Jesus spoke these words as he hung on the cross, dying a slow painful death. I have to admit to not fully comprehending the magnitude of his words. He could have given into anger and bitterness. He could have cursed those who crucified him. It would have been so easy for Jesus to call upon a legion of angels to remove him from that cross.

Instead, Jesus went willingly to his death so that the very people who beat him, spit on him, mocked him, and crucified him could have salvation.  Imagine the turmoil Jesus must have felt to be so rejected and betrayed.

Yet, even after all he had endured; he forgave them and interceded before the Father on their behalf!  AMAZING!!!

Ask yourself these questions; do you forgive the way Jesus forgave? Do you pray for those who have hurt and mistreated you without a thought for yourself?

It seems the whole world is coming to a boiling point in one way or another.  I have an uneasy feeling that the time is ripe for someone who will take advantage of this madness and chaos by  offering peace  and hope to that that part of the world.  Someone like Amadinejad, the President of Iran who is very cunning and has that infectious smile.  He looks like the type of fellow you might want to hang out with and  maybe take him to the church picnic.   Somehow I don’t think he is as friendly as he would have us to believe.  We only need to listen to some of his rhetoric to know how truly evil he is. I was reading Daniel 11:37 about the end times and some would say the portrayal of the Antichrist.  It says:  “Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all” (King James).  I never noticed it before, but, could it be possible that the Antichrist could be a gay man?  I find it very interesting considering the times we are living in.

We, as Christians need to be on the look-out as these events keep unfolding.   No one knows the time or the hour that Christ may return, but, we are to be watching and not sleeping.  We need to get ready and be ready for the return of Christ.

Louise LaRosa

As we move forward into the New Year and its challenges, we need to be always aware that in the spiritual formation of a Christian the battlegrounds are clearly discernible:

1. The Battleground of the Mind:This involves the realm of thoughts emanating from ourselves, from God or from the enemy. This battle is fought in the mind because the mind is the nerve center of all our activity and therefore becomes “a target for the powers of darkness” (Dean Sherman, 44). This, then, is where the battle begins – the area where, in military terms, we take enemy fire.
2. The Battleground of “Attitudes and Emotions” (Sherman, 46):As a Christian, I may well be able to control my actions, but my emotions are another matter. My feelings are involuntary. They come upon me – I do not choose them.
3. The Battleground of the Tongue:Words have enormous power. With words we can speak “life or death” into situations and people. As Dean Sherman explains:

   Our words can be vehicles of the Holy Spirit for truth, righteousness and life, or vehicles of Satan for deception, accusation and death (51).

Yes, how true all of this is. However, there is another battleground that for some reason it seems we sometimes fail to recognize or perhaps choose to ignore. It is in reality the primary battleground where our attitudes / emotions and our tongues are most severely tested. That battleground is not out there in the work-a-day world, but at home. Many of us look good in church, but at home it is a different story. At times, as a pastor visiting a believer’s home, I have found a hurting spouse, rebellious children and a marriage that is unstable. I have seen both the bitter, unsubmissive, controlling wife and the husband who is either ineffective in leading his family or who is a domineering, controlling tyrant who has no conception of what Paul meant when he said, “husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies” (Eph. 5:28).

The hard fact is that in today’s church it is all too often the church leader who fails so miserably in this respect. Paul, writing to Timothy, focuses on the home life of both the bishop (επισκοπος / episkopos[1]) and the deacon (διακονος / diakonos[2]). Of a bishop Paul writes that he is “one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household how will he take care of the church of God?)” [1 Tim. 3:4,5]. Likewise, deacons must be “good managers of their children and their own households” (1 Tim. 3:12). A pastor is in no way exempt from this requirement.

A church can never be any stronger than the families of which it consists. So often it seems that a Christian father is strangely absent in that he is not “hands-on” in his relationship with his children. Hence Paul writes, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord’ (Eph. 6:4). What this in essence can mean is that a father who is not “there” for his children is in fact a provocation because his neglect of them can result in a deep-rooted resentment, particularly during adolescence. But what does it mean to be “there” for both your girls and your boys? Get involved! Get involved in their sports activities. If they have not developed in this area, try and encourage them to do so – better still, try running, swimming or playing tennis with them. Take them hunting and fishing (yes, girls can get interested in that too!). But whatever you do, do not leave them to the sole mercy of video games, television, etc. If you do that, then someone else will be raising your children for you through that screen.

The primary battleground, then, is at home. Like it or not, your children are watching you and your spouse. What they see in you will affect them – they will emulate the good and probably much of the bad in you as well. If you allow your home to be dysfunctional, it will produce rotten fruit in your children. Husbands, if you love your wife (as much as you love yourself); if she sees and knows that you really are laying down your life for her, she will learn to trust your judgment and thus be willing to submit to your leadership when the need arises. Children have the chance to be secure and well-adjusted in a loving, disciplined home run by parents who love each other and submit their lives to the ethical demands of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible is always the supreme and ultimate authority for life in the Christian home.

We have all seen wild, disobedient children in stores and supermarkets, distraught mothers repeatedly yelling, “Stop that!” and finally losing their tempers – but generally the buck must stop with Dad. You see, prophetically speaking, these are the times of Elijah, the prophet who will appear “before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers” (Malachi 4:5,6).

But who is this biblical father who is spoken of here in the Scripture? He is the man who is “joined to his wife” so that “the two shall become one flesh” (Eph. 6:3). Adam understood this for he said of his wife, Eve, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.” It is “for this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen. 2:23-24). Is this your understanding of Christian marriage? It took me many years as a pastor to come to the realization that the Lord wanted my wife and me to work together as a team in ministry. When I served as pastor of my first American church, I made it clear to the congregation from the start that Sue and I would work together. Sue was then appointed as the church secretary, and we often visited and prayed for the sick together. Although busy raising our family of five, she quickly became known as the one who kept me on the tracks in my pastoral duties. At Zion Bible College again we worked together, she as my administrative assistant. In the classroom, we worked as a team, with Sue tutoring struggling students. Yes for me, Sue is “bone of my bone” and “flesh of my flesh.” But for us both there is a price to be paid. I have had to learn to ask her each day what her priorities and needs are and I am learning to discipline my own life so that she, whose help I am constantly in need of, will have time each day to do the things that are important to her. Husbands, remember that when you married that young woman, as your wife God meant her to be first and foremost your friend and the only one in the world who could ever be “bone of your bone and flesh of your flesh.”

Yes, father or mother, the primary battleground is at home because it is here that the most sacrifice is required of you. It is here where your love and patience will be stretched to the uttermost and it is here where everybody in the house (your children and your spouse) sees you as you really are – with all pretence stripped away. It is firstly at home where we must concentrate on getting it right. It is the primary battleground.

God be with you,

Lawrence

[1] επισκοπος / episkopos can also be translated ‘overseer’ (N.I. Dict. of N.T. Theol.,1:188).

[2] διακονος / diakonos in its NT usage can be translated as “one identified for special ministerial service in a Christian community” (BDAG, 231).

Bibliography

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd ed. (BDAG). Rev. & ed. by Frederick William Danker. Chicago: Univ. Chicago Press, 2000.

New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. Vol. 1. Gen. Ed. Colin Brown. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1986.

Sherman, Dean. Spiritual Warfare. Seattle, WA: Frontline Communication / YWAM, 1990), 44.

I know we have a more diverse population now but our country was founded on the principles of the Bible – what is more Christ-mas than that?  If I was visiting or living in a country that it would be offensive to use a specific greeting I would refrain from using that greeting out of respect for the people and customs of that country.  For example if I were in Israel I would be saying Happy Hanukkah out of respect to their Festival of Lights celebration.  Why can’t those living here have that same respect for our nation’s past and just get over the “political correctness” and just wish everyone a Merry Christmas.

Why do we (as Christians) have to tread lightly on this subject when it does offend us?  Are we turning the other cheek on this one?  I think we need to be bold and speak out on this one – take a stand and preserve our Christian heritage.  Others have no problem in preserving their customs and traditions – we should do the same.

I for one this holiday season will be wishing folks a Merry Christmas not Happy Holidays.  If that offends you I’m sorry but Christmas is a very special time for us Christians and if you say Happy Holidays I will be offended – but won’t hold it against you.

So everyone have a Merry Christmas!

Photo by J. Herrera

In Mathew 6:22 -23  Jesus said, “Your eye is the lamp of the body.  When your eye is good, your whole body is full of light.  But, if thine eye be evil, thy whole body is full of darkness.  If therefore the light that is in thee is darkness, how great is that darkness.”

