Dear FCC Family & Friends,
By the way, if I haven’t told you lately - I serve the greatest congregation west of the Mississippi!
During the last few weeks Michelle, the kids and myself have had a blast entertaining out-of-state family members. It’s been fun playing the role of tour guides, showing off the spectacular place the Lord allows us to minister. Of highest joy has been the honor of introducing them to you – our California kin. They thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and seeing firsthand why we rave about FCC and our little corner of the planet.
Earlier this week I took my niece Brittaney to San Francisco to Haight-Ashbury, a place she had studied recently in college. We found it to be quite groovy and far-out man! After checking out a few more places together, we started to smell something other than sourdough bread in the air – my clutch burning. Although we loved the many city hills, my little VW didn’t!
After allowing it to cool down a bit we started the trek back to Fairfield. On the Bay Bridge (of all places!) the car began to die and lose all forward momentum. Did I mention that we were in the far left-hand lane in rush hour traffic?! It’s amazing how zealous a prayer-life can become in such circumstances. I didn’t want my sweet young niece to worry, so I Kung-Fu gripped the steering wheel and ‘had a little talk with Jesus’ hoping He’d make it right. He did! By His loving kindness we got across many lanes onto the shoulder of the freeway before losing all power to move. Just a few hours earlier we had been laughing at Nehru jackets in store-fronts while devouring ‘Cherry Garcias’ in sugar cones, now we were stuck. My car had unexpectedly become a German-engineered paper weight!
It’s funny how the combination of proper perspective and God’s people make all the difference. Brittaney and I made the best of it. We had purchased a couple of bags of mini-doughnuts at Fisherman’s Wharf and quickly figured that if we each ate one a day, we could last through July! We laughed and made the best of it because we took an eternal perspective on things. Friends, in five million years when I’m just as alive as ever, a worn clutch will be a non-issue! Think about it.
Next, as mentioned, God’s people rallied and came through. I felt terrible calling anybody the first night of VBS. Being the loving, compassionate and resourceful one, our elder Mike Kleeman quickly attained a car dolly and he and his son Andrew came to the rescue. What a relief! Their attitudes were stellar as they worked efficiently in tandem to get us back on the road – towed, but on the road. Since then, several other FCC family members have offered mechanical advice and have even offered their own vehicles until the repair is completed. Wow, what a church!
In closing, as I mention frequently from the platform - we are not a perfect church. We are comprised of highly fallible people, who over the course of time predictably disappoint each other in one way or another. Our leaders likewise are not perfect. We’re human. We’re fallen. We’re a rag-tag lot who most likely cause our Father to do a whole lot of head-wagging. However, one thing I know – we’re sincere in our efforts to love God and others in ever-increasing ways. Wasn’t it Jesus who told us that it is by our “love” that the world would see our authenticity and take notice? Friends, perfection we lack. Love we’ve got!
In the Fight,
Steve
Friday, July 20, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Pastor's Perspective - A Real Place?
Dear FCC Family & Friends,
Do you believe in a place called Hell?
In recent months Carlton Pearson, a prominent mega-church pastor in “Tulsa-rusalem” denounced the very existence of Hell; and in the process lost most of his members, his credibility and a stellar reputation. According to Pearson, a crisis of faith occurred when he could not reconcile a merciful God with a customized place of torture for unbelievers. He eventually denied the infallibility of the Bible and now views it as a book by primitive men about God, filled with mistranslations, political agendas, pagan leanings and human emotions. According to an ABC News report, Pearson states that people who believe in Hell create it for themselves and others. “People who believe in devils and demons become that in consciousness and they act it out.”
So, what do you believe? Consider the following.
According to Hank Hanegraaff, Jesus of Nazareth spent more time talking about Hell than He did about Heaven. In His infamous Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) He warned about the dangers of Hell a half a dozen times. In His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25) He repeatedly warned against the judgment to come. In His famous story of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16), He graphically portrayed Hell as a real place of unspeakable torment.
The whole idea of choice demands that we believe in Hell. Without Hell, there is no choice. And without choice, Heaven would not be Heaven.
Common sense tells us much about the reality of such an agonizing place. Without Hell the wrongs of murderers and tyrants would never be righted. Even ancient people knew this! David knew that for a time the wicked might appear to be getting away with it, but in the end the God of justice would prevail.
Lastly, if there is no Hell, there is no need for a Savior. Why would God Himself submit to the most agonizing torturous death for no reason? Without Hell there is no need for salvation. Without salvation, there is no need for a sacrifice. And without sacrifice, there is no need for a Savior.
Jesus used the worst place imaginable, Jerusalem’s stench-ridden burning dump, to describe and compare Hell – a place never created for people, but instead for the devil and his angels. People who go there will go there by their choice – not God’s! A bloody cross proves that point.
So, what do you believe?
Friends, Jesus lived a real sinless life, laid down His life on a real cross and died for our real sins; and three days later walked out of a real grave, so, you and I wouldn’t have to ever enter a real Hell, but instead enjoy a real indescribable eternity with God. Really!
To quote an ugly preacher I saw in the mirror this morning – “It’s dumb to go to Hell!”
In the Fight,
Steve
Do you believe in a place called Hell?
In recent months Carlton Pearson, a prominent mega-church pastor in “Tulsa-rusalem” denounced the very existence of Hell; and in the process lost most of his members, his credibility and a stellar reputation. According to Pearson, a crisis of faith occurred when he could not reconcile a merciful God with a customized place of torture for unbelievers. He eventually denied the infallibility of the Bible and now views it as a book by primitive men about God, filled with mistranslations, political agendas, pagan leanings and human emotions. According to an ABC News report, Pearson states that people who believe in Hell create it for themselves and others. “People who believe in devils and demons become that in consciousness and they act it out.”
So, what do you believe? Consider the following.
According to Hank Hanegraaff, Jesus of Nazareth spent more time talking about Hell than He did about Heaven. In His infamous Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) He warned about the dangers of Hell a half a dozen times. In His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25) He repeatedly warned against the judgment to come. In His famous story of Lazarus and the Rich Man (Luke 16), He graphically portrayed Hell as a real place of unspeakable torment.
The whole idea of choice demands that we believe in Hell. Without Hell, there is no choice. And without choice, Heaven would not be Heaven.
Common sense tells us much about the reality of such an agonizing place. Without Hell the wrongs of murderers and tyrants would never be righted. Even ancient people knew this! David knew that for a time the wicked might appear to be getting away with it, but in the end the God of justice would prevail.
Lastly, if there is no Hell, there is no need for a Savior. Why would God Himself submit to the most agonizing torturous death for no reason? Without Hell there is no need for salvation. Without salvation, there is no need for a sacrifice. And without sacrifice, there is no need for a Savior.
Jesus used the worst place imaginable, Jerusalem’s stench-ridden burning dump, to describe and compare Hell – a place never created for people, but instead for the devil and his angels. People who go there will go there by their choice – not God’s! A bloody cross proves that point.
So, what do you believe?
Friends, Jesus lived a real sinless life, laid down His life on a real cross and died for our real sins; and three days later walked out of a real grave, so, you and I wouldn’t have to ever enter a real Hell, but instead enjoy a real indescribable eternity with God. Really!
To quote an ugly preacher I saw in the mirror this morning – “It’s dumb to go to Hell!”
In the Fight,
Steve
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