Pastor Eddy's Blog

Grab the Rope

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Two men were in a boat at Niagara Falls and found themselves caught in the current. The men jumped from their boat and swam for the shore. At the last minute, ropes from the shore were thrown out to them. One man grabbed the rope and was pulled to shore.

The other man grabbed a rope, but at the same moment the rope came into his hand, a log floated by him. The confused man, instead of hanging onto the rope, grabbed the log. It was a fatal mistake. Both men were in imminent danger, but the one was pulled to shore because he had a connection to the land. The other, clinging to the floating log, was carried over the falls and was killed.

A saving connection with God has been offered to us in Jesus Christ. He’s on the shore holding the rope. As we lay hold of Him with the hand of faith, he pulls us to shore. However, there are also logs that pass by us. We have to cling to one or the other. Today you have a choice to make. Reach out to Jesus and be saved. He's there waiting for you.

The Final Exam

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 14:00:00 +0000

A group of college students was about to take a final exam in a logic class that was known for its difficult exams. The professor told them they could bring as much information to the exam as could fit onto a piece of notebook paper. Most students crammed as many facts as possible on their 8-1/2 x 11 inch sheet of paper. But one student walked into class, put a piece of notebook paper on the floor, and had an advanced logic student stand on the paper. The advanced logic student told him everything he needed to know. He was the only student to receive an “A.”

The ultimate final exam will come when we stand before God and he asks, “Why should I let you in?” On our own, we can’t pass that exam. Our creative attempts to earn eternal life fall far short. But we have Someone who will stand in for us, and His name is Jesus.

The Stubstitution

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 13:00:00 +0000

During World War II, Father Maximilian Kolbe, was a Catholic priest and a prisoner at Auschwitz. On August 14, 1941 a prisoner escaped from the camp. The rule was that if any person escaped, ten prisoners would be killed. All the prisoners were brought out. The commandant screamed, “The fugitive has not been found! You will all pay for this. Ten of you will be locked in the starvation bunker without food or water until you die.”

As you can imagine, the prisoners were terrified. The ten were selected, including a prisoner named Franciszek Gajowniczek. He cried out in anguish, “My poor wife! My poor children! What will they do?” When he uttered this cry of dismay, Father Kolbe stepped forward and stood before the commandant and said, “I am a Catholic priest. Let me take his place. I am old. He has a wife and children.” Gajowniczek was returned to the ranks, and the priest took his place.

The Nazis kept Kolbe in the starvation bunker for two weeks and then put him to death by lethal injection. Gajowniczek survived the prison. He died on March 13, 1995 in Poland at the age of 95. That was 53 years after Father Kolbe had saved him. But he never forgot that priest. Every year on August 14 he went back to Auschwitz. He spent the next five decades paying homage to Father Kolbe, honoring the man who died on his behalf. In October of 1982, Franciszek Gajowniczek, his wife, children, and grandchildren gathered with 150,000 others in St. Peter’s Square in Rome to celebrate Father Kolbe’s victory over hatred at Auschwitz.

On the cross Jesus became our substitute. A divine exchange occurred. Jesus took our place and died the death that we deserved.

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:00:00 +0000

During the presidency of Andrew Jackson, George Wilson, a postal clerk, robbed a federal payroll from a train and in the process killed a guard. The court convicted him and sentenced him to hang. But because of public sentiment against capital punishment, a movement began to secure a presidential pardon for Wilson, and eventually Jackson intervened with a pardon. Amazingly, Wilson refused it.

Since this had never happened before, the Supreme Court was asked to rule on whether someone could refuse a presidential pardon. Chief Justice John Marshall handed down the court’s decision. He said, “A pardon is a parchment whose only value must be determined by the receiver of the pardon. It has no value apart from that which the receiver gives to it. George Wilson has refused to accept the pardon. We cannot conceive why he would do so, but he has. Therefore, George Wilson must die.” George Wilson, as punishment for his crime, was hanged. The Supreme Court declared that pardon must not only be granted, it must be accepted.