Some people say the eye is the window to the soul.  I have always thought you can tell a lot about a person by looking into their eyes.  Sometimes you see:  compassion, kindness, exuberance, intenseness, sadness, happiness, excitement, trust, deceit, love or hate.  You can tell if a person is outgoing, shy or an introvert. Other times you may look into someone’s eyes and there’s nobody home!  There are also times when you see pure evil and try to get away as soon as possible.

I wonder what it was like when Peter denied Jesus.  Before Jesus was arrested, He told Peter that he would deny him when the rooster crowed three times. Sure enough, just as He said, Peter denied Jesus in the courtyard.  Jesus then turned and “looked” straight at Peter.  Immediately, Peter went out and wept.  Can you imagine the loving eyes of Jesus penetrating to your very soul, not with anger but with love?   How ashamed Peter must have felt at that moment.   I also wonder what it was like when Jesus stood face to face with Pilot and he asked Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”  Can you imagine the intensity of that moment?  I wonder if there was a “stare down” so to speak.  To come face to face with Jesus, the Son of God and to have missed the opportunity for forgiveness and salvation.  Instead he sent Him away to be crucified.

I think there is a lesson here for us.  How many times do we have the opportunity to share our faith with someone, but instead we give them a look of condemnation or make them feel that they don’t measure up.  Just taking a moment and giving them a sincere look of compassion and concern can make all the difference in the world.   Ask God to help you be aware of how you present yourself to others.  Try to follow Christ’s example when reaching the lost.  Ask God to help you see that person through His eyes, not ours.

Louise LaRosa

Another important mention from the service was the success rate of Teen Challenge – 80% that go all the way through the program remain clean afterwards.  No government run program can claim that stat because as we were told it is the Jesus factor that makes the difference.  Our church supports this great ministry and we have had the benefit of seeing people from families within our church getting cleaned up and now leading productive lives after attending Teen Challenge.

I hope you will join us in supporting this great and important program that truly changes lives.  For more information please visit their website and make a donation.  It will be the best money you’ve ever spent.

Several years ago there was a book named, “When Bad Things Happen to Good People” by Harold Kushner.  This book talked about a Rabbi whose son was stricken with Progeria, a disease that accelerates the aging process.   Yes, it is hard to understand why some people who live good lives have bad things happen to them.  Psalm 23:4 says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”    How do you know what it is like to have no fear when you are in the valley unless you experience it first- hand.  To be in the valley of death and have peace is something the world cannot understand.  How does one help someone else who has cancer or some other debilitating disease unless they have had it themselves?  You cannot say, I know what you are going through unless you yourself have experienced it.

Its only through times like these that people find out God is real and have a much deeper relationship with Him.

I think the people who lived during Jesus’ time had much more faith than we do.  If you think about it, they did not have health insurance or quick access to an emergency room at the local hospital.  They could not run to CVS and speak to the pharmacist on call.  I know myself when I get sick I call my doctor and he gives me a prescription.  I simply take out my Blue Cross card and pick up what I need.  It’s so easy and quick that I don’t think about bothering God or waiting on Him.  Its only when the medication doesn’t work that I cry out to God; “Help me!”

Jesus said in John 16:33: “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world.” Hebrews 13:5 says; “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”  Isaiah 26:3 says; “Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.”

I know personally, when I have gone through difficult times, these words became real to me.  Before that, they were just words.

Keep on praying and don’t give up.    James 5:16; says;  “The effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous man availeth much.”

Louise LaRosa

Just a few of the many people that attended this year's Church at the Park event.

This past Saturday, Liberty Christian Center was part of a community outreach called Church at the Park. I am not sure of how many people were there over the course of the day but I would say it was over 1000. I think all of the volunteers (40+ volunteers from our church alone – great job folks!) each came away from the event with a feeling of satisfaction that we did do something positive for the people that were there. Over the last few days, I have been reflecting on my experience and thought I would share what I learned from it.

