to mind.

1) It's almost impossible to argue someone out of a deeply-held position. We've all tried to do it, haven't we? And it almost never works. You talk and you discuss, you bring up logical reasons, you make your case, you demolish their case, you answer their objections, in short, you win the argument. But your victory is hollow because "a man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." If down deep someone loves country music, you can argue for Bach all you want, and they will still prefer Waylon Jennings. Music isn't a matter of argument; it's a matter of taste, of culture and history and tradition. It's a matter of the heart, not the head. That's not to say that musical preferences can't change. They can and they do, but that can't be forced by someone else.

2) Once you focus on secondary issues, you soon lose sight of the things that matter most. That's a huge part of Paul's argument in Romans 14-15. The kingdom of God matters more than personal opinion. God values righteousness, peace and joy among his people more than uniformity of personal opinion about secondary matters. In a sense, you might say that God is perfectly willing for the strong and the weak to live together in peace and harmony even though it's better to be strong than to be weak. Or said another way, it's okay to be wrong about smaller issues as long as you are right about the larger issues of life.

3) We are all "strong" in some areas and "weak" in others. We all have some issues (secondary issues) that matter a great deal to us. And in some cases, we are ready to fight for those things because they mean so much to us. Sometimes the only way to preserve peace is to go our separate ways. Sometimes the only way to love each other is from a distance. This is a regrettable truth about Christian living in a fallen world. We don’t always agree, and sometimes we can't find a way to get along and work together in close quarters. And God (because he is sovereign and wise and full of mercy) is able to use those disagreements (as he did with Paul and Barnabas) to bring about the furtherance of the gospel. Out of pain and many tears and the heartbreak of broken relationships, God sows the seeds of a new advance for his kingdom. This does not justify harsh words and foolish actions nor does it absolve us of the need to work for peace and to ask for forgiveness when we have sinned, but it demonstrates that our divisions and disagreements can ultimately work out for good in ways that we could never have foreseen.
How should we feel about those with whom we strongly disagree? This is a difficult question that challenges us on many levels. It's not hard to be kind to people who agree with us. It's much harder to find the right balance when you are in the midst of a heated conflict. I recently ran across a letter that Mahatma Gandhi wrote to Arthur Moore in December 1940. In just three sentences he summarizes the way we ought to feel toward those with whom we have strong disagreements:
I see that we cannot agree as to facts and, where we agree, we view them from different angles of vision. Therefore we must for the time being agree to differ. ‘We shall know each other better when the mists have rolled away.’ I know that our friendship can easily bear the strain of our differences.

4) Ultimately we are forced to admit that the church is not ours, but God's. Pastors come and go, people come and go, families come into the church and then leave the church, the community changes, and over time churches slowly change. Nothing in this world stays the same forever. I heard about a woman whose family helped found a particular church. Over the years her family has given an enormous amount of money to the church for various projects. As a result, she and her family occupy a place of considerable importance in congregational life. It happens that there are some people who are unhappy with the pastor for various reasons. In discussing the controversy with her children, the woman urged them not to worry about it. "We were here before the pastor got here, and we'll be here long after he's gone." On a practical level, she's probably right. Lots of longtime church members have lived through (and in some cases "survived") quite a few pastors. But underlying that statement is the unspoken assumption that "we built this church and it belongs to us."

No, it doesn't.

The church doesn't belong to the pastor.

The church doesn't belong to the people.

The church belongs to the Lord.
He is the head of the church.

He purchased it with his own blood.

He gives it his life.

Christ is Made the Sure Foundation
Christ alone is the head of the church. No human being "owns" the church. Because it belongs to the Lord, he can take care of his own possession. Because he is building it day by day, he knows exactly where each piece fits. Because he is the foundation, the church ultimately can never be destroyed. An unknown 7th century author wrote a hymn that was translated from Latin into English by John M. Neale in 1851. The first verse speaks to this great truth.
Christ is made the sure Foundation,Christ the Head and Cornerstone;Chosen of the Lord, and precious,Binding all the Church in one,Holy Zion’s Help forever,And her Confidence alone.

Do we expect Christ to be obviously present in our congregations?

