tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:44:24 +0000Monthly newsletter from Faith Lutheran Church in Moorpark, CA.http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/noreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)Blogger56125FaithLutheranChurchNewsletterhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-5438952326973676865Sun, 07 Jun 2009 22:29:00 +00002009-06-07T15:44:24.805-07:00As we enter into the month of June, I can't help but reflect on Father's Day a little differently this year! I must say that, thought this is my second Father's Day, I am amazed at how much differently I view this day now that Sophie is just over a year old. It is freaking me out! Being a father is quite an intimidating calling. According to the Bible, fathers have a tremendous amount of responsibility. Most important of which is what St. Paul teaches fathers in Ephesians 6:4, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them in the training and instruction of the Lord." Fathers have been given the high calling of teaching their children about Jesus and about living out their faith!<div><br /></div><div>As I look down the road at what this is going to entail for the next 18+ years, I become pretty intimidated. I imagine there are many of you fathers reading this right now that read that verse and think, "Easier said than done, St. Paul!" With all of the temptations and competing influences in this world, we may fear that our children won't listen to us above all the other distractions. We may worry that we won't give the best advice, we won't pay enough attention, our advice won't always be heeded. And, as we examine this call to fatherhood, I can only imagine the number of times we have messed up or felt like we have fallen short. Fatherhood is a high calling and that is why it is full of hardship and struggle and, yes, sin.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is important, then, that on this Father's Day we reflect not only on our own roles as fathers, but on God our Father. In God we have a father who does not exasperate His children, but instead, loves them and strengthens them, even through their own exasperation! As we struggle and wrestle with our callings as fathers, we have in God a Father we can turn to for strength and support where we are weak. We have a Father who knows our sins and forgives them by sending His Son on a mission of sacrifice and salvation. Because of the shed blood of Jesus, all of our sins are forgiven, all of our hardships are endured, and all of our mistakes are redeemed. Now, in Christ, we draw our strength from the Holy Spirit who gives us the strength and the drive to carry out our calling and be faithful witnesses of Christ to our families. May God our Father bless all fathers on this day!<br /><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-5438952326973676865?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2009/06/pastors-column-june-2009.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-5210276615378250310Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:59:00 +00002009-06-07T15:14:17.709-07:00speaking-of-jesusPeople are very confused about many things in this world. God is not the least of these things! Many of our friends are unclear about who God is, where He is, what He does, and if He cares. There is a great amount of fear that comes from the confusion when God is taken seriously, because this confusion leads to the truth that we cannot control God and we cannot figure Him out. For our friends who don't know Jesus, this confusion likely leads people to be unnecessarily terrified of God or just to write God off as something unimportant and not worth the worry. Some in their confusion even redefine God by pouring their own ideas into what they think God should be. For us who have been called to spread Good News about God it is important for us to know how to get through the confusion.<div><br /></div><div>This begins when we are able to recognize things about who Jesus is. When we talk about the Gospel we find that it is like a jewel. There is one gospel that can be looked at from many ways and each of those ways is beautiful. And these various ways of looking at and thinking about the Gospel help us answer the various questions and struggles that people have about God and faith. They help us bring clarity to whatever is confusing people about the faith.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the ways at looking at Jesus' life (the Gospel) is by looking at Jesus as being the One who reveals God to us. Jesus can be seen as a revealer. When we speak about Jesus to our friends they will come with many questions about God. And, as Christians, we know that Jesus is the answer to all of those questions. For example, they may wonder, if God is so loving, why did He allow for sin and evil in the world? Though we cannot answer that definitively (because we don't know), we do know that God has done something about it in sending His Son to die and rise to start a new heavens and a new earth. This work of Jesus reveals that God is both concerned about the evil down here, He cares enough to endure it for us and to bring us through it with Himself, and that, in raising Jesus from the dead, He is the one who has the power to redeem this world. Jesus' words and life REVEAL God to us.</div><div><br /></div><div>Or, someone may say, "God doesn't love me, look at how awful my life is!" And again, we respond by going to Christ. In Christ, God entered into our suffering because He knows the pain we endure. He endured the worst pain so that you would not have to face an eternity of that pain. And now, He gives you His Holy Spirit to carry you through the pain and the hurt. And, in saying this, Jesus reveals that God is both incredibly concerned for the life of this person and loves them passionately.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus reveals God to us as He demonstrates and carries out God's love for us by dying and rising. In our conversations with those who are confused about God, let us always return to Christ who is God in human flesh revealing His love and mercy.<br /><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-5210276615378250310?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2009/06/speaking-of-jesus-june-2009.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-61363514892890818Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:52:00 +00002009-06-07T14:58:24.516-07:00centro-cristianomission<p><b>Centro Cristiano Oxnard </b>held a concert on Mother's Day with a dinner and flowers for all of the mothers. The youth visited the mothers in their homes that morning with a special song for each of them. We praise the Lord for the blessings of our mothers and for their loving husbands and children who support them in Oxnard!