THE DIVINE EXCHANGE

• Jesus was punished that we might be forgiven.
• Jesus was wounded that we might be healed.
• Jesus was made sin with our sinfulness that we might become righteous with His righteousness.
• Jesus died our death that we might share His life.
• Jesus became poor with our poverty that we might become rich with His riches.
• Jesus bore our shame that we might share His glory.
• Jesus endured our rejection that we might have His acceptance as children of God.
• Jesus became a curse that we might receive a blessing.

Isaiah 61

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,

² to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,

³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.

⁵ Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.

⁶ And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.

⁷ Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.

⁸ “For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them.

⁹ Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

¹⁰ I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.

For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

¹¹ For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.

Podcast

Podcast unavailable for 12/20/09.

Links

We hope to have a video of our amazing Children’s Christmas Pageant up soon.  Thanks a million to everyone who helped make the pageant such a wonderful celebration of the birth of our King.  Check back soon for the video link.

Check out the church website for additional information at life at EFC.

Parents — don’t forget to head over to the WorldChangers page to access ways to connect Kid’s Church to your kitchen table.

On the Radar – Church Holiday Schedule

• Wednesday, December 23 – No Church Activities
• Sunday, December 27 – Last Sunday of 2009
• Wednesday, December 30 – No Church Activities
• Thursday, December 31 – New Year’s Night of Worship — and talent show!  Email me at efcsweetwater@aol.com to sign up.

Revelation Bible study is taking a Holiday break.  We will resume our eschatological exploration Tuesday, January 5, 2010.

The Drum Circle will be getting back on rhythm in 2010.  Drop me an email if you are interested in learning to play hand drums.

Sunday Preview

Next Sunday, December 27, is the last Sunday of the year — and the decade.  We look forward to ending the year with a wonderful time of worship and a special message as Pastor Eric shares with us the miracle of “Stone Soup.”

WHY SANTA?

We asked quite a few “why” questions yesterday as we contemplated the birth of our Savior.  I hope and pray the message gave you some good thoughts to consider.  The purpose and plan of God to offer His Son as a sacrifice for mankind demonstrates to us that Jesus truly is THE way to salvation, not simply a way to salvation.

Another “why” we encounter during the Christmas season is the question, “Why do we have a Santa Clause?” 

It’s a very good question.  Who is the big guy in the red velvet suit anyway?  And does he prefer milk or Coca Cola with his cookies?

It is my humble opinion that Santa Clause never intended to hijack the meaning of Christmas.  If anything, the meaning of Santa got hijacked somewhere along the way.

I invite you to read my historical fiction account of “A Christmas Without Options” and discover what history and tradition tell us about the real significance of that jolly old soul.

Podcast

Click here to listen to Pastor Eric’s message “God’s Perfect Sacrifice.”

Links

In yesterday’s message we listened to the song “Such a strange way to save the world” by 4 Him.  Click the title for a reprise.

Parents — don’t forget to head over to the WorldChangers page to access ways to connect Kid’s Church to your kitchen table.

On the Radar – Church Holiday Schedule

I am looking forward to our children’s Christmas pageant next Sunday.  They have been working very hard to present the beauty of the Christmas story to us.  I love to catch the whispered hums of my little ones as they rehearse their songs throughout the day.  We will also be distributing a Christmas gift to all of our congregation this Sunday—something the worship team has been hard at work on for a month now!

This is going to be a very special morning for us as a church family.  I hope you will invite your family to experience this wonderful day with us.  And, please be in prayer for Pastor Lolo as she works with the children to put the finishing touches on the pageant this week. 

• Wednesday, December 16 – Hayride, Caroling, & Chiminea Christmas Party — Leave from the church at 6:30.  Click here for more details.
• Saturday, December 19 – Ladies’ Cookie Swap & Ornament Exchange.  Click for instructions.
• Sunday, December 20 – Children’s Christmas Pageant
• Wednesday, December 23 – No Church Activities
• Sunday, December 27 – Last Sunday of 2009
• Wednesday, December 30 – No Church Activities
• Thursday, December 31 – New Year’s Night of Worship — and talent show!  Email me at efcsweetwater@aol.com to sign up.

