Friday, May 30, 2008

Our Boy


I can't believe that this time next week we will be traveling to ETHIOPIA to get our son!

Here's a cute new picture our adoption agency's transition home just sent us!
While we are traveling Holly will be updating her blog as often as possible...this will be our only form of communication with everybody while we're away...internet access is much easier and cost effective...making phone calls internationally is like having your splean removed: http://www.for-the-love-of-a-child.blogspot.com/

Fun Summer Events

I had a new member of our church ask me today about what the church has planned for the summer...Here's some of what I'm looking forward to...
(look for details in the weekly church bulletin)

Baccaulareate, June 4

CLS Graduation & Award Night, June 10
(June 10 is GOTCHA DAY too...the official day we will recieve Nathaniel Mesfin into our family)

Creationist: Dr. Kindell, June 15 (Father's Day)

Acts of Kindness Event, June 28
We're already collecting water bottles to pass out at the Rooster Crow Parade...

Baptism Sunday, June 29

COV Church in the Park, July 6
Many churches in the valley come together at Riverside Park to have an outdoor service, BBQ, ect...

Homebuilders Workshop, July 12

West Adoption Shower, August 2

Annual Church Picnic, August 10
We usually gather at the Garza Ranch for fun, food, fellowship...

Covenant Players (Drama Group), August 17

Kids Fair, September 3

Our Wedneday Evening Family Night will continue through the summer! Check out Youth Group, Kids Club, and Adult Bible Study!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Zach Karaoke

This man leads worship at youth group and plays guitar with the worship team on Sundays...Don't worry he's just that silly without alcohol...Christians don't need alcohol to make karaoke fun!

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Rogue River Assembly Of God Bulletin 5.25.08






Remember, just click on the image to make it large enough to read...

Live Simply, Part 2

Found some funny military jokes in honor of memorial day:

An Air Force cargo plane was preparing for departure from Thule Air Base in Greenland. They were waiting for the truck to arrive to pump out the aircraft's sewage holding tank. The Aircraft Commander was in a hurry, the truck was late in arriving, and the Airman performing the job was extremely slow in getting the tank pumped out. When the commander berated the Airman for his slowness and promised punishment, the Airman responded: "Sir, I have no stripes, it is 20 below zero, I'm stationed in Greenland, and I am pumping sewage out of airplanes. Just what are you going to do to punish me?"

the Officer said: Soldier, do you have change for a dollar? Soldier replied: Sure, buddy. Officer: That's no way to address an officer! Now let's try it again. Do you have change for a dollar? Soldier: No, SIR!

The Company Commander and the First Sergeant were in the field. As they hit the sack for the night, the First Sergeant said, "Sir, look up into the sky and tell me what you see?" The CO said, "I see millions of stars." 1st Sgt.: "And what does that tell you, sir?" CO: "Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Theologically, it tells me that God is great and that we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it tells me that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you, Top?" 1st Sgt.: "Well sir, it tells me that somebody stole our tent."

Pardon me...ONE MORE
During training exercises, the lieutenant who was driving down a muddy back road encountered another car stuck in the mud with a red-faced colonel at the wheel. "Your jeep stuck, sir?" asked the lieutenant as he pulled alongside. "Nope," replied the colonel, coming over and handing him the keys, "Yours is."

Today we continue a sermon series entitled:
Live Simply Love Generously Care Deeply Speak Kindly Leave the rest to God…
If you missed last week’s focus on Living Simply I encourage you to visit my blog or sign up for the CD
This morning I want to focus AGAIN on LIVING SIMPLY
I don’t think one week for each focus is enough

Donald Whitney said…
When You start simplifying your spiritual life, it’s easy to fall prey to some misconceptions…

Misconception #1 – Simplifying the spiritual life eliminates the need for spiritual discipline.
The Bible is clear that our purpose is Christlikeness, and discipline is the God-given means to it.
The apostle Paul said…Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness…1 Timothy 4:7