</p><p><b>English classes and Bible Study</b>, held every Saturday, have begun in Moorpark. The next Park Outreach will take place on Saturday, June 6th.</p><p><b>Centro Cristiano Hispano Bible Institute </b>begins a new Preaching Course this month in Santa Paula. Fifteen students are enrolled. They will learn how to spread the Gospel in a variety of ministry settings, through preaching and teaching in a Spirit led and well organized fashion.</p><p><b>How Can You Be A Part of the Action?</b></p><p>"All great journeys in Jesus' Great Commission begin with small steps of faith. Please pray for our steps in Oxnard, Moorpark, and Santa Paula. Join us as we walk forward carrying the Good News of Jesus to our Spanish speaking neighbors." Pastor Dennis Bradshaw</p><p>For more information about these ministries or to send financial support, please contact Pastor Dennis Bradshaw at (805) 660-3377 or Centro Cristiano Hispano, P.O. Box 952 Santa Paula, CA 93060.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-61363514892890818?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2009/06/whats-happening-in-hispanic-ministry.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-4968330377102375923Sun, 03 May 2009 20:47:00 +00002009-05-03T13:47:59.540-07:00<div>"How much does he love me, let me count the ways..."  We have all seen little girls play this game, haven't we?  They pick up a flower to find out if the little boy they are "in love" with loves them back by plucking the petals off of the flower and saying, "He loves me, he loves me not."  And, if the last petal plucked comes when the little girl says, "He loves me!" then it is true love for life!  BUT, if it comes on "He loves me not" she understands why he is playing in a sandbox pretending to be a mutant and not proposing.</div><div><br /></div><div>We have all kinds of bizarre ways we try to find love.  As we grow up, these ways certainly change, but often are just as effective.  We try to find love in romance, sex, spirituality, friendship, and on and on.  Some of these places have pieces of love in them and often times love can produce romance or friendship.  The love that produces these things may be of a different kind, but at the end of the day, we want to know and feel that someone else cares about us and desires us to care about them.</div><div><br /></div><div>As we get into a new sermons series on the book of I John, we will find that, though many of the ways we try and find love may be good, they will not help us know true love.  Our efforts to find love are in vein if they do not get us to God, who is love.  And, remarkably, we cannot get to that God by our efforts.  And this is a great thing!  We do not have to work hard or go through difficult relational drama or pluck petals to find out if God loves us.  No, God loves us too much for that.  God, instead, GIVES His love to us in Jesus Christ.  He does not wait for us to find it, He does not have a hidden path we must follow to get to His love.  He seeks us out, He comes to us, He pursues our hearts and makes them His own.  And He does this all through the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. He demonstrated His love for us in this, while we were yet sinners (looking for love in all the wrong places), Christ died for us! (Romans 5:8) And now, through the Holy Spirit, God has sought us out to give us this love won for us on the cross.</div><div><br /></div><div>How much does He love you?  With an unending, undying love that sacrifices everything in order to have you in a saving relationship with Him.  Don't pluck petals, look to the cross to see the love that God has for you!   It is my prayer that as we get into this new series, you will be built up, transformed, and encouraged by the love that God has for you in Christ Jesus.   </div><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-4968330377102375923?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2009/05/how-much-does-he-love-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-45193154301461591Sun, 03 May 2009 20:46:00 +00002009-05-03T13:47:06.142-07:00speaking-of-jesus<div>Last time in everyone's favorite newsletter column, Speaking of Jesus, we discussed the importance of presenting who Christ is and what He has done for us in His life, death, and resurrection before we begin to proclaim the benefits of being a Christian.  Sticking with this theme, this month we will begin to lay out various ways to do this when we embrace our friends and loved ones with the Gospel of Jesus.  Over the next few months we will discuss who Jesus is by showing how He is the one who reveals God to us, what he reveals about God, and why that matters to and benefits us. </div><div><br /></div><div>People are very curious about God these days.  Bookstores are full of books which describe one person's or another's pursuit of God.  A broad spectrum of religions will be studied so that a well-rounded view of God can be arrived at.  "Seekers" will become disciples, so to speak, of the Dahli Lama or Joel Osteen or Oprah or some enlightened guru who knows the "secret" of the universe in order to better know God or know themselves.  ABC Nightly News even hosts debates among influential religious types so we can discern teachings more clearly and understand each other's views of God more fully. Indeed, people are incredibly curious about God these days. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is nothing new.  People have always gone to gurus, practiced rites, and worked hard to find God in the universe.  In response to such activity, St. Paul once said in a letter he wrote to the church in Rome, "But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or, 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).  But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, " that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming..." (Romans 10:6-8).  In other words, Paul says, God is not someone we are to seek out by religiously climbing up to heaven or searching in the depths, no, God reveals himself to us in Jesus Christ, the very one Paul was proclaiming!</div><div><br /></div><div>The only way we can know God is for God to reveal himself to us, and this is what He does in Jesus Christ.  Do you want to fully know God?  Read the Gospels.  There you will meet Jesus of Nazareth, God in human flesh.  When we go out to proclaim Jesus, to embrace others with the Gospel, we don't go out to wax philosophical on our religious opinions.  We go out to introduce others to this guy Jesus who is God for us and with us.  God reveals himself to us, He does not hide so that we must seek him out (Paul says there is no such thing as a seeker in Romans 3:11 anyhow).  God becomes flesh in Jesus Christ.  The Father sends the Son to reveal Himself to us.  We believe what we do about our salvation because, as Paul says, God is as near to us as the word that was proclaimed to us.  This is a fancy way of saying the Holy Spirit gives us Jesus when we hear the gospel.  AND, when you share the gospel, the Holy Spirit works through your words to introduce people to Jesus.</div><div><br /></div><div>All of this is to say that, if you have people in your life who think they are "seeking" God, it is your calling as a Christian to introduce them to Jesus.  And when they hear about who Jesus is they will have met God.  And they will know that God loves them so much, that He sent His only Son to die for them, to suffer the greatest agony in the history of the world so that they would be saved, and that he conquered death so as to promise them eternal life.  They will meet God who loves them and gives Himself to them.  It is the Gospel, the good news of Jesus, that we proclaim which brings God near, for there He seeks and finds us and reveals Himself to us.     </div><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-45193154301461591?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2009/05/speaking-of-jesus-may-2009.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-3554998061730847646Sun, 03 May 2009 20:40:00 +00002009-05-03T17:08:12.359-07:00centro-cristianomission<div>The Hispanic Outreach Ministry at Faith continues to move forward as Pastor Dennis Bradshaw makes contacts within the Hispanic community here in Moorpark. However, Centro Cristiano Hispano (CCH) is in need of our help.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In this newsletter is a letter from Pastor Dennis that I hope you would read with a prayerful heart. This is a letter that went out to all the churches in Circuit One and Two of the Pacific Southwest District, not just to Faith. Much of the funding upon which CCH has relied in the past is expected to be much less in the coming year. But the need to reach people with the Gospel is just as great as ever.</div><div><br /></div><div>As a congregation, we at Faith have supported CCH for many years. By God’s grace and mercy, this important missionary ministry of the Church in the Hispanic community has flourished over the years. We have seen the Gospel take root in Santa Paula and now it’s beginning to grow here in the Moorpark Hispanic community. We have seen our own congregation continue to grow. So we know that that where the Gospel is preached, Christ’s Church will grow.</div><div><br /></div><div>Your help is needed to make sure that CCH can continue to work in the Hispanic mission field. Please consider giving an additional $20 each month as a designated offering to Centro Cristiano Hispano. That’s only $5 a week, much less than what most of us spend at Starbucks! So if all the families of our churches within Circuit One and Two would each give $5 a week to CCH, this shortfall in funding would be solved. And Christ’s ministry in the Hispanic community would continue.</div><div><br /></div><div>On April 25, the Bradshaw along with Blight Lifters, a local church group which has removed graffiti from our property, held a picnic in the park behind the church. The Bradshaws have made additional contacts with a number of people within the community.</div><div><br /></div><div>Leo Garcia from Centro Cristiano Santa Paula, who has visited with us several times and has been working with Pastor and Tara Bradshaw to make contacts within the Hispanic community, suffered a very serious injury when he fell 12 feet and fractured vertebrae in his back. Fortunately, there was no paralysis and after surgery, he is now up and walking about. Please keep Leo in your prayers.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pastor Dennis is planning on beginning an ESL class at Faith for Hispanic members of the neighborhood on Saturday, May 2. This is an opportunity to meet a real need of people in the community, develop personal relationships, and bring the church to the neighborhood.</div><div><br /></div><div>For those who are interested, Pastor Bradshaw is also willing to teach an SSL class affectionately known as Spanish for Gringos. If you are interested, contact Pastor Hiller or Dave Bovey and they will make arrangements.</div><div><br /></div><div>As this ministry begins to grow, more people will be using the church facilities. If you are planning an activity, be sure to check with Tina in the Church Office so she can schedule your activity.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://faithmoorpark.com/">http://www.faithmoorpark.com</a><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.centrocristianohispano.com/">http://www.centrocristianohispano.com/</a><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.centrocristianohispano.com/centrocristianomoorpark/centrocristianomoorpark.html">http://www.centrocristianohispano.com/centrocristianomoorpark/centrocristianomoorpark.html</a><br /><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Contribution Information</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Please send support to:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Centro Cristiano Hispano</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">c/o 1200 Maria Way</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Oxnard, CA 93030</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">or call Pastor Dennis at 805-983-1619</span></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-3554998061730847646?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2009/05/centro-cristiano-moorpark-may-2009.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-894061075735524881Sun, 03 May 2009 20:27:00 +00002009-05-04T07:23:01.668-07:00centro-cristianomissionMaundy Thursday, April 9, 2009<div><br /></div><div>To all of you who support the mission and ministry of Centro Cristiano Hispano</div><div><br /></div><div>Hermanos y hermanas en el Evangelio de Jesucristo,</div><div><br /></div><div>As I reflect this evening upon the Last Supper which our LORD Jesus shared with His disciples in the upper room, I am reminded that He promised them the glorious delights at His banquet table in His Kingdom which is yet to come. He said to them, "For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God." (Luke 22:16) There will be no lack at His table in glory and we by faith know that He will provide us with all that we need for His Great Commission until that glorious feast in heaven. What we do now to get the Gospel out increases the attendance at the heavenly feast in glory!</div><div><br /></div><div>Centro Cristiano Hispano (CCH), the work we do together as missionaries at large in Hispanic ministry in our circuits, has historically been richly blessed by individual, congregational, district, and on occasion special synodical support. By this support, for over twenty-five years we have been able to get out the Gospel in the Spanish and Mixteco languages, plant ministries in many locations, see leaders raised up, educate God's people for mission and ministry, and see deacons sent to the seminary and ordained into pastoral ministry. While there is much economic need in the lives of many Hispanic immigrants, yet there is also much grace and commitment to serve Jesus and reach the lost in our Hispanic communities.</div><div><br /></div><div>We now find ourselves at a time of significant financial need in order to maintain the important mission support work of CCH. The finances which we have been receiving have decreased from all sources and we anticipate receiving less from the District in the year to come. It is therefore my heart's desire to lay this great mission need on your heart as you have always been important partners of this mission team reaching into the Hispanic communities of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties and beyond.</div><div><br /></div><div>CCH is working hard to plant a new side by side mission congregation in Moorpark. We continue supporting the educational needs of our Hispanic congregations, and we are developing our Hispanic Bible Institute to better equip congregations, missionaries, and deacons, and to send pastoral candidates to the seminary in the future. For this to continue we need your partnership now more than ever before!</div><div><br /></div><div>Would you pray and seek the LORD's guidance about being a continuing partner with CCH in this year and in the year to come? Your partnership is essential! The missionary vision which the LORD has given us is great and we know that He will use you to help provide all that is needed to continue to plant missions, train leaders and equip deacons and pastors for the Hispanic mission of today and tomorrow.</div><div><br /></div><div>Muchisimas gracias for your consideration and prayers,</div><div><br /></div><div>Pastor Dennis Bradshaw</div><div>Mission at Large, Hispanic Ministry</div><div>Circuits One and Two, PSD-LCMS</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Contribution Information</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Please send support to:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Centro Cristiano Hispano</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">c/o 1200 Maria Way</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Oxnard, CA 93030</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">or call Pastor Dennis at 805-983-1619</span></span><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-894061075735524881?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2009/05/centro-cristiano-hispano.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-5141367147914237659Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:32:00 +00002009-04-11T06:55:18.582-07:00Has it ever struck you as odd that, even though the entire Christian faith is based not only on the death of Jesus on the cross but also His resurrection on the third day, we seem to put a lot of time and effort into the season of Lent but spend only one morning at Easter? Think about it. Lent starts with Ash Wednesday and lasts for forty days. Some of us exercise a Lenten fast where we sacrifice something in order to remember that Jesus gave up his very life on the cross for us. We focus on the suffering and the pain and our repentance, and this is very good. But then we hit Easter Sunday and we go back to life as normal in the church. No special services (even though the Easter Season is seven weeks long according to the church calendar), no special fasts, no real focus on the resurrection. Frankly, we are just ready to be done with Lent. We just celebrate the resurrection on Easter Sunday and move on.<br /><br />This is really odd considering that the Bible spends an incredible amount of time discussing the resurrection of Jesus Christ and its implications on how we are to live as Christians. Paul says that if Jesus was just killed and never raised from the dead then this whole faith of ours is a wash, a waste of time. "If Christ had not been raised, you faith is futile; you are still in your sins." (1 Corinthians 15:17). The whole foundation of our faith, the whole hope of the Christian life, everything we know and believe as Christians goes back, not only to the cross, but to the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ!<br /><br />See, in the resurrection, Jesus is not simply walking out of the tomb so we can go to heaven one day, though his death and resurrection do promise us that when we die we will be in heaven, but there is more. He is rising again as the firstfruits, Paul says, of the resurrection of all humanity (1 Corinthians 15:20,23). He is rising again to being God's work of restoring this broken creation to be the way God intended it to be. Jesus, who is first to rise from the dead, is the first in this creation to overcome our greatest enemy brought about by our sin, death. And, through this resurrection, He promises that we too will rise in a new heavens and new earth that has been restored to the way God originally designed it (without, of course, the potential for sin as Christ defeated that on the cross).<br /><br />This work of Christ demonstrates the goodness of God's creation and His intentions to make it "good" (as in Genesis 1) once again. He's begun with Jesus and will bring this work to completion on the last day (which, in a sense, will be the first day). God has already begun this work of re-creation in those of us who have been raised to live in Christ in our Baptisms (Romans 6:4, Colossians 2:12), though we do not yet fully live in that resurrection reality (Philippians 3:12).<br /><br />So, as those who are already members of this new Kingdom, of this Easter reality, we should celebrate! During the forty days of Lent we fast to remember Christ's sufferings. Perhaps, during the forty-nine days of Easter we could have an Easter Feast celebrating the resurrection. Instead of giving something up, why not try something new? Take up a new sport, plan special times with your families, start family devotions, try eating sushi (and take me with you), read some new novels, begin volunteering in the community. Do something, anything, in celebration of the fact that Jesus has risen and begun the work of resurrection in this world to celebrte! why not feast on the glories of God's good creation? Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!<br /><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-5141367147914237659?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2009/04/easter-feast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-7026962522284699494Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:09:00 +00002009-04-11T06:27:01.253-07:00centro-cristianomissionThe Hispanic Outreach Ministry at Faith continues to move forward and is now officially known as Centro Cristiano Moorpark. Pastor Dennis Bradshaw now has his office at Faith Lutheran Church and is in the community at least 2 days a week. His office used to be at Centro Cristiano Santa Paula. They have been growing and really need more room. This move to Faith will free up another room at Santa Paula and help with their need for more space. And it will put Pastor Dennis and Tara closer to the neighborhood where we hope to start a new Hispanic mission.<br /><br />Pastor Dennis, Tara, and Leo Garcia from Centro Cristiano Santa Paula have made contact with a number of individuals and families in the neighborhood of the church.<br /><br />On March 1, Centro Cristiano Santa Paula held a Prayer Concert at Faith as the kickoff to the mission effort in Moorpark. With prayer and music, a group of enthusiastic and dedicated brothers and sisters asked God to bless the efforts to start an Hispanic Church in Moorpark.<br /><br />In the near future, Pastor Dennis will be teaching an ESL class at Faith for Hispanic members of the neighborhood. This is an opportunity to meet a real need of people in the community, develop personal relationships, and bring the neighborhood to the church.<br /><br />For those interested, Pastor Dennis is also willing to teach an SSL class affectionately known as Spanish for Gringos. Being able to speak even a little Spanish is greatly appreciated by Hispanic brothers and sisters. They are having the same problems learning and speaking English as we have learning and speaking Spanish. If you are interested, contact Pastor Bob or Dave Bovey and they will make arrangements.<br /><br />As the ministry begins to grow, more people will be using the church facilities. If you are planning an activity, be sure to check with Tina in the Church Office so she can schedule your activity.<br /><br />We sometimes think that missionaries work in strange far away lands. But Centro Cristiano Hispano is a mission effort right here in Moorpark, in our own backyard. And they can use our support. Please continue to keep this important ministry in your prayers.<br /><br />For more information on the Hispanic Mission Society and their work in our area, go to the following websites:<br /><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/">http://www.faithmoorpark.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.centrocristianohispano.com/">http://www.centrocristianohispano.com/</a><br /><a href="http://www.centrocristianohispano.com/centrocristianomoorpark/centrocristianomoorpark.html">http://www.centrocristianohispano.com/centrocristianomoorpark/centrocristianomoorpark.html</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-7026962522284699494?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2009/04/centro-cristiano-moorpark.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-7736613370582912850Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:26:00 +00002009-03-01T15:28:33.368-08:00What are you giving up this year for Lent? One of the traditions that many people in the Christian church have maintained for hundreds of years is the practice of giving up something for Lent. It is called the "Lenten fast." In the Roman Catholic church they have fish fries on Fridays during Lent because they often call for abstinence from eating meat products these forty days. A lot of people give up things like TV, chocolate, or caffeine. Some people will take days of fasting. When I was in college I gave up all forms of caffeine cold turkey. Doctors say that this usually leads to a headache for three days. This is not true. I had a headache for seven days straight! <br /><br />All of this "giving up" of things is to point us towards Christ, who gave up his life for us on the cross, and to prepare us for the glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday. Every time you have a desire or a craving for that thing you give up, you think of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. And then, on Easter Sunday you can add to your celebration of Christ's resurrection by making a Starbucks run for your friends who gave up caffeine. I think that this is a good practice for us who so typically operate in the opposite way. We are not used to giving things up, rather, we get for ourselves everything we want. <br /><br />As we have been going through the Gospel of Mark (as I type this we are in the section of discipleship which begins in Mark 8:22 and goes through Mark 10:52) we find that giving things up is not merely a Lenten ritual we go through once a year. Rather, the call to follow Christ demands that we not only give up our comfort foods or lattes for forty days, but that we give up our lives altogether. Jesus says that we are to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow after him (Mark 8:34). He says, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it" (Mark 8:35). We must learn to give up our worldly comforts and idols and find our lives only in Christ.<br /><br />We cannot, and will not, do this on our own. The reason we have to die to ourselves is that we are sinners. And sinners don't follow Jesus, they serve themselves. Remarkably, Jesus, in obedience to the Father, does something quite different. He <span style="font-style: italic;">serves sinners </span>by dying for their selves! Jesus gives up his life, he denies himself, takes up his cross and dies. And in giving up his life, he saves our lives. He doesn't lose his life for the sake of the gospel, the giving up of his life <span style="font-style: italic;">is </span>the gospel that saves us! <br /><br />This Lenten season as we follow Christ to his cross in Mark's gospel, it is my prayer that we not only learn what it means to give up our lives to serve Christ, but more importantly, that we learn what it means for Christ to give up his life to serve us. So, stay strong during your Lenten fast, but more importantly, know that Christ stayed the course to the cross for you to give you everlasting life. That is the glory we will celebrate come Easter morning!