Revelation Bible study this Tuesday from 12:00 – 1:00 pm in my office.  Everyone is welcome to join in, just bring your Bible and a lunch box.  Keep up with the progress at The Watchman’s Gaze.

The Drum Circle will be getting back on rhythm in 2010.  Drop me an email if you are interested in learning to play hand drums.

You Heard it at EFC

Been trying to remember one of those awesome songs we sang?  Here is our worship list from yesterday, for those of you who just absolutely need a copy for yourself.  You can usually find them for purchase on itunes.com.

1. “O Come, Let Us Adore Him”
2. “I’ve Found a Love” Bethel Live version
3. “I Adore You” Jesus Culture version
4. “How He Loves” Kim Walker version

Sunday Preview

Next Sunday, December 20, is the fourth and final Sunday of Advent.  Come celebrate with us as our children lead us in their Christmas presentation!

THE INN IN BETHLEHEM

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  (Luke 2:4-7 NIV)

Photo: Aschwin Prein

“Because there was no room for them in the inn” is one of the most recognizable phrases found in the Bible.  It is quoted in Christmas pageants and family Bible studies all around the world as the celebration of the birth of Jesus approaches.

What do we know about that inn in Bethlehem?  Does the Bible have anything else to say about the humble sight that would welcome the King of Heaven to dwell on the earth?  Who did it belong to?  When was it built?

If you turn back in the pages of your Bible, you find a curious reference in Jeremiah 41 to a place in Bethlehem in which some travelers made a stop while they were fleeing to Egypt.

… And they went on, stopping at Geruth Kimham near Bethlehem on their way to Egypt to escape the Babylonians … (Jeremiah 41:17-18 NIV)

It is an interesting reference to a little known location near Bethlehem that has no bearing on the story being told in Jeremiah 41.  Like so many passages of scripture, it is a small nugget planted within the text to shed light on a much bigger picture.

As we study the reference to “Geruth Kimham,” an amazing picture begins to unfold for us.  A picture of blessing and covenant and what can happen when a man chooses to leave his past and walk in relationship with a king.

Geruth Kimham is not a city near Bethlehem, it is a residence that was established near Bethlehem as a place for travelers to find shelter.  The Hebrew words are literally translated as “the lodging place of Kimham.”  We would refer to it today as a hotel, in the pages of the Bible you would find it referred to as an “inn.”

This man, Kimham, who established an inn near Bethlehem, has an interesting appearance in the story of King David.  After the rebellion of Absalom, David returns to Jerusalem to be reestablished as king over the nation of Israel.  David is accompanied on this return trip by many of the men who provided for him when he fled from Absalom to avoid a civil war in the streets of Jerusalem.  One of those men, Barzillai the Gileadite, has a very special place in David’s heart, and David desires to richly bless Barzillai.  We read the account of their conversation in 2 Samuel 19, where we find Barzillai refusing the offer of King David and sending a substitute in his place.

“Your servant will cross over the Jordan with the king for a short distance, but why should the king reward me in this way? Let your servant return, that I may die in my own town near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Kimham.  Let him cross over with my lord the king.  Do for him whatever pleases you.” The king said, “Kimham shall cross over with me, and I will do for him whatever pleases you. And anything you desire from me I will do for you.”

So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and gave him his blessing, and Barzillai returned to his home.  When the king crossed over to Gilgal, Kimham crossed with him.  (2 Samuel 19:36-40 NIV)

Here we find another one of those significant pieces of information hidden away in the details of a story.

King David blessed the man Kimham, whose only right to receive the blessing was that he didn’t say “no” when the invitation was extended.  In a moment in time, when others refused, Kimham said “yes.”