Misconception #2 – Simplifying the spiritual life will simplify the rest of life.
The spiritual life is the eternal and most important part of all of life, but it is not the only part. Work, finance, family schedule, ect. can all become intensely complicated, YET any transformation in your spiritual life will most certainly affect everything else we do…

Misconception #3 – Simplifying the spiritual life is a one-time event.
Even if you experienced a supernatural simplifying of the Spirit in the most dramatic and spectacular way creating smooth sailing in your spirituality…we all inevitably attract old and new complexities of life almost daily…The fresh, clean space that simplifying creates in our spiritual life will not stay that way without an ongoing process.
My goodness, that applies to any and everything
Please be patient with me God’s not through with me yet
all of life is a process

Misconception #4 – Simplifying the spiritual life is to minimize the spiritual life.
This is what we talked about last week
Simplifying is not just doing fewer things
and definitely not cutting back on the time devoted to spiritual things
It’s doing the right things with the right motives
It’s giving your relationship with Jesus a kickstart of focus and priority
I have never met a person who needs to spend less time devoted to things of the soul and more time devoted to temporal matters
The question to address is not how to spend less time devoted exclusively to spiritual pursuits, but how to spend that time better…

For instance…If you go to bed late Saturday eve
You will probably get less out of church Sunday morning while you sleep through service…
Mabye part of the reason people do not give priority to church and complain about it’s impact…is that they come to church expecting the pastor to do all the work…
They aren’t prayed up, or choosing to worship in spirit and truth with all the heart and for real, if going to church is just going through the motions, than ofcourse you won’t get much out of it…
Living Simply helps you slow down enough to actually apply what you learned in church or in your daily reading of scripture and suddenly transformation is possible…

Ok here goes the mean preacher again
One of the things in all of our lives that is complicating our souls and making it almost impossible to live simply is the TELEVISION

Television is the most powerful cultural influence on the planet, but it does little to promote simplicity or biblical spirituality. I know I know some of you TBNers will disagree on that one, but stick with me…TV dulls the sensitivity of the soul like spiritual anesthesia!

For instance, almost any show you see will laugh at something God says is good or normalize something God calls sin…

Isaiah 5:20…Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter…

TV frequently contradicts God, almost as directly as the serpent in the Garden of Eden. It saturates the mind of the viewer with the world’s way of thinking. Television displays a rapid succession of pictures that we passively observe (in contrast to forming mental pictures ourselves, as when reading), which causes the imagination to atrophy with inactivity. And this makes the concentration and meditation on Scripture more difficult. On top of everything else, watching TV simply takes time, time that we don’t have for spiritual disciplines.

LISTEN PEOPLE OF GOD IN ORDER TO LIVE SIMPLY ONE MUST TURN THE TV OFF

Beyond its impact on our spirituality, TV is no friend of anyone trying to simplify. In fact, TV’s very existence depends upon an incessant parade of advertising intended to make us feel discontented with our experiences, possessions, relationships, and appearance. In the words of writer Wendell Berry, TV persuades us to believe “that all worth experiencing is somewhere else and that all worth having must be bought.”

I cannot pronounce God’s complete will for you regarding TV. But as you seek Him on what is good for your soul in this matter, remember James 4:17…Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin…
Television may not have the power to kill the Christian soul, but it anesthetizes it by the hour.
WAKE UP

CONTENTMENT is the greatest simplifier. It helps focus body and soul on the proper priorities. It calms the restless desire for more. It satisfies the heart with the present provision of God. CONTENTMENT deflates pride, drains the drive of selfish ambition, and relaxes the grip of anxiety. It decreases our dependence upon things and circumstances, and increases a restful dependence upon Christ.