Do we want him to be actively in charge when we meet?

When the body says to the head, "We don't need you. We can handle this on our own," a total breakdown is not far away.
Behind our divisions and our disagreements, behind our fussing and feuding, behind all our divisive squabbling over secondary matters, behind it all stands a stark truth. We have severed ourselves from Christ our head.

No wonder we have problems.

No wonder we can't get along.

No wonder we spread rumors.

No wonder we pick at each other.

No wonder some even hate going to church.

Good theology can save us, and bad theology will destroy us. As long as we think the church belongs to us, we have to fight for whatever we believe in, even at the expense of the gospel itself. But when secondary issues become more important than the gospel, the church ceases to care about reaching the lost and becomes inward focused. I am saying that it is possible for an evangelical church to become so consumed with inner controversy over secondary issues that it severs itself from Christ.

But if Christ is the head of the church . .
We can trust him to change opinions if they need to be changed.

We can wait for him to do his work.

We don't have to always have our own way.

We can set aside lesser things for his sake.

We can seek the good of those with whom we disagree.

We can work together for the sake of the kingdom.

And if we must go our separate ways . . .
We can do it with faith that he has not left us.

We can trust that he will continue to lead us.

We can know that he will do what needs to be done.

We can give up seeking revenge because vengeance belongs to the Lord.

We can resolve to speak good and not evil about others.

We can let go of the past.

We can press forward into the future.
In short, we can let God be God.

And we can say, "Let the church roll on."

Strange Fire...Sermon Notes

Two priests died at the same time and met Saint Peter at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter said, "I'd like to get you guys in now, but our computer is down. You'll have to go back to Earth for about a week, but you can't go back as priests. So what else would you like to be?" The first priest says, "I've always wanted to be an eagle, soaring above the Rocky Mountains." "So be it," says St. Peter, and off flies the first priest. The second priest mulls this over for a moment and asks, "Will any of this week 'count', St. Peter?" "No, I told you the computer's down. There's no way we can keep track of what you're doing." "In that case," says the second priest, "I've always wanted to be a stud." "So be it," says St. Peter, and the second priest disappears. A week goes by, the computer is fixed, and the Lord tells St. Peter to recall the two priests. "Will you have any trouble locating them?" He asks. "The first one should be easy," says St. Peter. "He's somewhere over the Rockies, flying with the eagles. But the second one could prove to be more difficult." "Why?" asketh the Lord. "He's on a snow tire, somewhere in North Dakota."

That ofcourse has nothing to do with today’s message
Continuing my rebellion against my sermon series ways
Today’s message is entitled: STRANGE FIRE

Leviticus 9:22-10:3 (Amplified Bible)
22Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them, and came down [from the altar] after offering the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offerings.
23Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord [the Shekinah cloud] appeared to all the people [as promised].
24Then there came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
Leviticus 10
1AND NADAB and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and offered strange and unholy fire before the Lord, as He had not commanded them.
2And there came forth fire from before the Lord and killed them, and they died before the Lord.
3Then Moses said to Aaron, This is what the Lord meant when He said, I [and My will, not their own] will be acknowledged as hallowed by those who come near Me, and before all the people I will be honored. And Aaron said nothing.

Footnotes:
Perhaps few people have ever identified themselves with Nadab and Abihu, and yet few, if any, of us have not done exactly what they did in principle. Their sin, which God took so seriously and which proved fatal to them, was not a mere matter of failing to obey the letter of God’s law for priests. Their inexcusable folly was in trying to please the Lord their way instead of His way. Who of us cannot recognize himself as the offerer of this prayer, with only the details lacking: “O Lord, make me rich! Then I will make large donations to Your interests!” Yet our very poverty may be the means to the end which He has in love and wisdom planned for us, the ultimate purpose of our creation, perhaps, which substitution of our will for His will would utterly defeat. No wonder God removed Nadab and Abihu from the earth! They, like ourselves, had acted like the child of a great painter who attempted to work on his father’s priceless canvas instead of on the tablet assigned to him. They, like the child, were banished from the father’s presence. And every believer does well to recognize the importance of being entirely surrendered to “God’s will; nothing more; nothing less; nothing else; at any cost.” And that does not mean first making an unholy alliance in marriage, or in business, or in thought, and then adjusting it to God’s will. Remember Nadab and Abihu, who “offered strange and unholy fire before the Lord.” It does not pay.

We have all offered God strange fire:

1. Strange Fire is anything outside His perfect Will and Kingdom…

How many times have we Prayed for His blessing instead of His Will
We make up our minds we want to do something and instead of asking for God’s direction we ask Him to bless what we want to do
The most fundamental or highest priority of following Christ being a Christian is practicing the LORD’s prayer
If we do not pray Thy Kingdom Come Thy Will Be Done than we are not praying, we’re just closing our eyes, getting on our knees and demanding our own way

Psalm 145
10 All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you. 11 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, 12 so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.

William Penn, back in 1677
Made some sense of what we’re talking about today
When you come to your meetings...what do you do? Do you
then gather together bodily only, and kindle a fire, compassing yourselves about with the sparks of your own kindling, and so please yourselves, and walk in the
light of your own fire, and in the sparks which you have kindled...? Or rather, do you sit down in True Silence, resting from your own Will and Workings, and waiting upon the Lord, with your minds fixed in that Light wherewith Christ has
enlightened you, until the Lord breathes life in you, refresheth you, and prepares you, and your spirits and souls, to make you fit for his service, that you may offer
unto him a pure and spiritual sacrifice?

2. Strange Fire is serving a church tradition or program with higher commitment than our relationship to Christ…

How many sacred cows have caused a church split
It’s amazing how petty religious people can be

Think about Nadab and Abihu
Actually the story is rather frightening
Recognize they were sacrificing, practicing a religious tradition
When God turned them into toast
I Wonder how many times God’s grace has saved our religious leaders from becoming a burnt sacrifice
Think of all the crazy things religious leaders have done in the name of God

I pray that the Lord would give us true discernment to the strange fire of the past and present infecting the church

I think the apostle Paul says it all in 1 Corinthians 2
1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.[a] 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

This is what I ranted about on my annual report
The Church must stop looking for a charismatic leader
This is how we get antichrists
The Church must stop buying into American consumerism
No more walking in the flesh
Oh that we may live in the Spirit

3. Strange Fire is mindlessly coming before God in worship without reverence or fear…

I’m not talking about practicing OT rituals
But we are way too casual these days

I’m desperate to get across what I’m trying to say here
Today’s Christian is much too casual with the things of God
If there isn’t a small trembling while partaking of communion
OR a desire to kneel at the altar
Or commitment in attendance of services instead of flippancy
IF the heart isn’t moved while singing the words of our praise songs
A careful handling of the word of God

The same God who killed Nadab and Abihu for failing to practice worship the way He commanded
Is the same God we worship today at RRAG
It’s overwhelming
This is what makes Grace so AMAZING

2 Corinthians 3
The Glory of the New Covenant
7Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

Remember the three R’s from today’s msg:
Repent (His Will)
Relationship (Heart over Tradition)
Reverence (Healthy Fear)

Christian Life School in the RR Press

Our wonderful little school has gotten a lot of publicity lately...

Our students excelled in the Spelling B...

OMSI came and did a special assembly...

Army Maj. Jeffery Crapo presented a photo of his battalion to the students of Christian Life School in thanks for last year's project (care packages sent to Iraq)...

I'm not sure if you can see the articles online, but here's a link to RR press: http://www.rogueriverpress.com/

Easter Is Coming

I know it doesn't sound very pastoral...

But I LOVE CADBURY EGGS!

Thanks to Michelle Grosse for remembering her pastor loves the gooey chocolate mess.

She brought me this egg Wed. night!

Ofcourse Easter has nothing to do with bunnies and candy...

BUT I aint no uptight Christian!

Easter is hitting us early this year...March 23

Easter is so important...without it, our faith means nothing...

1 Corinthians 15

12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

Adoption Video

This family is part of our adoption agency. They just returned home from Ethiopia.

Our Buzz is Now an Author

Coy Bozeman (Buzz) serves on our church board.

He and his wife, Maureen have faithfully attended our church for many, many years!

Buzz just finished his first book, entitled: You said Retire and Have Fun. What's the Problem?

It's filled with hilarious anecdotes of he and his brother's craziness!

My Holly edited it...It was a first for her too...She's never been an editor before...

Today the Bozeman's hosted a Book Signing after church...lot's of fun...and they had CAKE!

If you want a copy I found it online at... http://www.word-power.co.uk/books/you-said-retire-amp-have-fun-whats-the-problem-I9781424195381/

I saw Buzz had a box of books at the book signing today, so you could go directly to the source...

Child-like Faith: This Morning's Sermon

If you missed this morning's service, you missed one of the cutest things that has ever happened at Rogue River Assembly of God. The ADORABLE Dara kids sang...This Little Light Of Mine!

Kids statements that are a little... off track:

* God bless America thru the night with a light from a bulb!

* Oh Susanna, Oh don't you cry for me, For I come from Alabama with a band-aid on my knee!

* Give us this day our deli bread! Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Whole East Coast.

* We shall come to Joyce's, bringing in the cheese.

* He carrots for you.

* Praise God From whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures, HERE WE GO

* While shepherds washed their socks by night

* He socked me and boxed me with His redeeming glove.

At the Lord’s leading I’m veering from my usual sermon series ways
Today’s message is entitled CHILD LIKE FAITH

Mark 10
13People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

The very heart of the gospel is Jesus' mandate for child-like faith!
The bottom line to salvation is being able to say three words: I NEED JESUS!
The only thing standing between man and God is pride.
Humbling ourselves, admitting, believing, confessing...It's all about Jesus...
When we stand before our God we never want to hear: depart from me for I never KNEW you!
That word: KNEW should be underlined and highlighted!
It's a KNOWING...relationship NOT RELIGION!

We can never advance to a higher plain in Christianity!
This is where we must stay: like a little child!
If we ever think we have arrived: TROUBLE!
This is why Christianity and Pride don't mix!
This is why we stop representing Jesus well when we begin to think of ourselves as anything more than A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE!
The know-it-all, the snob...the religious rigid are the ones Jesus was really mean to (pharisees)...
When the HEAD becomes larger than the HEART: DANGER!

It's all about LOVE
Knowing Jesus, Trusting Jesus...LIKE A LITTLE CHILD

1. Child-like Faith is NEEDY

What do I mean by needy
Many things
BUT I will explore two areas
First,
This Is The Gospel

"that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. (2 Cor 5:19)

Dr. William R. Newell, a well-known Bible expositor of a past generation, commented on this verse "Now Paul in his wonderful revelation declares that God HATH reconciled the world to Himself; that God was inChrist (at the cross) reconciling the world unto Himself. Men do not know this, so they conceive that something stands between them and God, and that they must perform or do something before God will have them or accept them or forgive them.

"If you tell a man that God is demanding no good works of him whatsoever, no religion, no religious observances or church ordinances at all, that God is not asking him to undertake a lot of church duties, or any duties at all, but on the contrary, that God invites him to believe the glad message that his sins have al-ready been dealt with at the cross, and that God expects him to believe this good news and be exceedingly happy about it--if you tell an unsaved man such a story as this, he is astonished and overwhelmed; yet THIS IS THE Gospel."

TO WHICH WE ADD: Much preaching today too often is a confusing mixture of law and grace, faith and works, and salvation and rewards. To add any-thing to the finished work of Christ is to proclaim "another gospel"

Childlike Faith recognizes Desperate Need for Jesus in ALL things and understands we need one another…

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastors visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The Pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday."

2. Child-like Faith is RISKY

David Velazquez wrote a poem entitled: Faith of A Child
The father, a well digger, strong was he, And as loving and kind as a father could be.

And Mary his daughter, five years old, Was very much dearer than millions of gold.

To Mary her father was big, grand and nice, So each had a treasure, beyond any price.

One day to the well, little Mary was sent To take daddy's lunch, how gladly she went.

But when she looked down, not a thing could be seen. The well, like a pocket, was dark as could be.