Many people in our world today don’t recognize Jesus for who He is. Even though a pardon has been granted, they refuse to accept it. They’ve rejected the idea of Jesus as Lord and Savior. They think Jesus was just a prophet or a good moral teacher, and they ignore His words and His works.

But Jesus is who He said He is - the Son of God. His virgin birth, His miracles, His resurrection and His ascension prove it. Examine His claims for yourself. That's the only way to find out who He really is.

The Sting

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:46:00 +0000

A boy and his father were driving down a country road on a beautiful spring afternoon, when a bumblebee flew in the car window. The little boy was allergic to bee stings and was petrified. The father quickly reached out, grabbed the bee, squeezed it in his hand, and then released it. The boy was very scared as it buzzed by him. Once again the father reached out his hand, but this time he pointed to his palm. There stuck in his skin was the stinger of the bee. He said, “Do you see this? You don’t need to be afraid anymore. I’ve taken the sting for you.”

As Christians we don’t need to fear death. Christ has died and risen again. He’s taken the sting from death. We no longer need to fear the grave.

Like the disciples and the thief on the cross who accepted the Lord, I hope words of praise to God are on your lips today. I hope you have recognized you have a need and have asked Christ to save you. Thank Him for what He’s done and give Him the honor due His name.

Presidents and the Bible

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:52:00 +0000

The Bible is the most important book that has ever been written. It is called God's Word because its authors were inspired by God to write it. It is more than a collection of historical accounts and pithy proverbs. It is full of wisdom and contains principles by which we are to live our lives.

Since the month of February is the time each year we celebrate President's Day, I think it would be appropriate to examine what some of our former Commanders-in-Chief said about this amazing book.

Abraham Lincoln said, "In regard for this Great Book, I have this to say, it is the best gift God has given to man. All the Good Savior gave to the world was communicated through this book."

Our 7th president, Andrew Jackson, said, "That book, sir, is the rock on which our republic rests."

President Harry S. Truman had such a deep respect for the Bible that he kissed it after he took the oath of office at his inauguration, as you can see in the attached image. He said, "The fundamental basis of this nation's laws was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teachings we get from Exodus and Saint Matthew, from Isaiah and Saint Paul...If we don't have a proper fundamental moral background, we will finally end up with a totalitarian government which does not believe in rights for anybody except the State!"

This prophetic statement from our 33rd president is an amazing prediction of the direction in which we are now heading as a nation. My prayer is that our nation and its leaders will return to the Word of God and its truth on which our nation was founded. So many of our past presidents have clearly acknowledged our dependence on God and the Bible, and we would be wise to do the same.

Be Strong!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:08:00 +0000

I've asked God for a word for 2010. It seems to me the Lord is saying to me and to the congregation I pastor the words "Be Strong!"

I think that means we are to be strong in our Christian faith. We're to be strong in our Christ-like conduct. We're to be strong in our morals and ethics. We're to be strong in our service for the Lord. We're to be strong in our giving to the things that matter for eternity. We're to be strong in influencing others for Christ.

These are challenging times. Things like job losses, economic downturns, health issues and family struggles can bring a great deal of stress into our lives. However, I want to encourage you to be strong. God is our provider and will see us through. Our responsibility is to keep our faith and trust in Him.

There are many admonitions in the Bible that remind us to be strong. Here are just a few:

"Be strong and courageous." Joshua 1:6

"Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous." Joshua 10:25

"Be strong and do the work." 1 Chronicles 28:10

"Be strong and do not give up." 2 Chronicles 15:7

"Be strong, do not fear." Isaiah 35:4

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." Ephesians 6:10

I found 36 references in the Bible with this phrase: "Be strong." It sounds to me like the Lord is saying something to us. He repeats it for emphasis and to demonstrate its significance. Let's take this to heart and be strong in 2010!

It's a Wonderful Life

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 16:15:00 +0000

One of my favorite movies of all time is Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Following our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion service at Abundant Life Church, our family tradition is to go out to eat and then go home and watch this great classic film. I look forward to it every year.

