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Video: We Are The Church!

THE JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST

TIM TEBOW'S PRAYER AT NATIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST

THE MISSIONAL CHURCH

TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”—John 8:32

God's truth never restricts you; it always sets you free!

• Are you discouraged?
• Is there a sense of bondage in a particular area of your life?
• A lack of victory over a certain sin?
• A harmful addiction?

It is possible that you do not yet understand a truth about God that can release you.

• If you feel powerless to meet the challenges before you, take encouragement from the promise of Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
• If you are defeated by circumstance, hold on to the truth of Romans 8:28 that God can work your most difficult situation into His good.
• If you are enslaved to a particular sin, work the truth of 1 John 1:9 into your life, which promises that if you confess your sin, God is faithful to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

All of these truths await the Holy Spirit's implementation into your life.

It is one thing to know about the truth. It is yet another thing to experience the truth of God being worked out in your life. God's truth will have no effect upon you unless you accept it and believe it.

Perhaps you have already read and heard accounts of God working mightily in the lives of others. But have you allowed God to implement those truths into your life? What truth about God would you like to be experiencing in your life? Ask Him to implement that truth into your life today.

PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL SEES HIS SHADOW - 6 MORE WEEKS OF WINTER

There is an occasion for everything, and a time for every activity under heaven.—Ecclesiastes 3:1

I KNOW WE WERE HOPING FOR SPRING TO BE JUST AROUND THE CORNER!  But with Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow today, we are told there will be six more weeks of winter.  :-)

The beauty in the way God designed the four seasons is that, though each one is distinct, they all work together to bring life and growth.

• Spring is a period of freshness and new life.
• Summer sees growth and productivity.
• Autumn is a time for harvesting the rewards of past labors.
• Winter is the season of dormancy and closure.

Each season has its own unique beauty and makes a significant contribution to life.

Just as God planned seasons in nature, He planned seasons in life as well.

• Life has its springtime, when we begin new things and look excitedly toward the future.
• Summer comes and we work diligently in the heat of the day at all that God has assigned to us.
• With autumn comes the fruition of things begun at an earlier time in our lives.
• Winter brings an end to a particular period in our lives.

Sometimes winter brings hardship, but we remain hopeful, for another spring is just around the corner!

In God's perfect design for our lives, He has planned for times of fruitfulness and activity. He will also build in times of quiet and rest. There will be times when He asks us to remain faithful doing the same work day after day. But there will also be periods of excitement and new beginnings.

By God's grace, we will enjoy seasons of harvesting the fruit of our faithfulness. By God's grace we will also overcome the cold winters of heartache and grief, for without winter there would be no spring. Just as it is with the seasons of nature, these seasons in our lives work together to bring about God's perfect will for each one of us.

COME AND FOLLOW ME!

JESUS was saying, "Follow me," long before Twitter! 

They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are You staying?” “Come and you’ll see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day.—John 1:38b–39

There comes a time for each of us when merely talking about the Christian pilgrimage is not sufficient. We must actually set out on the journey! We can spend many hours debating and discussing issues related to the Christian life, but this means little if we never actually step out and follow Christ!

For generations, the coming of the Messiah had been pondered and predicted by the nation of Israel. Perhaps no topic garnered more discussion among Jews than the nature and work of the Messiah. Andrew had listened to John the Baptist and had heard of the coming Messiah. Now, suddenly, he was face to face with the One he had yearned to see! Andrew's mind was filled with questions he longed to ask. Instead of entering into a theological dialogue with Andrew, however, Jesus turned and began to walk. Andrew's questions would not be answered by discussion alone, but by walking with Him.

Christianity is not a set of teachings to understand. It is a Person to follow. As he walked with Jesus, Andrew watched Jesus heal the sick, teach God's wisdom, and demonstrate God's power. Andrew not only learned about God; he actually experienced Him!

Moments will come when you stand at a crossroads with your Lord. You will have a hundred questions for Him. Rather than answering the questions one by one, Jesus may say,

“Put on your shoes, step out onto the road, and follow Me.”

As you walk daily with Him, Jesus will answer your questions, and you will discover far more than you even knew to ask.

Priorities Matter Ministies (PMM) is a ministry the Lord laid on my heart to begin in 2009.  Our purpose is to first and foremost assist the local church in fulfilling their God-given mission.  We have a tremendous desire to come along side the local church, pastors, and fellow Christ followers to encourage, train, and equip them so they can "walk in God's favor!"  

In 2 Samuel 7:29, King David went in and sat in the presence of the Lord.  He then asked, "Now, please bless your servant's house so that it will continue before You forever."  In short, David was asking for God's favor!

