Saturday, March 28, 2009

CHERYL'S MOM NOW WITH JESUS

Cheryl's mother Dianne went home to be with the Lord on Friday after a lengthy battle with cancer.
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Services are Thursday, April 2, 3pm at Rose Hills Memorial Park (Memorial Chapel) in Whittier.
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(Psa 116:15) Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints.

Thanks for your prayers!

Love to all,

Louie

GO! MUSIC OUTREACH LAST SATURDAY

Last Saturday we had an awesome concert at CCNorco:

MANDY CAMPBELL
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MICHAEL CAMPBELL WITH FIANCE ASHLEY AND BROTHER BRANDON
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A BEATING HEART (Delon, Joe, Josh, Jose)
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JOSE MENDOZA SHARES AN EVANGELISTIC MESSAGE

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It was a special time of glorifying the Lord and sharing His Word. Please keep this team in your prayers as our vision is to send them out as a GO! Team to share the love of Jesus as God opens up the doors.

(Col 4:3) meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

KNEE-MAIL


SHEPHERD TO SHEEP


KNEE-MAIL

(Psa 95:6) Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

Are you trying to reach someone for the Lord but you just can’t? You’ve told them about Jesus but they won’t listen. They blow up in your face. They give you the silent treatment. They tell you to go away. You have tried face to face. Perhaps you sent a letter. Maybe an email. Nothing worked. You’re getting frustrated. Don’t get upset. There’s one more thing you can do and it works the best. Try a knee-mail!

Now I’m not trying to be funny or clever. It’s just if you really think about it the way to really reach someone is through prayer. If they won’t listen to you then we know they will have to listen to God. But your skepticism might kick in and say, “But what about their free-will? God can’t change that!” That’s true but He sure has ways to influence our free-will by the working of the Spirit in their lives.

Turn them over to God. Let the Lord bear down influences on their hearts. He knows how to talk to them. He knows how to reach them. God can create circumstances in their lives so they will have to look up. Isn’t that how most of us came to the Lord? We were stubborn. People talked to us but we turned away from the truth. We got away from the people of God but we couldn’t get away from God! He was working. He was wooing. And when we were ready we gave in.

I am a product of prayer. People told me about Jesus and I didn’t respond. But I know they prayed for me. Do you know I can honestly say I “felt” their prayers? It’s as if when they dropped to their knees the pride started to drop from my life. My heart was softening. Circumstances around me were pressing in on me convincing me of my need for the Lord. It’s like layers of darkness and rebellion were being unwrapped from me until I felt an urgency to give my life to the Lord. I counted the cost and then made a firm decision. I became a new creature in Christ! (2 Cor 5:17)

It’s good to reflect on how we came to the Lord. I believe the key ingredient was prayer. I know we get discouraged sometimes when our loved ones just don’t come to the Lord. Or maybe they know the Lord but are in that backslidden state. They don’t come around because they don’t want to hear the truth. But you know where the power lies. Fight on your knees!

Every knee will bow before the Lord…whether now or before the judgment throne (Rom 14:11). But as we kneel and pray for others they will kneel before the cross of grace. Don’t think you are powerless to change anybody. Reach out to others by reaching up to God for them. Send out your knee-mail today!

Louie

Saturday, March 21, 2009

PUSH!


(Luke 18:1-8) Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, {2} saying: "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. {3} "Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' {4} "And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, {5} 'yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.'" {6} Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. {7} "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? {8} "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

Thursday, March 19, 2009

DENNIS WITHEY NOW WITH THE LORD

April 20th, 1969 - March 16th, 2009
Our brother in the Lord Dennis Withey is now with the Lord after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Brenda and three children. His mom, Ann, and sister Denise also attend CCNorco. Services today (TH March 19) at 10:00am at Thomas Miller Mortuary in Corona.
Please keep this family in your prayers.
(Mat 25:21) "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

ARE YOU FALLING APART?


SHEPHERD TO SHEEP


ARE YOU FALLING APART?

(Col 1:17) And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

It is common when things are out of control in our lives that we say, “I feel like I’m falling apart.” We sometimes talk to others or even ourselves about “keeping it together.” We try so hard to be strong and to have stability in our lives. But what do we do when we feel like we are unraveling along with our life? When we feel so weak and ready to break? We want to be strong but we feel if there’s one more dart and we’re going to fall apart.

