Yesterday (FRI) we flew from Edinburgh, Scotland to Manchester, England. We rented a car and drove 2 hours to York, England where Lindsay is going to Calvary Chapel Bible College for the Spring semester.
Today we woke up and went into the city of York and after getting lost we finally found the Bible college! Lindsay saw her dorm room and met one of her roommates. She is in a small room with 5 girls!
We then toured the city of York. First we saw the York Minster. It's an old cathedral that is the main tourist attraction. Then we walked around City Centre with all the crowd of tourists and shopped and ate. It was a great day. Tomorrow we attend Calvary Chapel York on the same site as the Bible college so we won't get lost!
Last night (TH) we had dinner at Scott and Patti's house (our GO! missionaries). Scott made lasagne because the night previous Lindsay wanted lasagne but the restaurant said they were not serving it even though it was on the menu. (Gal 5:22) But the fruit of the Spirit is...kindness...
After dinner we met pastor Ken Scott and his wife Evie. They have been serving the Lord at Calvary Chapel Dunfermline, Scotland for 8 years. Then people started arriving for midweek study which meets in the home. What a great group of believers who love Jesus. Patti asked me to lead worship with her so it was a joy to play guitar and hear the Scottish brethren sing to the Lord. (Psa 96:1) Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. People shared their testimonies, there was scripture reading, and then we sang some more. I was asked to share about GO! Ministries. Afterward we stood around and drank tea and had some goodies and continued to fellowship until it got late.
HERE'S THE GROUP PRAYING AND SEEKING THE LORD
PASTOR KEN SCOTT SHARING WITH A COUPLE
My impression was that the Christians in Scotland are so hungry for good Bible teaching. They are so grateful for a Calvary Chapel type church in their city. (Mat 5:6) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. We are blessed beysond measure in the States. (Luke 12:48) ... to whom much is given, from him much will be required...
(Psa 100:1) Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Yesterday (WED) we had an awesome and full day. We enjoyed our B&B (Bed and Breakfast) 6 miles out of town so it was country-like. Had a traditional English breakfast.
CHERYL OUTSIDE THE B&B
HERE'S A VIDEO OF THE BED & BREAKFAST GROUNDS
SCOTT AND PATTI WORTH
We then spent the day with Scott and Patti Worth. They are GO! missionaries serving the Lord in Dunfermline, Scotland. We went to their house, had some tea and shortbread, then drove out to see Stirling Castle. Then we had a great dinner nearby the castle and ordered Shepherd's pie.
MONTEITH'S OUTSIDE STIRLING CASTLE
PANORAMIC VIDEO OF STIRLING CASTLE
SCOTT AND DANIELLE KEY
Then we went out to Shotts, Scotland to see our GO! missionaries Scott and Danielle Key and their 10 month old baby Jedidiah. They have a church and oversee a Youth Group and are involved in outreach to the community. It was a great day and we sure slept good last night!
Hi everyone. The Monteiths are in Scotland. Why are we in Scotland in January? For the sunshine of course! Ha ha!! Well, Lindsay is going to study at the Calvary Chapel York, England Bible school extension campus. So we thought that we would accompany her and on the way visit our GO! missionaries in Scotland. We flew into Edinburgh yesterday and will hang out with Scott and Patti Worth today who serve at Calvary Chapel Dunfermline. I'll post more pics of our trip so I invite you to keep coming back to view them. Thanks for your prayers!!
(Psa 67:7) God shall bless us, And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
Okay, so this is a statue of John Knox, the great reformer of Scotland. He preached uncompromisingly and even challenged Mary queen of Scots to follow the Lord. We are in St. Giles church in Edinburgh where he preached.
This is the John Knox house just about 1/4 mile from St. Giles. Knox lived here the last 18 months of his life.
Okay, I know this is weird but Kelsey wanted me to put this robe and hat on and act like John Knox writing.
Inside St. Giles is a stain glass window of a scene from the gospels of Jesus preaching. At the bottom it says that it was dedicated to a certain Duncan Monteith by his two daughters. (Monteith is a Scottish name from the Graham clan. My great-grandfather came over from Scotland to the U.S. through Ellis island. The family made their way to Wisconsin and then to Los Angeles.)