Throughout God's Word, the Bible, there are examples of individuals upon whom God's favor would rest.  It's the purpose of PMM to assist, equip, and train in the areas which will allow the blessing (favor) of God to flow in your life, family, secular career and/or ministry.

In order to "walk in God's" favor PMM focuses on four (4) areas of your life which we call priorities (click on each of the priorities in order to see how PMM is able to assist you):

Priority #1: Your relationship with Christ

Priority #2: Your relationship with your spouse

Priority #3: Your relationship with your children

Priority #4: Your career and/or ministry

Beginning in 2010, I am available to assist you in all four (4) of these priorities.  To schedule a service, or to gather more information, please send an email to jon@joncannon.org or call 618.581.1391 and we will be more than glad to share with you how PMM can assist you and your ministry.

Feel free to visit our PMM website for more information.  God bless!

SUNDAY'S D6 MESSAGE ON SERVANTHOOD IS NOW ON THE PODCAST

I realize many of our Victory Church family were traveling last Sunday, therefore, you can still hear the D6 message on "servanthood" on the podcast (the podcast player is to the right of this post).  Below are the D6 family take home sermon notes:

D6 Family Theme for Week 12/27

SERVANTHOOD

D6 Weekly Goal: To inspire Christians to love others practically by serving like Jesus.

__________________________________________________________

Fusion Facts

1. Service opportunities sometimes happen when we least expect them.  (John 2:1-11)
2. Jesus is able to take our limited resources and do the impossible. (John 6:1-13)
3. A praying heart opens the door to opportunities of service (Philippians 1:1-8)
4. When seeds of compassion are sown, service is grown           (John 9:1-11)
5. When we serve others we are serving Jesus (Ephesians 6:5-8)

____________________________________________________________

Servant Leadership (Mark 10:35-45)

Thought 1: Being a SERVANT is NECESSARY for the believer and Christian leadership.  (Mark 10:35-45)

Jesus taught them this lesson, “If they wanted to be leaders in His Kingdom, they had to be SERVANTS.”

Thought 2: The wrong attitude for servanthood is to serve out of the HOPE of REWARD! (Mark 10:35-45)

____________________________________________________________

Point #1: The world’s view of servant leadership IS NOT Jesus’s definition. (Mark 10:42-43)

Point #2: SERVICE is the measure of Christian  leadership. (Mark 10:43-44)

Point #3: Servant leadership is modeled after JESUS' behavior. (Mark 10:45; John 13:1-15)

____________________________________________________________

Six main points of servant leadership:

1. “Servants lead out of RELATIONSHIPS, not by coercion.”
2. “Servants lead by SUPPORT, not by control.”
3. “Servants lead by DEVELOPING OTHERS, not by doing all the ministry themselves.”
4. “Servants GUIDE people, not drive them.”
5. “Servants LEAD FROM LOVE, not domination."
6. “Servants seek GROWTH, not position.”

____________________________________________________________

Take Home Family Study: Read Mark 9:33-35; Luke 9:11; John13:1-15

Three questions for the believer:

1. What is your motivation in serving?
2. As you look around, what is the need in front of you now?
3. What do you have to give? (Acts 3:6)

Going deeper: Take time to ask yourself and those in your family these questions while pondering the idea of servanthood.

1. Who in your life best reflects Jesus’ servant heart?
2. What Christ-like qualities does he/she exhibit while serving?
3. How has God uniquely gifted you to serve?

This week be sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit as He leads you to opportunities of “humble service.”

SACRIFICE 2 VENTI LATTE'S AT STARBUCKS - Give $10 for Go10 Walk for the World

Join me in giving up two "Venti Peppermint Mocha Latte's" (or whatever you favorite coffee may be) in order to give $10.00 to help spread the Gospel to the unreached people groups around the world!

Go10 Walk for the World is an invitation to young people to experience a life-changing commitment to missions through a 2,500-mile walk for the world.  Each walker is raising $500.00 for the purpose of spreading the Gospel. An anonymous donor has pledged to match all monies raised through this walk—up to $500,000. Therefore, this walk provides an opportunity to raise over $1,000,000... that’s one million dollars!... to share the Gospel with those who have never heard it.

I am going to walk in this event and I would love for you to sponsor me!  Just click here and it will take you to my Go10 Walk website and you can give online.

Thanks for assisting me in spreading the Gospel!  Click here to learn more about Go10 Walk for the World.

Go10 Walk for the World

Go10 Walk for the World is a challenge to young people to consider their role in reaching the nations with the gospel in their generation.

The year 2010 is the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of FWBIM’s modern missions program. Laura Belle Barnard was sent out as our first missionary to India in 1935.

To commemorate this event, we are challenging Free Will Baptist young people to a life-changing commitment. They commit to walk a 10-mile segment of a 2,500-mile course. Teens will also commit to a 40-day prayer and devotional journey in preparation for the walk.

Would you like to participate in this walk?  If so, click here.

Maybe you cannot walk, so why not prayerfully consider sponsoring me in the walk to reach the world - click here to make a donation.

Thanks for all you do to assist us in this endeavor.  Please keep Go10 Walk as a top priority on your prayer list!

RESPONSE LETTER FROM SOMEONE VICTORY SERVED LAST WEEKEND WRAPPING GIFTS AT THE MALL

Just this week I received a letter from someone Victory Church served last weekend at the mall.  Victory's Christmas outreach project is "Free Gift Wrapping" every weekend and Christmas Eve at the St. Clair Square Mall in Fairview Heights, IL.

This was a very rewarding and refreshing letter!  Enjoy!

Dear Jon,
 
On Saturday my son and I finally got time to get some Christmas shopping done. We live in Litchfield and had decided to go to Fairview Heights to the mall. The traffic was horrible, the crowd was larger than I had thought it would be and to top it all off, my wife had a house full of women baking Christmas cookies and candy and now I had to figure out how to get her gifts inside and wrapped before she began snooping.
 
Then one of your church members approached me and offered to wrap my gifts. What a Blessing! All of my gifts were wrapped and ready to go under our tree when I arrived home, and all of the gifts looked great. All of the people there were so friendly and joyful that having my gifts wrapped was the highlight of my trip. You have a wonderful church family. I am always so amazed how God can know my need and provide for it, before I even know I have the need.
 
I just wanted to drop you a note and tell you what a wonderful idea I thought the gift wrapping was and how much I appreciated it. All of the wrappers were wonderful and through them, I could truly feel God’s love. By the time I left the wrapping station, I felt as if you had done all of that just for me. Please tell everyone Job well done!
 
Lee Jarman

Thanks Lee for the encouraging note and Merry Christmas!

HOW TO RESOLVE CONFLICT

I don't know about you, but I love baseball.  More specifically, I love the St. Louis Cardinals (I live just 25 miles from the stadium). I love the strategy, how the game changes as it goes deeper into innings, and I must say, I enjoy watching Tony LaRussa (or any manger) charge out of the dugout to the umpire to dispute a call.

However, we must remember, this is just a game.  According to the Word of God, this is not how we are to handle disputes in the church.

Matthew 18:15-20 (HCSB)
¹⁵ “If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him in private. If he listens to you, you have won your brother.
¹⁶ But if he won’t listen, take one or two more with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established.
¹⁷ If he pays no attention to them, tell the church. But if he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like an unbeliever and a tax collector to you.
¹⁸ I assure you: Whatever you bind on earth is already bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed in heaven.
¹⁹ Again, I assure you: If two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.
²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.” 

Sinning against a brother is a matter of great concern to God. It is so serious that if the offending brother refuses to rectify the matter, he is to be severely disciplined (Matthew 18:17). However, when dealing with discipline, two critical points are to be noted.

1. The sinning brother is a brother, a genuine believer. He sins against another brother. The breach is between two genuine believers who are in the church.
2. The trespass is a personal offense; that is, the wrong and harm are done against another person. A fellow Christian believer is injured, hurt, and damaged in some way.

God has one great concern: He wants peace restored. He wants peace between the brothers, and He wants peace within the church. The disturbance caused by two offending brothers is so damaging that God lays down very specific steps as to how the matter is to be handled; and if the sinning brother refuses to be reconciled and to rectify the wrong, God says the disturbance is not to be tolerated any longer.

Christ knew we would have disputes from time-to-time, therefore, He gave us a few guidelines in how to handle ourselves when we are offended:

1. Go to the brother alone and tell him his fault. (vs. 15)
2. Go to the brother with witnesses. (vs. 16)
3. Go before the church. (vs. 17)

I will expound on these in the days to come, so be sure to check back soon!

OFTEN GOD CHOOSES TO USE SMALL THINGS

"For who scorns the day of small things?" Zechariah 4:10a

The world loves the spectacular. God has proven that He is certainly capable of the extraordinary, but He often chooses to work through the ordinary and seemingly insignificant. In this way He demonstrates His love and His power.

Throughout history, God's answer to a critical time was to send a baby. Isaac, Moses, Samuel, John the Baptist, and Jesus were all born as answers to a time of need.

When God delivered the Israelites from the Midianites' oppression, He intentionally used an army of merely three hundred men to defeat a vastly larger army. He had more soldiers available, but He preferred to demonstrate His power in the way He accomplished His purposes.

When Jesus selected His first disciples He could have enlisted a multitude to follow Him, but He chose twelve. It was not the number of disciples but the quality of their walk with Him that would determine how they affected their world.

When Jesus fed a multitude, five loaves of bread and two fish from a boy's lunch were sufficient in the hands of the Lord.

Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a mustard seed (Matthew 13:21-32). The mustard seed was the smallest seed known to the Jews, yet it grew into an enormous tree. He also likened God's kingdom to leaven that is hardly noticeable but raises the entire batch of dough (Matthew 13:33). When children came to Jesus, His disciples assumed they were an annoyance and chased them away (Matthew 19:13-15). But Jesus said that in order to enter His kingdom, people must approach God as a child.

Christians often accept the adage “the bigger the better.” We measure success by the number of people involved in our ministry. We seek spectacular displays of God's power. We must learn to view success as God does. God is interested in the heart; He is pleased with obedience.

Victory Church Gift Wrapping

Here are some of our guys wrapping Christmas gifts at the St Clair Mall.

KRISTEN CANNON SELECTED TO SERVE ON 2010 E-TEAM Ribeirão Preto, Brazil

My daughter, Kristen Cannon has recently been selected to serve on the Free Will Baptist E-Team to Brazil in June 2010!  She is very excited and grateful for this opportunity to serve on the mission field.

Free Will Baptist have had a ministry presence in Brazil since the mid 1950's when pioneer missionary Thomas Willey visited Brazil. His findings prompted the FWB Board of Foreign Missions to send missionaries to share the good news with Brazilians.

Kristen will be traveling with seven other high school students to Brazil.  They will begin with a week of training at the Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville, Tennessee, then travel to Ribeirão Preto, Brazil for two weeks of ministry.

Kristen needs to raise $2,990.00 to go on this trip.  We are working now to get her scheduled in as many churches as possible to share about her opportunity and ask for a prayerful and financial partnership. 

If you would like to make a tax-deductible contribution to her account, please contact the Victory Church office 618.622.9360.  Please keep Kristen in your prayers.  Thanks and God bless! 

Click here to read the history of FWB in Brazil.

A GREAT LITTLE DEVOTIONAL FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS

Steve Arterburn shares a great little devotion on "solving problems."  I trust you will find this insightful and beneficial.

People who do what is right may have many problems, but the Lord will solve them all. Psalm 34:19 NCV

Life is an exercise in problem-solving. The question is not whether we will encounter problems; the real question is how we will choose to address them. When it comes to solving the problems of everyday living, we often know precisely what needs to be done, but we may be slow in doing it—especially if what needs to be done is difficult or uncomfortable for us. So we put off till tomorrow what should be done today.

The words of Psalm 34 remind us that the Lord solves problems for "people who do what is right." And usually, doing "what is right" means doing the uncomfortable work of confronting our problems sooner rather than later. So with no further ado, let the problem-solving begin . . . now.

"We are all faced with a series of great opportunities, brilliantly disguised as unsolvable problems. Unsolvable without God's wisdom, that is."  -- Charles Swindoll 

"You've got problems; I've got problems; all God's children have got problems. The question is how are you going to deal with them?"  -- John Maxwell

"I choose joy. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical; cynicism is the tool of a lazyb thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God." -- Max Lucado

"Problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines." -- Robert Schuller

Today's Prayer

Lord, sometimes my problems are simply too big for me, but they are never too big for You. Let me turn my troubles over to You, Lord, and let me trust in You
today and for all eternity. Amen

Christmas Concert @ MoBap

Enjoyed a Christmas celebration at Missouri Baptist University. These young adults really have a heart for the Lord. Great job guys, keep up the good work!

VICTORY CHURCH OFFERS FREE GIFT WRAPPING THIS CHRISTMAS AT ST. CLAIR SQUARE MALL!

Tonight marks the beginning of our Christmas servant evangelism project here at Victory Church.  We are offering "Free Gift Wrapping" at the St. Clair Square Shopping Mall in Fairview Heights, IL.

The hours we are serving are as follows: Friday (tonight) 5:00 PM -9:00 PM, Saturday 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM, and Sunday 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM. We will offer "free gift wrapping" every weekend in December and will also be serving Christmas Eve from 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM.

This is a great way to "show God's love in a practical way" this Christmas season.  Please pray for us as we serve and look for opportunities to share the real reason for the season - Jesus!

ALL SCRIPTURE IS PROFITABLE!

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (HCSB) "All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

All Scripture is profitable! Knowing this, we cheat ourselves when we do not access every book, every truth, every verse, and every page of our Bibles for the promises and commands God has for us.

Because every verse of Scripture is inspired by God and gainful to us, we should not pick and choose which verses we will read and study. We should not claim verses we like and ignore those that convict us! If we are to become mature disciples of Jesus, we must allow every Scripture to speak to us and teach us what God desires us to learn. Scripture enables us to evaluate the soundness of doctrines that are being taught. Scripture ought to be the basis for any reproof or correction we bring to another.

