Thursday, October 29, 2009

MY DAD IS NOW WITH JESUS


Just a quick note to say my dad passed away yesterday (WED October 28). He is now in the presence of the Lord!
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(Psa 16:11) You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
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Here is his navy pic from WW2. He was also a good soldier in the Lord!
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(2 Tim 4:7-8) I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. {8} Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
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Thanks for all your prayers for our family.
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We love you and miss you all!
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Friday, October 23, 2009

A FUNNY FROM ACTS 2:38


A woman had just returned to her home from an evening of church services, when she was startled by an intruder. She caught the man in the act of robbing her home of its valuables and yelled: "Stop! Acts 2:38!' (Repent and be Baptized, in the name of Jesus Christ , so that your sins may be forgiven.) The burglar stopped in his tracks. The woman calmly called the police and explained what she had done. As the officer cuffed the man to take him in, he asked the burglar: ' Why did you just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a scripture to you.' 'Scripture?' replied the burglar. 'She said she had an Ax and Two 38s!' Knowing scripture can save your life - in more ways than one!


John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

HALLOWEEN OR HALLELUJAH?



SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

HALLOWEEN OR HALLELUJAH?

(1 Th 5:5) You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

Many Christians have questions regarding Halloween. Should Christians decorate their houses in this theme? Should we send our kids out trick-or-treating? Wow, what a loaded question! But let me give you some things to think about:

- Each Christian must make their own decision on how to celebrate any festive day whether it be Halloween, Christmas, Easter, etc. And we shouldn’t judge each other on this decision. Listen to the apostle Paul on this: One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. (Rom 14:5)

- We must ask ourselves, “Does it glorify God?” Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.(1 Cor 10:31)

- In regards to Halloween, we must keep in mind the scriptural prohibition of any kind of practice (and I might add symbolism) of witchcraft. (Deuteronomy 18:9-14)

- The Bible says we are sons of the light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Jesus is the Light and we are to shine His glory. We are to cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of the light. (Romans 13:12)

- Remember we have the Holy Spirit, not the unholy spirit represented in symbols of a devil, a witch, or a ghost. True power is from the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) and we don’t need to be tapping into or even flirting with the power of darkness.

- Christians are into the theme of life, not death. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:23)

I hope this helps you to think along the lines of a transformed mind (Romans 12:2). Be led by His Spirit in all you do for yourself and for your children. Ask God for wisdom in all your decisions in regards to your family celebrations and plans. And remember, you are a child of the light!

Louie


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Saturday, October 17, 2009

PRAISE IN THE PARK

We had a special time of Praise In The Park in Norco on Saturday. The praise bands of Calvary Chapel Norco, Corona Valley Friends Church, and Calvary Chapel Living Water came together to lead us all in worship. The pastors from each church followed with a devotion from the Word on the topic of "What Is Worship?" It was great to be together with fellow believers from other churches and to just praise the Lord!
=====CALVARY CHAPEL NORCO PRAISE BAND WITH ANDREA KOLSCH FROM GERMANY
===== RAISE THAT PRAISE...HE IS WORTHY!
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CORONA VALLEY FRIENDS CHURCH PRAISE BAND
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WORSHIP IS PARTICIPATION...NOT ENTERTAINMENT!
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CALVARY CHAPEL LIVING WATER CORONA PRAISE BAND
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MICHAEL & ASHLEY CAMPBELL
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(Psa 34:3) Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
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Wednesday, October 14, 2009

VAMPIRES




SHEPHERD TO SHEEP


VAMPIRES

(Lev 17:11) For the life of the flesh is in the blood...

Vampires. It's the perennial craze. Legends of blood-drinking dead or demons have been around for ages. Bram Stoker in his book Dracula brought it up to the modern era when his novel was published in 1897. Then in 1931 the Dracula movie came out starring Bela Lugosi. Fascination with vampires have recently grown with the Goth movement and the very popular Twilight book series by Stephanie Meyer (and the follow up movies.) And don't forget Halloween will bring the ever so popular vampire right to your door as well as the adult parties.

Why all this fascination with these bloodthirsty creatures? For some it's just titillating. Biting a person's neck can be thrilling and chilling all at the same time. It's that scary stuff that makes up the essence of horror movies and gives you both a physical and an emotional rush. For others it's sensual. (Is that where the term "necking" came from?) And for some it's the gothic darkness of it that they enjoy. You know...dark sensuality, sweeping sadness, morbid fascination, forbidden love, the beauty of enduring pain. Many people lead unhappy, unachieved lives. And that's sad. Goth makes depression and angst a lifestyle choice, and that's art...all according to the goth way of looking at things.

The Bible talks a lot about blood. In fact I had an elderly man tell me one day, "Louie...the Bible is the bloodiest book there ever was." I thought his message was extreme until I looked into the Bible and found out it really is a bloody book. Think about it...Cain killed Abel and his blood cried from the ground (Gen 4:10). When Noah opens the ark door God laid down the requirement of blood for blood in capital punishment (Gen 9:6). The sacrificial offerings mentioned in the book of Leviticus are quite detailed (Lev 1-7). God told the Israelites to put the blood of the lamb over the doorposts of their dwellings so he would pass over them as he strikes the Egyptians (Exo 12:23). Many bloody wars were fought in the conquest of Canaan (book of Joshua). David fought as a man of war and was forbidden to build the Temple because he shed much blood (2 Chr 22:8). Well you can trace it pretty much all the way through the Old Testament.