In the film, Stewart plays George Bailey, who faces a huge financial challenge in his business, through no fault of his own. He gets so depressed he wishes he were never born. An angel named Clarence grants him his wish and George sees what the town and his family and friends would have been like had he never been born.

George is shown how things would have been so different in extremely negative ways, and he repents of his attitude and goes home to his family and appreciates life again.

My annual dose of It's a Wonderful Life helps me keep things in proper perspective. Despite the challenges and difficulties we all face, we have been given many blessings from our Heavenly Father. And Christmas is a wonderful time to acknowledge our gratitude to the One who changed our lives forever by sending Jesus to this earth.

The world would have been very different had George Bailey never been born. It would have been different if you or I had never been born. But think how different it would have been if Jesus had never been born. What a difference He makes! And what wonderful lives we've been given by Him. Let's honor the One who changed our world and changes our lives.

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:17:00 +0000

Our first president, George Washington, issued a National Day of Thanksgiving Proclamation on October 3, 1789. It was beautifully written and acknowledged our dependence on God and our gratefulness to Him. It begins with these words: "Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor..."

Our nation continues this tradition by setting aside this special day each year as a Day of Thanksgiving for all God has done for us. We are a blessed people and there is much for which we can be grateful.

Psalm 95:1-3 (NLT) says, "Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us give a joyous shout to the rock of our salvation! Let us come before him with thanksgiving. Let us sing him psalms of praise. For the Lord is a great God, the great King above all gods."

For the Christian, every day should be a day of thanksgiving to our God. He is our provider, our healer, our savior and our redeemer.

George Washington also wrote in a letter to John Armstrong dated March 11, 1792: "I am sure that never was a people, who had more reason to acknowledge a Divine interposition in their affairs, than those of the United States; and I should be pained to believe that they have forgotten that agency, which was so often manifested during our Revolution, or that they failed to consider the omnipotence of that God who is alone able to protect them."

Even in the midst of challenging times, may we never forget the blessings that come from above. Happy Thanksgiving!

The Presence of God

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Psalm 91 contains a number of promises for the person who "dwells in the secret place of the Most High." We're promised God's presence (vv. 1,2), God's protection (vv. 3,4), God's peace (vv.5,6), God's perspective (vv. 7-10), God's provision (vv. 11-13), and God's power (vv. 14-16).

These are tremendous benefits from knowing the Lord and having an intimate relationship with Him. But remember, these promises are conditional on whether or not we're dwelling in the secret place or not. Where are you dwelling?

Why Do We Celebrate Halloween? - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:20:00 +0000

In advising on what to do on Halloween, The Good Housekeeping Book of Entertainment says: "Orange, black, and red, the devil's colors, are the colors associated with Halloween, and this scheme should be carried out as far as possible..."

Bible-believing Christians cringe and shudder at the thought of Satan worship and occultic practices. But how many of these same people will dress their children as witches, ghosts, skeletons, or devils and send them out to "trick-or-treat?" Do we really need haunted houses and costumes associated with the devil?

Can any Christian give any scriptural, or even logical reason for participation in, or approval of, that which is unmistakably associated with paganism, devil worship and witchcraft?

Some respond that it is only in fun one night each year. But since Halloween has its origins in satanic celebrations, I think it is best for Christians to avoid participating in anything that is associated with the occult. That's why we provide an alternative at our church each year. On Friday, October 30, children will have an opportunity to play games, receive candy and win toys and gift cards, all in a fun, safe environment.

Why Do We Celebrate Halloween? - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:30:00 +0000

The celebration of Halloween dates back to before the time of Christ. The Druids set aside October 31 to honor Samhain, the lord of the dead. The Celts believed that Samhain assembled all the souls of the dead on October 31, freeing them to return to their homes, where their families were to entertain them. If they didn't find an acceptable welcome, the spirits would cast spells or cause other problems for the living. This was the first form of trick or treat.