If you are not firmly grounded in God's Word, you will be bombarded with an assortment of doctrines, lifestyles, and behaviors, and you will have no means to evaluate whether or not they are of God.

You cannot develop a righteous life apart from God's Word. Righteousness must be cultivated. As you fill your mind with the words of God, and as you obey His instructions, He will guide you in the ways of righteousness. Scripture will equip you for any good work God calls you to do. If you feel inadequate for a task God has given you, search the Scriptures, for within them you will find the wisdom you need to carry out His assignment. Allow the Word of God to permeate, guide, and enrich your life.

SERVANT LEADERSHIP - John 13:1-17

Turn in your bible and read John 13:1-17.  What a beautiful picture of a servant leader!

NBA coach Pat Riley wrote about the "danger of me."  He said,

"The most difficult thing for individuals to do when they're part of a team is to sacrifice.  It's so easy to become selfish in a team environment.  To play for me.  It's very vulnerable to drop your guard and say, 'This is who I am and I'm going to open up and give of myself to you.'  But that's exactly what you've got to do.  Willingness to sacrifice is the great paradox.  You must give up something in the immediate present - comfort, ease, recognition, quick rewards - to attract something even better in the future."

What's true on the basketball court is true in all of life.  Serving others can be tough; expending your energies and resources in the interest of others can be exhausting.  Yet the most effective leaders are servants.

Nobody demonstrated this better than Jesus on the night prior to His crucifixion.  Alone with His disciples in a room in Jerusalem, Jesus did the unthinkable.  When there was no servant to carry out the custom of foot washing, Jesus assumed the role. The Master became the servant!  The greatest and most high became the least and the lowest.

Jesus was able to do this because He was secure in Himself.  He knew who He was and where He was going (vs. 3).  But Jesus also served His disciples because He loved them (vs. 1).  While these two reasons would be adequate in and of themselves, the Lord had another reason for His actions.  When He finished washing the disciples feet, Jesus told them He had set them an example to follow (vs. 15).  The Lord didn't tell them to do what He had done.  He commanded them to do "as" He had done.  They weren't to become full-time foot-washers, but rather full-time servers of men and women.  They were to be servant leaders!

Are you a follower of Jesus?  Do you desire to be His disciple?  Then make a commitment to do as He did and expend your energies in service to others.

TIM HAWKINS - CLETUS TAKE THE REEL!

Go10Walk - Walk for the World

Make plans now to experience a life-changing commitment to missions through a three month (April - July 2010), 2500 mile walk for the world!  

What is the Go10Walk?  The purpose is to challenge young people to consider their role in reaching the nations with the Gospel in their generation. The year 2010 is the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Free Will Baptist missions program. Laura Belle Barnard was sent out as our first missionary to India in 1935.

To commemorate this event, we are challenging Free Will Baptist young people to a life-changing commitment. They will be asked to commit to walk a 10-mile segment of a 2,500-mile course. Teens will also commit to a 40-day prayer and devotional journey in preparation for the walk.

Go to the Go10 website and pick your day to walk! For more information click here.

LET NO ONE LOOK DOWN ON YOU!

 No one should despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.—1 Timothy 4:12

Timothy was a sincere young man who earnestly desired to serve the Lord. Yet certain weaknesses in Timothy's life hindered him from serving God confidently.

1. Timothy was very young to be a religious leader, and apparently some doubted his abilities.

2. Timothy had a tender nature and was sickly (1 Tim. 5:23).

His was an unfavorable beginning for a young minister of the Gospel in an age of persecution!

Therefore, Paul urged Timothy not to allow his youthful insecurity to blunt his zeal and faithfulness in doing what God had told him.

Rather than arguing with those who criticized Timothy, Paul urged him to live as an example of godliness.  Paul advised Timothy to live a life that was so spotless in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity that his life could serve as a model for others in the church to follow. Timothy's life was to be the evidence that God had called him.

God looked beyond Timothy's youth, timidity, and physical weakness and saw his sincere heart.

As you seek to follow God's will, you may identify with Timothy. Perhaps some things about you seem to disqualify you from serving the Lord effectively. You may be sensitive because you are a new Christian or because you come from a sinful past. Perhaps you have little education or money or social status. You may have previously experienced failure in your service for God.

Don't allow this to intimidate you from following God's will. Your area of weakness may be God's means of demonstrating His strength (2 Cor. 12:9). Allow God to demonstrate His call upon you by transforming your life into a model of Godliness.

D6 FAMILY TAKE HOME STUDY

 
The D6 family theme for week 11/01 through 11/07 is "hope."