We don’t know what Kimham had to sacrifice to say “yes” to King David, but we can gain an amazing glimpse of what he gained.  Apparently Kimham was given land near David’s home town of Bethlehem.  Kimham evidently established a resting place for travelers who were passing through the region of Bethlehem.  And, it would seem, that a young man and woman, traveling to be counted in the Roman census, would travel to Bethlehem and find no room in the inn.  But, they would seek shelter in the stable behind the inn.  And the King of Heaven would be born in a stable built by a man who’s only recorded action was that he said “yes” at the right time.

The story of the Inn of Kimham amazes me.  It speaks to us on so many levels.  Did Kimham have an ounce of understanding the stable beside his inn would welcome the birth of the Messiah?  Did David perceive his generosity toward Kimham would establish the birthplace of his great, great, great (etc.) grandson?

Do we have even the slightest glimmer of an idea of the power of our acts of willingness and generosity?  Even today, stables are being built all over the world that will welcome the King of Glory into the hearts of men.

Your life, your actions, your “yes” will echo through human history.  May it be a sweet sound in the ears of all who hear. 

Podcast

Click here to listen to Pastor Eric’s message “Sacrifice and Relationships.”

On the Radar – Church Holiday Schedule

• Wednesday, December 9 – Lifegroup Christmas Party / Youth Christmas Party
• Sunday, December 13 – Third Sunday of Advent
• Wednesday, December 16 – Hayride, Caroling, & Chiminea Christmas Party
• Saturday, December 19 – Ladies’ Cookie Swap & Ornament Exchange
• Sunday, December 20 – Children’s Christmas Pageant
• Wednesday, December 23 – No Church Activities
• Sunday, December 27 – Last Sunday of 2009
• Wednesday, December 30 – No Church Activities
• Thursday, December 31 – New Year’s Night of Worship

Revelation Bible study this Tuesday from 12:00 – 1:00 pm in my office.  Everyone is welcome to join in, just bring your Bible and a lunch box.  Keep up with the progress at The Watchman’s Gaze.

The Drum Circle will be getting back on rhythm in 2010.  Drop me an email if you are interested in learning to play hand drums.

You Heard it at EFC

Been trying to remember one of those awesome songs we sang?  Here is our worship list from yesterday, for those of you who just absolutely need a copy for yourself.  You can usually find them for purchase on itunes.com.

1. “Joy to the World”
2. “I’ve Found a Love” Bethel Live version  
3. “Freedom Reigns” by Jason Upton  
4. “When I think about the Lord” by James Huey  

Sunday Preview

Next Sunday, December 13, is the third Sunday of Advent.  We will continue our series on Sacrifice by looking at the sacrifice God made on our behalf.

A CHRISTMAS WITHOUT OPTIONS

For the old man’s daughter, it would be a life without options.  She had not chosen which household she would be born into.  She had not chosen how her father would live his life.  She had not chosen slavery, nor prostitution, but it was the life that awaited her.  Hers’ was a life without options.

“Oh God,” she would cry in the still hours of the night, “is there anyone who can save me?”

On the other side of the village, beside the warm glow of a crackling fire, a young man lay face down on the hard stone floor.  His was a life without options.  Born into a family of wealth and extravagance beyond the imagination of most, he was accustomed to privilege.  He had lost his parents to the plague at an early age and had been required to mature quickly in order to manage the vast estate and resources of his family.  Though he was now alone, the legacy of faith and righteousness his mother and father had instilled in him was a constant companion.

“Oh God,” the young man whispered into the cold, dark night, “All that I am is Yours.  How can I serve the Christ child, the One who has saved me?”

It had been a brief three hundred years since the King of Glory had conquered death and brought hope to mankind, and the message of his gospel was alive, even in Patara, Lycia, at the Southern tip of Turkey.  The message was living and it burned in the heart of this wealthy orphan.

And in the crisp air of this Turkish night, two prayers mingled together.  Voices, like wisps of smoke, made their way to Heaven in a strange melody.  Desperation and discontent danced.  The need of each would be the answer to the other.  Poverty would be met by provision, and both would discover the power of purpose.