<br /><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-7736613370582912850?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2009/03/fasting-for-lent.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-2034892755300019479Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:25:00 +00002009-03-01T15:26:36.570-08:00speaking-of-jesusWhen you talk about Jesus, how do you present him? Do you talk about Jesus in terms of how helpful he is for life? Do you present Jesus as a great teacher of timeless truths? Or, do you talk about Jesus as a man who lived in Galilee 2000 years ago and died on a cross and actually rose again on the three days later? Perhaps we could word the question this way: When talking about Jesus to our friends, do we present the story of Jesus as helpful OR do we present it as true? <br /><br />Now, you might be saying to yourself: why does it have to be one or the other? Can't Jesus be both helpful for my life and the truly resurrected God-man? Of course. But when we talk about Jesus, we must keep in mind that if we don't present the account of his life, death, and resurrection as true, then we will help no one and ultimately withhold the good news of Jesus Christ.<br /><br />It is worth noting that in the New Testament, when the gospel is being presented, Jesus is never talked about in terms of what he can do for us. Rather, he is always talked about as the crucified and risen Lord. The four gospels are all accounts of what he actually did to save sinners. The book of Acts is full of sermons and presentations of the gospel message by the apostles which proclaim the death of Christ for sin and the resurrection of Christ for our justification. Saint Paul goes so far as to say this, "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith...And if Christ has not been raised then your faith is futile; you are still in your sins...If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men" (I Corinthians 15:14, 16, 17). In other words, if it is not <span style="font-style: italic;">true </span>that Christ lived, died and rose, then this whole faith is a sham and we have been woefully misled.<br /><br />But, Paul says, this is not the case, "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead..." (I Corinthians 15:2). This is our hope and our salvation. Only from this core truth can we begin to discuss the results and benefits of faith in Christ and having him watch over us. We must always start with who Christ is and what he has done for us on the cross and from the empty tomb, because if those things aren't true then anything else we say holds no weight. If Jesus did not rise, he cannot save anyone nor be helpful for anything in life because he is still dead. And dead people are never helpful. But, if Jesus is risen, then he is all the help we need and the sure hope we have. As we talk about Christ with our friends, let us deal with the truth of Christ's resurrection before we get to the benefits of faith in Christ. <br /><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-2034892755300019479?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2009/03/speaking-of-jesus-truth-of-matter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-295967703200134850Mon, 09 Feb 2009 01:27:00 +00002009-02-08T17:31:25.185-08:00In our Sunday morning worship services we are following Christ through the book of Mark from His baptism to the empty tomb. So far in our journey we have been dealing with the question, "Who is this man?" We have seen that He is the Son of God, that is, God in human flesh who has power over the devil, forgives sins, and even controls the weather. We will see that He is not only Lord of the spiritual realms and the creation, but that He is also the Lord over our lives as well. Through His gracious life, death, and resurrection He has done what is necessary to save us, and He then has called us to take up our own cross and follow him. In other words, He has called us to be disciples.<br /> <br />But what does that actually mean? What is discipleship? And how do I take up a cross? To be saved and called a disciple is to be radically changed by the Holy Spirit. It is an entire new way of being. It is a change in the way our lives operate. Once we encounter the Son of God's radical forgiveness we cannot help but be changed. Our lives are suddenly oriented in a different direction. We are no longer living for our own holiness and for our own righteousness. No, those things have been given to us freely as gifts from our encounter with Christ. Our lives are so radically altered that we are no longer concerned with ourselves, for we have died to ourselves, and we live the life we have been given by God (Mark 8:34; Romans 14:8).<br /><br />Being dead to ourselves and alive to God in the power of the Holy Spirit, we endure a cross. We take up a cross and follow Christ. That is, we live lives of sacrifice to our neighbors. When Christ took up His cross, it was to die for the sins of the world. It was the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of others. We were bound to die for our sins and Christ took on our bondage and died our death. He rose again to free us from the clutches of death and gave us new life! <br /><br />It is in this new life we take up a cross and follow Jesus in His sacrifice. That is, as those who have received the benefits of His sacrifice, we now live lives of sacrifice for our neighbor. We die to our selfish wants and desires (Mark 10:17-27), we die to our own personal aspirations to righteousness and holiness (Luke 18:10-14), and we serve our neighbor for their sake, just as Christ served us by dying on the cross for us. Christ's cross served all humanity by taking the burden of sin and bestowing forgiveness. Our cross, though nothing compared with Christ's, serves our neighbor in love and service. We give all of who we are so they will be blessed. We no longer need worry about ourselves, God has us in His hands (Matthew 5:25-33). We take up our cross to serve our neighbor. As we enter into this new section of Mark, let us pray that the Lord would give us the strength and faith to take up our cross, to find our neighbors, and serve them in love, always trusting in Jesus' righteousness which He has graciously given to us!<br /><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-295967703200134850?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2009/02/taking-up-cross.