July 2008 Archives

Here are some web sites that I referenced or quoted from in my sermon.

• OpenDoorsUSA.org - Brother Andrew's ministry to serve persecuted Christians worldwide
• SecretBelievers.org - connect to persecuted Christians
• Wycliffe Bible Translators - Wycliffe's vision is to see the Bible accessible to all people in the language they understand best
• BareYourBookshelf.com - help Christians around the world get the books they desperately need
• Barna.org - this is where I found the survey results
• The Good Book Business - an article from The New Yorker about Bible publishing

This past Sunday following the service, I was talking with Gordy and Chris Lawhead, who have been members of Grace Chapel for many years. We were discussing the Project: Drought Busters presentation and Chris shared some things God had been showing her in the previous week. I thought they were so helpful that I asked her if I could post them on my blog for all of you to be blessed, too. Here it is.

Be blessed and encouraged,

Pastor Richard.

Opportunities in Times of Struggle

I recently had a really amazing time with the Lord where I felt like he wanted to show me something to encourage me and anyone else who maybe going through some difficulties in regard to the times we are currently facing.

I believe that God wants me (us) to see this as an opportunity to grow closer to him. As the struggles we face are ever increasing, the Lord is allowing us to choose how we will handle them. I am choosing to see them as an opportunity.

As our needs are magnified, we are pressed, pressured, concerned, and often fearful. I want to see this as an opportunity to yield unto God and truly know from whence our help comes.

I am grateful to God for changing my perspective and for allowing me to share some thoughts that came to me as I had time to spend in worship and prayer. I'm certain that God has opportunities available for all of us.

These are a few that I wrote down in my time with him:

Let this be an opportunity to grow closer to the Lord and his church as he allows us to love one another more deeply.

An opportunity to demonstrate peace to those around us who are witnessing our challenges and see that we put our hope in God, who is always faithful.

An opportunity to flee from distractions and focus on God, to shed the weight of the world and its entrapments, and be free to serve God with less, yet more.

An opportunity to realize the preciousness of the ones we love and value them more.

An opportunity to give to others who are struggling with finances, blessing them as best we can, letting them know that they are not alone.

An opportunity to prepare to be watchful and sensitive to the Holy Spirit and the work he's doing across the world.

An opportunity to:

• Pray and worship more
• Reconnect with God
• Develop skills that are new and challenging
• Utilize talents and gifts that glorify God
• Reconcile relationships, forgiving and restoring
• To spend time in the Bible and dwell in his presence
• To experience and cultivate hospitality, even if it's not our thing

I hope that you are seeing that the opportunities are endless and each of us has a response that is able to enhance our relationship with God and each other.

A Prayer That I Wrote Out At The Time

Lord Jesus, help us to embrace these times that we are in. Thank you, Lord, for all the opportunities. Let us see you victorious in all the battles we face.

Let us see you defeat our enemies.

Let us see you as the provider for our families.

Let us see you truly as our God and Father.

Help us, God, not to struggle against your will.

Help us to be submitted to your plans for our lives.

Help us to trust you more.

Help us to pray more with faith.

Lord, give us wisdom, discernment, favor, peace, and joy.

In Jesus,

Chris Lawhead

In his message on July 20, Pastor Richard talked about the importance of learning to answer the arguments raised against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5). Here are some websites that will help you defend the faith (apologetics) and confront doubts hindering you from a more fruitful walk with God.

And don't forget, Josh McDowell, one of the world's best known apologists, will be speaking at our church on September 6. Click here for more information.

• Answers In Genesis - Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to enabling Christians to defend their faith and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ effectively. We focus particularly on providing answers to questions surrounding the book of Genesis, as it is the most-attacked book of the Bible.
• Apologetics Resource Center - ARC is a non-profit ministry whose mission is to reach the minds and hearts of people with the message and truth claims of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Bible.org Topics Page - The vision and mission of Bible.org is to leverage the power of the Internet to deliver the Word of God and trustworthy Bible study resources to people, churches, and ministries around the world...for free access by all.
• Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry - CARM offers a concise, comprehensive explanation of the Christian faith along with logical analysis of errors in popular beliefs, both secular and sacred
• IntelligentDesign.org - Explaining the science of intelligent design
• Ravi Zacharias International Ministries - Evangelism that focuses on skeptics, cultural influencers, and critical thinkers. Apologetics that addresses current issues and the needs of society.
• Stand To Reason - Stand to Reason equips Christian ambassadors with knowledge, wisdom, and character.

For the past year and a half, Grace Chapel has been in a financial struggle as the economy has impacted our income dramatically. Our income has dropped by 34%, from an average monthly income of $110,000 to our present average income of $73,150. By making deep reductions in our operational expenses and laying off some of our staff, we have managed to trim our monthly operational expenses by over $35,000, leaving us a monthly gap of $7,500. That represents a 10% gap between what our present income is and what our operational expenses are.