Young Nicholas arose from his fireside prayer.  Heaven had answered, and he knew what to do.  A quick visit to the storehouse, and then to the stable, and he was off — mounted on his white steed he blazed through the village under a canopy of starlight, a sack draped across his back.  The sting of the cold night air was countered by the rush of blood that intoxicated him.  His face was hot, his breath was short, his eyes watered as his horse rode on.  Panic and joy formed two storm fronts in his heart and erupted in thunderclaps of laughter as he continued his ride.

She had no options, therefore he had no options.  He nudged his stallion though the twist and turns of the muddy village streets as the weaver’s house came into view.  The weaver was a good man, but not a wise man.  He had raised his three daughters alone after the loss of his wife, and the fire four winters ago had left them with nothing and no opportunity to rebuild.  He wept each night, not so much from the hunger as from having to watch his children wither from the effects of his poverty.  And so he felt he had no option, he must sell his oldest in hopes of providing for the younger two.

He wept.

She wept.

And Nicholas rode, weeping and laughing.

The faint smoke of a smoldering fire could be seen rising through a tattered hole in the roof.  Nicholas spurred on his mount, faster and faster.  He could not help being heard, but he must not be seen.  He was galloping now, feet planted in the stirrups, his back bent as he whispered praises to God in his horse’s listening ear.

They blazed past the fire-charred weaver’s home, and in one motion Nicholas heaved the bag over his shoulder and toward the hole in the roof where a chimney once stood.  With a shout of “Christkindl,” or “Christ child” as we would understand it, he was off, still laughing, still crying, so much more alive than he had ever dreamed possible.

And the bag — that bag filled with gold coins — that bag would offer hope of a new life for a young woman hours away from the auction block.  That bag must have sprouted wings, or been met by a winged messenger, for its path was too perfect.  Its landing was too soft as it flew through the hole in the roof and settled quietly in the stocking of the young woman, the very stocking she had hung to dry by the fire that night.

Prayers of desperation changed the course of history that night, as they danced their way to heaven and brought life to the giver and the receiver. 

For the young woman, the stocking of gold became her dowry.  She became eligible to marry and marry she did, to a good and kind noble man, and the legacy of her descendents was changed forever.

The young woman had younger sisters, each of whom would cry out to the Lord and each of whom would receive a gift from Nicholas that would save their lives and alter their history.

And the weaver, he wept no more, for his daughters did not go to bed hungry.

As for Nicholas, he continued to live a life with out options.  A life of radical obedience and unhindered generosity.  And the heart pounding rush of giving a gift would continue to erupt in thunderous laughter.  He laughed not only in giving, but in suffering, as he was tortured for his faith.  His captors desired to see him renounce Jesus, but all they heard was the sound of laughter.  He laughed as he confronted heresy in the leaders of his church.  Some sought to deny the glorious divinity of King Jesus, but all they heard from him was the sound of laughter.

He learned to laugh from giving, and laughter became his gift and his strength for living.  He would laugh in the face of friends or in the face of enemies, with shouts of “Christkindl,’ or “for the Christ child!”

And thus, through the course of history, some came to know him as Chris Kringle.  Some came to know him as Saint Nicholas.  Children in our lands have heard him called Santa Claus.

An orphan boy, whose heart found warmth in the fire of God.  He had nowhere else to go — he had no options.

THE FIELD DAVID BOUGHT

It seems pretty often that I catch a news headline about a chain reaction of generosity breaking out at a Starbucks.  It’s amazing how one act of kindness can lead to a morning filled with bright smiles and warm hearts as customers pay forward the blessing of a free cup of coffee.

Every chain reaction has to start with a catalyst.  It has to begin with a person who decides to purchase not only their morning caffeine fix, but an extra hit for the car behind them. 

In the life of David, King of Israel, we see a catalytic moment that pays forward for generations.