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-6446874465856207446Mon, 09 Feb 2009 00:32:00 +00002009-02-08T17:35:13.959-08:00speaking-of-jesusMany times when we talk about Jesus, we find ourselves getting into arguments to prove to our unbelieving friends that Jesus is God or that the Bible is reliable and true. We get into the argument game and we think if we can just "win" the argument, we will "defeat" our opponent and prove God right. Though I firmly am convinced that there is a time for argument and debate when it comes to discussing the faith, we must be careful when we set out to talk about Jesus that we don't set out to prove bad ideas wrong. We have the truth and we know it and that gives us great confidence. But often, confidence in truth can turn into pride in being right. And when this happens, we lose sight of the real purpose in talking about Christ, faith in Jesus.<br /><br />Romans 10:17 says that "faith comes through hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Well, we must ask, what is that message? What is that word? It is the message of forgiveness, the word of salvation. When we set out to talk about Jesus, our end goal is to proclaim that Christ was crucified for and forgives sinners, including the one we are speaking with (that is, from one sinner to another). Such a message creates faith according to our verse. It is through that proclamation of grace that the Holy Spirit convicts and convinces hearts of the gospel. <br /><br />However, that word is tremendously offensive to some, "a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to Gentiles" (I Corinthians 1:23). Some don't believe they are sinners, some don't believe Jesus died and rose again, some don't know if He ever even existed. It is in these situations where we want to be prepared to have an answer to the objections they raise, as St. Peter says, an answer for the hope that is within us (I Peter 3:15)! We want to be able to have informed and intelligent discussions that take the questions and objections of our loved ones seriously. But we must never believe that once we have answered their questions and corrected their misunderstandings that we have done our jobs. We must ultimately proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins in Jesus name (Luke 24:47). It is in these words that the Holy Spirit works. We don't need fancy arguments or silver-bullet answers to prove anyone into the faith. We simply say what Christ does for sinners, he forgives them. And the Holy Spirit convicts of that truth and turns hearts to Christ! What an awesome and humbling thing to know that we are sent by God to carry that message, to proclaim that good news!<br /><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-6446874465856207446?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2009/02/speaking-of-jesus-february-2009.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-4330278930345797915Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:08:00 +00002009-01-05T09:11:31.548-08:00Now that we have just come out of the Christmas season our focus can return to the things of every day, normal life again. No more hustle and bustle. No more over commercialization. Everything is just back to normal. We no longer have to think about Christmas. After all Christmas doesn't have anything to do with the rest of the year... or does it?<br /><br />In the church we know that the real meaning of Christmas, the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ, does not just have implications for December 25th. We are not simply celebrating Jesus birthday. Rather, Jesus' birthday is only the beginning of our focus on Christ. And this focus is to encompass our whole lives. Christ's coming at Christmas is only the beginning of the story of what God has done to save us, and the rest of the story is our focus as we leave Christmas and move towards Good Friday and then Easter.<br /><br />In our church we follow what is called the Church Calendar where we celebrate various holidays to keep our eyes fixed on Christ's life. This year we are going to try and tie these celebrations in together. As we have finished a short study on Isaiah to prepare us for Christ's coming during Advent and celebrated His arrival at Christmas, we will now follow him from the manger to the cross to the empty tomb. For the next couple of months, we are going to be caught up into the life of Jesus according to the Gospel of St. Mark. From January through April we will be hearing from Mark's Gospel about who Jesus was and what He came to do for the salvation of the world. <br /><br />In our Wednesday Bible class we have been studying Mark rather closely for the last few months. We have found that Mark can be broken up into three parts: Mark 1:1-8:21 where we learn who Christ is (a Savior), Mark 8:22-10:52 where we learn what it means to follow Christ (Discipleship), and Mark 11:1-16:8 (or 20) where we learn why Christ came (a Cross). Mark, by telling this story, is set on convincing His readers that Jesus Christ is the crucified and risen Son of God.<br /><br />Join us as we are caught up into the gospel story of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Follow Him from His baptism through the roads of Capernaum and the Decapolis as he heals this sick and raises the dead. Watch in amazement as He performs miracles for the poor and confounds the proud. Learn with the disciples what it means to take up your cross and follow Him. Weep as He is taken to the cross and mourn as He is crucified. And wonder at the mystery of the empty tomb. And through it all, learn what it means to confess that truly, this Jesus is the Son of God! This is why we celebrate Christ's birth at Christmas, because we know it leads to an empty tomb on Easter! <br /><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-4330278930345797915?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2009/01/savior-discipleship-and-cross.