Carll's Corner Community Fellowship

Share & Care - Counseling

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 14:28:00 +0000

As you connect with people to share your faith you will find some are in need of counseling. Here are some suggestions for care:

Foundations Christian Counseling out of Quinton Baptist Church

1-877-414-4673

office@foundchristcounsel.org

www.foundchristcounsel.org

Point of Contact: Eric Irizarry, M.S.

Counselor & Regional Rep

Online Therapists

Find the Best Therapists and Psychologists in Marlboro, NJ - Psychology Today

Share & Care

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 13:52:00 +0000

There are people around us will many needs. As you connect to share Jesus here are some Food Programs to help those in need.

ASCEND!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 02:35:00 +0000

Ascend!

When the Hebrew slaves were gathered at Mount Sinai, one of the covenant ordinances they agreed to was to celebrate three annual feasts: "Three times you shall keep a feast to Me in the year" (Exodus 23:14). The three feasts were the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering (Exodus 24:14-17). For four decades while the Hebrews were in the wilderness, the feasts were logistically "easy" since the Tabernacle was always with them.

When the nation moved into the Promised Land, keeping the feasts became more complicated since the nation was spread out geographically—the movable Tabernacle was replaced by the permanent Temple in Jerusalem. Therefore, three times each year the Jews had to journey to Jerusalem to "keep the feasts." Because Jerusalem was located on a mountain, the phrase "up to Jerusalem" became common (it occurs 28 times in Scripture). Therefore, "ascending to Jerusalem" was part of the life of every Jew.

As Jews journeyed to Jerusalem, they would sing psalms (songs) to celebrate their faith and prepare them for the joyous experiences of the festivals. It was a time filled with excitement and anticipation.

READ: Psalm 24 – Read it slowly; ponder on the key words. Re-read verses 3-5.

This psalm asks, “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?”

In my understanding, the psalmist is asking, “Who will decide to seek God? Who wants to abide in his presence?”

In verse 4 the psalmist answers that question by implying what is necessary to make this decision and experience what is desired.

In verse 5 the psalmist tells us about those who have made the decision to seek God and who have prepared themselves in this way – They will receive blessings from the LORD.

PRAY:

Tell the LORD that you love him and you desire to experience his presence in powerful ways this year.

Ask the LORD to impress upon you anything you need to do to prepare for these experiences.

Ask the LORD to show you his favor as you seek him.

10/1/2017 Message Notes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 13:59:00 +0000

10.1.2017 The ULTIMATE Advocate – 1 John 2:1-6

Introduction: Rich Nichols, director of the United Advocacy Group, talked about the work of an advocate. An advocate works on behalf of someone, to help with what is being required of them.

1 John -- Three themes in this letter – fellowship, truth and love. Touched on in Ch1; integrated in 2:1-6.

Here, in the first six verses of chapter two, John not only assures us that the demand of God's righteousness has been satisfied by the finished work of Jesus, but he also assures us that even when we sin, and we all do, God still loves us and has made provision to restore the fellowship that is hindered by sin.

Note 3 things John tells us about the work of Jesus, as an advocate, to make us righteous…

1.Jesus works to make us right with God – He is the advocate for our sin(s). (v1,2)

A.He clearly says in verse on that his purpose for writing is so that we will not sin. It is important to understand that he is not saying that we will live in sinless perfection.

The verb translated, "sin" is in the aorist tense. This tense speaks to a specific point and place in time. It is not ongoing action. The imperfect tense speaks of incomplete or ongoing action, but the aorist tense speaks of a one-time event or action.

John wants us to know… wants us to avoid even the smallest of things which would negatively impact the fellowship we have with God and with one another. So the grammatical clues clearly show us that he is not espousing a doctrine of sinless perfection, but then there is an instructional insight.

B.Look at the second part of verse one, "And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

John realizes that as Christians there are going to be times when we stumble and fall, when we step back into sin. And when we do, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

This is the personal advocacy of Christ. When we sin, and folks we do sin, God has provided a way for us to reconcile that fellowship, it is through Jesus Christ, who is the atoning sacrifice/payment/propitiation for our sins.

C. (v2) The word, "atoning sacrifice/propitiation" means appeasement or satisfaction. It means the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross satisfied the demands of God's justice. We are probably more familiar with the term "atonement.". Sin cannot go unpunished; on the cross Jesus paid the price for our sins, and if we, by faith, place our trust in what Jesus did on the cross, He will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Remember, John is writing to assure us that we have an advocate with the Father, who is Jesus. Because Jesus was perfect and without sin, He was an acceptable sacrifice for our sins and His sacrifice was sufficient to pay the price, not only for our sins, but for the sins of the whole world.

This is a most interesting passage because it says that Christ died for the sins of the whole world. This is not a message of universalism (which says that everyone will be saved)..., which is not consistent with the rest of scripture.

John 3:17-18 says: "For God did not send the Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned; but anyone who does not believe has been condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the One and only Son of God."

2.Jesus works to make us right with one another -- He relates to us for faithfulness and obedience. (v3,4)

Verse three can be translated like this, "By this are we knowing that we have come to know Him."

Classical Greek used two words which are translated into the English word "know." One word, "oida" speaks of knowledge which was gained by abstract learning. The other word, "ginosko" speaks of knowledge attained through personal experience.

In both instances here in verse 3, the word used is "ginosko," knowledge gained through personal experience. But there is a difference in how the words are used.

In the first instance the verb is in the present tense, which speaks to ongoing action. Thus, we are continuing to know, or we are knowing. What are we knowing? That we know Him. This second usage of the word is in the perfect tense which speaks of completed action.

