Never Stop Praying

At Ironwood this last week, many of us were blessed to see God answer prayer in the profession of faith in Christ by two of our really good friends.  In one case we prayed for four years to see one of our friends to be saved and in another we prayed for at least three years for another individual to be saved.  What a testimony to the fact that we can never give up on praying for our friends and loved ones.  We might have just given up on these two people.  Instead, many of just continued to pray.   God in his perfect timing worked in lives.

Ironwood is wonderful place to get to know our God better.  Its nice to get away from our electronic device, slow down and listen to God speak.  Our kids made many decisions for Christ.   It's our prayer that they'll be able to continue to keep walking with God.

Remembering the Land of the Free

It is the Fourth of July and as I proudly remember the birthday of the "land of the free and the home of the brave" I am also saddened at the passing of a great friend who enjoyed the freedoms we have in America.  But, this friend, being a Iranian-American of Armenian descent perhaps could more value the great blessing of the freedom afforded Americans in our constitution.

My friend Massis Avanessian passed from this life into the arms of his heavenly father on July 3rd.   He came to America in a near desperate manner.  As he looked at his life in Post-Shah Iran in the late 1970's, he realized that the freedoms he had before enjoyed were being stripped away as religious and racial prejudice became part of the new governments program.  One of the scariest aspects of this new perspective in Iran was that non-native ethnics groups were having their sons drafted into the army and sent to the front lines of the most dangerous and bloody war of the time.  Massis realized his young son would soon be sent to fight a useless war and most likely would not come back from the fighting.   That is when Massis made the plans to smuggle his son out of the country.  All of his family would eventually flee Iran and end up in the United States.  Here the Avanessians have enjoyed all the freedoms and liberties afforded all Americans.  They have made an outstanding contribution to our great land.  America is a better place because Massis came to the United States!  Thankfully, the message of Emma Lazarus' poem helped Massis and his family as they began to start a new life.  I wonder if the world still looks at America as the place of refuge?

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name

Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand

Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she

With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

All Things Work Together for Good ... For Them Who Are Called!

So after an adventurous and not so free from tribulation vacation we are back at home starting another week.  God is good and blessed us with a good preacher last week with Jim Sproul.  From what I heard and the comments of the believers he blessed, challenged and encouraged.  This week I continued on with Romans chapter 8.   We were challenged with the Glory of the Christian.  Glory is the ultimate excellent and blessed state that Christians can have when they are walking with God.   We have obtained Glory through Christ.  We can experience some glory on this earth but are looking forward to the glory in the future.  Our God working in hearts daily helps us to experience this every day.    We were challenged about the glory we can experience in prayer in the exercise of our faith as well as knowing that God is in control.  The culmination of Glory for believers today is found in Romans 8:28-"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose."

Romans and Heaven Go Together

So, interesting title.  I think so.  Without the truths found in Romans there is no possible way to heaven.  Romans on Sunday and Heaven on Wednesday.  That is the schedule throughout this summer at Trinity Baptist Church.  I wish we had a house full on Sunday and nearly a house full on Wednesday.  Folks need to hear the truth from scripture.  Our Sundays have been filled with Paul saying his message one way, another way, and then another way.   His chief aim is to make sure everyone knows that our faith is by faith alone, in Christ alone, by grace alone.  Not buy the works of the law or circumcision, or baptism or some other sacramental creation-but faith in Christ-it is all we need.  Paul also describes the person who is in Christ.  The person who has made the true and genuine commitment to the wonderful Savior.  Last week we read that the true believer has conquered death, is dead to sin and is alive unto God.  Romans spells out what we all need to know.

Wednesday we are learning what heaven is like, how you get there and when and how it will be.  Tonight we'll get the Biblical instructions on how to get to this this wonderful place called heaven.  Sunday we've been getting those instructions.  If you are redeemed your destination is HEAVEN.  Be there to uplift the brethren today.  Encourage heaven for everyone you know.   Come on Sunday and get the important instructions about the important subjects.  Fellowship with the believers at Trinity Baptist Church.  Make it more than just one time a week.  There is too much fellowship and truth to miss it.