To counter pagan rituals, Pope Boniface IV in 834 A.D. moved the church feast of All Saints' Day (also known as All Hallows' Day) from May to November 1. October 31 was called All Hallows' Evening, and was eventually abbreviated and became Halloween. In medieval times, satanic witches took Halloween as an opportunity to mock the saints of the church commemorated on All Saints' Day. In the early 1800's, immigrants of Celtic origin brought their Halloween celebrations to America, which included bonfires, death-related symbolism, and door-to-door trick or treating.

In our society today, Halloween celebrations are promoted through such things as the media and school parties. Dressing in costumes of ghosts, skeletons and witches is not only accepted, it is encouraged.

What should Christian parents do regarding this pagan celebration? I'll address that question in my next blog.

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0000

The Titanic was the massive cruise ship that sank in 1912 on its first voyage from England to New York. 1,500 people died in that tragic disaster.

For many years, people thought the sinking of the great ship was due to a giant gash in the side caused by hitting that huge iceberg.

But scientists now say that six relatively small, narrow slits sank the Titanic, not one big gash. Small damage below the waterline and invisible to most people can sink a huge ship.

In the same way, small things (as we deem them to be) can damage our lives, our relationships and our reputations.

Let’s not overlook the “little things” in our lives like destructive habits and secret sins. They can cause great damage and destroy us.

Look in the Mirror

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:57:00 +0000

A young couple moved into a new neighborhood. The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbor hanging the wash outside. “That laundry is not very clean,” she said. “She doesn't know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap.”

Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, the young woman would make the same comments. About one month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband, “Look, she has learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her. The husband said, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

Isn’t this the way it is with our lives? What we see when we look at others depends on how clean the window is through which we look.

Jesus said it this way: “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3, ESV)

Let’s guard against judging others and take a look in the mirror. God may want us to do something about what we see.

15 Day Prayer Challenge - Follow-up

noreply@blogger.com (William Ryan, III) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 17:19:00 +0000

What an awesome experience we've had the past 15 days. God has ministered to us in powerful ways.

Souls have been saved, lives have been changed, needs have been met, prayers have been answered, jobs have been provided, and church attendance has dramatically increased. The testimonies and encouraging reports could go on and on. PRAISE GOD!

I just want to encourage you to continue with this renewed emphasis on prayer. It will make a huge difference in your life and in our church.

As we talked about last night at "The Gathering," pray the prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. Pray that God would bless you. Pray that God will enlarge your territory and your influence. Pray that God's hand would be upon you. And pray that God would keep you from evil. Praying that prayer will affect your destiny!
I trust you've had a chance to write a note of encouragement to someone. If not, I hope you'll do it before the end of the week. You'll be blessed and so will the person who receives your note.

Beginning in a few weeks, we plan to continue to send a weekly prayer focus through email. I know we will see even more answers to prayer as we all continue to pray together for specific needs.

We are excited about what God has for us in the future at Abundant Life, and we have some things coming in the months ahead that will be awesome. Stay tuned. God has more for us.

We also want to continue to glorify God and encourage you with testimonies. Please let us know what God is doing in your life. We want to rejoice with you and give Him the glory He deserves. Please send your stories to john@alcgrapevine.com.

I pray God's blessings on you, and am honored to serve as your pastor.

-Pastor Eddy Brewer

15 Day Prayer Challenge - Day 10

noreply@blogger.com (William Ryan, III) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:43:00 +0000

Dear Abundant Life Family:

In the Qur'an, Muslims have 99 names for their god, each name describing an attribute of his character. Of these characteristics, the attribute of "love" is not found. One can be very religious and not have love. Contrast that to the Holy Scriptures which states "God is Love" (1 John 4:16) and "Love comes from God" ( 1 John 4:7). Love is the foundation of all those who are followers of Christ and should be the distinguishing mark of the believer in Christ. Jesus said, By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."( John 13:35)

Unfortunately, in some circles, love is reduced to only a catch phrase used by religious people who attend Christian churches. Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York wrote "Possibly the greatest spiritual deception we can fall into is to think we really love the Lord while having little concern for His people."