Scientists are baffled by how an atom can keep together when it contains repelling forces. They have come up with terms such as “atomic glue” and other designations for what is a mystery to them. But when Paul wrote the believers in Colosse he said that Jesus was before all things and that in Him all things consist. The word “consist” means” to hold together.” This means that God is not only the Creator of the world, but he is also its Sustainer.

That speaks to me big time. If God has created the world and is holding it together then what about me? He created me and can hold me together when I feel like I’m falling apart! God who can sustain the universe can keep me glued. I’m no star or atom but I am a son of Adam who is feeble and frail. I am dust and bust easy. (Psa 103:14) For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. If He doesn’t hold me together then there will be an explosion and it won’t be pretty. You’ll see vast particles of me all over and I will cease to be. But praise God that’s not going to happen because by Him all things consist…including me. I am part of His universe. In fact I’m more than a particle. I’m an article. And a genuine one at that. You see, Jesus died for me. He created me and He redeemed me! He holds me together! (Heb 1:3)…and upholding all things by the word of His power…

Here’s the Lord’s promise: (John 10:28-29) "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. {29} "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.

Are you so weak that you are afraid to tell anybody just how bad you feel? Let the Lord hold you and then let Him uphold you. (Psa 119:117) Hold me up, and I shall be safe…(Psa 51:12) Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

You’re not going to fall apart. You have to keep going. You have God-given things to do. You have people in your life that need you. You must finish the work the Lord has for you. Find new strength in the Lord. When your work is done then you can rest. (Heb 12:2) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Louie

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

SAINT PATRICK FACTS FROM AN IRISH MISSIONARY


I received an email today from Kevin Fitzgerald who is a GO! missionary in Dublin, Ireland. He sets the record straight about St. Patrick. I thought it was kind of cool getting the facts direct from Ireland!

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"Beannachtai La Fheile Padraig duit!"

That’s how we say "Happy Saint Patrick’s Day" over here in Ireland. A proper response might be something along these lines: "Agus beannacht leat ‘La Feile Padraig’ fresin. Go raibh mile maith agat."

Of course: Don’t ASK me to tell you what it means!

It’s funny… On a day like today, we often have the tendency to throw around the idea of a "saint" very casually, without much thought.

And yet, from God’s perspective, ANYONE who has put their faith in Jesus Christ is considered a saint! That’s right! You don’t have to die in some special way, or perform so many good deeds, or be nominated by church leaders, or even have any of your body parts paraded around and prayed to and venerated at shrines…

Our English word "saint" comes from the same root word as "sanctified," and it simply means to be "set apart." 1st Corinthians 6:11 says: "You were washed…you were sanctified… you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God."

In fact, the entire letter of 1st Corinthians is addressed to "those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus CALLED SAINTS (1 Cor. 1:2)" [the words "to be" were inserted into this verse by later translators].

In fact, this word is used all throughout the New Testament to refer to followers of Christ (Here’s a bit of trivia: Acts 9:32 and 9:41 is the FIRST place we see Christians being referred to as ‘saints’).

How often we hear people say things like, "Well, I’m no saint!" But – according to scripture – if you have put your faith in Jesus Christ, yes you are! You’re a saint! Even if your name ISN’T Simon Templar (for those of you younger than 35, you probably won’t see the humour).



The reality of it is – for those of us who have put our faith in Jesus Christ – we’ve been bought, washed, cleansed, forgiven, and set apart for God’s purposes through the precious blood of Jesus Christ! We’re sanctified… we’re saints!

I hope today – more than anything – THAT is what you’ll celebrate! For, EACH OF US, like Patrick before us, have a special "call" by God to be involved in the work of building up His eternal kingdom.

For any of you who may be interested, I’ve included a sort of essay below on Saint Patrick. As I’m here in Ireland, having been called to this land by the Lord, I was just thinking of you all on this day, and thought I would write.

So, if you’ve got a few spare moments, I encourage you to put on some nice traditional Irish music… wear something green… eat some corned beef and cabbage… have a good strong cuppa’ tea… and celebrate the life of our fellow brother in the Lord, Patrick!

God bless!

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Contrary to popular folklore, St. Patrick never chased the snakes out of Ireland. Nor do we REALLY know whether or not he EVER used the shamrock to teach converts about the Trinity. Furthermore, it will most certainly NOT be Patrick sitting in judgement over the Irish on Judgement Day! However, what we DO know about the remarkable man we so commonly refer to as St. Patrick is far more interesting than many of the legends that have grown up around him.

Of course, the fact that we know ANYTHING about him at all is as great a miracle as any that later traditions would ascribe to him. Patrick is LITERALLY the ONLY individual we know from fifth-century Ireland or England. Not only do no other written records from Britain or Ireland exist from that century, but there are simply no written records at ALL from Ireland prior to Patrick's!

Interestingly enough, scholarly debate about the actual authenticity of Patrick’s writings is almost non-existent. Experts agree that the two examples of his writing that we have are clearly written by the same man, the man we know as Patrick.

These two brief documents, Patrick's "Confession" (a wonderful read, by the way) and his "Letter to Coroticus," are the basis for all we know of the historical Patrick. His "Confession," because its purpose was to recount his own call to convert the Irish and to justify his mission to an apparently unsympathetic audience in Britain, is not a traditional biography. And the "Letter to Coroticus" (who was apparently an Irish warlord whom Patrick was forced to excommunicate), is a wonderful illustration of Patrick's prowess as a preacher, yet doesn't tell us much by way of traditional biography either.

The uncontested – if somewhat unspecific – biographical facts about Patrick are as follows:

He was born ‘Patricius’ somewhere in Roman Britain to a relatively wealthy family. He was not religious as a youth and, in fact, claims to have practically renounced the faith of his family.

While in his teens, Patrick was kidnapped by marauding invaders from fifth century Ireland and taken back TO Ireland, where he was enslaved to a local warlord and worked as a shepherd until he escaped six years later. It’s been suggested that – not since Paris absconded with Helen of Troy – has a kidnapping EVER changed the course of history so much!

After returning to Britain, Patrick had a dream, in which a man named Victoricus – whom Patrick had known in Ireland – appeared to him, bearing countless letters. One of these letters he handed to Patrick. The letter was entitled "The Voice of the Irish." And, upon just reading the title, Patrick heard a multitude of voices crying out to him: "Holy boy, we beg you to come and walk among us once more!" So moved by this was he, that Patrick was unable to read further and woke up. But the dream recurred again and again. Eventually Patrick told his dismayed family of his plans to return to evangelise Ireland and soon began preparations for the priesthood. Patrick was so certain that he had been specifically called by God to do exactly what he did—return to the land of his captivity and convert the barbarians to Christianity—that – as one author puts it – his "Confession" leaves even the modern reader little room for doubt."

It is not clear exactly WHEN he made it back to Ireland, or for how long he ministered there, but it was definitely for a number of years.

By the time he wrote his "Confession" and the "Letter to Coroticus," Patrick was recognised by both Irish natives and the Church hierarchy as the official Bishop of Ireland.

By this time, also, he had clearly made a permanent commitment to Ireland and intended to die there. Scholars have no reason to doubt that he did.

Though Patrick's writings tell us little in terms of names and dates, they do reveal much about Patrick the man. Traditional biographies of Patrick don't really do him justice. He is portrayed more as a "cookie-cutter saint," if you will. But, in his own "Confession," a few things really stand out about: the genuineness of his faith in Christ, his humility, and his strength.

Author Thomas Cahill (of "How the Irish Saved Civilization" fame, and former religion editor for Doubleday) writes: "The Patrick who came back to Ireland with the gospel was a real tough guy. He couldn't have been anything else—only a very tough man could have hoped to survive those people. I don't mean to say he wasn't a saint—he was a great saint—but he was a very rough, vigorous man."

Noel Dermot O’Donoughue, O.D.C., writes in his 1987 biography "Aristocracy of Soul: Patrick of Ireland," that Patrick was "his own man." When Patrick received the vision that called him to evangelise the Irish, he didn’t hesitate, despite the fact that in 400 years no one had taken the gospel beyond the boundaries of Roman civilisation. "He goes his own way following his own [calling] and divine 'responses,'" says O'Donoughue, even though by doing so he is challenging the structure and ordinances of the Church he served.

As well, Patrick would have to overcome MANY obstacles to carry out his calling.

The first (and obvious) obstacle would be his education. The six years Patrick had been enslaved in Ireland put him permanently behind his peers in terms of his classical education. His Latin would always be poor. Later in his life, when he used Latin less frequently, it was practically unintelligible at times.