Are you arguing with you spouse? Here's some scriptures to meditate on:
(Prov 15:1) A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
(Gal 5:22-23) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, {23} gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
(James 1:19) So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
(1 Cor 13:4-8) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; {5} does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; {6} does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; {7} bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. {8} Love never fails...
This quote is humorous only because it so close to the truth. "My husband and I divorced over religious differences. He thought he was God and I didn't!"
WHAT MAKES A GOOD MARRIAGE?
Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth. (Proverbs 5:18)
FOUNDATION - You need to have a good foundation for your house to stand upon (Mat. 7:24-27). What are you as a couple building your relationship on? Money? Career? Material things? If Jesus is the Lord of your lives then no matter the storms of life, your house will stand because He is the Rock! (1 Cor. 10:4) Any other foundation is sand and won't hold up when the testings of life come. Be like Joshua who said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" (Joshua 24:15) Then when difficulties come it will only strengthen your marriage instead of sink it. Pray together. Read the Word together. Attend church together. Serve the Lord together. A three-fold cord cannot be easily broken . . . you, your spouse, and Jesus! (Eccl. 412).
CULTIVATION - A good marriage is where both in the relationship strive to out-serve each other. You'll be thinking about that person and wanting to bless them. It's like cultivating a garden. When you give it water and sunshine and a lot of attention you will see the wonderful results. When you neglect a garden you'll get a pitiful harvest. Are you nurturing your mate? Are you spoiling him or her? Are there problems due to inattention and neglect? It's time to do what Jesus said and that's to be a servant of all! (Mark 9:35)
COMMUNICATION - Most couples need help in this area. It's so important. It'll make or break you. It is essential to a strong and vibrant marriage. How necessary it is to spend time with each other and to communicate, share your heart, as well as transfer important information. It takes a lot of time and work. You'll need to put other priorities aside until this one is in place. It will keep you on the same page and progressing on a united front. If you don't communicate, you'll argue a lot and have a lot of tension and hurt feelings. That can all be avoided! God has communicated through His Son and through His Word and look at the benefits we have received! When we take time to communicate we create such a beautiful atmosphere of unity. (Psa 133:1) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
May the Lord strengthen our marriages through His Word and His apage love (1 Cor. 13) so we can enjoy marriage the way God intended!
(1 Th 5:22) Abstain from all appearance of evil. (KJV)
Sometimes we think our sin will only affect us. Wrong! Once it is exposed it may affect many people. Not only might we stumble a believer, we may also give the non-believer an excuse not to follow the Lord.
David sinned privately with Bathsheba but when it hit the fan the news went out everywhere. Listen to what the prophet Nathan told David: (2 Sam 12:14) "However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die." David never thought his sin would affect so many people. Other nations at war with Israel would characterize David and God’s people no better than they. As they would blaspheme the Lord it would also give them an excuse for their sin.
Later in history Israel would backslide and be a bad example of a nation that knows the Lord. Listen to God’s heart through the prophet Ezekiel on this: (Ezek 36:23) "And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD…
We surely don’t want to stumble anyone by our compromise and hypocrisy. (Mat 18:6) "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. As Christians we are supposed to give people reason to come to Christ…not to walk away from Him by our bad example.
Are you doing anything that might stumble someone? You say no one knows your private life but what if it was all to come out? And what about your public life? As people look at your life and conduct are they drawn to the Lord or are they repelled from Him?
People watch what we do. How are we supposed to be? (1 Pet 2:9) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Does your life glorify the Lord? The things you read. The stuff on your computer. Where you went last weekend. Are you still partying? Do you go to the bar? Do you cheat at work? Use profanity? Do you dress provocatively? Are you having premarital sex? What about your TV and movie viewing? Am I getting too personal? Does your public life match your private life…your private life your public life? You will be held accountable for how you maintained your witness for Christ. Give people an excuse for following the Lord. THE WORLD IS WATCHING!
Here is the video of the prayer pastor Rick Warren prayed at the inauguration today. He quotes scripture and prays in the name of Jesus!