It began in the field of Araunah the Jebusite when David made an extravagant offering to the Lord on behalf of the nation.

But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”  –1 Chronicles 21:24 (NIV)

Somehow through this encounter with the Lord, David discerned that at the very place of this sacrificial offering, the Temple of the Lord should be established.

Then David said, “The house of the Lord God is to be here, and also the altar of burnt offering for Israel.”  –1 Chronicles 22:1 (NIV)

For the building of the Temple, on the very ground of his initial offering, David makes the most sacrificial offering ever recorded in human history.  The staggering wealth of his offering is recorded in 1 Chronicles 22.

Then he called for his son Solomon and charged him to build a house for the Lord, the God of Israel. David said to Solomon: “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the Lord my God . . .“Now, my son, the Lord be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the Lord your God, as he said you would . . . “I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the Lord a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them. You have many workmen: stonecutters, masons and carpenters, as well as men skilled in every kind of work in gold and silver, bronze and iron—craftsmen beyond number. Now begin the work, and the Lord be with you.”  –1 Chronicles 22:6-16 (NIV)

And, just like a happy morning at Starbucks, David’s generosity becomes a catalyst that ignites a nation to give toward the glorious vision of establishing a house for God to be worshipped on the earth.

Then the leaders of families, the officers of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds, and the officials in charge of the king’s work gave willingly. They gave toward the work on the temple of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze and a hundred thousand talents of iron. Any who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the temple of the Lord in the custody of Jehiel the Gershonite. The people rejoiced at the willing response of their leaders, for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.  –1 Chronicles 29:6-9 (NIV)

The story of this threshing floor turned Temple of the Lord is concluded by a verse in 2 Chronicles that ties all of the pieces together.

Then Solomon began to build the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to his father David. It was on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite, the place provided by David.  –2 Chronicles 3:1 (NIV)

Now, there is more to the background of this property and the purpose of God in this story, but what we see so clearly in this little sliver of history is the impact of sacrifice and extravagant generosity on the story of human history.

When a person makes a large purchase on their own behalf, a common question they may encounter is, “How much did that set you back?” 

When an extravagant sacrifice is made on behalf of the Kingdom of God, the question that only eternity will be able to answer is, “How much did that set you forward?”

I wonder if Jesus was thinking about this field David purchased from Araunah when he told us this story about the Kingdom of God.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.  –Matthew 13:44 (NIV)

Podcast

Click here to listen to Pastor Eric’s message “The Sacrifice of Generosity.”

On the Radar – Church Holiday Schedule

• Wednesday, December 2 – Lifegroup / Children / Youth at 7:00pm
• Sunday, December 6 – Second Sunday of Advent
• Wednesday, December 9 – Lifegroup Christmas Party / Youth Christmas Party
• Sunday, December 13 – Third Sunday of Advent
• Wednesday, December 16 – Hayride, Caroling, & Chiminea Christmas Party
• Sunday, December 20 – Children’s Christmas Pageant
• Wednesday, December 23 – No Church Activities
• Sunday, December 27 – Last Sunday of 2009
• Wednesday, December 30 – No Church Activities
• Thursday, December 31 – New Year’s Night of Worship

Revelation Bible study this Tuesday from 12:00 – 1:00 pm in my office.  Everyone is welcome to join in, just bring your Bible and a lunch box.  Keep up with the progress at The Watchman’s Gaze.

You Heard it at EFC

Been trying to remember one of those awesome songs we sang?  Here is our worship list from yesterday, for those of you who just absolutely need a copy for yourself.  You can usually find them for purchase on itunes.com.

1. “Happy Day” by Tim Hughes
2. “Your Love Never Fails” by Jesus Culture
3. “Healer” Kari Jobe version
4. “Wonderful Maker” Chris Tomlin version

Sunday Preview

Next Sunday, December 6, is the second Sunday of Advent.  We will continue our series on Sacrifice with a look at walking in Sacrifice in our relationships.

Enter His Courts with Thanksgiving

Yesterday was another powerful service, wasn’t it?

I think we went through a record number of tissues as a congregation. The next time Pastor Mindy preaches, there will be a notice posted on the Monday Morning Review so you will remember to bring extra Kleenex.

I also just noticed on Pastor Eric’s facebook where he and Keegan are officially on their way back. Be sure to give them a warm welcome home. I’d wait a day or two to allow them time to recover, though.

Thanksgiving

As was apparent from the message and testimonies, we have a lot to be thankful for individually and as a congregation. We should also remember all God has done for us and give Him praise, not just for what He has done, but simply because He deserves it.

If you’re curious about what this might look like, check this out.

I think we all can dance and shout on half of something. Maybe next week we can persuade Eric and/or Mindy to demonstrate Bishop Jakes’ fancy footwork. Now, that would get the congregation dancing and shouting.

I sincerely hope each and every one of you have a fantastic Thanksgiving.

You Heard it at EFC

• “Sing to the King” – Various Artists
• “I Have Found” – Kim Walker
• “God, You’re Beautiful” – Anthony Skinner
• “God of This City” – Chris Tomlin
• “Mighty to Save” – Hillsong

On the Radar

Advent Choir – The Advent Choir is a new and exciting adventure for EFC and is open to anyone who would like to participate. The choir will sing throughout the holiday season beginning next Sunday. Practice continues tonight November 23, 2009 @ 7pm at EFC.

WorldChangers – The EFC children’s ministry, a.k.a WorldChangers, has a new website where parents can keep up with weekly lessons and everything else going on with their little world changers.

EFC Facebook Group – Have you joined the EFC Facebook Group? If not, you might be missing out on stuff happening at EFC. If you haven’t joined yet, you should. As of this morning, there were 50 members. That means over half of you still haven’t joined. What are you waiting for?

Revelation Bible Study – The Revelation Bible Study meets weekly on Tuesdays @ noon at EFC. It’s not too late – it’s never too late. Come join in this in depth study verse-by-verse through the book of Revelation led by EFC’s very own Curtis Ward, who is blogging about the study on his blog The Watchman’s Gaze. Check it out.

Last Word

By the time this is published, Pastor Eric will be somewhere over the Atlantic, and by the time many of you read this, he will be somewhere over Texas. Which means he will resume writing the Monday Morning Review next week, but it also means that next week we get to hear more great testimonies.

Have a great Thanksgiving weekend.

On Courage, Missions and Other Cool Stuff

Gdansk, Poland

Wow! There’s a lot to talk about this morning. Pastor Eric is in Poland (soon to be in Croatia), Pastor Mindy, Pastor Lolo and Jay Neal got set on fire at Global Awakening’s School of Healing, it was Missions Sunday, and it’s the harvest season.

Has there ever been a better time to be at EFC? Well, the Cowboys did lose, so maybe next week will be even better.

Courage

Courage is a curious thing. And as we learned from Pastor Mindy, courage can also look like a crazy thing. But, when God is on your side, it can also be a pretty cool thing. Just like Jonathan’s plan to take on the Philistines single-handedly seemed crazy, we should start coming up with some crazy plans of our own, and trust that the same God who delivered the Philistines into Jonathan’s hands, will deliver our enemies into our hands. Courage, after all, is a lot easier to command when your trust is in God.

You can read this part of Jonathan’s story at 1 Samuel 14.

Missions Sunday

Appropriately, yesterday was EFC’s Missions Sunday. For anyone who stumbles upon this post or who is relatively new to EFC, the third Sunday of every month at EFC is designated specifically for giving to mission organizations. Here are just a few of the opportunities to support missions work at Emmanuel Fellowship Church:

Prepare International – Pastor Eric and Keegan are currently traveling with a team from Prepare International, and EFC members frequently support and accompany Prepare International mission teams.