Each Sunday at Victory Church I will be sending families home with a "D6 Family Take Home Study" which correlates with the D6 theme of the week and the weekly message I share.  This is a great way for families to interact together spiritually, thus helping you to become D6 families! (For those who may not be familiar with D6 - click here.)

Below is this week's D6 Family Take Home Study:

1.  As a family, share some stories this week of seemingly "hopeless" situations you have found yourself in.  Also, share how the Lord answered your prayers and brought you through that particular situation.  KEY: Christian hope grows out of faith.

2. As a family, explain the purpose of anchors to your children.  Then share that by placing our faith in Christ we have "anchored" our life in Him.  Therefore, we are safe and secure in Him!  When the storms come on the sea, the sailors are safe because they have their anchors secure in the rocks.  Reassure your family that when the storms of life come your way, you are safe because you have placed your "hope" in Christ and He is our anchor!  KEY: Christian hope is an Anchor.

3. As a family, read the words of the old hymn "My Hope Is Built." KEY: Christian hope is a Person - Jesus Christ.

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

Sing-a-long! Now click here and "sing" together as a family this old hymn.

PMM - LEADERSHIP SEMINAR - NOV. 13-14 - HICKORY, NC

 

The final pieces of the puzzle are coming together!  The PMM - Strengthening His Church Leadership Seminar is just two weeks away!

Let's see...

• seminar developed - check!
• brochures made - check!
• workbooks made - check!
• lanyards made - check!
• registration forms made - check!
• mp3 order form cards made - check!
• propresenter slide show made - check!
• videos inserted - check!
• worship songs inserted - check!
• final pieces of sound equipment purchased - check!
• pmm gifts made - check!
• credit/debit card machine - check!
• prayer - check! - check! - check! - check! - check! - check! (Can never have enough prayer!)

If you are in the Hickory, NC are in two weeks plan on coming out to the seminar.  (Click here for details of seminar.)

I've had people ask me if this was open to all denominations?  The answer is YES!  This is open to anyone who cares about the leadership of their church or ministry.  For your convenience, we will have a credit/debit card machine at the registration table for those who have not preregistered.  Walk ins are welcome!!!!

If you know of any church in the area please let them know about this conference. If you have any questions please shoot me an email.

See you in two weeks!

VICTORY LEADERSHIP TEAM STRATEGIC MEETING

  Last evening the Victory Church Leadership Team had our first of two strategic planning meetings. The strategic plan is a tool we put in place to help us reach our vision. You may be asking, "What is our vision?" Good question! Below are our vision and mission statements. I will be sharing more concerning this in the future.

VISION STATEMENT:

"Building D6 families to carry out the great commission and the great commandment."

MISSION STATEMENT:

"Promoting radically transformed lives!" (In short: RTL's!)

We are in the process of evaluating everything and every ministry at Victory in light of our vision and mission statements. Please pray for our leadership team as we complete this process.

Also, if you have not signed up for SPLINK, then do so today! It's FREE! Maybe you did not understand me ... it's FREE! :)

Go to this website to sign up: http://www.d6family.com/splink/week/2009-10-25

PRIORITIES MATTER MINISTRIES

After a season of prayer, I feel the Lord has led me to begin a new ministry called "PRIORITIES MATTER MINISTRIES (PMM)." 

I am a Free Will Baptist pastor and former church planter, and one of my greatest desires is to be an encouragement to the local church pastor and congregation.  The purpose of PMM is to first and foremost assist the local church in fulfilling their God-given mission.

Through PMM, I am able to come along side the local church and minister in a variety of ways: 

• Revivals / Camp Meetings / Bible Conferences / Mission Conferences
• Stewardship Seminars / Discipleship Training Seminars
• Marriage Retreats or Seminars
• Men’s and Ladies’ Retreats
• Youth Camps, Retreats or Rally’s
• Parenting Conferences or Seminars
• Leadership Seminars, Conferences or Retreats
• Local Church Leadership Team Strategic Planning Retreats

To learn more about me personally and PMM, please take time to visit www.PrioritiesMatterMinistries.org. 

If you have questions about this ministry please give me a call; I would love to speak with you about ways we can serve you and your church.  I am scheduling now into 2010, but I do have some openings for the remainder of 2009. 

Just contact me and I would be thrilled to travel and speak in whatever venue you feel is needed.  May God richly bless you and your ministry!

THE WORD OF GOD - IT IS YOUR LIFE!

“For they are not meaningless words to you but they are your life, and by them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”—Deuteronomy 32:47

It's puzzling that so many Christians try to live the Christian life without reading their Bible, except for sporadic readings of God's Word, seeking a pithy thought for the day.

The Word of God is not merely a source of helpful suggestions, preventative warnings, or inspirational thoughts: It is life itself!