This is of extreme importance. Don't miss what is being said here, "By this are we knowing that we have (completed action) come to know Him." This speaks to the certainty and finality of our salvation experience. We have come to know Him, it is a completed action. It's not going to be undone or redone, it is already done.

So, says John, there is something that shows us or demonstrates for us the reality that we have come to know Him. What is it?

One thing and one thing alone measures our faithfulness: Obedience.

The word translated, "keep," simply means to observe, or in this case, to obey.

How hard is this: If we say we have come to know Him but do not keep His commandments, we are liars and the truth is not in us.

Again, not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he that does the will of the Father.

There were those then, as there are those today, who claimed to be Christians. Loudly and boldly they professed to be Christians; but there was an inconsistency, a discrepancy or a contradiction between what they said and the way they lived.

Listen folks, Jesus said it clearly, by their fruits you shall know them. Simply claiming to be a Christian won't cut it. The measure of our faithfulness is obedience. If we are truly part of the faithful, if we are truly part of the family, if we are truly in fellowship with God, it will be evident in the lives we live. We will walk in obedience to Christ.

What I love about 1st John is that you don't have to be a biblical scholar to get what it is saying. It's so very simple. If you love Jesus you will keep His commandments. If you say you love Him but don't keep His commandments, you are a liar and the truth is not in you.

But, in contrast to the hypocrite who professes one thing and practices another, John goes on to tell us what our lives will look like if we keep the commandments of our Lord.

3.Jesus works for our maturity – He loves us to grow us. (v5,6)

There are always those who claim to have spiritual maturity, but do not. There will always be those who pretend to be grown up in Christ, but are not. So John says, here are two clear evidences of a mature Christian life.

Two evidences of maturity in our walk with God :

A. Completion of His love

Mature love manifests itself in obedience.

The context of this passage suggests that John is talking about the love we have for God. No doubt John recalled what he recorded Jesus saying in his gospel.

In John 14:15 Jesus says, "If you love Me, you will keep my commandments."

And in John 14:23 Jesus says, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; My father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."

What does it mean to love Jesus? I mean, do we love Him simply because He died to save us from our sins? Do we love Him simply because He is God? Or do we love Him because He first loved us and gave Himself for us? Do we love Him for who He is or because of what He has done?

The Greek employs the word "agape" here, which speaks of a selfless, others oriented kind of love. What this text is saying is that the person who loves Jesus like they should is no longer living for themselves, they have abandoned themselves, and they are living for Him and for Him alone.

How can we say that we love Him if we are not allowing Him to live His life through us? How can we claim to love Him with our lips if we demonstrate that we do not love Him with our lives?

Thus John says that if we really know Him, His love has been perfected in us. That is to say, it is lacking nothing, it has come full circle, accomplishing all it intended to accomplish and has changed us to the point that our lives are different than they were before.

And that's what He speaks about in verse 6…

B. Conduct of our life

This is how we know Him. The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:6

That is to say, we will live the way He lived, we will bear the mark of Christ in our lives to the degree that others will see our Savior in us. To "Abide in Him" is another way of saying that we have exchanged our life for His, that we have died to self and that He is living His life through us. If that is the case, then our lives will look like His life.

You see, to be like Jesus means that you'll have to take up your cross and follow Him... It means you'll have to deny yourself and do the will of the Father, regardless of the personal price. It means you'll have to say, not my will but thy will Lord. Being like Jesus means you'll have to love your enemies, to forgive those who trespass against you, to return kindness for evil and to pray for those who spitefully use you.

Many people want the glory of heaven but not the burden of obedience here on earth. They want the benefit of what Jesus did without the burden of living like He lived.

John makes it very clear. This is the way that you know that you know Him, if you love Him enough that your life has been changed so that you walk like He walked.

10/8/2017 Message Notes

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 13:57:00 +0000

10.8.2017 The Viewpoint – 2 Corinthians 2: 12-17

¹⁴But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. (repeat)

Define: a viewpoint is… a perspective; a position from which you look at something.

Oswald Chambers once wrote about this verse…”This verse is to be the VIEWPOINT of those who follow Jesus! We must strenuously maintain God’s point of view in every day, every way, in every bit. NO outside power can touch this point of view!”

*As we live out this point of view we are to God’s glory.

-This is our purpose, amidst the different challenges of life, to live it out by faith.

-We are not here “in God’s showroom,” like a car on display, to just sit around and look pretty, BUT we are here to exhibit captivity to Christ, living out our faith amidst the struggles of life, to impact the world in a Jesus way.

CONTEXT: (2 Corinthians 2) – This isn’t Paul’s 2^nd letter to them… He had written them and visited them a few times before to encourage, disciple and straighten out their problems.

Chapter 1- He had problems in Asia and was in fear of death, but he learned to trust in God, and God delivered him.

He was going to visit them in Corinth, but the Holy Spirit led him in another direction.

Problems in Corinth he addresses

*To this context he writes the encouragement of verse 2:14

THREE OBSERVATIONS:

1.Words such as VICTORY and TRIUMPH presume a conflict.

As we live out faith, we are in a conflict!

- Sometimes we battle with the world; sometimes the flesh;Sometimes the forces of evil. Paul wrote to the Ephesians…We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with powers and principalities in the spiritual realm…

- Any child of God recognizes this

- Paul’s testimony in Romans 7… “Sometimes I do what I do not want to do; sometimes I do what I hate… It’s the sin living in me.”

2.There are reasons it’s hard to live a life of victory.

-Some don’t put up much of a fight. They live defeated because they don’t claim/live out their victory.

-Some accept the lies of the faithless world… Instead of hoping, believing the promises of God.

-The Bible says, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you!”