Thoughts on a Memorial Eve

Today is Memorial Day Eve.  I'd like to take this time to give tribute to those who served.   So many of my students have faithfully served in very dangerous places like Iraq and Afghanistan.  Its quite a choice to enlist and know that most likely you'll end up where bullets will fly.  But, this year a host of my seniors were already signed to go to basic. May God bless them and protect them from harm.

In our service today we looked at the wonderful freeing life of those in Christ.  We appreciated the way of the believer as a servant to righteousness instead of a servant to sin.  Its a bit of a paradox in that when you are in Christ you are free-not a slave.   Anyone who thinks that being in Christ is somehow stifling and hard has got it wrong.  In Christ we are living under grace, Romans tells us.  Under grace the believer lives free from sin.  The desire to sin habitually is gone.  No one is perfect-but the desire to do right dominates those in Christ.   Today we celebrate this fact.  May Trinity take on the flavor and aroma of the grace walk.

Romans 6:18  ¹⁸ Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

A Summer for Growing

I'm trusting the Lord that He will help us to grow this summer. Prayer is needed to uplift and encourage all of us to be bold in our witness and consistent in our testimony.  May we seek God's Word and direction for the next several weeks.

Congratulations go out to Jackie Borgen who graduated this week.  We will send her off with prayer and loving words of encouragement on Sunday night.

Refocusing and Going Forward

It has been a while since I blogged-and I had a few extra minutes to think this week.

First, our Ironwood week is planned for July 8-13th.  We'll be doing a bunch of fund raisers in the next 8 weeks.

Now on to my thoughts-

I kind of feel like I've taken a sabbatical from the Pastoral duties this last year.  Although, I wish I could do more as far as visiting, planning for evangelism and the other behind the scenes Pastor things, it wasn't what God wanted me to do this last year.

Caleb's illness has taken priority and we've had to adjust.  We've had to wait on God and wait for every second instructions from the Lord.

Now, as the first anniversary of Caleb's diagnosis has come and gone, I'm praying that I can be more focused on change.  I think we have all need to grow.  Of course, we need to grow in numbers-but more than that-we need to grow in Christ.  We need to be open to God doing something great this summer.  God has answered our prayers and has taught us to rely on him this year.

We continue to pray for our friends who don't know Christ.  I'm praying that we can reach out and make connections of our church with the ones who need the Lord.   Trinity Bapitst, are you willing to do what it takes to grow and make a difference?

II Peter 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Romans in the Winter Spring and a Powerful Testimony

The book of Romans is a book that truly brings the great message of New Life.  Paul is writing to the far off  Roman believers.  Many Jewish believers traveled to Rom and brought with them their faith in Jesus Christ.  They were a strong lot as they had to withstand the social and political influence of the Roman ways.  Paul teaches them in the book of Romans good doctrine.  He expresses truths that transform the life.

I've been wanting to preach through this book for years.  Today was the right time to start.   I'm excited at analyzing the doctrines like Justification and working through phrases like "there is no condemnation to they who are in Christ Jesus."

Hoping everyone can be there the rest of the way to worship and learn.

On another note.  This week I was introduced to one of the great testimonies of the year.  It is the amazing and straightforward Christian conversion of a woman named  Rosaria Butterfield.  She had previously been a  lesbian college professor at Syracuse University until a Presbyterian Pastor and his wife showed interest in her life and brought her to Jesus Christ.  It is worth the time to listen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ_YI6INTQU

Instant Message

This was the "message" from the BJU Drama team on Tuesday night at Trinity.  It was a lesson that we need to be ready for Christ's coming.  It was a lesson of be genuine in your faith.  It was  a lesson of don't make a false decision just to please someone else.

In His perfect way God sent us the "team" to minister for Christ to the group that came.  We were hoping all of  the young people that we knew would be able to come, but only a few were able.  It was the group God wanted.  It was evident in how each person responded to the message.  The message was really powerful.  The message of the gospel was incredibly strong.

Special Services Coming Up

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The next few days we will be hosting two special services.  On Sunday Doyle Robertson will be here with his family and providing special music.  Mr. Robertson will be  sharing with his wife and son and working with our small choir.  It should be an enjoyable and blessed time.  On Tuesday our mid-week service will change form Wednesday while we host the BJU Drama team.  We always enjoy the presentation that the young people bring.  Tuesday would be a great time to invite many of your friends.  The service will be different than most as the team presents compelling dramatic stories and sketches.  You won't want to miss this:

Doyle Robertson-Sunday, 1-27-2013 10:00 am
BJU Drama Team-Tuesday, 1-29-2013 7:00 pm

Don't miss them

Is God Speaking?

Here we are January 20th.  Is God speaking to you?  Today we were challenged from Romans 12:1-2.  We need to be renewed and transformed by the Christ.  The last phrase in these verses tells us that we need to renew our mind.  Are you doing that this year?  Don't worry if you miss a day or two.  God wants you to stay in touch with Him no matter what.

One thing that should encourage us all is that God speaks to us directly by his Holy Spirit.  I'm listening to Josh Teis speaking about how God speaks to us today.   He does it by His Holy Spirit through His Word.  Some would want God to speak everything at once. I know some who want every question answered right now.  Brother Josh is challenging the believers that God can't give you every answer at once.   He wants us to come as a little child

Let us love God by working on our relationship with Christ every day.  Let us be like a sheep.  Call upon God.  He will save you.  He has saved you if you know that He has spoken to you.

With Confidence

So, I'm excited for the year 2013.  I'm praying that God would use our church to make an impact on our community and world for Christ.  Even though we have a small group we have loads of potential.  This truth should be said for every believer.  We have the power of God unto salvation (ref. Romans 1:16), and we have been transformed by the renewing of our mind (ref. Rom 12:2).  We also are more than conquerors (ref. Rom 8:37).  These portions from Romans are excellent encouragements for all believers to be confident in their walk.

That said, we look ahead to 2013.  For me, Pastor Craig, 2012 was the hardest of my life.   It was a stormy harrowing year as we dealt with Caleb's health.  The year ahead has so much mystery for us.  There could be hard times ahead-but God in his wonderful sovereign mercy is in control.  I know God is there and he will take care of us.

As for our church, I don't know what is in store.  Sunday we had a good crowd with our winter visitors encouraging us with their presence.  Some days I wish I could drop everything but the ministry and really focus on reaching out to Bullhead City.  For some reason, this is not what the Lord has for me.

So, I pray that all of us will take the confidence that God has given us in him through His Holy Spirit and begin to have the victories.  Victory in sharing the gospel, victory in loving our family, victory in walk the walk.

Divine Revelation

Questions about athiest and agnostics and what they really believe?  RC Sproul addresses this question with clarity-this is a must read!