The aposle Paul spoke often of developing contentment, he said…I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all through Christ who strengthens me…Philippians 4:11-13

Notice that Paul speaks of contentment as something to be learned. One way that we can learn contentment is to recognize the true value of things.
To do this, we can learn when we are “full” and we “abound” in material things why the abundance of them cannot content us…Unlike our souls, touchable things will not last.
God never designed tangible and temporal things to satisfy…Material things cannot make us right with God, nor provide any benefit extending into eternity!
How can we find contentment in things so temporary and inconsequential?
Living Simply demands a true understanding of what really matters…

Most Americans are at this full and abounding stage, but on the opposite extreme, recognizing the true value of things also teaches contentment when, like Paul, we “hungry” and “suffer need.”
This is no superficial, untested contentment Paul experienced.
His suffering and needs were real and prolonged, yet he was genuinely content.
Many of us in this room know suffering but do we know contentment in suffering?
Please don’t confuse such contentment with apathy or laziness…
What Paul models and advocates is a circumstance-conquering contentment that does not depend on how much there is to eat, spend, wear, count, collect, or touch!

This LIVING SIMPLY commitment will be challenged if you decide to take the plunge…
For instance will you be content with a simple lifestyle?
Or will you choose to keep a simple lifestyle even if circumstances were such that you could have much more?
Do you know what I’m saying?
Some people have no problem living simply if that’s all they can afford?
But, if you were presented with more?
Can God trust you to share?

When a person can be content “everywhere and in all things,” whether full or hungry, abounding or suffering need, he know a source of contentment beyond anything the world can provide or understand.
True contentment in all places and circumstances is found only, as Paul put it, “through Christ who strengthens me.”
Only Jesus could have given Paul the contentment to sing at midnight in a filthy, rat-infested prison, with his feet in stocks and his back mercilessly and illegally bloodied…
CHECK OUT ACTS 16 if you aren’t familiar with the story of Paul and Silas imprisoned…

Christ, and Christ alone, can strengthen our souls to be content in any and all situations. But this contentment doesn’t come unawares. We must be willing to learn it, and to learn it through Christ.
Where do you think He wants to begin your education in contentment?
He has revealed this week several areas in my heart that are learning to be content!
Holly looked at me the other day and said…You sure want a lot don’t you…I realized she was right, I need to be more content with whatever God has blessed me with…
The LORD gives and the LORD takes away BLESSED Be the name of the LORD!

Let me reiterate Living Simply is not living without discipline!
Remember 1Timothy 4:7 Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness…
In obedience to this command, every Christian should pursue intimacy with Christ and the imitation of Christ through the practice of the personal and congregational spiritual disciplines found in Scripture. What we should oppose is measuring this pursuit by rules that aren’t in the Bible!
Discipline yourself…without legalism

While the Scripture commands us to engage in the spiritual disciplines, we don’t want to pursue them legalistically.
Legalism is the improper emphasis on works in our relationship to God.
It focuses on the manifestations of spirituality that can be measured by number, frequency, duration, amount and so forth…
No one has the authority to force upon themselves or anyone else external measurements of spirituality, especially if they haven no scriptural basis…
And one must be careful when sharing the word with others, it does no good to jam it down someone’s throat…
While we are here, let me issue an important warning!
I have heard story after story of well-intentioned saints…maybe some not so well-meaning…who have wrought disaster on others with their “words from the Lord”
Especially in Pentecostal circles, we sometimes say “thus saith the Lord” and then find out later HE didn’t thus saith anything…
OR we let legalism in the door trying to make certain spiritual ecstasies happen instead of letting the Spirit do it
OR maybe unintentionally making other saints feel “less than” if they haven’t experienced the same outward expressions of faith that we have…
anybody know what I’m talking about!

And yet there is the opposite of legalism, namely license, that is, living as though freedom in Christ means there are no measurable standards of spirituality. License leads a person to presume he can be faithful to the Lord’s word even if he never reads the Bible again…

The disciplined Christian life should be lived between these two errors…
That sound complicated, walking such a line, but really it’s the only way to live simply…
Listen, because of the grace of God experience through Christ Jesus, Believers are free from keeping manmade rules as a way of keeping the love of God.

Galatians 5:1…Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage…

Let’s close with something very practical
Clutter and disorganization is the greatest enemy to living simply!
What if we made a commitment to REMOVE ONE THING from our homes or offices each day and to ORGANIZE ONE THING each day!
Mabye you should even write REMOVE ONE THING and ORGANIZE ONE THING on your to do list or calendar…
Actually, getting practical if you do not keep a calendar or to do list you will never live simply!
Some people actually think that if they don’t keep a calendar that means their life is simple, but the opposite is true!
If you don’t try to manage your schedule, your schedule will manage you!

Mabye the thought of removing one thing and organizing one thing seems overwhelming or impractical because your space is horribly cluttered.
But that’s how you begin, One thing at a time
One day at a time
Listen, maybe you’re not a neat freak, with everything in it’s place and you don’t have to be…
BUT I believe a cluttered home or office reveals a cluttered heart!
That’s a pretty strong statement, I know
My life becomes pretty cluttered sometimes and when you have a big family it’s hard to keep things in order, I know we all have our own idea of what organized is or our own systems…
I remember a high school teacher whos office was impossible to even walk thru, Yet he knew where everything was, and was a rather intelligent individual…
So don’t misunderstand me
Mabye the right way to say it would be SOMETIMES a cluttered environment reveals a cluttered heart!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Nathaniel Mesfin West

























We officially have a SON! The adoption is almost completed!
The paper pregnancy may take much longer than 9 months, but God's will is never without opposition! He has called Holly and I to fill our home with orphans!
Our adoption agency made our travel arrangements this morning, leaving Seattle June 7.
It's overwhelming, It's really going to happen...THANK YOU JESUS...Holly and I will be in ETHIOPIA very soon...not just to hold our son BUT to have our son...
Because the court case was finalized we are allowed to share pictures, so here's the first glimpses of Mesfin (his given Ethiopian name, it means duke)...
Oh and He was born January 8, 2008...so He'll be 5 months old when we bring him home...WOW

James 1:27 (AMP) External religious worship (religion as it is expressed in outward acts) that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.

For more details on Holly and I's adoption process visit her blog: http://www.for-the-love-of-a-child.blogspot.com/

Celebration Service May 18 2008

Jay R. sent me this email this week…
If you can start the day without caffeine,
If you can get going without pep pills,
If you can always be cheerful, ignoring aches and pains,
If you can resist complaining and boring people with your troubles,
If you can eat the same food every day and be grateful for it,
If you can understand when your loved ones are too busy to give you any time,
If you can take criticism and blame without resentment,
If you can resist treating a rich friend better than a poor friend,
If you can conquer tension without medical help,
If you can relax without liquor,
If you can sleep without the aid of drugs,
...Then You Are Probably The Family Dog
I think there is much to learn from a dog’s life
But that’s not my sermon this morning
although it applies

Today I begin a new sermon series entitled
Live Simply Love Generously Care Deeply Speak Kindly Leave the rest to God…
Let’s focus today on LIVING SIMPLY

Does anybody remember when I did a sermon series entitled From Burnout To Balance
you who just raised your hands are truly my favorites
Oh how we complicate life
But Jesus said…One thing is needed
In that famous story of Mary and Martha that we have turned to many times over
If you aren’t familiar visit Luke chapter 10

Donald S. Whitney wrote a book just for me
It’s entitled Simplify Your Spiritual Life
The subtitle: Spiritual Disciplines for the overwhelmed
Are you overwhelmed by the weight of the world?
I encourage you to check out this book
I sound like an infomercial for Navpress
But you know your pastor doesn’t just want to preach at you
I want to place tools for living the Christian life in your hands
That’s my job description from God’s word
To equip the saints…

Let’s face it – we live in a complex world. technology “improves” daily, and with it the pace increases.
Surrounded by driving forces, it is no small wonder that our spiritual lives take a hit. But if the weight of the world is hindering your walk with the LORD, maybe now’s the time to step back and evaluate.
Life on earth was less hectic in Jesus’ time. He faced incredible challenges and suffered agonizing trials, but there was simplicity in His relationship with His Father that we can emulate. And in that simplicity, we can realize our greatest fulfillment as believers. If your Bible study seems as tedious as filing your tax return and your prayer life as wearisome as trying to understand your phone bill, STOP
Take a deep breath
Let’s see how rewarding the simple Christian life can be…

A. W. Tozer said…Every age has its own characteristics, right now we are in an age of religious complexity…The simplicity which is in Christ is rarely found among us…

Do more and more with less and less and do it faster and faster…this seems to be the management strategy in our profusely overloaded age…
But what would Jesus think?
Can you imagine him yelling at His lagging disciples because they were twenty minutes late for the prayer breakfast?
How would He respond if cell phones went off within the assembled crowds at the sermon on the mount?
Jesus loved people and he loved truth.
There was an unyielding simplicity about His approach.
He had little tolerance for clutter or complexity…
He would not be distracted from His mission…
If you hear nothing else today, hear this, maybe even write it down…Jesus simplicity was all about focus!
One thing is needed
Instead of an unsustainable perfection or an oppressive legalism Jesus calls us to a simple devotion that sets us free!

Because the world is growing more complex by the nanosecond…Almost everyone eventually feels the need to simplify…
For most, simplifying means nothing more than “doing less”
BUT simplifying is not so much about doing fewer things as it is about doing the right things.
And take that even further to doing them with the right motive.
Listen, when you set out to fulfill Jesus mandate in Matthew 22:37-40…Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment and the second is like it…You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commands hang all the law and prophets…
ANYONE devoted to loving God and people will lead a full and active life.
But such a life should also be more focused, emphasizing the right priorities…
As I’ve said before…doing a few things well

the apostle Paul pleads with the Corinthians in 2 Cor 11:3…But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ…
Think about that for a minute…
Not only can we learn from Paul’s urgency regarding complicating the gospel
But this simplicity thing takes us all the way back to the beginning…
When did life get complicated?
When sin entered the picture
God created us to live simply
and everyday satan steals that joy away from God’s people
with the complications of SIN

I don’t know about you, but When I hear 2 Cor 11: 3…don’t let your minds be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ… I can breathe again
Some of life’s goo rolls off my shoulders
His burden really is light
His yoke really is easy
Learn from Him
He is gentle
Jesus promises in Matthew 11:28…Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest
Breath in, Breath out
Let His Spirit comfort You, counsel you

We should expect part of true spirituality to exhaust us, for it exist not merely for our own edification, but to serve the glory and purposes of God. Jesus’ spiritual labors occasionally so fatigued Him that He could remain asleep in an open boat in the middle of a lake during a life-threatening storm in Luke 8…Likewise, the apostle Paul knew the depletion of inner resources that results from the willingness to “spend and be spent” for the sake of the souls of others…2 Cor 12:15
All aspects of externalized spirituality – serving people’s needs, doing good works, taking the gospel to the spiritually lost, working in church ministries – expend the reserves of both body and soul.
There’s a problem, though, when the inflow of spiritual renewal doesn’t replenish the outflow of spiritual ministry!