In the New Testament we see John the Baptist crying out when he saw Jesus..."Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) Jesus spoke of eating His flesh and drinking His blood for eternal life (John 6:53-56). Jesus also made a new covenant in His blood at the last supper with his disciples as He instituted communion (Mat 26:26-28). Then the next day he was crucified and when the soldier poked His side water and blood came out (John 19:34). Paul wrote that we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins...(Eph 1:7). Peter also speaks about not being redeemed with silver or gold but by the precious blood of Christ (1 Pet 1:18-19). And of course the book of Hebrews speaks much about the blood of sacrifices...emphasizing that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Heb 9:22). The apostle John says the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). Up in heaven the Church is singing a new song saying...You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Rev 5:9). All the while blood is flowing down on the earth with the Tribulational judgments falling on the ungodly. But at the end Jesus is seen as the victor on the white horse...He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. (Rev 19:13).

A message to all vampire lovers...the life of the flesh is in the blood...the blood of Jesus Christ our Savior!

Louie

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

THE TEMPLE IS YOU


SHEPHERD TO SHEEP


THE TEMPLE IS YOU

The children of Israel were told to construct a Tabernacle whereby they could worship God in the wilderness and bring their sacrifices. God was very specific on how it should be built. It was portable and lasted all the way until the time of Solomon. (Exodus 25-40)

Let’s review the facts of Solomon’s temple. It was twice the size of the Tabernacle. It measured approximately 90 ft. long, 30 ft. broad, and 45 ft. high. It was not only larger but more elaborate than the previous Tabernacle. It had windows and floors that the Tabernacle didn’t have. It had more lampstands and tables. The walls were of cedar and the whole Temple was overlaid with gold. The cherubim above the ark were larger and so was the bronze altar in the inner courtyard. It had side rooms and movable carts. Before the entrance to the Holy place were two giant and ornate pillars with attached capitals. Solomon hired a master craftsman named Hiram. He was the best of the best and he knew his trade. And altogether it took Solomon seven years to finish the Temple. (1 Kings 5-9)

Whatever happened to the Temple? Solomon’s temple (sometimes called the First Temple) would be destroyed in 586 b.c. by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. It would be rebuilt by Zerubbabel in c. 536–515 b.c. when the Jews would return from their captivity. This Second Temple wouldn’t be as elaborate as the First Temple. But later this rebuilt Temple would be enhanced by Herod the Great, starting in 20 b.c., making it more glorious than ever. It would be called “Herod’s Temple” and it would be utterly destroyed in a.d. 70 by Roman soldiers under Titus. It says in the Bible that the Temple will be rebuilt by the Antichrist during the Tribulation (Dan. 9:27, Rev. 11:1-2). Then following, during Christ’s thousand year rule, there will be a special Messianic Temple (Eze 40-48). But when everything is over and we all get to heaven, there will be no Temple. Why? (Rev 21:22) But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

Did you notice how that presently there is no Temple in Jerusalem and hasn’t been for almost two millenniums? What does that mean? I believe it means that there is another emphasis that God wants to make in regards to the Temple. Today THE TEMPLE IS YOU! (1 Cor 6:19-20) Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? {20} For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

So let’s keep it holy and not defile it! (1 Cor 3:17) If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. Like Solomon, let’s dedicate our temple to Him! (Rom 12:1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Today the Temple is also US! (1 Pet 2:5-6) you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. {6} Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." The church is constructed not of bricks, but of believers! (Mat 18:20) "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." So let’s get together and praise the Lord! And may God be pleased to dwell with us and may the glory of the Lord rise among us!!
Solomon built a Temple. God builds a temple. And THE TEMPLE IS YOU!

Louie

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

ANDREA KOLSCH LEADS WORSHIP AT CCNORCO

Andrea Kolsch is from Germany and attends Calvary Chapel Siegen, Germany. My family and I met her this June in Mallorca, Spain at the Calvary Chapel Leadership Conference. She was leading worship and I felt led to invite her to come to our church and lead worship and then at Praise In The Park (Oct 17). She brought her friend Frauke (FROW - ker) also from Germany. They will be going to the different Calvary Chapel churches to lead worship while they are here. We had them over for lunch afterward to our house and then Andrea led worship at the Baptism.

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Psalms 149:1 Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints.

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Friday, October 2, 2009

CHRIS MILLS SHARES AT CCNORCO MIDWEEK SERVICE

Isaiah 6:8-9 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” And He said, “Go, and tell this people...

Last night Christopher Mills shared at our midweek study about his ministry in Thailand. Chris is a missionary from CCNorco. He gave us an update that included his first calling to Thailand up to the present. He shared a great video that included pics of the Karen refugees and their plight. Chris serves with an organization called "God's Kids" which reaches out practically to needy children in Thailand. He has learned the Thai language and even read a Bible verse which impressed us all with his abilities to speak this difficult-to-learn foreign language. Chris serves the Karen but is also growing in his love and ministry to the Thai people. He now is based in the Bangkok area and attends a Thai church there that is also interested in outreach.

Please keep Chris in your prayers. He will be visiting friends and churches through November when he returns to resume his ministry in Thailand.

Here are some pics of the ever affable and friendly Chris Mills: