prayer meeting wednesday 6:15pm

at hope church, great opportunity to commit Sunday's congregational meeting and land purchase decision to prayer

Congregational meeting Sunday June 5 at 11:25am

pictures and more info here

A Prayer for The Church

O GRACIOUS Father, we humbly beseech thee for thy holy Catholic Church; that thou wouldst be pleased to fill it with all truth, in all peace.
Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it.
Where it is right, establish it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of him who died and rose again, and ever liveth to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Does God suffer from character defects?

"Worship is an aspect of religion that I always found difficult to understand. Suppose we postulate an omnipotent being who, for reasons inscrutable to us, decided to create something other than himself. Why should he . . . expect us to worship him? We didn't ask to be created. Our lives are often troubled. We know that human tyrants, puffed up with pride, crave adulation and homage. But a morally perfect God would surely have no character defects. So why are all those people on their knees every Sunday?" --excerpt from March 30, 2003 article in London Financial Times, author Michael Prowse

Withholding Glory is a Crime

On Sunday, based on Acts 12, I said that witholding glory from God was criminal. It is treason against the King of the Universe. What's up with God demanding to be worshipped. Why does He seek our worship? Is God like an insecure high schooler saying, "Love me, love me, love me."?

Sunday I plan to unpack something that is central to my understanding of who God is... The Loving God whose primary objective is self-glorification.

Expelling Sin with a New Affection

This article by Sinclair Ferguson is brief and powerful. Historic Christianity alone offers a power for defeating the dark areas that most all religions are "against".

All Because of a Peanut Butter Pie

That is how it started. Our church in california had a pie auction and my wife inhales peanut butter... so we bought that pie. It was incredible. We didn't know the family that made it, though we were in the same church. We became friends (still are!)... and not just so we could get more pie! Come to Nights in the Park in June. There might not be Peanut Butter Pie... but you just might become friends because of being there together.

Ronnie Neder is Resting at Home & doing well

Ronnie Neder Scheduled to Come Home Today

After some minor complications following a scheduled heart cath, Ronnie spent last night at Shands.

Pray for Ronnie & Arlene Neder

Ronnie is spending the night at Shands after some minor complications following a scheduledCardiac Catheterization this morning. They expect Ronnie to return home on Wednesday.

Women's Bible Study in June

Amazon.com: Books: Becoming a Woman of Freedom

Why Read Pilgrim's Progress, Reason #5

One of the best-selling books of all time, The Pilgrim's Progress holds a unique place in the history of English literature. --so says Amazon.com

Two Quotes

Striking from Acts 12 is God's top priority of bring glory to His name. Look what He will do in order to display the reality that He alone is sovereign and worthy of worship and capable of giving life or taking it. God brings glory to Himself through Peter's escape, but also through James' execution. His great zeal is for the growth of His word... which, of course, is the growth of His fame. Two good quotes hi-lite this:

The highest of missionary motives is neither obedience to the Great Commission (important as that is), nor love for sinners who are alienated and perishing (strong as that incentive is, especially when we contemplate the wrath of God . . .), but rather zeal—burning and passionate zeal—for the glory of Jesus Christ. . . . Only one imperialism is Christian. . . and that is concern for His Imperial Majesty Jesus Christ, and for the glory of his empire. –John Stott


All the earth-shaking awesome forces unleashed on the world are released by the Lord Jesus Christ. He reigns today. He is in the control room of the universe. He is the only Ultimate Cause; all the sins of man and machinations of Satan ultimately have to enhance the glory and kingdom of our Saviour. This is true of our world today—in wars, famines, earthquakes, or the evil that apparently has the ascendancy. All God’s actions are just and loving. We have become too enemy-conscious, and can over-do the spiritual warfare aspect of intercession. We need to be more God-conscious, so that we can laugh the laugh of faith knowing that we have power over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). He has already lost control because of Calvary where the Lamb was slain. What confidence and rest of heart this gives us as we face a world in turmoil and such spiritual need. --Patrick Johnstone

Why didn't God save James?

That was my son's question when we read Acts 12 last night. My answer? "I don't know. That is the hard thing of God's providence. He loves all His children equally but distributes that love in different ways." Then i remembered these great words in the Heidelberg Catechism...
26. Q. What do you believe when you say: I believe in God the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth?

A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and all that is in them,[1] and who still upholds and governs them by His eternal counsel and providence,[2] is, for the sake of Christ His Son, my God and my Father.[3] In Him I trust so completely as to have no doubt that He will provide me with all things necessary for body and soul,[4] and will also turn to my good whatever adversity He sends me in this life of sorrow.[5] He is able to do so as almighty God,[6] and willing also as a faithful Father.[7]

[1] Gen. 1 and 2; Ex. 20:11; Job 38 and 39; Ps. 33:6; Is. 44:24; Acts 4:24; 14:15. [2] Ps. 104:27-30; Matt. 6:30; 10:29; Eph. 1:11. [3] John 1:12, 13; Rom. 8:15, 16; Gal. 4:4-7; Eph. 1:5. [4] Ps. 55:22; Matt. 6:25, 26; Luke 12:22-31. [5] Rom. 8:28. [6] Gen. 18:14; Rom. 8:31-39. [7] Matt. 6:32, 33; 7:9-11.

27. Q. What do you understand by the providence of God?

A. God's providence is His almighty and ever present power,[1] whereby, as with His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth and all creatures,[2] and so governs them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, food and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty,[3] indeed, all things, come not by chance[4] but by His fatherly hand.[5]

[1] Jer. 23:23, 24; Acts 17:24-28. [2] Heb. 1:3. [3] Jer. 5:24; Acts 14:15-17; John 9:3; Prov. 22:2. [4] Prov. 16:33. [5] Matt. 10:29.

28. Q. What does it benefit us to know that God has created all things and still upholds them by His providence?

A. We can be patient in adversity,[1] thankful in prosperity,[2] and with a view to the future we can have a firm confidence in our faithful God and Father that no creature shall separate us from His love;[3] for all creatures are so completely in His hand that without His will they cannot so much as move.[4]

[1] Job. 1:21, 22; Ps. 39:10; James 1:3. [2] Deut. 8:10; I Thess. 5:18. [3] Ps. 55:22; Rom. 5:3-5; 8:38, 39. [4] Job 1:12; 2:6; Prov. 21:1; Acts 17:24-28.

God Kills Herod!

.... headlines in Jerusalem Sun may have read thus

His Palace might have looked like THIS: herods_palace.swf (application/x-shockwave-flash Object)

Sermon Text Sunday

In Acts 12 there are two communities, the world and the church, arrayed against one another, each
wielding an appropriate weapon. On the one side was the authority of Herod, the power of the sword and the security of the prison. On the other side, the church turned to prayer, which is the only power which the powerless possess.
&
The dramatic details Luke includes in Acts 12 all seem to
emphasize the intervention of God and the passivity of Peter.

--John Stott

Article: The Cross and Criticism - Giving and Taking Criticism as Christians

helpful stuff here

Women't Bible Study Announced!

Tuesday evenings in June. Taught by Debbie Staples. Meeting in her home in Cobblefield. (there are n'hood entries from SW 8th Ave as well as SW 91st) Details to follow.

Jesus Turned Water Into Wine...

... this is our prooftext against the Puritans. --end of quote--

I just heard this from a Christian group i really respect and it made me realize how misunderstood the Puritans are. Perhaps no group of Christians new as much about how to celebrate the good gifts of God than these men and women.

Dick Staub on the Star Wars Myth

Christianity Today Magazine

Land Dedication 

Land Dedication Party 

Wonderful Dedication Service

We had a very brief (it was hot!) dedication service on the new church property. Thrilling it was to think of all that God will do there in coming years.

The party at the Stankunas' house was great and we really found some volleyball talent in the church, specifically Rob Hammersma, Kaylen Holmes, and Ray Treadwell. For purposes of historical accuracy... let the record show that Ray spiked it in my face on one occasion.

9am tomorrow begins my class, "Getting to know the Holy Spirit"
10am worship

Pray for Women's Bible Study

Sunday afternoon i meet with a handful of women to plan the summer bible study.

Dedication of Church Property, 5pm TODAY

I was out there Wednesday. It was very easy to pull my car off of Parker Road onto our property.
Our property is 1.4 miles south of Newberry Road
Our property is .5 mile north of SW 24th Ave

You will see a sign and people there.

After the dedication we'll head around the corner to SW 24th Ave to a party at Stankunas home.

Kim Pendley & Lanya Olmsted taught 1st Grade Sunday School Spring Quarter 

Starts This Sunday

Spiritus Sanctus
Week 1, May 15 The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
Week 2, May 22 The Holy Spirit in the New Testament
Week 3, May 29 The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Week 4, June 5 Cooperating with the Holy Spirit

The Endless Supplier

"Christ is that Fountain of living water which God has graciously provided for thirsting souls. From Him…there flows an abundant stream for all who travel through the wilderness of this world. In Him, as our Redeemer and Substitute, crucified for our sins and raised again for our justification, there is an endless supply of all that men can need pardon, absolution, mercy, grace, peace, rest, relief, comfort and hope." --J.C. Ryle

This was missing from the great summer flyer we gave out Sunday

"Ladies! Ladies! An evening of good food, fellowship and some games have been planned for us this Summer. Saturday, June 11th at 5pm. Please feel free to invite a lady friend or come alone. More info to come..... questions please call Stacy Morrison at 378-6887

Narnia Movie Trailer

Enjoy this 2 minute trailer that made my children ready for December 9th to get here now! But please, o please, read the book prior to the movie... i hate to be an imagination nazi... but you are always better served letting yourself form images before othersThe Chronicles of Narnia Movie Exclusives

Friday 5pm

Meet at the new church property to dedicate the land... then around the corner for swim party & cookout at Stankunas' home.

Sunday at Christ Community

9am Classes
Adults: Rob Pendley teaching on "The Crusades"

10am
Worship
Classes for younger children

I plan to preach on Acts 11:19-29

9 seconds of audio from Pendley & Neder...SDG!

Young Life Dinner; You are Invited

I wanted to remind you of the YoungLife sponsored fundraiser, The 3rd annual mystery dinner theater.

Who: Anyone who wants to come out and support the YoungLife ministry!

What: We are putting on a murder mystery theater production where the crowd gets to try and figure out "WHO DID IT". There will be a 3 course meal served throughout the night during the play. This meal is catered by Olive Garden and it consists of salad, breadsticks, lasagna, and a dessert.

Where: Vineyard Church off of NW 8th Avenue

When: Saturday May 7th, at 6:30pm

Why: YoungLife takes dozens of believing and unbelieving kids to summer camp every summer. Many of our kids do not have the funds to attend such a summer camp, so the leaders try to raise as much money as they can to lower the cost for each camper to attend camp. If you are familiar with YoungLife, many kids come back saying that it was the "best week of their life!"

If you are interested in attending, please contact Erik Folgate at 871-0794 to purchase tickets. THE COST OF EACH TICKET is $15.00 per person. Half price for small children. (6 and under). If you want to just show up the night of the show, that is OKAY too!!! Hope to see you there, thank you very much for the consideration.

Quotes from my prep for Sunday

Our preaching text sunday is Acts 11:19-30 contains, among other things, an account of the rapid and cross-cultural growth of Christianity. Ever wonder, humanly-speaking, why?
“A reason for Christianity’s success is to be found in its
inclusiveness. More than any of its competitors it attracted all races and
classes....Judaism never quite escaped from its racial
bonds....Christianity however gloried in its appeal to Jew and Gentile,
Greek and barbarian. The philosophies never really won the allegiance of
the masses....they appealed primarily to the educated....Christianity,
however...drew the lowly and unlettered...yet also developed a philosophy
which commanded the respect of many of the learned....Christianity, too, was for both sexes, whereas two of it main rivals were primarily for men.
The Church welcomed both rich and poor. In contrast with it, the
mystery cults were usually for people of means: initiation into them was
expensive....No other [religion] took in so many groups and strata of
society....The query must be raised of why this comprehensiveness came
to be. It was not in Judaism. Why did it appear in Christianity?”
--K.S.Latourette, A History of the Expansion of Christianity vol.1 (Harper
and Row, 1937).

The 9am Class "The Crusades... for Dummies, from a Dummy"
"I say this to those who are present, it meant also for those who are absent. Moreover, Christ commands it. All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. This I grant them through the power of God with which I am invested." Urban II, the pope who "launched the 1st Crusade

KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

This movie comes out tomorrow. This caused me to realise that i know little about the crusades and desire to know more. Therefore, i'll be teaching a one week course Sunday at 9am... "All you need to know about the crusades in 40 minutes"
We'll cover issues like:
~~History, what happened?
~~Evangelism, "how do you explain that?"
~~Faithfulness to God, "What does it look like for us to be a people who expressly say we exist to extend the kingdom of God?"

1st ever audio update... 30 second update on church property

Prayer

tonite 6:15 at Hope Church...
We shall ask God:
~~to teach us to pray
~~to transform us into a praying church
~~to extend His Kingdom in Gainesville
~~et al

Prayer & Fasting Tomorrow

Let me encourage you to consider making time to come out for a half hour of prayer.
Wednesday 6:15pm Hope Community Church

Opportunities for Youth & Children

Presbyterian Churches across the state of Florida rent CAMP KULAQUA in High Springs each summer. This summer's dates have been announced:

July 4-8 Middle School Conference
July 18-22 High School Conference

www.southlandinfo.com

We will be participating with Faith Presbyterian to put on a Vacation Bible School week. For children 5th grade and below, June 27-July 1.

New Adult Forum

Sunday school for adults:
Sunday May 8 God at the Movies, taught by Rob Pendley
Sunday May 15 The Holy Spirit, a 4 week class taught by Rob Pendley begins

Land Ho!

We are scheduled to purchase our land on Parker Road on Thursday, May 5.

Then, Friday May 13th, we will celebrate with a land dedication, followed by a party.
5pm at the Parker Road land... then 5:30pm dinner/swim/hang out at the Stankunas' home, just around the corner from the land.