The greatest example of replenishment is found in Psalm 1…Blessed is the man…
Not just reading of God’s word but meditating delighting then you’re the tree…

In many ways we are doing more than ever before for our spiritual life, but enjoying and profiting from it less…
Let me explain, even if we receive devotional reading sent daily by automatic email
Or read the Bible in several translations and study with the latest computer software
or experience worship-enhancing audio or video devotional experiences
It may seem the growing frustrations of hurry and complexity affect not only our personal spiritual disciplines but our congregational spiritual disciplines. There’s less time for church involvement…we’re so far behind in so many things that sometimes we wonder if what we receive from church is worth the overwhelming effort just to get there…
I’M NOT GIVING UP ON THE CHURCH!
Many areas of our lives are productive and prosperous, yet we’ve never felt so spiritually withered. Our calendars are full, but our souls are empty.
In many ways we are doing more than ever before for our spiritual life, but enjoying and profiting from it less…
The computer age might be somewhat to blame…
We are getting more and more disconnected…
Yet, don’t get me wrong sometimes the internet can bring us together…I hope my blogging connects…

Repeat after me…MEDITATE AND APPLY
Because of what we just learned from Psalm 1
Because we are doing more than ever before but profiting from it less
Living Simply when it comes to exposure to the WORD OF GOD demands absorption of the WORD OF GOD.
We profit most from our hearing, reading, studying, memorizing of Scripture when we MEDITATE AND APPLY.
We don’t want the water of the WORD to run off our minds and hearts like a hard rain on hard ground…
James 1:25 promises…But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does…
MEDITATE AND APPLY
So as you reflect on Scripture, do you perceive something God would have you…
Stop?
Start?
Believe?
Confess?
Pray about?
Thank Him For?
Communicate to someone?
We cannot expect the Bible to advance our transformation without meditation and application…
And oh how His word will simplify your life

Nothing will simplify our lives more than finding the will of God on a matter and doing it. And the best way to discover the will of God is to search the Word of God
and WHAT?
Meditate and apply
You want to know how to simplify?
Has it occurred to you to stop and ask…What does the Bible say about this?
Far more often than we do, Christians should ask this question…What does the Bible say about this?
And don’t just call your pastor for the answer
search for yourself
meditate and apply
The wisdom of frequently asking this question…What does the Bible say about this?...is obvious if we believe truths like theses…
Psalm 119:105…Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
Matthew 4:4…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God…
2 Tim 3:16,17…All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work…
What’s the most significant issue in your life right now?
What major decision is before you?
Be sure to ask…What does the Bible say about this?
And as you turn to God’s word to meditate and apply, pray Psalm 119:18…Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law…

Holly and I have asked this question and this is why we are working to fill our home with orphans…
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
James 1:27

The unifying principle for all of life is found in 1 Cor 10:31..Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of god. This is the sun around which every spiritual practice, every decision, every prayer, every everything – including our efforts at simplifying should revolve…
So, when faced with choices about how to simplify, ask first…Which choice will bring the most glory to God? Simplify in such a way that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and dominion forever and ever…1Peter 4:11

Monday, May 12, 2008

Our New Church Directories are finally here!



Pick up yours in the foyer ASAP, before they disappear...

This is a scan of the cover and front page and Oh my hand too, accidentally...

Pregnancy Care Center




Yesterday's Mother's Day Celebration Service was joyful and tearful!
Robin Fuller from the Pregnancy Care Center in Grants Pass blessed and challenged our church!
I encourage you to check out their amazing, life-saving ministry at http://www.pccgp.com/
OH and the Silver Ring Thing pcc put on last Friday, oh my, there are not words...SO GOOD...check them out at http://www.silverringthing.com/
When I think about an unborn baby being murdered every 25 seconds in our country...AND the 30+ STD's created by the lies of the "sexual revolution"...I can't help but get involved in ministries like these...I stand up and applaud ministries like these...