Is love more than an ethereal concept or a heightened feeling? Yes. Love is a verb. And scripture shows us practical ways that we are to express that love to one another.
Here are a few:

Prefer one another (Romans 12:10)
Be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32)
Pray for one another (James 5:16)
Don't slander one another (James 4:11)
Don't grumble against one another (James 5:9)
Comfort one another (2 Corinthians 1:4)
Rejoice with one another (Romans 12:15)
Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25)

There are over 30 action verbs used in scripture that show us how Christian love is to be exhibited towards fellow believers. Only the Holy Spirit can save us from terrible plight of the self-centered, comfort zone lifestyle while we sing songs of the Christ who gave His life on Calvary. Religion like that is a charade. The acid test for spiritual growth is love, and love always means living for others.

Today in your prayer time we are asking you to specifically pray for the outreach efforts of the coming year.

Wednesday afternoon prayer time is from 12 to 1 p.m.
Wednesday evening Joe Bailey will be our speaker. The Youth will be joining the adults in the auditorium for worship. Scotty Brewer will lead worship.
Following worship the Youth will be dismissed for class with Josh Mings

15 Day Prayer Challenge - Day 9

noreply@blogger.com (William Ryan, III) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:07:00 +0000

Dear Abundant Life Family:

In the book, The Last Christian Generation, by Dr. Josh McDowell the author makes this bold statement regarding the spiritual state of American teenagers: "I sincerely believe unless something is done now to change the spiritual state of our young people - you will become the last Christian generation." McDowell supports this previous statement by sharing these statistics:

63% don't believe Jesus is the Son of the one true God.
58% believe that all faiths teach equally valid truths.
51% don't believe Jesus rose from the dead.
65% don't believe that Satan is a real entity.
68% don't believe that the Holy Spirit is a real entity.

This is a major issue. In the statistics above, over 50 percent in each category, believes that one of the fundamental and life changing aspects of the gospel are not true, necessary, or important. Thus leading students to the conclusion that a personal relationship with Christ is not true, necessary, or important.

This, however, is not the first time in history that the gospel has been under attack, or in trouble of being lost. In fact, a very strong argument could be made that this is the perfect settings for the gospel to thrive, and win! I hold to the promise that Jesus Christ is building a church, and that the gates of hell cannot stop it.

Here are four prayer focuses for our students. First, please pray for our Sunday school teachers. These are the people who work hard to prove the claims and truth Scripture. Pray that the Lord will lead them, speak through them, and give them wisdom to communicate the truth of the Gospel to our students. Our youth Sunday school teachers are: Guy Church, Josh Mings, Jordan Russell, Gary Kasprzak, and Betty Gutierrez. Second, pray that grace will be given to our students. Pray that the Lord will guard their hearts and keep them from things that will distract and pull them away from Christ. Third, pray that a passion for the Scripture will grow in their hearts. I love what the Psalms say, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word." And last, pray with fervor that you will not be the last Christian generation and that our students will continue on in their faith!

Wednesday afternoon prayer time 12-1 pm
Wednesday evening Speaker Joe Bailey will be in the auditorium for worship.
The Youth will join the Adults in Worship.
Following worship the Youth will be dismissed for class with Josh Mings

15 Day Prayer Challenge - Day 6

noreply@blogger.com (William Ryan, III) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:35:00 +0000

Dear Abundant Life Family:

Satan has a lot of tools in his toolbox. One of those tools that he uses against God's people on a regular basis is the tool of discouragement. The dictionary defines discourage as "to deprive of courage or confidence." Challenging circumstances produce discouragement. It could be something like a health issue, financial pressure, a relationship problem or a job loss.

But let's remember what the psalmist said: "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24) Rejoicing and discouragement aren't roommates. In fact, they don't usually stay in the same room together. When one comes in, the other leaves. Which one have you invited into your room?
Our confidence has to be in the Lord. It can't be in circumstances. Circumstances can collapse like a tent in a hurricane. But God is the solid rock on which we stand. He is our foundation. He is our fortress. He is our refuge. In fact, Psalm 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."