God gathered the children of Israel at the edge of the Promised Land to review their pilgrimage with Him. They had spent forty years in a desert because their parents had not trusted God's word. Their parents died without seeing the Promised Land because they had not believed God's word. Even the revered Moses was soon to leave them because he had not shown proper reverence for God's word. Many of them knew those who had been put to death as a consequence of their disobedience to God's word. Over the years God's word had become the most important thing in the life of the Israelites.

God commanded His people to bind His words on their hearts, to teach them diligently to their children, and to regularly discuss them in their homes (Deut. 6:4–9). So essential was His word that it was to hold a prominent place in the daily lives of His people.

Our reverence for God's Word is revealed not only by what we say but also by what we do. Spending more time reading and studying the words of people rather than the Word of God, reveals our hearts' condition. To blatantly disregard God's Word is to reject life itself. To obey God's Word is the surest way to experience all that God has in store for us.

STRENGTHENING HIS CHURCH LEADERSHIP SEMINAR - November 13-14, 2009 - Gateway Convention Center, Hickory, NC

ATTENTION ALL CHURCH LEADERS IN THE NORTH CAROLINA AREA! 

I would like to invite you to our "Strengthening His Church Leadership Seminar"  which Priorities Matter Ministries and I will be conducting at the Gateway Convention Center in Hickory, NC on November 13-14, 2009. Bring your entire church leadership team!

Click here to learn more about this leadership seminar.  Also, register before October 15th to take advantage of the Early Bird special!  With six or more registered the Senior Pastor attends free!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email them to me; I will respond ASAP.

D6 FAMILY THEME: JUSTICE

This week's D6 family theme is "justice."

Today's Fusion fact: "It is unjust to oppress the poor."

Today's Scripture reference: Luke 20:45-47; James 5:1-7

An added thought on justice:

Justice is doing what is right for another person, or ensuring that what is right takes place. The Old Testament prophets spoke much about the need for justice, and Israel and Judah were both criticized for not treating widows and orphans justly. The prophet Micah gave this prescription for right living: "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8, niv).

In a stricter sense, justice means giving a person what he deserves as a result of his actions. Scripture is very clear that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God," and that "the wages of sin is death." According to God's justice, all people deserve damnation.

Thankfully, God provided a way of atonement for those who believe.

A WORLD INTOLETANT OF GODLINESS EQUALS PERSECUTION

2 Timothy 3:12 - "In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted."

FACT: Living a Godly life will not insulate you from hardship.

Paul said that the more blameless your life, the more likely you will be persecuted. According to Paul, “evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse” (2 Tim. 3:13). As the world increasingly embraces sin, worldly people are becoming increasingly intolerant of Godliness. Darkness cannot tolerate light; the more your life illuminates the presence of Christ, the more you should expect opposition from the forces of darkness.

FACT: Your Christlike nature will be offensive to those in rebellion against Christ's Lordship.

Allow me for a moment to address a new Christian, a new follower of Christ:

• You may have recently repented of your sin and taken a new step of obedience to God.
• Perhaps, in doing so you expected to experience God's blessing immediately as He demonstrated His approval of your obedience. Instead, you were met with opposition.
• The persecution you experienced may have come even from other Christians who misunderstood your motives.
• Perhaps you obeyed God, and still your actions were met with criticism instead of praise.

Here's the encouragement: If you are sincerely following the Lord's direction, don't be discouraged.

Paul warned that those who seek to live Godly lives will suffer persecution. Do not be surprised when this happens to you. If the world crucified the Son of God, surely the world will be hostile to anyone who lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Persecution may be the best evidence that your life is like that of Christ.

Jesus warned that the world hated Him, the Savior, and so it would certainly misunderstand and mistreat His disciples (John 15:18).

COUNTDOWN 2 CRAZINESS!

 

Friday, October 16th begins the excitement of Duke Blue Devils Basketball!  It marks the 70th year of basketball in Cameron Indoor Stadium and the 30th season of head coach Mike Krzyzewski manning the sidelines of one of the greatest venues in sports history.

The first exhibition game for Duke is Saturday, October 24th!  Let the 2009-2010 season begin! Go Duke!

DANCING WITH JESUS - VICTORY YOUTH SKIT

Today was youth Sunday at Victory Church.  Below is a video of some of the teens performing the skit "Dancing with Jesus."  This is a great visual illustration of the battle that rages with our teenagers everyday.  Please take time to lift a prayer to our Lord on behalf of every teenager you know! 

Steve 411 - Hotel, Conference Center, Parking, and Registration at the D6 Conference

WHEN OUR HEART GROWS COLD, HIS LOVE REMAINS!

“Go and announce directly to Jerusalem that this is what the Lord says: I remember the loyalty of your youth, your love as a bride—how you followed Me in the wilderness,in a land not sown.”—Jeremiah 2:2

Even when our hearts grow cold toward God and our devotion to Him weakens, His love remains steadfast.