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Integrity Series Finale

A blonde was weed-eating her yard and accidentally cut off the tail of her cat which was hiding in the grass. She rushed her cat, along with the tail over To WAL-MART!! Why WAL-MART you say??? HELLOOOOOOOOO!!! WAL-MART is the largest retailer in the world!!!
that ofcourse has nothing to do with my sermon today
I just wanted to start with something funny

Today we conclude the sermon series …
INTEGRITY: CREATING HEALTHY BOUNDARIES
Where we have been:
NEVER CONSIDER yourself ABOVE TEMPTATION
Keep a close watch on your spiritual temperature
maintain your home
develop healthy outlets for emotional energy
GUARD your MIND
REMEMBER THE DAMAGING CONSEQUENCES OF MORAL FAILURE

This week
Let’s take some necessary precautions to protect ourselves and others, let’s truly create healthy boundaries
not just talk about integrity
actually practice integrity
My job is to be the example, the shepherd goes before the sheep showing them the way
I need To actually practice what I preach
SO in that effort
I am covenanting with all of you this morning
This is my covenant of clergy ethics
It can be found at ag.org

This covenant calls Assemblies of God ministers to commit to God and the congregations they serve to be faithful to the biblical sexual ethic of fidelity in marriage or celibacy in singleness. Because integrity is foundational to Christian life and ministry…
Let’s begin with the theological foundation
Human sexuality is a good gift of God through which we become partners with God’s creative intent for humanity as found in Genesis chapter 1…
Faithful sexual practice expresses the loving commitment of marriage and embodies the mutual intimacy between husband and wife as found in Genesis chapter 2…
When we misuse our sexuality, God’s creative intent is supplanted by destructive consequences. Raised to the status of idol, the good gift of sexuality mutates into the power of exploitation, selfishness, anger and domination…
When sexual sin and abuse occur, Christian practice calls us to engage the work of justice, reconciliation, and healing. The work of justice involves repentance, restitution, and restoration. Justice builds the foundation for reconciliation by establishing conditions in which alienated and injured parties have the opportunity to heal. Healing can occur when the possibilities of justice and reconciliation are realized…
The relationship between ministers and congregants is based upon trust. In difficult times, church members turn to ministers for comfort, support, guidance, and assurance, expecting the minister to act as pastor, shepherd, counselor, and friend. Church members trust ministers never to take advantage of them or to manipulate them, especially when they are most vulnerable…

The purposes of a covenant of ethics for ministers are threefold: 1. To provide a framework for upholding integrity among ministers; 2. to support and protect ministers by defining ethical norms; and 3. to establish a process for achieving justice, reconciliation, and healing…
The Definitions of sexual misconduct by ministers:
…sexual relations outside of marriage
…unwanted or inappropriate physical contact
…all other sexually oriented or suggestive behaviors; such as overt and covert seductive speech and gestures
…the use of pornography
Preamble
As a disciple of Jesus Christ, called by God to proclaim the gospel and gifted by the Spirit to minister to the church, I dedicate myself to conduct my ministry according to the ethical guidelines and principles set forth in Scripture and this covenant, in order that my ministry may be acceptable to God, my service beneficial to the Christian community, and my life a witness to the world…

Covenant
As a minister called to serve God and God’s people, I commit myself to the following norms of ethical conduct, for which I am accountable to God, to my colleagues in ministry, and to the church in which I serve…RRAG
I will demonstrate integrity in ministry by understanding, respecting, and observing the boundaries of sexual misconduct as just defined…
I will nurture my physical, emotional, and spiritual health, maintain enriching friendships, and build strong relationships with my spouse and family…
I will develop relationships with God, my spouse, and close friends who encourage accountability and protect against temptation…
I will recognize the special power afforded me in the pastoral office by never abusing that power in ways that violate the personhood of another human being, by assuming responsibility for maintaining proper boundaries in church staff/church member relationships, and by acknowledging that the congregant may be in a vulnerable position…
I will avoid all forms of exploitation and/ or harassment in my professional and social relationships, even if others invite such behavior or involvement…
I will exercise good judgment in professional and private conduct by avoiding situations that create the appearance of evil…
I will assume responsibility to report any reliable evidence of misconduct by another minister to the appropriate person or committee…
I will submit to the policies and procedures of the church if an allegation of misconduct has been made, recognizing the importance of justice and due process procedures…
To conclude this covenant
As I seek to fulfill my responsibilities as a minister, I will strive to embody servant-leadership in all my relationships and to pattern my life and ministry after the example of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…
I say amen
will you bless this covenant by responding with an amen