As a congregation, we've been challenged by the Holy Spirit - through many voices and on several occasions - with a declaration that "The drought is over!" However, we seem to have remained in the grip of the financial downturn in giving. We do not see the evidence yet of the new "season of increase", but I believe God is giving us the opportunity to begin the summer rains! He is asking us to take a step of bold faith to break out of the drought and into a rainy season. That step of faith is sacrificial giving. If we will do just a bit more than we think we can, God will give us a great harvest. We can, in fact, be "drought busters!"

The church Council felt it was time to bring this faith challenge to you, the congregation, because we are, after all, a family. We believe that it is time for us to rise up as one in faith and close this financial gap! If each of us responds in faith we can become a powerful force together. I believe God is beginning to move, but we have to make a move of faith; we can "bust the drought!" We are the "small cloud" in the sky that Elijah saw when he was praying for the three-year drought to end. When he saw that small sign, he knew the rain was coming! May our act of faith become the signal that God's blessings are coming to Grace Chapel, too.

Here is the challenge: Let's be drought busters! Let's eliminate this $7,500 emergency gap, now. It is only a 10% difference, and God is much bigger than our economy!

Here are three things we can do now to bridge the gap and bust the drought.

1. Pray - Pray for a 10% increase in our income now Pray for God to bless us with greater financial breakthroughs as we move into 2009

2. Invite and bring people to church - make more disciples! - Start reaching out; start inviting everyone to come join what God is doing at Grace Chapel.

3. "Close-the-Gap" giving - The gap can easily be closed if 300 of us give only $6.25 more per week, or $25 more per month above our current giving. It's important to note that we shouldn't redirect our present giving to this project, as that will not help us. But, adding to what we are already giving, above and beyond our present tithes, will increase our operating income, enabling us to meet our present budget needs. I know that some can give more and some may give less, but I know that God will supply according to our faith.

There is a Project: Drought Busters commitment card in the office and at Guest Services in the lobby. We will also have them in the bulletins until the July 27 Sunday service. Will you prayerfully consider joining your brothers and sisters in this challenge? Let's become radical drought busters!

Pastor Richard

Hear Pastor Richard's explanation of Project: Drought Busters from the July 13 service.

Download mp3 file

As Midwest communities along the Mississippi River face a difficult recovery from the worst flooding the region has seen in 15 years, Foursquare pastors, church leaders and congregants are on the scene to bring assistance to people and neighborhoods that are in the most need.

Iowa District Supervisor Jim Machen and Regional Supervisor Cliff Hanes are actively engaged in assessing the needs of our churches and the communities affected by the flooding. Assistant General Supervisor Jim Scott is also in the region, helping to mobilize Foursquare’s response as people determine how to clean up and rebuild their homes and their lives.

Two semi trailer-loads of supplies have been shipped to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, one of the hardest-hit areas to date. Cedar Rapids Christian Center, a Foursquare church pastored by Barry Foster, was flooded with nearly four feet of water. Jim Machen, who accompanied Pastor Barry as he walked through his church building, writes: “We had to wear boots and masks to go through the church building once the water receded. The four-and-a-half feet of water that was in the church many days did major damage.”

Other areas in Iowa impacted by the rising water include:

• Waterloo: Pastor Jerry Burrow’s home was inundated with three feet of floodwater.
• Waverly: Water flooded the home of a recent Foursquare church planter.
• Vinton: Scattered flooding caused much damage, but recovery efforts are going well.
• Iowa City: A trailer park and some businesses were flooded, and a large church in the community had water inside up to the roof. House of Praise Foursquare Church, pastored by Richard McCaslin is fine, but the homes of two families in the church were flooded.
• Fort Madison: Flooding of homes and businesses along the river was made worse by a semi-load of carbon dust inadvertently dispersed into the floodwater.

Several Iowa churches, while not directly affected by flooding, have strongly participated in local relief efforts. Foursquare congregants from both Living Hope Community Church in Davenport, pastored by Renee Holm, and Burlington Foursquare Church, pastored by Sam Fratt, are providing meals for relief workers. The city of Davenport alone received one initial damage estimate of $4.5 million. Cleanup and restoration of the damaged region could take four years or more to complete.

The Foursquare church family across the U.S. is encouraged to pray diligently for our pastors and fellow Christians, especially those serving the needs of people affected by the flooding, as well as those volunteers who are working tirelessly to help with cleanup and restoration.

The National Church Office released initial funding for flood relief in several communities in Iowa, and is accepting donations to assist as additional needs are identified and assessed.

Ways to help

1. Monetary donations may be made payable to The Foursquare Church and mailed to:

Disaster Relief
The Foursquare Church
1910 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Please clearly mark “Disaster Relief” on the memo line of each check.

2. The Iowa District office currently is establishing a process for coordination of work teams. Teams wishing to assist with cleanup and recovery should contact the Iowa District office by calling 563.243.0701.

3. Pray for God's grace to embrace those that mourn, “to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:2-4 (NKJV).

Foursquare News Service #337