The father saw Mary and heard her voice, too, But made not a sound, just to see what she'd do.

She dropped to her knees, the dear little soul, And called down, "Oh, Daddy, are you down this hole?"

"Why yes Mary darling, I'm here at your feet, Just drop my lunch for I'm ready to eat.

Just let it go easy, I'll catch it alright." She did and she saw it fall out of sight.

"Why Mary," said father, "There's enough here for two, Now this is the thing I would like you to do.

You jump down here to me and we'll eat it together, Down here in the cool and away from the weather."

"Oh, daddy, I'm afraid, I can't see you at all, Be sure now you catch me and don't let me fall." 'Twas just for a moment she wavered in doubt, Then closing her dear little eyes she jumped out. In the darkness, yes, that was the test, She trusted in faith in her father's request.

And both were so happy he kissed her and smiled Because of the sweet trusting faith of his child."

Oh, sweet little Mary, you put me to shame, How often my Father has called me the same,

But because it was dark I turned back in doubt. Refusing the call, though his arms were stretched out."

Childlike faith is risky because of failure
The Lord threw this answer in my lap this week
PLEASE STICK WITH ME
THIS IS WHERE RRAG has been for several years

Os Hillman teaches that Failure That Leads to Godliness
Using 1 Sam 22:2…All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader....

God uses broken things to accomplish His greatest work. When David was anointed to be the next king, he was just a boy, the youngest among all his brothers. Little did he know that the next several years would be years of fleeing from Saul whose successes turned into obsessions as a leader who had fallen from God's anointing. Perhaps David thought, "Why am I living a life as a fugitive?" I am the next king of Israel. Yet, his life was filled with adversity after adversity before he ever fulfilled the ultimate calling God had for him. Others began to hear of David's successes and identify with his plight. But, it wasn't the successful and polished who came to join him. It was "those who were in distress or in debt or discontented" who would be part of his army-and an army it was! His army would become known throughout the world as the greatest ever assembled, not because of their skill, but because of the God behind the army. God turned David's men into "mighty men of valor" (see 1 Chron. 11:10).

God often uses failure to make us useful. When Jesus called the disciples, He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most willing, and He found them in the workplace. He found a fisherman, a tax collector, a farmer, and a doctor.The Hebrews knew that failure was a part of maturing in God. The Greeks used failure as a reason for disqualification. Sadly, in the Church, we often treat one another in this way. This is not God's way. We need to understand that failing does not make us failures. It makes us experienced. It makes us more prepared to be useful in God's Kingdom-if we have learned from it. And that is the most important ingredient for what God wants in His children.

3. Child-like Faith is Needy, Risky and Finally: Mystery

The church needs to embrace mystery again
There is a lot of I don’t know, I don’t get it, WHAT
In my Bible
A friend came and visited me last week while I had my foot up yet again who was struggling with death, pain, hurt, suffering…thinking WHY
Please hear me: God doesn’t need excuses
People don’t need pat answers
The questions of this world many times just don’t have answers
Many times there just aren’t words
The pat answers like: God must’ve needed her more than us
Any cliché really
The church is full of clichés
They always fall short, they always fail us sooner or later
I think that’s why Jesus told stories
Sometimes When words fail a parable delivers

Robert Peterson tells this story…
She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I live. I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever the world begins to close in on me. She was building a sandcastle or somethingand looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea. "Hello," she said. I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small child. "I'm building," she said."I see that. What is it?" I asked, not caring."Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand." That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes. A sandpiper glided by. "That's a joy," the child said."It's a what?" "It's a joy. My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy." The bird went gliding down the beach. "Good-bye joy," I muttered to myself, "hello pain," and turned to walk on. I was depressed; my life seemedcompletely out of balance. "What's your name?" She wouldn't give up."Robert," I answered. "I'm Robert Peterson.""Mine's Wendy... I'm six.""Hi, Wendy."She giggled. "You're funny," she said. In spite of my gloom I laughed too and walked on. Her musical giggle followed me. "Come again, Mr. P," shecalled. "We'll have another happy day."The days and weeks that followed belong to others: a group of unruly Boy Scouts, PTA meetings, an ailing mother. The sun was shining one morning as Itook my hands out of the dishwater. "I need a sandpiper," I said to myself, gathering up my coat. The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me.The breeze was chilly, but I strode along, trying to recapture the serenity I needed. I had forgotten the child and was startled when she appeared."Hello, Mr. P," she said. "Do you want to play?""What did you have in mind?" I asked, with a twinge of annoyance."I don't know. You say.""How about charades?" I asked sarcastically.The tinkling laughter burst forth again. "I don't know what that is.""Then let's just walk." Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her face. "Where do you live?" I asked."Over there." She pointed toward a row of summer cottages.Strange, I thought, in winter. "Where do you go to school?""I don't go to school. Mommy says we're on vacation." She chattered little talk as we strolled up the beach, but my mind was on other things.When I left for home, Wendy said it had been a happy day. Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed. Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of near panic. I was in no mood to even greet Wendy. I thought I saw her mother on the porch and felt like demanding she keep her child at home."Look, if you don't mind," I said crossly when Wendy caught up with me,"I'd rather be alone today." She seems unusually pale and out of breath."Why?" she asked.I turned to her and shouted, "Because my mother died!" and prayed, OH God, why was I saying this to a little child?"Oh," she said quietly, "then this is a bad day.""Yes," I said, "and yesterday and the day before and-oh, go away!""Did it hurt? " she inquired."Did what hurt?" I was exasperated with her, with myself. "When she died?Of course it hurt!!!!" I snapped, misunderstanding, wrapped up in myself. I strode off.A month or so after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't there. Feeling guilty, ashamed and admitting to myself I missed her, I went up to the cottage after my walk and knocked at the door. A drawn lookingyoung woman with honey-colored hair opened the door. "Hello," I said. "I'm Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today and, wondered where she was.""Oh yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in. Wendy spoke of you so much. I'm afraid I allowed her to bother you. If she was a nuisance, please, accept my apologies.""Not at all-she's a delightful child," I said, suddenly realizing that I meant it. "Where is she?""Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had leukemia. Maybe she didn't tell you." Struck dumb, I groped for a chair. My breath caught. "She loved this beach; so when she asked to come, we couldn't say no. She seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy days. But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly..." her voice faltered. "She left something for you ... if only I can find it. Could you wait a moment while I look?" Inodded stupidly, my mind racing for something, anything, to say to this lovely young woman. She handed me a smeared envelope, with MR. P printed in bold, childish letters. Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues-a yellow beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was carefully printed: A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY. Tears welled up in my eyes, and a heart that had almost forgotten to love opened wide. I took Wendy's mother in my arms. "I'm so sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," I muttered over and over, and we wept together. The precious little is framed now and hangs in my study. Six words - one for each year of her life - that speak to me of harmony, courage, undemanding love. A gift from a child with sea-blue eyes and hair the color of sand, who taught me the gift of love.

NEEDY RISKY MYSTERIOUS LOVE

Homebuilders: Marriage & Family Workshop

OK, SO I got the message: Sunday evenings are not a good fit for homebuilders...

I'm afraid I've been thinking...a dangerous past-time...I know...

How about? Quarterly...and not just a quick evening but an all-day Saturday workshop, ok not ALL day... 11am to 3pm...

Actually I should give Holly some credit here...She had this workshop idea a-while ago...

But isn't that what a Husband does: act like it was his idea...

If everybody brings a finger-food and dessert, we can snack and learn for hours...

AND no worries, we'll make sure there's CHILD-CARE...

2008: April 12, July 12, November 8...

February 14 2009 (Valentines Day)

If you're crazy like me and plan this far ahead, mark your calendars with these dates...

I have no problem working on the details...But I will never give up on Homebuilders...

God's Divine Order places the Home before the church!

I'm committed to doing something about the state of the family in our society!

I took this video at the concert

Remember when cameras took pictures OR videos?
Holly recently purchased an inexpensive tiny camera that does both...

Last night our church van was overflowing for the concert

Matthew West shared a testimony of God bringing him through a scary surgery on his vocal chords...
Jeremy Camp had the flu and almost passed out...
I didn't know it, but I LOVE Tobymac! Especially his soul-full woman back-up singer...She didn't just sing good...she SANG!
BEST OF ALL...JESUS WAS GLORIFIED...the gospel was proclaimed!

Happy Valentines Day...Especially to my HOLLY

1 Corinthians 13: Love

1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

This weblink helped turn Jaye's sad day into a happy one

Once upon a time a young preacher and his wife took on the daunting task of Rogue River Assembly of God.

A short time into their adventure, two very special souls began attending said church. Frank and Jaye Rinehart embraced Paul and Holy West almost to the point of legal adoption!

Frank's with Jesus now and MaMa Jaye struggles with heaven envy...

Today Jaye sent an email to pastorpaulandholly@yahoo.com with a weblink that helped her daily struggles. It's amazing what can happen on the internet!

http://www.inspiringthots.net/movie/saucer.php

email pictures

These two pictures were sent to me over email actually from family.

My sister sent me this little boy and dog praying: SO GREAT!

My mom emailed this HILARIOUS teamwork poster!

Vanguard Womens Chorus

We have a special concert scheduled Thursday, March 13, 7pm

For more info regarding the university and the choir tour check out:

http://www.vanguard.edu/music/concerts/wchorus.aspx

WE NEED HOST HOMES!

Please sign-up on your bulletin tear-off or give Holly a call...

Rogue River Assembly Of God Church Workday

Saturday, March 1, 9am

We're going to try to make our facility and grounds even prettier!

Please show up and help us beautify!

Annual Business Meeting

Mark your calendars for Sunday, February 24th, 6pm!

Our annual business meeting is a time of celebration: a look back on the faithfulness of God in 2007 and a look ahead expecting great things for 2008!

I'm very much looking forward to sharing some amazing news that we've waited to share for that special evening!

The Young at Heart are also preparing another wonderful PIE SOCIAL!

The Church Annual Report will be available this Sunday...

SO BLESSED

God has blessed our church with wonderful leadership!

I am SO THANKFUL for Pastor & Mrs. Short!

When I have to deal with personal emergencies (really any issue) he always steps in to help with love and wisdom, being the most AMAZING Associate Pastor on earth!

AND don't forget about Principal Mary's help or Rusty stepping up to take care of youth group or my Selfless wife who cares for me while juggling the demands of the church office (it's a busy time of year for her with our Annual Business Meeting coming up the last Sunday of February!)

and Kathy Q. helping in the office while Holly sits in the surgery center waiting room

AND my incredibly supportive family: Shelli, Mom, Dad

Oh and don't forget our board who always builds my faith no matter the circumstance

AND all you amazing parishioners who love and pray and do so much to bless your pastor

WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO PASTOR ROGUE RIVER ASSEMBLY OF GOD!

Yes, today I had another foot surgery!

I slammed my foot against a suitcase yesterday and experienced a lot of discomfort.

I called my doctor who squeezed me in for a quick surgery to take out the hardware he placed in my foot when I broke it last year...

So, I will be sitting with my foot up for a while AGAIN, BUT this time will be a much quicker recovery!

Largely because my foot isn't broken anymore, and the plates and screws that have made me quite miserable the last year are GONE...

Another example of God working all things for our good!

He allowed me to experience enough pain to finally take the next step for complete recovery!

WOW THAT PREACHES!

My Latte' Spoke To Me Yesterday

This was on my Starbucks latte'!

LIFE-CHANGING advice!

COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE

In case you can't read the picture, this is what it says:

You can learn a lot more from listening than you can from talking. Find someone with whom you don't agree in the slightest and ask them to explain themselves at length. Then take a seat, shut your mouth, and don't argue back. It's physically impossible to listen with your mouth open.