Despite the fact that Patrick would be self-conscious about his literary limitations to the end of his days, he was not uneducated. One suspects, however, that he was primarily self-educated. His use of biblical quotations, Cahill says, "is far more accurate and appropriate than many of the Fathers of the Church."

"It's hard to grasp just what an accomplishment it was," says Cahill, when Patrick decided to "willingly go back to the barbarians with the gospel." Cahill explains: "He had to figure out how to bring the values of the gospel he loved to such people. These were people who still practised human sacrifice, who warred with each other constantly and who were renowned as the great slave traders of the day. This was not a simple thing. This was before courses were given to missionaries in what is now called inculturation—how to plant the gospel in such a culture," Cahill says. "No one had ever even thought about how to do it; Patrick had to work his way through it himself."

But, return to them he did! And, when he finally arrived in Ireland, Patrick proceeded to treat the barbarians with the respect implicit in his calling. In fact, from the outset, Patrick felt both humbled and honoured that God has selected him to convert the Irish (I can relate to that!). Apparently, he never doubted that he would be able to do so.

Patrick even came to see his own kidnapping as a grace, Cahill says. From the time Patrick sets off on his 200-mile journey to his "waiting ship," he was convinced "once and for all that he is surrounded by Providence and that he is really in the hands of God. And that is what gets him through the rest of his life, and it is what enables him to do the incredible thing that he does by returning to the barbarians." Cahill concludes that, had Patrick never been kidnapped to begin with, it seems quite likely that it would have been decades, perhaps even centuries, before Ireland was converted.

And, the closeness to God that Patrick walked in IN NO WAY diminished as the years progressed. "Patrick felt the presence of God in every turn of the road," Cahill says. "God was palpable to him, and his relationship to Him was very, very close." Cahill even likens it to the relationship in the Bible between Jesus Christ and God the Father. "It is very familiar and comfortable, and that is how Patrick saw God at work in the world."

The inadvertent results of Patrick’s conversion of Ireland were equally astonishing and long-lasting. As Cahill makes the strong case in How the Irish Saved Civilization, it was Patrick's conversion of Ireland that made possible the preservation of Western thought through the early Dark Ages by the Irish monasteries founded by Patrick's successors. When the lights went out all over Europe, a candle still burned in Ireland. That candle was lit by Patrick. So much is owed to the faithful monks who worked tirelessly throughout those years to preserve Christian thought!

There is no question that Patrick gave the Irish himself—knowingly, willingly, joyfully, proudly. He did this despite the fact that, even at the end of his life, "after 30 years of missionary activity," Cahill says, "he knew he was still living in a very scary place. You don't change people—people who offer human sacrifice and who war on one another constantly—you don't change them overnight."

But change them he eventually did. And the example of his life—his courage, his intelligence, his compassion and his incredible, indomitable faith—made the lives of even those living 1,500 years later, just a little easier.

And so it was that a young Briton named Patricius died an Irishman named Patrick.

Blessings!

Kevin & Amanda
CrossPoint Dublin
209A Forest Hills
Rathcoole, County Dublin
Ireland
Landline: 011.353.1.401.3823
Mobile: 011.353.87.776.8150
Email: crosspointireland@yahoo.com
Website: www.crosspoint.ie

If you would like to support our ministry through a financial donation, please send to:
"GO! Ministries"
P.O. Box 651
Norco, CA 92860
Then, simply put the number "1127" in the memo line of your donation, which is our personal account number (THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, AS – WITHOUT THIS NUMBER – YOUR INTENDED DONATION WILL NOT REACH US!).
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."Ephesians 2:8-9

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

MALE AND FEMALE

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP


MALE AND FEMALE

(Gen 1:27) So God created man in His own image…male and female He created them.

Today the lines are blurred and a lot of people are confused as to a proper sexual orientation. Years ago we never had to even think of doing a Bible study on this topic but oh, how the times have changed! We want to lovingly guide people to the truth of God’s Word so they can be how God created them. Other voices are out there but what does God have to say?


God made mankind male and female. Then He told them to be fruitful and multiply. That takes male and female together! Even the animals were made male and female. That set the pattern of things even before man was created. There is a lot of common sense in these things but we have to remember that man is fallen and sin corrupts. People come up with a lot of ideas that sound good, or even feel good, but are erroneous nevertheless. Satan is the father of lies and he seeks to deceive man and pervert the right way of things…how God created them to be for our good and pleasure!