Mission Brazil – Part of the reason Pastor Mindy and Pastor Lolo attended the Global Awakening School of Healing and Impartation was because it is a prerequisite to travel with a Global Awakening team to Brazil, which they will be doing in 2010. If you are interested in going to Brazil with the team, please contact Pastor Mindy for more information.

Tents of Mercy – Tents of Mercy is a Messianic Jewish organization spreading the gospel in Israel.  Tents of Mercy currently has five congregations throughout Israel, and EFC currently supports the Katzir Asher (Harvest of Asher) congregation in Akko.

World Bible Translation Center – Help translate the Bible into new languages for distribution throughout the world.

Sweetwater Prayer Center – Help support our very own Sweetwater Prayer Center.

Harvest Season

It’s the harvest season, and all the seed you have sown over the year – whether financial, in ministry, or at home – is ready to be harvested. The key, however, is to harvest because the crop doesn’t gather itself. So go and gather your financial harvest. Go and gather your spiritual harvest. Go and gather the harvest of souls you have worked on all year. They are ripe for the harvest.

I’m not sure where exactly that came from, but I hope it’s a good word for somebody, or a lot of somebodies.

You Heard it at EFC

The just-for-Bryant Wilkinson version (which includes his favorite song):

• “See His Love” – Kim Walker
• “I Adore You” – Chris Quilala
• “God of This City” – Chris Tomlin
• “The More I Seek You” – Kari Jobe

On the Radar

Advent Choir – The Advent Choir is a new and exciting adventure for EFC and is open to anyone who would like to participate. The choir will sing throughout the holiday season. Practice begins tonight November 16, 2009 @ 7pm at EFC.

WorldChangers – The EFC children’s ministry, a.k.a WorldChangers, has a new website where parents can keep up with weekly lessons and everything else going on with their little world changers.

Revelation Bible Study – The Revelation Bible Study meets weekly on Tuesdays @ noon at EFC. It’s not too late – it’s never too late. Come join in this in depth study verse-by-verse through the book of Revelation led by EFC’s very own Curtis Ward, who is blogging about the study on his blog The Watchman’s Gaze. Check it out.

Last Word

All the reports I’ve heard from Pastor Eric have been good, so keep praying for the wondeful work being done in Eastern Europe by Pastor Eric, Keegan and the whole Prepare International team.

I think I will also be writing next week’s Monday Morning Review, so if you have any news or info that you want included, please email me or leave me a comment below. Have a great week.

LIFE IN POLAND

We just finished a remarkable Ministry Training School in Gdansk, Poland.

I had the privilege of teaching with Randy Boyd of Prepare International and a new friend, Brad Davidson.  We taught seven sessions on Disicipleship and Spiritual Fathering.  It was a tremendous joy to teach on this subject alongside one of the most influential men in my life.  The message we communicated was more than words and principles, our very lives were a demonstration of the beauty and process of dicipleship over many years and stages of development.

A few observations from our weekend with these wonderful brothers and sisters:

• The future of the Christian church in Poland is in good hands.  As I shared with 20 somethings through the weekend and teenagers on Sunday morning, I was blessed by the passion and caliber of these young believers.
• Christians in Poland know how to worship! 
• People in Poland are hungry for authentic Christianity.  A brief conversation on our flight into Gdansk connected a young woman with the local church.
• Disciples are being made and will continue to be made in Poland!

Lord Jesus, thank you for the privilege of speaking life into believers in Poland.  May your fire and love fill their hearts and direct their steps.  I thank you for generational blessings flowing through the grace of discipleship among our Polish friends.  Strengthen the Body of Christ in Poland, Lord.  Encourage.  Refresh.  Bless.  In Jesus Name.  Amen.

11:11

By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.  –Proverbs 11:11

THE DANGER OF FIRST PLACE

Is Jesus first place in your life?  The initial response for a Christian would be a resounding, “Yes!”  And it would seem very much like the right answer.

But, Jesus did not come only to be first place in your life.