This Morning's Celebration Service Was Wonderful

Believing it to be the Lord's Leading, I changed the normal Sunday Morning Service a little!
Basically, the Word is being sandwiched with Worship and time is being made for testimonies and a call to prayer!
Even though today was Super Bowl Sunday, Rogue River Assembly of God responded beautifully to the challenge of prayer and fasting...
Here's a little notes from this morning's message:

In a small mid western town, predominantly conservative, a new tavern was being built. A local church started a campain to block the the bar from opening with petitions and prayers.
Work progressed, however, right up until the week before opening, when a lightning strike hit the bar and it burned to the ground. After the fir, the church folks were pretty smug, until the bar owner sued the church on the grounds that the church members were utlitmately responsible for the destruction of his building, either through direct or indirect actions or means. In its reply to the lawsuit, the church vehemently denied all responsiblity or any connection to the property loss. When the case made it's way into court and to the preliminary hearing, the judge looked over the paperwork and commented, "I don't know how I'm going to decide this, But as it appears fromt the paperwork, we have a bar owner that believes in the power of prayer and an entire church congregation that doesn't."

I did a little review of our new sermon series: Does Jesus Go To church
And spoke of what the Lord had taught me at network intermission
One of the things that stuck in my head from Jeff Lucas' teaching is
HOLINESS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HATE

This week I believe the Lord is calling us to a special week of prayer and fasting
2 Chronicles 7:14
A very familiar verse for most of us but let the Spirit open your eyes to it in a fresh way today:
If my People
Who are called by my name
Will humble themselves and pray
And seek my face
And turn from their wicked ways
Then will I hear from heaven
And will forgive their sins
And will heal their land

Dr. Lou Diaz once went on a 40 day fast
This was his prayer
I hope it challenges you as it did me:
Lord Jesus, my purpose in fasting is to earnestly pray for spiritual awakening for the CHURCH, especially our church, and for the fulfillment of your Great Commission. I am not using this time as a kind of hunger strike that compels you to do my bidding. I yield myself to you, desiring to know your will and to live in line with it. Yes, I want to express my love and worship to you. Yes, I want to humble myself before you. Yes, I want to express repentance for anything you reveal to me. Yes, I want to overcome temptation and dedicate myself to you. Yes, I want deliverance and protection.
Deep down iside of me there is a longing to break through a barrier of inconsistency about spiritual disciplines to a character-building consistency that seeks your face and knows your presence, power and peace, on a higher plane than at present. I want to be a Christian who fully lives out my faith. I want to maximize my relationship and partnership with my wife. I want to nurture my children in the way of the LORD, that they may know you and love you and serve you. I want you to be glorified in my life. I want to be the spiritual leader you want me to be. I want to be avessel fit for noble purposes, useful to you. I want to see your bride beautiful and your body healthily functioning. I love your church, and I want her to be all you want her to be. I love the lost, and I want them to have an opportunity to know your great salvation. This is why I am fasting and praying...

Mabye your listening to me speak of prayer and fasting
And it feels out of reach
Too hard, maybe even impossible because of your health
I definitely would not recommend a diabetic to go on a food fast
But fasting is so much more than going without food
During this week the Lord has convicted me to fast from junkfood and television
Maybe the Lord is convicting you to fast coffee Or soda or cigarettes or soapoperas or video games...
I’m thinking He wants you to fast your vice
Let him fill in the blank for your circumstance
I will give you a little clue, God doesn’t usually convict our hearts to the need of fasting vegetables... I’ve tried it, fasting carrots doesn’t impress Jesus

I've heard people confess, I don't know how to pray
OR worse, I've heard people within the church accuse others of not knowing how to pray
THIS IS A FARCE
If you know how to talk, you know how to pray
Prayer is simply talking to God
You do not have to use THEE AND THOU
Best place to begin is the prayer Jesus taught his disciples: Our Father who art in heaven...

The church will be open everyday this week at 6pm for prayer
That time you usually spend eating dinner could end up being a time of spiritual breakthrough
And I know I’ve said it a million times:
there’s something about praying in the sanctuary,
getting away from the distractions of your home,
worshipping (my mother or I will be at the piano),
Remembering and thanking Jesus for the gospel (Bob and Pat Sitze prepare communion)
opening your bible,
being encouraged by the sound of others prayers around you...
OH GOD BAPTIZE YOUR CHURCH IN THE HOLY SPIRIT AGAIN