3.While some don’t seem so triumphal, others always seem to live victoriously.

Here Paul says God does it – “causes us to triumph”

In 1 Corinthians 15 he says -- “through Jesus Christ our Lord”

*The key is found in abiding in Christ -- believing that Jesus works in us and through us to make it happen

-Abide in Christ through prayer, insights found when studying God’s Word, through the fellowship of believers

TAKE HOME:

To maintain a victorious VIEWPOINT…

1.Recognize – Look to see/identify the battles, then understand from God how to procede

Ill: Team Talk – I always listen to the guys I coach… Their problems and concerns about life. On Friday they began to ask me questions about the Bible – God was working in their lives!

2.Battle – Fight the enemy – know the enemy and understand how to battle

Ill: Luncheon (help) – amidst the battle with my busyness and circumstances, God sent a friend to help

Ill: Bridgeton Police Substation – a mobile Police Station that can go to area hotspots, to address criminal activity

3.Hope – Live by faith with the certainty of victory

Ill: Baseball playoffs – Last night Bryce Harper brings back Washington for the win, at the end!

*perseverance is the key – keep battling AND believing… There IS victory in Jesus!!!

Seabrook Christmas Party

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 14:43:00 +0000

The Seabrook Christmas Party attracted about 80 people out to celebrate. Dave shared God's word and everyone ate to their full. Donna cooked 2 turkey's and their was lots of fried chicken.

Worship at the barn

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 14:37:00 +0000

On Saturday, January 2, Eric and his family held a Hymn Sing at their farm, in memory of their grandparents and the heritage of faith that has blessed them. People came from throughout the area, packing the barn with excitement. Dave showed up with some of his Seabrook group.

Washington Post Article

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 23:54:00 +0000

This Washington Post Article is very thought provoking. Read it and let me know what you think. Email me at 3cf.mail@gmail.com

The 15 ailments of the Vatican Curia, according to Pope Francis

On Monday, Pope Francis addressed the Vatican’s governing leadership — better known as the Roman Curia — for his yearly Christmas greeting witha very noticeably un-festive tone. In his remarks, the Pope listed 15 spiritual “ailments” encountered in the Curia, and urged the bureaucratic leadership to renew its effort to heal itself as Christmas approaches.

“The Curia is always required to better itself and to grow in communion, sanctity and wisdom to fully accomplish its mission,” Pope Francis said. “However, like any body, it is exposed to sickness, malfunction and infirmity. … I would like to mention some of these illnesses that we encounter most frequently in our life in the Curia. They are illnesses and temptations that weaken our service to the Lord.”

The somewhat harsh tone of the remarks captured a lot of international attention, as did some of the Pope’s more memorable names for the Curia diseases he singles out — including “spiritual Alzheimer’s” and “Funereal Face.” Below is a condensed version of the Pope’s Monday remarks, containing the 15 ailments he identified. All English translations are from the Vatican’s news office.

1) “The sickness of considering oneself ‘immortal’, ‘immune’ or ‘indispensable’, neglecting the necessary and habitual controls. A Curia that is not self-critical, that does not stay up-to-date, that does not seek to better itself, is an ailing body. … It is the sickness of the rich fool who thinks he will live for all eternity, and of those who transform themselves into masters and believe themselves superior to others, rather than at their service”.

2) “‘Martha-ism’, or excessive industriousness; the sickness of those who immerse themselves in work, inevitably neglecting ‘the better part’ of sitting at Jesus’ feet. Therefore, Jesus required his disciples to rest a little, as neglecting the necessary rest leads to stress and agitation. Rest, once one who has brought his or her mission to a close, is a necessary duty and must be taken seriously: in spending a little time with relatives and respecting the holidays as a time for spiritual and physical replenishment, it is necessary to learn the teaching of Ecclesiastes, that ‘there is a time for everything’.”

3) “The sickness of mental and spiritual hardening: that of those who, along the way, lose their inner serenity, vivacity and boldness and conceal themselves behind paper, becoming working machines rather than men of God. … It is dangerous to lose the human sensibility necessary to be able to weep with those who weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice! It is the sickness of those who lose those sentiments that were present in Jesus Christ”.

4) “The ailment of excessive planning and functionalism: this is when the apostle plans everything in detail and believes that, by perfect planning things effectively progress, thus becoming a sort of accountant. … One falls prey to this sickness because it is easier and more convenient to settle into static and unchanging positions. Indeed, the Church shows herself to be faithful to the Holy Spirit to the extent that she does not seek to regulate or domesticate it. The Spirit is freshness, imagination and innovation”

5) “Sickness of poor coordination develops when the communion between members is lost, and the body loses its harmonious functionality and its temperance, becoming an orchestra of cacophony because the members do not collaborate and do not work with a spirit of communion or as a team.”

6) “Spiritual Alzheimer’s disease, or rather forgetfulness of the history of Salvation, of the personal history with the Lord, of the ‘first love’: this is a progressive decline of spiritual faculties, that over a period of time causes serious handicaps, making one incapable of carrying out certain activities autonomously, living in a state of absolute dependence on one’s own often imaginary views. We see this is those who have lost their recollection of their encounter with the Lord … in those who build walls around themselves and who increasingly transform into slaves to the idols they have sculpted with their own hands”.

7) “The ailment of rivalry and vainglory: when appearances, the colour of one’s robes, insignia and honours become the most important aim in life. … It is the disorder that leads us to become false men and women, living a false ‘mysticism’ and a false ‘quietism’.”

8) “Existential schizophrenia: the sickness of those who live a double life, fruit of the hypocrisy typical of the mediocre and the progressive spiritual emptiness that cannot be filled by degrees or academic honours. This ailment particularly afflicts those who, abandoning pastoral service, limit themselves to bureaucratic matters, thus losing contact with reality and with real people. They create a parallel world of their own, where they set aside everything they teach with severity to others and live a hidden, often dissolute life.”

9) “Chatter, grumbling and gossip: this is a serious illness that begins simply, often just in the form of having a chat, and takes people over, turning them into sowers of discord, like Satan, and in many cases cold-blooded murderers of the reputations of their colleagues and brethren. It is the sickness of the cowardly who, not having the courage to speak directly to the people involved, instead speak behind their backs”.

10) “The sickness of deifying leaders is typical of those who court their superiors, with the hope of receiving their benevolence. They are victims of careerism and opportunism, honouring people rather than God. They are people who experience service thinking only of what they might obtain and not of what they should give. They are mean, unhappy and inspired only by their fatal selfishness.”

11) “The disease of indifference towards others arises when each person thinks only of himself, and loses the sincerity and warmth of personal relationships. When the most expert does not put his knowledge to the service of less expert colleagues; when out of jealousy … one experiences joy in seeing another person instead of lifting him up or encouraging him.”

12) “The illness of the funereal face: or rather, that of the gruff and the grim, those who believe that in order to be serious it is necessary to paint their faces with melancholy and severity, and to treat others – especially those they consider inferior – with rigidity, hardness and arrogance. In reality, theatrical severity and sterile pessimism are often symptoms of fear and insecurity.”

13) “The disease of accumulation: when the apostle seeks to fill an existential emptiness of the heart by accumulating material goods, not out of necessity but simply to feel secure. … Accumulation only burdens and inexorably slows down our progress.”

14) “The ailment of closed circles: when belonging to a group becomes stronger than belonging to the Body and, in some situations, to Christ Himself. This sickness too may start from good intentions but, as time passes, enslaves members and becomes a ‘cancer’ that threatens the harmony of the Body and causes a great deal of harm – scandals – especially to our littlest brothers.”

15) The “disease of worldly profit and exhibitionism: when the apostle transforms his service into power, and his power into goods to obtain worldly profits or more power. This is the disease of those who seek insatiably to multiply their power and are therefore capable of slandering, defaming and discrediting others, even in newspapers and magazines, naturally in order to brag and to show they are more capable than others.”

Pope Francis continued, after listing the ailments, to urge the Curia to use Christmas time to work on healing the body of the church’s governance:

“We are therefore required, at this Christmas time and in all the time of our service and our existence – to live ‘speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love’.”

“I once read that priests are like aeroplanes: they only make the news when they crash, but there are many that fly. Many criticise them and few pray for them. It is a very nice phrase, but also very true, as it expresses the importance and the delicacy of our priestly service, and how much harm just one priest who falls may cause to the whole body of the Church.”

Sabbath Rest!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 14 Nov 2014 14:09:00 +0000

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZeztZxYCWY

This is a link to a YouTube clip that speaks of the need for Sabbath rest in Jesus. The couple in the clip are friends of mine who are active and busy serving Jesus.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 08 Aug 2014 14:11:00 +0000

THE MIDDLE EAST PROBLEM

This is the video we showed at worship on 08/3/14.
It was eye opening and helpful for our understanding of the conflict going on in Israel.
It helps us to know more about how to pray regarding what God is doing in our day.

The Middle East Problem

6 Things the Church can learn from Jimmy Fallon?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 06 May 2014 03:23:00 +0000

This was written by an Episcopal minister. What do you think?

SIX THINGS THE CHURCH CAN LEARN FROM JIMMY FALLON by David Henson

Lesson 1: Embrace the Joy and Enthusiasm in the moment. Sure, lots of churches claim to have joy and enthusiasm for the work of Christ. Some actually do. But, let’s be honest, churches still have a lot to learn when it comes to joy and enthusiasm. What Jimmy does best is exist in the moment on his show and exist in that moment fully, giving it all his attention, energy, and enthusiasm. Jimmy’s joy and enthusiasm for each moment or guest is infectious, and it isn’t just an act either. It’s a profound act of hospitality. It lets everyone in the room know that there is no one or nothing more important than the people being together, sharing a joyful — even divine — moment.

Lesson 2: Embrace Divine Playfulness. Now, certainly there are times to be serious. But there is a rare child-like glee that is refreshing. As adults, we’ve lost the importance and the spirituality of play. But each week, Jimmy invites serious actors and musicians to loosen up and just play. They play charades, Pictionary, and a variety of off-the-wall games. What’s most remarkable to me is witnessing four diverse celebrities, in the span of 7 minutes, form a semblance of community through their good-natured play. It is a good reminder, and a reminder the church often forgets, that play is a profound form of prayer that brings people together.

Lesson 3: Embrace Others’ Talents and Accomplishments. One of the things I love about the "Tonight Show" is how Jimmy yields the spotlight. He celebrates — genuinely — the talents and achievements of those around him. And he’s not the only one telling the jokes. He’s often the one cracking up at other people’s jokes and quips. It is vulnerable way to host what is essentially a comedy show, to not always be the exact center of attention. By laughing on-air so much, he invites his audience to laugh with him. He’s not the only funny one. He gives credit to his writers, especially on Twitter, for the really funny bits and segments he does. It’s almost as if he’s a student of comedy and laughter, and he’s willing to learn from the experiences of each and every person who comes on as a guest. It’d be nice if in many of our churches we got the impression that our pastors or priests weren’t the only holy ones there to teach others, but people who are journeying with a congregation, willing to learn what it means to be followers of Christ from each other.

Lesson 4: Embrace that It’s All Bigger than You. Jimmy Fallon made it clear in his first episode that he wasn’t in control of the "Tonight Show." Rather, he was its steward. “I just want to do the best I can to take care of the show for awhile,” he said during his first monologue in February. Even though his name’s on the show and he’s responsible for it for awhile, he knows the institution is bigger than himself, and it will continue on after him.

Lesson 5: Embrace the Change. But just because he respects the institution doesn’t mean he’ll keep doing things the same way. In fact, it’s his deep respect and love for the institution that is pushing him to change it, tweak it, and put his own personality in it. He embraces the cultural changes around him and adapts the institution to its environment. He brings the institution to a new generation with dynamism and with respect for it. And it’s paying off for him. He’s tops in the ratings, his videos are going viral, his hashtags are trending worldwide, and he’s drawing a younger generation to the institution.

Lesson 6: Embrace Hope. There is virtually zero cynicism on the "Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon." Each show feels like an unrestrained celebration of life. There’s a time for critique and speaking up, but that has to be balanced with the celebration of life. We so often tend to focus on the worst news in the world, the injustice, or sin. But we need to be reminded, too, that life is worth celebrating, that there is good in the world, that God is present in the world with us. Confronting injustice in the world from a place of hope and from a deep belief in the goodness of the world offers more resilience, more boldness, and more grace than confronting injustice from a place of cynicism, despair, and brokenness.

FOLLOW ME

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 May 2014 03:36:00 +0000

The 9:15 GROUP meets each Sunday, 9:15am (lol) in the Prayer Room, at the Base. We are starting a new study of David Platt'.s book, FOLLOW ME. We will have discussions about discipleship weekly based on the book.

Check it out: http://www.wtsbooks.com/common/pdf_links/9781414373287.pdf

Testimonies

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 13:34:00 +0000

From Cindy Patterson

I received Jesus in name – better yet he received me – when I was quite young. Raised in the church with a host of strong witnesses who lived it around me, I believe that much of my heart longed for Jesus and was inclined to him “forever,” searching to fill a void, an emptiness, a drifting. It testifies to that scripture in Ecclesiastes that says he has “placed eternity in the heart of man.” And yet even after that receipt, for years I struggled with his true acceptance of me, his deep, deep abiding love for me and had a tendency to be drawn to other things to fill the void, searching for peace and direction.

After a tragedy and a great loss in my life and a walking away from God, a struggle that went on for greater than two years, I came back and yet again, our great and gracious God received me with an incomparable, accepting, abiding love that grasped onto and changed much of heart and also my head, turning the theology into a much more solid reality.

With Jesus, I find that he truly is a friend that sticks closer than a brother; he has and continues to be with me through the highs and the lows of life, offering his strength, his peace, his joy even in the midst. There is no other love or life like the one I have found and am finding in Him. It causes me to want to shout it from the mountaintops – I so long for others to know the peace, the life, the joy, the love, the acceptance that can only be found in Him. And thus His ministries become mine.

With a very thankful heart,

Cindy Patterson

from Andrew Bagley

My life before I encountered Jesus was a intense quest to find my purpose. I had spent my entire life searching for an identity in athletics, engaging in reckless habits, and trying to mix in occasional religious principles and commandments as a way to feel less guilty about sin in my life.

But, here's what happened when I encountered Jesus. I found that Jesus was fun. That the life He died for so that I could live was mission filled with wonder and purpose. I realized he was intimately concerned about me. The law of the spirit of life had set me free from the law of sin and death that I was trying miserably to follow. He was God the Father, not the godfather. This mental concept finally settled in my heart after the birth of my son in 2010.

Now this is what my life is like since I encountered Jesus. I've committed my life to denying myself, dying to sin, and following Jesus. Nearly every day I can feel a greater sense of the Father's heart toward me and toward other people. My mission is to release my revelation of the Father's heart to my family, students that I teach, and people I come in contact with throughout my daily routine.

Andrew Bagley

from Josh Austin

Life before Jesus was full of fears. Some of my earliest memories are times that I was overtaken by irrational fear—fear of dogs, strangers, noises, weather, sickness, and lots of other things. I had Christian parents who were doing the best job they knew how, but somehow rejection had set in. Even though I was fairly well-behaved, I was also a fearful and worried child.

Freedom began to come through Jesus. Around the age of 6, faith began to have real meaning to me and brought with it a degree of peace in spite of my runaway feelings. But it wasn’t automatic. It wasn’t like I prayed a prayer and everything changed in me. Instead, it was like I started walking with God and he led me by his Spirit and wooed me through his love to a safe place from my fears.

Now it’s in my heart to disciple. As I sit under the leadership of Jesus and find peace and freedom there, he calls me “to proclaim release for captives, and liberation for prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1). My mission is to feed God’s lambs. As I look around my community, workplace, and, at times, 3CF, I desire to share the good news that the kingdom of God is at hand. I want to see God’s kingdom work bring about the process of liberation.

JDA

from Don McCracken

When I was little I was self-centered and only concerned with doing what satisfied my desires. My Mom sent me to Sunday School and VBS where I was exposed to bible stories. I remember feeling very sad about people who suffered from extreme poverty and for those who were subjected to racial prejudice and hatred. I don't remember understanding anything about salvation. I was rebellious in school and involved in gang activities in Bridgeton during my teenage years.