1. People are hurting! I was totally amazed at how fast people began lining up to get the free school supplies, groceries and clothing. The line formed 90 minutes before they began to give those things out and within 30 minutes all of it was gone. That has to tell you something. I could tell by listening to the people waiting in the lines they were not just there because it was free stuff – they were there because they needed it!  I overheard one mother say to another in the line “I hope there is a backpack left by the time I get to the front – I just can’t afford to buy one for my son this year – my husband has been out of work for almost a year now.” In the grocery line, I watched people looking at the premade bags of groceries hoping to get a good meal for their family and some needed basic food items. The free hamburgers and hotdogs also revealed the hurt when several families with kids were delighted to know they could get both a hamburger and hotdog – comment overhead “this is great, I’m going to be full today.”
2. People appreciate a caring attitude. The man that was wearing everything he owned and broke into tears when he found a suit that was his size was so appreciative of having another outfit to wear. The single mom that found warm coats for all her kids and kept saying “thank you” repeatedly to the volunteers. Families that spent the day there because their children were having so much fun and it was not costing their limited budgets anything to see their kids smile. The people that I noticed everywhere sharing their difficulties with the various volunteers and they seemed glad that there was someone there to listen. The police officers even commented on how well behaved the crowds are at this event.
3. People know when you are real. This was the most enlightening aspect I encountered. One woman came up to me and asked if I was being paid to help in the event – I told her no. She commented, “You people are the best, I know you actually care!” Need I say more?
4. We did make a difference. The smiles, the many times I heard the phrase “thank you” in a heart felt way and the overall joy I saw in many faces during the whole day. The small private conversations that were seen going on all over the park with volunteers praying for people that had shared a problem.
5. We should do more events like this. Several times during the day people asked “are you going to do this more than once a year?” – followed by “this makes me feel so happy, I wish I could come to something like this every week”.

That is our mission church! To go out into the world and spread the Gospel – not to just have church but to spread the love and concern for others!

For more views of this great event visit our Flickr account for photos of this year’s event.  Also check out this video.

1. The church is not a building or an organization but rather a gathering of like minded individuals and we view Church at the Park as just another way of gathering together just as Hebrews 10:25 says “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another..” In addition we want to share this time with all the other people that are there to “encourage on another” by providing free food, music, clothing, school supplies and other items to the members of our community.
2. Jesus did this same thing. OK so maybe I stretching it a little, but think about it, Jesus was out and about within the community – not just holdup in a church waiting for people to come to him.  He reached out into people’s lives where they were to minister to them.  We are just following his example and are reaching out to people in an environment where they feel comfortable. Hoping to minister to their needs – both physically and spiritually.
3. We are there because we care about others.  I love the fact that our church has the following items within our mission statement:
   • To become a family of God where everyone is loved & accepted.
   • To become a worshipping church that glorifies God in ALL activities . . . spiritual, practical, social.
   • By becoming an outwardly focused body of believers that engage the world without engaging in conflict.

We want to share with others and not keep it to ourselves. We want to meet needs of those that are less fortunate than ourselves. We want to bring some joy into the lives of those that are having difficulties in life.

That is why we do Church at the Park – hope to see you there if you live in the area.  It will be held August 21, 2010 from noon to 4PM at Memorial Park on Somerset Avenue in Taunton.

Come and see for yourself why we do it! Here’s some Photos from last year’s event.

Andy Larrimore

As I read further, it told how many prophecies in the Old Testament predicted His coming.   Isaiah 7:14 said he would be born of a virgin. This was hundreds of years before Jesus came. In  Psalm 22:16 it says  “They pierced his hands and feet.” (Abbrev).  This referred to the crucifixion and was also foretold hundreds of years earlier.   I also find it fascinating that many of these cities and places mentioned in the Bible  still exist today.  The Discovery Channel has provided us with a wealth of information  regarding Bible history.

This then lead me on a long journey reading the scriptures and learning about Jesus’ life. Many scriptures in the New Testament predict things that will happen in the end times. I came to the conclusion that if the Old Testament prophecies came true, then it only makes sense that the New Testament prophecies should come true.

It definitely seems like a lot of coming events listed in the Bible are going on right now.  Yes, a lot of people have been saying that for years, but major events going on in Israel are certainly heading us to a point of no return.  In Revelation 1:7, it says:
“Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced (crucified) him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.”  WOW, that’s pretty fascinating.   Throughout history, God has always warned His people before He sent judgment.  I truly believe He is doing this today.  At times, you may not like the messenger, but God is always fair.  God used John the Baptist who foretold the first coming of Christ and he was a strange looking fellow.   It may be a still, small voice or some other way, but don’t ignore the message.  The Bible says in Hebrews 3: 6-8 “Today, If you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Abbrev)

Louise LaRosa