Our new superintendent for the Oregon Network of the AG has shared his 7 accountability questions that he submits to with his accountability partners…
I wanted to share it with you
If you would like to practice this amazing accountability
I will post the questions on my blog
cause you probably can’t jot them down quick enough as I share them
1. Have you been with someone of the opposite sex anywhere this past week that might be seen as compromising?
2. Have any of your financial dealings lacked integrity?
3. Have you exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?
4. Have you spend adequate time in Bible study and prayer?
5. Have you given priority time to your family?
6. Have you fulfilled the mandates of your calling?
7. Have you just lied to me?

Psalm 101:1-8
I will sing of your love and justice. I will praise you, LORD, with songs. I will be careful to live a blameless life – when will you come to may aid? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all crooked dealings; I will have nothing to do with them. I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil. I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors. I will not endure conceit and pride. I will keep a protective eye on the godly, so they may dwell with me in safety. Only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me. I will not allow deceivers to serve me, and liars will not be allowed to enter my presence. My daily task will be to ferret out criminals and free the city of the LORD from their grip…
How’s that for a statement of integrity

Minister Joe Wright has guts he was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate with prayer, listen to what he prayed as senators left the room in protest…
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!"

Friday, May 2, 2008

I love Tennis



So I've been playing tennis ALOT!

Last night I challenged Zach & Rusty to a game...2 on 1...

Athletics don't come easy to me (music is second nature)...I know it sounds like I'm bragging even being a sore winner BUT I WON! I beat them both 6 matches to 4...

Fighting to keep the generations together

I was thinking today about how much I'm committed to this idea!
So many churches today contribute to the generational gap by appeasing people.
Contemporary Service, Traditional Service...planning every activity for seperate age groups.
Many pastors, conferences preach choosing a certain age demographic and crafting your entire ministry around that one person's interests. I don't buy it!
Probably the biggest seperation is music style. This is why I'm committed to trying to do the new worship music as well as the old. It's important to the "seasoned" christians to open the hymnbook and the younger generations love the new stuff. I've discovered that this effort sometimes just doesn't make anyone happy...BUT I'M NOT GIVING UP!
Last night I was very encouraged at the spaghetti feed!
I was looking around Kirkwood Hall and realized the room was filled not just with Rogue River's biggest demographic (retired folks) but there was babies, kids, teens, young adults...
THANK YOU JESUS!
The VISION of keeping the generations together is not impossible! I'm encouraged!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

The Men's Ministry invited the whole church to the craziest spaghetti feed I've ever been to







It was great, silly FUN!
Praise the LORD for Tom Vallo and his team of men!
Their skits and music were outrageous, hilarious!
Our church is definately not uptight!

Today I went outside on the playground and beat the CLS kids at teatherball it helps that I'm 6'7''



Don't Forget Your Missions Faith Promise




The church is committed to supporting many missionaries...
This can only happen if our members are faithfully giving to missions (just mark your offering envelope)...

And don't forget the boys and girls missionary crusade. We collect our change in individual BGMC barrels, cans, boxes and pour it in the big barrel in the foyer...
This bulletin board in the foyer displays all the missionaries we support...
Pastor Short has challenged the church to give to missions what one gives to the cable company every month...

Check out our information center in the foyer





AG inspirational and informative brochures, new believer's handbook, Bibles, membership cards, order forms for the church family rock garden, complaint-free bracelets...


Also you can order CD's of my sermons at the mail center in the foyer...


I was walking around our campus today admiring the beauty God has blessed us with



Rusty dug us a fire pit out in front of the church. We've been having youth group around the fire with s'mores...

Rogue River Assembly Of God Bulletin 5/4/08



This Sunday Holly and I will be announcing exciting news regarding our adoption!
Remember you can click on the image to make it easier to read...