Inauguration Prayer for President Barack Obama by Pastor Rick Warren
Almighty God, our Father:
Everything we see, and everything we can’t see, exists because of you alone.
It all comes from you, it all belongs to you, it all exists for your glory.
History is your story.
The Scripture tells us, "Hear, O Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is one." And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.
Now today we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time, we celebrate a hinge point of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States.
We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where a son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.
Give to our new president, Barack Obama,
the wisdom to lead us with humility,
the courage to lead us with integrity,
the compassion to lead us with generosity.
Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the Cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.
Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans--united not by race or religion or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all.
When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you--forgive us.
When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone--forgive us.
When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve--forgive us.
And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes—even when we differ.
Help us to share, to serve, and to seek the common good of all.
May all people of good will today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy, and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet.
And may we never forget that one day, all nations--and all people--will stand accountable before you.
We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle, and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.
I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life—Yeshua, 'Isa, Jesus [Spanish pronunciation], Jesus—who taught us to pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,
for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
(2 Ki 20:5) . . . "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you . . .
My precious child . . . I see your tears. I see the agony of your soul. I understand the bitter cry of your heart and have come to comfort you. There have been times when you have cried alone, pouring out your grief until you could weep no more. There have been times your eyes have been dry but your heart was weeping . . . and groaning . . . and bleeding. Your tears have been for the oppression of your spirit. Your agony has been for the pain of a loved one. Your anguish has been over an unexpected loss that has left you numb and lifeless.
I have cried. I have grieved over a world that I have created but has rejected Me. I have lamented over the death of each soul that has rejected My free gift of grace and chosen to suffer the eternal consequences of their choices. I have cried over a city that did not recognize Me in My coming when I only wanted to gather them and nurture them with My salvation. I wept in the garden with the dark shadow of Calvary looming over My soul. I cried to My Father when dying on the cross for all of humanity. I know tears . . . and I know yours.
Each tear you have shed has not been in vain. I have collected each drop and have put them in My bottle and recorded them in My book. Each tear has been the dew that will cause each seed of promise to grow in due time. I have invested your tears in my compassion and in an expected time your sowing in tears will reap in joy. Your mourning will turn into the dance of the redeemed! I will deliver your soul from death and your eyes from tears. Refrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded, says the Lord!
My coming is soon. I will rescue you from this world of pain and sorrow. And I will have the privilege of wiping that last tear from your eye as I will comfort you forever and rejoice over you in My love. There shall be no more tears, no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things will have passed away. Now rest in my love and in the comfort of my Spirit. Times of refreshing will now be coming from My presence to nurture your weary soul and heal your broken heart.
Last night we had two GO! missionaries share at the midweek study. They came to the Mission's Conference last week in Murrieta and were still around so I invited them to give us an update on their ministry.
This is Keith Fortenberry serving the Lord in Germany. The Lord is calling him from teaching at the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Siegen to pastor a church in Heidelberg. My family and I were able to visit him last summer.
This pic shows Louie and Keith hanging out in Germany in August.
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Mike Gaude shared next. He's serving the Lord in Nicaragua. He oversees a radio station that beams the gospel out to thousands. He is married and has a baby boy that he can't wait to see when he goes back!
Here's a pic of Mike at Radio Emmanuel in Nicaragua.
(Isa 52:7) How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
Let's keep praying for our Christian soldiers on the mission field!
(Rev 11:15) Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!"
How exciting to see the inauguration of a new president. We usually stop what we are doing and tune in to see history in the making. It’s time for new leadership. “Out with the old and in with the new!” A fresh new start for our country. There is a feeling of a new era being ushered in.
One of these days Jesus will reign in His kingdom. You see He came as God’s Son to die for our sins. He rose again and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He is the anointed King but has yet to claim His right over the earth. What is He waiting for? He’s waiting for that time of the Father and for that last soul to be saved. When the time is right He will come for His bride and take us home for the marriage supper of the Lamb! Then after the Tribulation He will come and wipe out His enemies and establish His rule upon the earth. You and I will rule and reign with Him! I can’t wait!
Yes, it’s all taking time. Think about it. God created Adam and he soon rebelled. The earth was given over to Satan’s rule where sin now prevails. Satan is the prince of the power of the air. But Jesus came and defeated him at the cross. The Lord is so patient for the harvest of the earth that He allows the evil to mix with the good so mankind can come to a relationship with Him. But soon it will all be over and Jesus will take His rightful position as Sovereign over the earth. (Maranatha…Lord Jesus come!) All rebellion will be put down and Satan will be apprehended permanently.
Satan tried to thwart God’s plan by offering the kingdoms of the earth to Jesus at His temptation (Mat 4:8-10) Jesus resisted that offer and chose to go to the cross instead. Through His blood He has redeemed mankind and by His resurrection He now stands victorious over sin and death. Soon Christ (the Messiah …the anointed one) will rule from His throne and all will be His subjects. Righteousness and justice will be the foundation of His throne and the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (Hab 2:14)
What do we do until then? Let’s let Him reign in our hearts! (Rom 5:21) Let’s persevere in trial for…if we endure, we shall also reign with Him….(2 Tim 2:12) Not only in the thousand year millennium (Rev 20: 6) but throughout eternity (Rev 22:5). Inauguration Day will soon be here!
(Rev 19:6) And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!
Joshua Dean shared at the Sunday morning services about his family's move to Tokyo, Japan. The Deans have been serving in Okinawa but due to health needs are moving to the Tokyo area. Afterwards we prayed for the family. Listen to Joshua's brief but upbeat update.
Here is the Praise Band with Joshua playing Djembe and Regina singing. What a treat to have them here as soon they will be back in Japan!!
Here's a little view of the Calvary Chapel Mission's Conference. It's the last song of the last meeting yesterday. It's a song by Scott Cuninngham entitled "Til The Whole World Hears." We're all excited to go back to our areas of service.
Here's a video of Scott Cunningham singing Til the Whole Word hears. You'll be inspired to share your faith in Jesus!
(Mark 16:15) And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
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Here's the lyrics to the song:
‘Till The Whole World Hears By Scott Cunningham
For we know that You and You alone are God who saves And our hope is in the promises that You have made For young and old who’ll bow the knee and call Your name We’ll rise and pray, we’ll rise and pray
Oh Lord we pray that you would send the laborers For the harvest truly is awaiting gatherers The world is dying without our Deliverer We’ll rise and pray, we’ll rise and pray
Chorus ‘Till the whole world hears ‘till the whole world knows Lord send us where You would have us go ‘Till the lost world hears ‘till the last one knows The grace of God, the love that You have shown ‘Till the whole world hears
Oh rise up Christian, stand, you are victorious For we know that He has made us more than conquerors The enemy, he has no power over us We’ll rise and pray, we’ll rise and pray
Oh stir us up, and burn the fire, and fan the flames With a passion just to follow You and preach Your name Oh Lord that You would rise and work within our days We’ll rise and pray, We’ll rise and pray
We’ll live by faith We want to live by faith in Jesus The just shall live by faith We want to live by faith, we want to live by faith
Last night we had Beth Stewart share at the midweek service. She is one of our GO! missionaries serving in Abuja, Nigeria. She was at the Mission's Conference so we asked her to come and share before she went home to Yuma, Arizona. She graduated from the University of Arizona and was a school teacher and then the Lord called her to Africa. She shared how she serves in third world conditions. She never liked camping but her life is so much like being a camper. She even found herself close to danger during the elections recently but the Lord protected her. Another modern day hero of the faith. Let's continue to pray for our missionaries!
(2 Tim 2:3) You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
Chuck Stewart (her dad) then shared the Bible study from Galatians 1. He pastors Calvary Chapel Yuma, Arizona. We've gone to Israel with him twice. His wife Mary was with him. He's a great brother in the Lord and a fantastic and encouraging Bible teacher.
(Eph 4:11-12) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, {12} for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
(2 Cor 8:14) but by an equality…your abundance may supply their lack…
Everybody loves a win-win situation. You know, when there is a course of action that is advantageous to all parties involved. Someone has a proposition and you just have to adopt it because so many will benefit from it. No one is a loser. Everybody goes home happy.