Claim his protection today. Encourage yourself in the Lord as David did. And if you don't need encouragement today, someone near you probably does. Speak a word of encouragement into his or her life.

As we focus our prayers today, let's pray for those who need a job and those who are struggling with financial issues. We have a number of people in our church who need a good job. Let's join together in prayer for these needs today.

In order to encourage you and build your faith, here's a testimony sent in by Brian Rosamond this week:

"I have been praying with one of my coworkers this year that God would provide us some much needed work this year, and He has answered our prayers with an over abundance of blessings. We have two Regional Offices that typically perform $60,000,000 of construction annually, and we have dropped well below that mark so far this year. However, today we have been notified that my Regional Office alone has been awarded $60,000,000 worth of work for the beginning of next year, and another $25,000,000 for the middle of the year. God is such an awesome provider, and my coworker and I want to make sure that God receives the glory as we discuss this work with our other coworkers. We hope that this will create an opportunity for God to draw our coworkers to Him through us."

Praise the Lord for his goodness and his provision!

For Saturday - Day 7 - please pray for our Adult Ministries such as Bible Studies and Care Groups.

For Sunday - Day 8 - please pray for our Worship Ministries such as our choir, musicians and worship team.

15 Day Prayer Challenge - Day 5

noreply@blogger.com (William Ryan, III) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Dear Abundant Life Family:

And he (Jesus) took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them. Mark 10:16 (NIV)

Do you remember hearing this in school - "I'm rubber; you're glue, whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you"? How about - "Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me"? Children learn quickly the power of words - too many times they see its destructive capacity instead of its constructive potency. However, what children hear from their peers will never compare to the words of their parents. As parents we should guard carefully the words said directly to our children. Proverbs 18:21 (NIV) states "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Words are a powerful force with the potential of creating incredible results. Every child's future is influenced by the words spoken to him/her today! Positive, encouraging words cause children to believe in themselves and in the purpose God created them. It gives hope, direction and motivation to live up to what has been spoken into their lives and to overcome obstac
les. A
parent who speaks blessings over their child - God filled words of acceptance, affection, appreciation and approval - forms a precious bond with them.

In the Old Testament we see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lay hands on their children and speak a blessing over them. In the New Testament we find Jesus taking children into his arms, laying hands on them and blessing them (Mark 10:16, Matthew 19:14-15).

Bless your children today! Tell them how much they are loved! Spell out the God given gifts, talents and qualities they possess and the impact they are making now as spiritual champions! Paint a mental picture to show their future in expanding the Kingdom here on earth! Pray together as a family and have siblings speak blessings over each other. Encourage one another! Be bold in your blessings! "...He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6 (NIV)
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace". Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV)

Today in your prayer time we are asking you to specifically pray for Children's Pastor John Cruz, Pre-School & Nursery Director Tanya Ryan and their families. Please lift up in prayer also all the children, families and Children's Ministry leaders.

15 Day Prayer Challenge - Day 4

noreply@blogger.com (William Ryan, III) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:30:00 +0000

Dear Abundant Life Family:

Colossians 2:13-14:
"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."

What a mistake it is to think that our good deeds may one day outweigh our bad deeds. This is a mistake for two simple reasons. First, it is just not true. Even our good deeds are defective, scripture teaches, because we don't honor God in the way we do them. Do we fulfill the command to serve people "by the strength that God supplies - in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 4:11)? It is huge mistake to think that our good deeds will outweigh our bad deeds before God. Without Christ-exalting faith, our deeds signify nothing but rebellion.

Second, and the most important reason, it is folly to hope in good deeds because this is not the way God saves. If we are saved from the consequences of our bad deeds, it will not be because they weighed less than our good deeds. It will be because the "record of [our] debt" has been nailed to the cross of Christ. God has a totally different way of saving sinners than by weighing their deeds. There is no hope in our deeds. There is only hope in the suffering and death of Christ.

There is no salvation by balancing the records. There is only salvation by canceling records. The record of our bad deeds (including our defective good deeds), along with the just penalties that each deserves, must be blotted out, not balanced. This is what Christ suffered and died to accomplish. The cancellation happened when the record of our deeds was "nailed to the cross" (Colossians 2:13). How was this record nailed to the cross? Parchment was not nailed to the cross. Christ was. So Christ became my damning record of bad (and good) deeds. He endured my damnation. He put my salvation on a totally different footing. He is my only hope. And faith in him is my only way to God.

Today, take the time to reflect on this truth. Give the Lord thanks for this great work! Pray that others in this community, and the people who visit our church will come to this understanding that we "were dead in our trespasses and the uncircumcision of our flesh, but God made us alive together with him, having forgiven all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."

In today's prayer time, we are asking that you specifically pray for our Church Board and their families: David Brauchler, Guy Church, Doyce Clark, Jimmy Eskew, Gary Kasprzak and Brian Rosamond.

TESTIMONY

Dear ALL,

Get off your knees, stretch you hands to the Heavenlies and say "Thank you…Thank you…Thank you!!!!" We are sooo blessed and we KNOW it is a direct result of the consecrated, fervent prayers (or even the thought or intention to pray) of so many. Brad had 2 interviews last week both with great feedback…by Monday he was offered a position within the SAME industry for a company that is a competitor, it is in Grand Prairie (much closer to home). How BIG is Our God!!!...the One who is the SAME…"yesterday, today and forever"…Hebrews 13:8)

We thank you ALL for standing with us in this time of testing…To God be the Glory…forever!
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Double Blessings to each of you,
Teresa Davidson (and Brad)

15 Day Prayer Challenge - Day 3

noreply@blogger.com (William Ryan, III) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:27:00 +0000

Dear Abundant Life Family:

TESTIMONY

Praise the Lord! Tonya Drury was without transportation but that did not keep her from getting to church. Church members would help her make it to choir and to the services. This past week she received a new vehicle along with the title. God is so good.

THOUGHTS

Acts 4:32 "All the believers were in one heart and mind"

This principle of unity and its paramount importance was imparted to the church through the person and work of the Spirit of God. It was God-produced, love-constructed, and Spirit-born. Jesus said in John 13:34, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another". In verse 35 he defines this as a mark of a true follower of Christ. "All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another" (John 13:35). You cannot say that you love a brother or sister in Christ and then demean him or her to others.

I have a strong suspicion that God does not appreciate those who fragment his family. It is a very serious offense, which is why Paul wrote, "I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own appetites" (Romans 16:17-18)

When was the last time, if ever, that you saw a church member disciplined for causing division among believers? If someone who professes Christ was caught dabbling in witchcraft of openly practicing adultery, we would all cry for some kind of church action. But divisive, gossiping people go right on attending our churches and sometimes even hold leadership positions. We never address their ugly sin and destructiveness because we are so used to it.

There is a line in one of our choir songs that says, "I see Your church rising up in power, laying down their lives in unity and love." It is our prayer that Abundant Life will be a powerful church of great unity and love. For some reason, it seems that God chooses to limit His work according to the atmosphere of His people. For example, Jesus could only do a limited amount of healings in Nazareth because of their lack of faith. And in other places, He performed much greater miracles. Let's pray that ALC will be a place that God is free to do all He desires to do in and through us. And let us examine ourselves and see how we can be an encourager to the saints.

PRAYER FOCUS

Today in your prayer time we are asking you to specifically pray for Our Staff Pastors and their Families.

John Bullard - Associate Pastor
Josh Mings - Youth Pastor
John Cruz - Children's Pastor
David Walker - Worship Pastor
Claudia Brewer - Pastoral Care

LOOKING AHEAD

During this prayer challenge I want to encourage you to e-mail us testimonies or words of encouragement the Lord is speaking to your heart so that we can use them to encourage others. Remember, Wednesday from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. we will have a special time of live worship and prayer in the sanctuary. Also, Wednesday evening, Kyle Embry will be our special guest as the adults and youth will worship together.

15 Day Prayer Challenge - Day 2

noreply@blogger.com (William Ryan, III) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:22:00 +0000

Dear Abundant Life Family:

Proverbs 3:6 says, "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

Did you know that God has a plan for your life? His desire is for you to not only discover this plan; but, to live daily in it as well. So, how do we get there? It starts with acknowledging Him as a vital part of our daily lives and this is done by reading the Bible and having a continuous prayer life. Remember, His promise is - when we are acknowledging Him is all our ways, He will step in and direct our paths.

Do you find yourself feeling like you are wandering or maybe trying to discover where you are supposed to go? If so, focus on the scriptures, spend time in prayer and then you will begin to see God's direction for your life.

Today in your prayer time we are asking you to specifically pray for Pastor Eddy and his family.

During this prayer challenge I want to encourage you to e-mail us testimonies or words of encouragement the Lord is speaking to your heart so that we can use them to encourage others. Remember, Wednesday from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. we will have a special time of live worship and prayer in the sanctuary. Also, Wednesday evening, Kyle Embry will be our special guest as the adults and youth will worship together.

Indecision

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

President Ronald Reagan used to tell a story about himself that helped him learn to make firm decisions from an early age.

When he was a boy, his aunt took him to a cobbler to have a pair of shoes custom-made for him. The shoemaker asked, "Do you want a square toe or a round one?" Reagan couldn't make up his mind so the cobbler said, "Come back in a day or two and tell me what you want."

A few days later the cobbler saw Reagan on the street and asked what he had decided about the shoes. Reagan said, "I haven't made up my mind."

The cobbler said, "Very well. Your shoes will be ready tomorrow." When Reagan got the shoes, one had a round toe and the other a square toe!

Reagan said, "Looking at those shoes every day taught me a lesson. If you don't make your own decisions, somebody else will make them for you."

Making impulsive decisions isn't wise. But neither is procrastinating about decisions. And don't forget that no decision is a decision.

Risk Taking

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:00:00 +0000

Life is full of risks. Every aspect of life is full of risks. An unknown author wrote these words:

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out for another is to risk involvement.

To expose feelings is to risk exposing our true self.

To place your ideas, your dreams, before the crowd is to risk loss.

To love is to risk not being loved in return.

To live is to risk dying.

To hope is to risk despair.

To try at all is to risk failure.

Even with all those risks, the greatest tragedy is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing accomplishes nothing. The person who risks nothing has nothing. The person who risks nothing feels nothing. And in the end, becomes nothing.

Don't be afraid to take a calculated risk. Risk is essential for growth in every area of life.

Speaking the Truth

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Eddy Brewer) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 15:09:00 +0000

I love the story about Peter Cartwright who was a circuit-riding Methodist preacher back in the 1800's. He was known for being straightforward and uncompromising.

One Sunday morning as he was about to preach, he was told that President Andrew Jackson was in the congregation. He was warned not to say anything that would be controversial.

Cartwright went to the pulpit and said, "I understand that Andrew Jackson is here. I have been requested to be guarded in my remarks. Andrew Jackson will go to hell if he doesn't repent."

The congregation was shocked. They sat silently, wondering how the President might react. Jackson didn't flinch.

After the service, President Jackson shook hands with Peter Cartwright and said, "Sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world."

We all need people in our lives who will speak the truth to us. Every president needs people around him who will tell him the truth. I've prayed regularly for years for the president of our country, no matter who is occupying the oval office. My prayer again this morning was that President Obama would surround himself with people who would rely, not on the wisdom of man, but on the wisdom of God. I pray that his convictions and direction would come from God's Word, not man's word, and that he would listen to wise and godly counsel. I don't consider that a selfish prayer, but all of us as citizens of the United States will benefit if our president will listen to and obey the truth that is based on the Word of God. As Psalm 33:12 says, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."