I believe many of us have prioritized Jesus out of our lives by making Him first.  We give Him the first 15 minutes of our day.  We may even give him the last 15 minutes of our day.

But, what do we do with all of the hours in between?  Where is Jesus as 10, 2, and 4?  I want to suggest to you that first isn’t necessarily bad, it’s just not all there is.

Here is a picture of first:

Do you see any problems brewing with only placing Jesus first in your life?  Second is pretty happy.  It gets to hang out right next to Jesus.  But, what about third?  And look how far fourth is away from Jesus.  Whoever or whatever fifth is doesn’t get much contact with Jesus at all.

Let me propose a different configuration.  When you allow Jesus to take up residence in the center of your life, He is able to influence every aspect of who you are and what you do.  Just like the hub of a wheel, it is the hub of your heart that provides support to every area of your life.

Christianity is an invasive force.  Jesus wants to invade your business.  He wants to invade your marriage.  Jesus wants to invade your Friday nights and Monday mornings.

There are four key spokes to the wheel of our lives:

• Personal life – who I am and the basic choices I make
• Social life – how I relate to others
• Business life – what I do to generate income
• Political life – how I view the world around me

It is very possible to claim Jesus to be first in your life and allow Him little or no impact on these key areas.

What happens when Jesus is not the center of our life?  We become the center of our life.  And when we are the center, our faith becomes just another spoke on the wheel.  It’s a good spoke, but it’s just a spoke.

When faith becomes a spoke, rather than a hub, it doesn’t influence the other spokes.  Truth be told, we begin to influence it more than it influences us.

We become the filter that processes life.  We tell everything where to line up.  And we determine how much influence each spoke has on us.

How well do you think we hold up to that pressure?  We don’t.

What happens to a wheel that loses its hub?  It collapses.

There was a time in my life when Jesus was just another spoke on the wheel, a time when I was the center of my own life.  Eventually, I came to realize there is all the difference in the world between knowing Jesus as a good guy and receiving Him as your Lord and Savior.

Where is Jesus in your life?

He could be in a good place.  You could even say He is first.

But, is He the center?

Links

Click HERE to view the story of Laura, a 10 minute glimpse at establishing Jesus as the center of your life.

Parents, Click HERE to access this week’s Family Connect page.  It’s another opportunity to bring what happens on Sunday morning to the kitchen table on Monday night!

On the Radar

We are looking forward to EFC’s first choir leading us in worship during the Christmas season.  Contact Pastor Mindy if you are interested in joining the choir.  No experience necessary.  Our first choir rehearsal will be Monday, November 16^th!

Pastor Eric and his son, Keegan, leave Thursday on a mission trip to Eastern Europe.  They will be traveling to Croatia and Poland as Pastor Eric teaches in several church leadership schools and preaches in local churches with Prepare International.  Keegan will be getting his feet wet on the mission field and being an “armor bearer” for his dad.  Please pray for this trip and these two travelers as they help bring the Kingdom of Heaven to Europe!

Brazil Mission Trip — Pastor Mindy and Pastor Lorin leave in December for a mission trip to Brazil!  They will each need to raise over $3,000 for trip costs.  For more info and to find out how you can support their trip, click HERE.

Revelation Bible study this Tuesday from 12:00 – 1:00 in my office.  Everyone is welcome to join in, just bring your Bible and a lunch box.  Keep up with the progress at The Watchman’s Gaze.

You Heard it at EFC

Been trying to remember one of those awesome songs we sang?  Here is our worship list from yesterday.  You can usually find them for purchase on itunes.  Click highlighted songs to hear on youtube. 

1. “Arise, King of Kings”
2. “Grace Like Rain” by Todd Agnew
3. New This Week — “I Adore You” by Jesus Culture 
4. “You Won’t Relent” by Misty Edwards 

Sunday Preview

Next Sunday, November 15, is our Missions Sunday.  Pastor Mindy will be bringing the message!