Divine Revelation 

By RC Sproul
Everything we know about Christianity has been revealed to us by God. To reveal means "to unveil." It involves removing a cover from something that is concealed.
When my son was growing up, we developed an annual tradition for the celebration of his birthday. Instead of the normal pattern of distributing presents, we did it by way of our homemade version of the television game show "Let''s Make a Deal." I hid his presents in secret places such as in a drawer, under the sofa, or behind a chair. Then I gave him options: "You can have what''s in the desk drawer or what''s in my pocket." The climax of the game focused on the "big deal of the day." I arranged three chairs that were covered with blankets. Each blanket concealed a gift. One chair had a small gift, a second chair had his big present, and a third chair had a crutch he had used after breaking his leg at age seven.
For three years in a row my son selected the chair containing the crutch! (I always ended up letting him exchange the crutch for his real gift.) The fourth year he was determined not to choose the chair with the crutch under the blanket. This time I concealed his big present alongside the crutch and allowed the top of the crutch to peek out beneath the blanket. Spying the crutch tip he studiously avoided choosing that chair. I got him again!
The fun part of the game was in trying to guess where the treasure was hidden. But it was sheer guesswork, pure speculation. Discovery of the real treasure could not be made until the blanket was removed and the gift lay unveiled.
So it is with our knowledge of God. Idle speculation about God is a fool''s errand. If we wish to know Him in truth, we must rely on what He tells us about Himself.
The Bible indicates that God reveals Himself in various ways. He displays His glory in and through nature. He revealed Himself in ancient times via dreams and visions. The mark of His providence is shown in the pages of history. He reveals Himself in the inspired Scripture. The zenith of His revelation is seen in Jesus Christ becoming a human being—what theologians call "the incarnation."
The author of Hebrews writes:

God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds. (Hebrews 1:1-2)

Although the Bible speaks of the "various ways" that God reveals Himself, we distinguish between two chief types of revelation—general and special.
General revelation is called "general" for two reasons: (1) it is general in content, and (2) it is revealed to a general audience.
General Content
General revelation provides us with the knowledge that God exists. "The heavens declare the glory of God," says the psalmist. God''s glory is displayed in the works of His hands. This display is so clear and manifest that no creature can possibly miss it. It unveils God''s eternal power and deity (Romans 1:18-23). Revelation in nature does not give a full revelation of God. It does not give us the information about God the Redeemer that we find in the Bible. But the God who is revealed in nature is the same God who is revealed in Scripture.
General Audience
Not everyone in the world has read the Bible or heard the gospel proclaimed. But the light of nature shines upon everyone in every place, in every time. God''s general revelation takes place every day. He is never without a witness to Himself. The visible world is like a mirror that reflects the glory of its Maker.
The world is a stage for God. He is the chief actor who appears front and center. No curtain can fall and obscure His presence. We know from one glimpse of creation that nature is not its own mother. There is no such "mother" as Mother Nature. Nature itself is powerless to produce life of any kind. In itself, nature is barren. The power to produce life resides in the Author of nature—God. To substitute nature as the source of life is to confuse the creature with the Creator. All forms of nature worship are acts of idolatry that are detestable to God.
Because of the force of general revelation, every human being knows that God exists. Atheism involves the utter denial of something that is known to be true. This is why the Bible says, "The fool has said in his heart, ''There is no God''" (Psalm 14:1). When the Scripture so chastens the atheist by calling him a "fool," it is making a moral judgment upon him. To be a fool in biblical terms is not to be dim-witted or lacking in intelligence; it is to be immoral. As the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, so the denial of God is the height of foolishness.
The agnostic, likewise, denies the force of general revelation. The agnostic is less strident than the atheist; he does not flatly deny the existence of God. Rather, the agnostic declares that there is insufficient evidence to decide one way or the other about God''s existence. He prefers to suspend his judgment, to leave the issue of God''s existence as an open question. However, in light of the clarity of general revelation, the stance of agnosticism is no less detestable to God than that of the militant atheist.
But for anyone whose mind and heart are open, the glory of God is wonderful to see—from the billions of universes in the heavens to the subatomic particles that make up the tiniest of molecules. What an incredible God we serve!

1. Christianity is a revealed religion.
2. God''s revelation is a self-disclosure. He removes the veil that keeps us from knowing Him.
3. We do not come to know God through speculation.
4. God revealed Himself in various ways throughout history.
5. General revelation is given to all human beings.
6. Atheism and agnosticism are based on a denial of what people know to be true.
7. Foolishness is founded on the denial of God.
8. Wisdom is founded on the fear of God

The Essential Truths of the Christian Faith devotional is excerpted from Essential Truths of the Christian Faith Copyright © 1992 by R. C. Sproul. All rights reserved.