A family wants to take a vacation. Half want to relax on a paradise beach. The other half wants to snow ski. They wrestle with give and take until they find out you can ski in Hawaii! I remember back when I was the principal of a Christian school that was an outreach of the church. We needed a playground for the students. It was going to take time and cost money. I submitted it to the church board and it was quickly approved. Why? Because it was a win-win situation. Now the Sunday school kids would have also have a place to play.
I have a proposition for you. How would you like to be a part of an ongoing win-win situation? Are you ready to put a smile on everybody’s face…including yours? This is going to benefit others and you too will reap incredible rewards. Ready for it? Okay…here goes:
Start putting money aside to support the missionaries. We have so much abundance and they go without more than you know. We spend so much money on extras while the missionary is trying to reach the level of basic needs. How do we solve this inequality? Here is my suggestion. Start pulling back on the treats and the goodies. Instead of Starbucks every day how about every other day? Instead of that junk-food meal why not pack a lunch that day? Instead of buying that luxury item on impulse why not give yourself a reason not to buy it? Pocket the money you would of spent and at the end of the month make a contribution to a missionary of your choice.
Where’s the win-win in all that? Well, you would have saved money and at the same time prospered a servant of the Lord. You might also benefit physically. Let’s call it the “Missionary Diet.” You are slimming down and at the same time fattening a missionary!
I challenge you and your family to do this this year. When your kids say they want a happy meal tell them you are going to go home and cook and make a missionary happy. When you are craving a Starbucks remember that that Starbuck can be bucks for the hard working Christian worker. You can’t out give the Lord! (Luke 6:38)
God sent His Son to redeem mankind. We love Him because He first loved us. God creates a win-win situation. We can too. We can bless others, be blessed ourselves, and bless the Lord!
Wow! You've got to watch these videos and then pray for the many Muslims across the world to come to Jesus Christ!
(2 Cor 4:4) whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Today was the first day of the Calvary Chapel Mission's Conference in Murrieta. Missionaries come from all over the world for four days of teaching and encouragement. Cheryl and I are attending together as well as Linda and Gracie from GO! Ministries. Many of the GO! missionaries are in attendance and it's great seeing them and getting caught up with them.
This is the theme of the conference.
This if Phil Pechonis speaking. He is one of our GO! missionaries serving in England.
Gracie and Linda
GO! missionaries Rick and Cindy Johnston. They are on their way to N. Ireland in March.
Hear Phil Pechonis give a good word to the missionaries.
(Isa 11:1-2) There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots. {2} The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him...
This morning we talked about Jesus being the Branch and how we should branch out into all that God has for us in the new year. We talked about taking risks this year instead of playing it safe.
Are you branching out into all God has for you? This new year is the time to do it! Take the risk and see what God will do!
(Judg 9:17) "for my father (Gideon) fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
(Acts 15:25-26) it seemed good to us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, {26} men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Have you been wanting to read the Bible more consistently but sometimes lack the drive or just don't know where to read? Then let me suggest reading the Bible through in a year. Here's a handy chart that will tell you where to read each day. You can print it out and put it in your Bible.
We put the chart out on the back table of the church in January and encourage anyone who has the desire to join us in our through the Bible in a year journey. It averages three chapters a day and takes about ten minutes. Just think, in the whole year you would have read the Bible through!
(Psa 119:105) Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
We also have the chapters come up automatically on our webpage if you're at work or home and you don't have your Bible handy. Click here for that handy resource and enjoy the Word of God like never before!
Last night the New Year's Service was a very special time in the Lord. We worshipped with the Praise Band, had special music with Mike Campbell and Ashlely Bezansky, had a time of open sharing giving God glory for the things He's done in the past year, special music with Mandy Campbell, a time of prayer, a message from Jason Davitt, and then communion to bring in the New Year. The fellowship went on for a long time after as we were in the glow of the Spirit!
(2 Cor 5:17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
My wife Cheryl and I are missionaries to missionaries. We encourage servants of the Lord to keep on in their calling and to never give up. 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
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This is the theme of the conference.
The Praise Band!