We may forget God, but He remembers us.

God was concerned because the people of Judah had allowed their hearts to drift far from Him. In a powerful moment, God shared His heart with His people, recalling what it was like when they first began loving Him. He remembered how they had loved Him, as a new bride loves her husband, with excitement and enthusiasm for the future. He recalled the kindness they had expressed as they willingly followed Him wherever He led them. God reminded them of the love they had once had for Him, so that the memory might rekindle feelings of devotion and their hearts might return to Him.

If you do not guard our heart, you will grow cold in your love for Christ. A time may come when He approaches you and reminds you what your relationship was once like.

• Do you recollect the joy that permeated your life when you first became a Christian?
• Do you recall the youthful commitments you made to Him, pledging to do anything He told you to do?
• Do you remember the thrill you experienced each time you came to understand a new dimension of His nature?

Spiritual memory is important. You may not realize how far you have drifted from God until you contrast the love you are expressing to Him now with that of earlier days.

God has not changed. He is the same Person you gave your heart to when you became a Christian (Mal. 3:6–7). If your love for God is not as intense as it once was, return to Him. He will restore the intimate fellowship you once shared with Him.

DON'T GIVE UP ON GOD'S PEOPLE!

“As for me, I vow that I will not sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the good and right way.”—1 Samuel 12:23

It can be tempting at times to give up on God's people! They are so imperfect and can be so sinful, yet they are His people. Samuel had thoroughly warned the Israelites of the dangers in appointing a king over Israel. Yet they wanted to be like the nations around them, insisting that they were willing to pay any price. Almost as soon as the people were granted their desire, they recognized their sin. But it was too late. What was Samuel to do? They had ignored his warnings. Now they wanted him to continue to minister to them. It would seem appropriate for Samuel to abandon them and allow them to suffer the consequences of their actions.

Samuel knew, as Jesus knew, that God sends His servants to the sick, not the healthy (Matt. 9:12). Samuel did not take the people's response as a rejection of him but as an indication of their walk with God. Samuel was serving God, not the Israelites. When God commanded him to minister to them, he could do nothing else, despite their resistance to his message.

At times people will not respond as they should to the message God speaks through you. Don't become discouraged; it is a reflection of their relationship with God. You are God's servant; if Jesus spent His time with the spiritually needy, you can expect Him to ask you to do the same. Don't lose your patience with God's people. Keep in mind that God loves them as much as He loves you.

D6 THEME: ENDURANCE - BE A FINISHER!

Hurt, bleeding and bandaged John Stephen Akhwari finishes the race in the 1968 Olympic marathon.  When asked why he had not quit, injured as he was and having no chance of winning a medal, he answered, "My country did not send me to Mexico City to start the race, they sent me to finish the race."

What a great illustration for Hebrews 12:1-3 (HCSB) "Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God's throne."

Don't quit!  Be a finisher! 

REGISTER FOR D6 CONFERENCE BY 09/08 AND SAVE!

Come on, let's keep connecting the church and home!

Almost 1,350 people have registered for the D6 Conference , September 23-25, 2009 in Dallas, Texas.  The exciting to thing to know is there are more and more groups registering each day.

To make it as easy as possible on those who missed all of the early bird opportunities, the D6 Conference would like to extend a promotion to everyone who has not yet registered.  This will help you save a little extra. 

In order to take advantage of this offer, do the following:

1. Go to the D6 Conference website (click here)
2. Register by Tuesday, September 8th (click here)
3. Use the discount code SEPTD6 and groups of 2 - 9 will save $25 per person!!! (Individuals will save $30. Groups of 10+ will save $15 per person.)

See you in Dallas!!

FORMULA FOR FRUITFULNESS

In his book Be All You Can Be, John Maxwell shares the formula for fruitfulness taught by Jesus. 

Jesus gives us a three-word formula for fruitfulness in John 15. These three words are the ones I want you to remember, because they are the key to fruitful living.

1. REMAIN - The first word is remain. Throughout John 15 Jesus tells us to remain. In fact, the word abide in the original language can be translated "remain." "Remain in Me," Jesus says. He's talking about our willingness to take time with Him in prayer and in study of the Word. We need to let Him begin to be part of our lives and work on our lives.

2. RECEIVE - The second word in the formula is receive. Jesus says in John 15 that if we remain in Him, we will begin to receive certain things. What we'll receive is good, fruitful living.

3. REPRODUCE - The third word is reproduce. If we remain in Him, we're going to receive what He has for us, then and only then will we begin to reproduce in our lives.

Spend some time reading John chapter 15 from God's Word and then I encourage you to apply these principles to you life.  Decide today you are going to be fruitful!