One Wednesday night when I was 12 or 13, our youth group went to a service at church. The pastor (Benjamin Sooy) presented the gospel message which almost never happened in Deerfield. The Holy Spirit used Rev. Sooy and my dear grandmother (Ada Joyce) to draw me to the altar where I accepted Jesus as my Savior along with about 5 other guys. A lot of emotion and feeling happened and I know God did a work in me although I was too immature to really understand it. Unfortunately, we didn't at that time have any discipleship.Deerfield was a weird place; if you had faith that was fine or if you didn't have faith that was fine too. Either way you didn't talk about it. Although my soul was now secure in Christ, my lifestyle didn't change that much. I still considered my life was my business and I remained self-centered. I "did church" and I even tried witnessing but it didn't go well. I nearly scared to death a young Jewish boy on my ship in the Coast Guard when I told him he was going to hell for sure if he didn't accept Jesus as his Savior right now.

When I got out of the service I tried to live a good life. I took my family to church, taught my children right from wrong, finished my schooling, advanced steadily in my profession and tried to be a decent law abiding citizen. On the outside, my life looked pretty okay. But on the inside there was no personal relationship with Jesus Christ. My opinions about sin and morals and money were much closer to the world views than to God's word.

I was striving to get ahead, working two jobs and establishing a business and had no time left for church. My wife invited me to go with her and my sons to the Church of Our Savior in PA but I was always too busy. Then one day I was listening to Family Radio from my pickup radio as I worked in the field and something happened. As the bible was being read without comment or interuption, the Holy Spirit quicked my spirit within me. I wish I could remember what passage was being read, but I can't. At that very moment, I decided that I was going to go to church. The devil kept throwing reasons at me about how that was never going to work, what will people say, what will the pastor ask you to do, etc. But I was convicted.

I really read my bible for the first time. I hungered for truth and meaning and God opened my eyes in many areas. I became involved in church activities and gained respect for those in the church whose Faith had held our little church together for so many years. I grew a lot under the teaching of Rev. Groff and Rev. King and took on responsibilities in the church. And then God brought this new kid along named Jamie. Wow! Nothing has been the same since.

He began to teach me what a personal relationship with Jesus is really like. He helped me see things beyond myself, beyond my church, beyond seeing only from my own perspective, but rather to see things from God's perspective. God used Jamie to teach me about missions, servant leadership, sacrificial giving, teaching others about Christ....I smile now when I think back to the devils comment about "what if the pastor asks you to do something". I thank God for using Jamie to ferry me across to where Jesus is.

Now I meet with Jesus every morning. We have quiet talks and meditations. He teaches me, He guides me, He corrects me, He scolds me, He loves me, He forgives me, He keeps me safe, He...He...

He has given me a treasure chest just for me. Inside we have placed many things of great value: Salvation, personal relationship, opportunities that He has allowed me to join Him in. so many ways I can hardly count them...CEF, H*VMI, 3CF, Jamaica, Guatemala, Argentina, Nepal, Bankok, Sunday school, Home small group bible study, baptisms in my own back yard...memory fails.. Truly, my cup runneth over.

A true miracle has taken place in His bringing me from being a rebellious, self-centered, egotistical lost sinner to a place where I can honestly say my life without Christ has no meaning or purpose.

from Stacy Thomas

I remember giving my life to Jesus in Sunday School when I was five years old. Since I

was so young I don’t have much memory of life before that, but here are a few things that

stood out to me at that young age.

I came from a broken home and I lived with my mom. When I decided to follow Jesus I

immediately had an understanding that God was my Father and He loved me. I wasn’t

abandoned by my Father. I knew that I was valuable to Him and that He would never leave

me. I had love and peace in my heart. When I was fourteen I had an amazing encounter

with God’s presence that forever changed me. In that moment I completely surrendered to

God and committed to serving Him in all I do, for all my days. God gave me clarity

about serving Him through music and so I pursued that. In my eyes there is no life for

me apart from Jesus. It’s so far from my heart that I don’t even want to imagine it. I

take joy in following Him wherever it may lead. Six years ago the Lord led me in the

direction of ministry to children. I have delighted in learning more about God’s heart

for our children, and can’t wait to see where God will lead me next.

-Stacy Thomas

from MaryAnn Bowman

Knowing God, but keeping my relationship with him on the back burner. Always knowing right from wrong, but not convicted enough to seek him and his ways in order to make a difference in my life.

But when I encountered Jesus I experienced conviction by the Holy Spirit. I had desire to learn more about him and to live differently. I had desire to share Jesus with others.

I now realize that only he can give me peace in the storms I encounter. My prayer life has meaning.

MaryAnn Bowman

from Nate Thomas

When I was a youth, life was all about me: having lots of friends, accomplishing great things in school and in sports, having fun, and chasing after my selfish desires. Much of those desires left me empty, and the Lord was teaching me that He had greater things in mind according to His purposes. I remember deciding to make Jesus the Lord of my life when I was in elementary school. An older, 12-year-old boy at my church prayed with me as I publicly made the decision. I came to realize that all the things about me and my accomplishments were of much lesser value compared to knowing Jesus and what He did for me. As Paul says in Philippians 3:7-9, "But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him…”

As I have known the Lord, I have learned that not only does He love me, but He really likes me. Even in my failures. Knowing how He values me, it has motivated me to encourage others to discover God’s dream for their lives. It is my hope that the youth and children at 3CF grow into this dream. As God has revealed His heart to me through His Word, I also have realized His great desire for the Church in these last days. I believe that the vibrant Church Jesus prayed for in John 17 is a praying Church. Partnering with other believers at the South Jersey House of Prayer is an outgrowth of this. What has God done as He has led the SJHOP?

connected us with a model (harp and bowl) for prayer when many of us were looking for a way to stand in prayer
spoke prophetically when He called us into an armory to "do battle" (prophetic man to Jamie, also spoken by Chris Regan and Rich Stevenson)
spoke prophetically through 2 dreams that we would be the South Jersey House of Prayer and that it is His doing
spoke prophetically, calling us to an Ezekiel mandate over Israel
spoke prophetically, giving a "strategic plan" when it was needed
connected us with Exodus Cry and gave us the opportunity to show the Nefarious Documentary
connected us to a network of prayer with individuals at the college, area churches, and other houses of prayer in NJ, PA, and DE
birthed out of prayer a desire to act justly (South Jersey Community Justice Group — Louise/Maureen/Melissa)
spoke that we would be going from “defense to offense,” from the place of prayer to walking it out in victory
we will celebrate 7 years (approximately 400 prayer meetings later!!) in April 2014

This Sunday!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 14:40:00 +0000

3CF,

On Sunday we will be having a special celebration of the birth of Christ. Things will be a little different during worship and at about 11:30am we will gather in the back of the worship room to sing happy birthday to Jesus and share in some special food and birthday cake.

The past two Sunday's some of you agreed to bring food. Here's the instructions about that from Jessica Bagley:

Hello 3cf! As planned, our annual Christmas Potluck will be held this coming Sunday, December 15th, right after service. Please bring your items (cold or hot) into the kitchen when you arrive to worship. I will take care of keeping everything in the crock-pots hot, and organizing the cold items. If you have not signed up and would like to come, we still could use a few hot crock-pot items. You can email me at jessicabagley87@gmail.com with what you plan to bring. Thank you! Jessica

LOGISTICS: We plan to do with the crock pots is to plug them in in the side rooms, then when the time comes, to unplug everything and put them on tables at the back of the big room where we usually serve meals. There really aren't too may to be plugged in anyway

Birthday Party for JESUS!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 16:49:00 +0000

We will have a birthday party for Jesus on Sunday, December 15th, as part of our WORSHIP! The party will consist of PRAISE, a little bit of PREACHING, giving PRESENTS to Jesus' Church and FOOD. Instructions will be out during the next few weeks about the food... We will be asking you to bring a crock pot full of something we can share in, bread, or salad. IT'S GONNA BE A BLAST!

Some upcoming events you don't want to miss!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 17:35:00 +0000

Women's Day - Breakfast & Fellowship, Saturday, 11/9, at the 3CF Mission Base 8:45-1pm

Men's Breakfast - 8am Saturday, 12/7, at the Kountry Kitchen, Rte 40 in Elmer. Cost $10 (buffet)
This is being organized by guys from our Tuesday Morning McBible Study group, for men throughout the area. We will have a few guys testify about what the Lord is doing in their lives and Rich Stevenson will be on hand to share with us.

This Sunday - Rich Stevenson

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 13:46:00 +0000

This Sunday, 11/10, Rich Stevenson will be with us to proclaim God's Word.Rich is the director of the Malachi Network. http://malachinetwork.org/

About the Malachi Network:

Mobilizing Young Leaders In Mission And Prayer

Mobilization:To be released so a substance can be used by the body.
We will build relationships with church planters and missionaries and then work to release them to the larger Body of Christ world-wide.
We are looking for humble leaders who will minister with a spirit of interdependence. Leaders who pray first and pray hard. Young men and women who know God’s Word: both the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Son.

Covering Leaders And Their Families Both Practically And Spiritually

We will care for families through prayer, prophetic encouragement and administrative support. We will take seriously the call to cover young leaders and their families with love, integrity and spiritual authority. We will stay connected through both technology and face to face meetings.

Let your light shine!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 22 Oct 2013 17:06:00 +0000

In Luke 8:16-18 Jesus follows up his explanation of the Parable of the Sower by giving a picture to inspire his disciples. He has lit a light in his disciples by teaching them about the kingdom; this light is to be shared.

v16,17- Although Jesus speaks in parables, it is nevertheless his ultimate purpose that the light of the gospel be spread in full meaning. He initiates his followers into the knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom, not for them to hide such knowledge, but to make it known, to all whom they come into contact.
v18- Because it is so necessary for his disciples to be light-bearers, he commands them to see to it that they listen carefully, hear correctly and with full attention so that they will be able to live it with steadfast conviction. Learning the Word of the Gospel was to bear fruit in the lives of disciples, if not, the results would be fatal. Those who hear and live obediently will be given deeper and more intensive insight into the spiritual life and into his Word!

Magnificent Obsession - Laura Hackett

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 16:45:00 +0000

Multiply @ 3CF- Video Blog 5

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 01:18:00 +0000

Jamie discusses "Multiply" by the pool.

It's a TENT REVIVAL!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 19:57:00 +0000

Tent Revival Service, this Sunday, 7/7, 5pm, on Rte 49 across from Cumberland County Library. Glory Tabernacle has asked us to kick off their week of Tent Revival Meetings.

As part of the kick off night, Pastor Jamie will be preaching from Acts 15, where James, the brother of Jesus, speaks of a great tent revival! The 3CF Praise Team will lead worship, along with the Glory Tabernacle Team. Plan to be a part of this and expect a great blessing.

3CF Summer Picnic and Baptisms!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 18:28:00 +0000

On Sunday, June 23rd, we will be having our annual summer church picnic. There will be lots of food, fun and fellowship! Games for kids (and maybe adults too). We will also be celebrating together as we baptize several people as an expression of their faith in Christ!

All are welcome! 4:00 PM, Sunday June 23rd @ the Bowman's home.

For directions or to sign up to bring food, email 3cf.mail@gmail.com.

Renaud Transition

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 May 2013 01:59:00 +0000

This past Sunday (5/19) Jesse and Erica expressed their gratefullness and appreciation to the 3CF family for all of their love and support and announced that they will be moving out of South Jersey. In this next season they will seek to be closer to family and Jesse will be pursuing a full-time job and continuing his education. For more than the past year they have been meeting with Pastor Jamie as they worked through the process leading up to this decision. There will be a special service on Sunday June 16th to celebrate their years with us and commission them for all that God has next for them in their journey!

Please plan on joining us on Sunday June 16th and keep the Renauds and 3CF's leadership in your prayers during this time of transition.

A Mother's Day Message From Our Friend, Joy Phillips

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 May 2013 13:21:00 +0000

Joy's blog can be found @ joyphillips.blogspot.com

Celebrating Mothers

As Mother's Day is only hours away I wanted to capitalize on our collective interest in honoring our Mom's. As I coordinate and lead the many activities of Mango Ministries I come in contact with lots of Mothers. Their roles are many and varied in this business of Kingdom Building. Here's a glimpse ofMoms in Missions.

A big thank you to my Mom, Carol Phillips, as she and my Dad have given me their blessing to serve in missions. Mom has always been supportive, if not exactly excited about where God has lead me! That has resulted in lots of prayer, which is always a good thing. I could always count on getting letters from Mom when I first came to Kenya, years ago - way before email. And now I've usually got an email from her in my inbox with encouragement and news from home. When I return to the US she always asks, "What would you like me to cook for you?" Thanks Mom! You and many other Mom's of Missionaries are a huge blessing to those of us who are in ministry far from home!

my Mother, Carol Phillips

Some WGM Mother's are at the 'empty nest' stage of life. While visiting South Sudan they take the opportunity to snuggle with other Mother's children.

Christine Stanfield, one of WGM's South Sudan Committee members

Other mothers are in the throes of child rearing and carry their small ones off to South Sudan with them as they serve in medical ministry.

Dr. Destinee MacLeod and husband Dr. Jono take little Zoe with them to Tonj

And then South Sudanese get the chance to cuddle with visiting babies!

Chloe, or is it Sophie?, Coppedge during a Biblical Storytelling training in Tonj
(sorry, Auntie Joy just can't tell you and your sister apart!)

And some Mothers have older kids giving them and their kids time to explore on their own.

Jenny Roberts, wife of our eye surgeon Ben Roberts, helps out in the kitchen in Tonj

To round off her son's education Nate headed out to catch some supper in the nearby river!

Jenny's son, Luke, helped out during a cataract clinic leading blind patients from room to room.

Jenny also serves as her son's Teacher and continued the challenging job of home schooling - even during a visit to South Sudan.

Some mother's who work at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya leave their children at home with family and friends while they join Mango Ministries during our mobile cataract clinics.

Zipporah and Emily treating post-op cataract patients

And other missionary Moms live in South Sudan hosting many, many guests and short term visitors!

Suzy Kuj (center) , mother of 3, gives WGM'ers a tour of the In Deed and Truth compound in Tonj

Some mothers, like Helen, remain at home in Kenya caring for her daughters and praying for her husband as he ministers through Community Health in South Sudan.

Helen (on far right) is Adhanom's wife. Her youngest daughter Shamna is on her Aunt's lap

Mother's Unions play an important role in most Churches in South Sudan.

And of course Mom's carry out the same activities for their children all around the world.

bath time

weeding in the garden to ensure there will be food for hungry stomachs

food prep - grinding millet

And ensuring there's enough water at home for drinking, cooking, and bathing.

Unfortunately many Moms and Grandmoms in South Sudan are not able to help with these basic activities of caring for their families. They are blind from cataracts.

A daughter leads her Mom to have her bandage removed after having cataract surgery the previous day

Often the elderly are afflicted with cataracts but sometimes young people are as well. It was exciting to witness this young Mother examine the eye chart after her cataract surgery. Next for her was seeing her child that she had never laid eyes on because of her blindness!

Moms and Grandmothers are so important to us. Mango Ministries is blessed to have the opportunity to partner with the Tenwek Eye Team. This year we have three trips planned. Our goal is to bring physical eyesight as well as offer spiritual wholeness to hundreds of women in this hurting nation.

Read a past blog post about this Grandmother's journey from being blind and destitute to restoration of sight, fellowship with her church, and contributing to her family and community.

Will you consider giving a gift to a South Sudanese Mother this year? For only $50 (thanks to financial help from a generous foundation) World Gospel Mission and Mango Ministries is able to offer sight giving surgery to hundreds of Mothers. Will you make a commitment to pray for one of the Mother's who comes to us for help? As you have been blessed will you consider blessing a neighboring Mother in South Sudan. She will be most grateful! To help financially checks can be sent to: World Gospel Mission, P.O. Box 948, Marion, IN 46952-0948 for account no. 130-25791. Or click here to give a gift online.

Here is our 2013 schedule for Cataract Clinics:

June 4 - 8, Memorial Christian Hospital, Werkok, Jongelei

October 5 - 9, IAS medical clinic, Nyinbule, Northern Bahr El Ghazal

November 9 - 13, In Deed and Truth, Tonj, Warrap

Thanks to the many Mom's who send us off to serve the South Sudanese.

Thanks to the Mom's who minister in South Sudan, bringing the example of Godly families with you.

Thanks to the many Mom's who lift up the process of Kingdom building in prayer.

And thanks to those who pray and give financially in order to bless the Mom's of South Sudan.

Global Day of Prayer- 10 Days of Prayer Begins TODAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:31:00 +0000

For the next 10 days, we will be joining with millions of other Christians around the world as we pray through the GDOP Prayer Guide, leading up to the GDOP on May 19th.

Join in and see God move as we seek Him together!

Visit www.globaldayofprayer.com for more info.

10-Day Prayer Guide (Right-Click "Save-as" to download)