Peter’s first sermon on the day of Pentecost included the words, “Be saved from this perverse generation." (Acts 2:40) The word perverse is the Greek word skolios from where we get our word scoliosis. That’s curvature of the spine! It’s not straight. It’s twisted. It’s not the way it should be. It can lead to pain and suffering.

Remember the ‘80s? That’s when the lines started to be really blurred between the sexes. Michael Jackson popularized androgyny and Boy George cross-dressing. Now look at our society. People are signing up to get a sex change and some insurances will even cover the operation. (Rom 1:28) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.

Now we know a man can have natural feminine traits and a woman masculine traits. A girl can be a tomboy, etc. We’re not talking that. We’re talking about people who choose to ditch and switch. They feel something inside. They want to express themselves. They like the bizarre and Mardi Gras. But the Bible says to not follow the impulses of a fleshly heart (Jer 7:24). We are to follow the truth. And the truth is you are not born “different.” It is a sinful tendency that is acted upon with the help of a liberal society who says to be what you feel.

What not to wear: (Deu 22:5) A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the LORD your God. You will only be happy when you fully accept the way God made you. It’s male or female. Being yourself is being how God made you. His gifts are good and perfect and you don’t have to change a thing! (James 1:17)

Louie

Thursday, March 5, 2009

HELL




SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

HELL

(Psa 103:4) Who redeems your life from destruction…

People seem to have a lot of questions about hell. Is it a literal place? Is it temporary or forever? Would a God of love send someone there? We have images in our minds of a devil with a pitchfork, flames and a lot of sweating people. But what does the Bible say about hell?

Hell is a literal place of incarceration made for the devil and his demons: (Mat 25:41)…the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. It was never meant for man. God wanted people with Him in heaven. But since man rejected God’s offer of salvation through the cross of His Son, hell is now reserved for the wicked: (Rev 21:8) "But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." (Mark 9:43-44)

Some say it’s not fair that a God of love would send a person to hell. But God doesn’t send anyone to hell. A person consigns himself there by rejecting Jesus Christ as his Savior: (Mat 12:31) "Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. You see the Bible says God is holy, just, and righteous and that He never changes (Mal 3:6). But He satisfied His own righteous demands against sin when He sent His Son to die on that cross. If a person accepts that remedy for sin then they will be saved. If not they will be damned. God’s love and justice both meet at the cross and are reconciled. (John 3:16) "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Is hell forever? (2 Th 1:9) These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. Yes, it is forever. Some have created the notion that there is an in-between state where a soul is decided upon. But that’s not true. A person must decide for Christ before they die. Satan’s greatest lie is that you’ll have time for Jesus later so don’t worry about getting serious now. But the Bible says NOW is the day of salvation! (2 Cor 6:2). Don’t leave earth without Jesus! Meet Him as your Savior…not as your Judge! (Phil 2:10-11) that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

For Christians, the only hell we’ll ever experience are the fires of tribulation here on earth. And for the non-believer, the only heaven they will ever experience is the good times here on earth. Afterward there will be the great reversal of things (see Luke 16:19-31). This should be an encouragement for the believer to keep pressing on and for the non-Christian to accept Christ!

(Deu 30:19)…I have set before you life and death… therefore choose life, that…you…may live…!

Louie

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

KENDRA SINGS AMAZING GRACE AT HER SCHOOL TALENT SHOW

Watch Kendra glorify the Lord with her God-given talent. Way to go Kendra!!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

JEREMY AND SARAH PLAN FOR THE MISSION FIELD

This morning Jeremy and Sarah Britton announced their leaving for the mission field the end of March. They have been serving our Youth here at CCNorco for years and will be missed. They will be "homeland" missionaries serving in Julian, CA. They will be serving in ministry to youth at Camp Alandale. Camp Alandale is a Christian camp which ministers to abused and neglected children through a mountain camping program. They will live on the camp premises and Sarah will home school Luke and Allison.

We will miss the Britton family. Well done Jeremy and Sarah!

(Isa 43:19) Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? ...

Jason Davitt will take over the Youth ministry. And Jose Mendoza will teach Jason's Wednesday evening Bible study.

Changes are hard...but good! God's stirring things up. I'm excited for the future!!