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-1985817754132700958Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:04:00 +00002009-01-05T09:08:26.891-08:00speaking-of-jesusAs noted in the Pastor's column, this month we are beginning a long series on the Gospel of Mark. This will be a wonderful series in which we will see the purpose of Christ's coming which we have just finished celebrating at Christmas! This book, I think, can be very helpful for us as we try to find ways to talk about Jesus with our friends. It used to be, when folks would go door-to-door to share the Gospel, they would take little copies of the Gospel of John with them to hand out. This is a great idea with all the right intentions. God's Word is powerful and can change hearts. But, I think, John is a better book to hand out to someone who we are close with so we can sit down with them and work through it. Much of the imagery and language in that book is a bit inaccessible to those who do not know Christ, and so, part of our job as those who have been sent is to explain what it means, for example, for Jesus to be "the bread of life" or "the good shepherd." <br /><br />However, Mark, I think, is a much more accessible book for those who do not know much about the Christian faith or do not believe at all. The stories are simple and straight forward. Mark likely wrote the book with an evangelistic purpose. He wanted people to know who Jesus was. You will notice as you read through Mark that Jesus will perform miracles or forgive sins and the question will constantly come up, "Who is this man?" Mark includes this question in order to put it in the mouth of the reader, so as we witness Jesus act on the pages of Mark's Gospel we are forced to ask, "Who is this man?" And Mark leaves no doubt in our minds, this man is the Son of God come to save the world from sin and the devil! <br /><br />Mark's goal is our goal when we set out to share our faith, that is, to introduce people to Jesus so they may know who He is and why He has come for them and believe. That is why this is an ideal book to have your friend read when you are sharing the faith with them. They will be forced to ask (maybe, Lord willing, even ask you!) "Who is this Jesus?" It is my prayer that as we work through this Gospel, we will be so caught up in the life of Christ, that we will not be able to help but bring others along with us for the ride!<br /><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-1985817754132700958?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2009/01/speaking-of-jesus-gospel-of-mark-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-7517886686242858016Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:45:00 +00002008-12-05T09:45:26.847-08:00One of my favorite parts of the Christmas story is the account of the shepherds. Like so many people that encounter Jesus in the Gospels, this group of sheep-herders is one of those groups that would seem least likely to see receive an encounter with God. There is so much going against them. According to Robert H. Stein, "We should not romanticize this scene as being a pronouncement to hardworking and respected 'ranchers.' Shepherds were generally considered dishonest. They were unclean according to the law." (Jesus the Messiah, 75) So, why would God send angels to proclaim the birth of Jesus to these kinds of people?<br /><br />There are any number of good answers, but I think the most provocative one is given by Stein when he says that the angels come to them, not in spite of the fact that they are sinners, but precisely because they are sinners. "Their presence at the birth of Jesus was recorded by Luke to show his readers that the good news of the gospel is for the poor, for sinners, for outcasts, for people like the shepherds." (75) Jesus came for dishonest, unclean sinners! Not unlike us!<br /><br />Were we living at that time, we would be stunned by the fact that these were the people who first heard of the Messiah's coming. I would think the news would have first come to someone with authority or power, someone with clout, like Caesar or Herod. Or, maybe someone who was very pious and religious, like the good old priest, Simeon, who had waited his whole life for the Messiah and was told by the Holy Spirit he would one day see the savior of Israel. Surely he would hear before those rotten shepherds. But no, Simeon doesn't encounter Christ until eight days after His birth. (Luke 2:25-35) First and foremost, Christ comes to the weak, poor sinners.<br /><br />For sinners like you and me this is incredible news. God comes to save us! The good news of Christmas is that God came in human flesh to save sinners, to forgive them, and to give them eternal life. The good news of Christmas is that Jesus, born in a manger, would go to a cross and die for those who are dishonest and unclean. He would receive the judgment they (we!) deserve by dying the death of a guilty sinner. By Christ coming to sinners, sinners are declared righteous and can look forward to an eternity of listening to the angels singing "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:14)<br /><br />This is good news that we must not keep to ourselves, but like the shepherds, go tell the world! Just as we sing every year around this time, "Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills, and everywhere! Go tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born!" At the risk of sounding like a diamond commercial, this year for Christmas, give gift of hope and forgiveness that the shepherds gave that first Christmas. Give the gift of good news that God has come for sinners! Merry Christmas! Glory to God on high!<br /><br />Stephanie, Sophie, and I would like to wish all of you a wonderful Christmas this year! We are always thankful to be a part of this church family and we pray that your Christmas is full of both wonder as you contemplate the mystery and majesty of God lying in a manger and joy as you spend time with family and friends. Merry Christmas!<br /><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-7517886686242858016?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2008/12/go-tell-it-on-mountain.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-6657057504775260873Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:45:00 +00002008-12-05T09:45:22.910-08:00speaking-of-jesusWho was Jesus? This is a question that ranks among the most important in the history of the world (not to oversell it!). When we are telling people the good news about Jesus, we need to be very clear on who Jesus really is! Paul says, "For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord..." So, if we are talking about Jesus Christ as Lord, it is critical for us to know who He is. So, who was that baby in the manger all those years ago?<br /><br />It is no small task to tell people who Jesus is because we are telling them something that is counter to the way we think. See, we are going to tell people that Jesus is God. The incarnation, that is, the fact that God took on human flesh in Jesus Christ is one of the most offensive parts of the message we deliver. We are not saying that Jesus was god-like, we are not saying he had a divine knowledge greater than anyone else, we are not even saying he is half God and half man. No, what we are saying (and celebrating at Christmas!) is that Jesus IS God in human flesh!<br /><br />Most people think Jesus was a great teacher or had a lot of "God-insight." But these are half-truths. He was a great teacher who taught that He was God. He had God-insight because He was the fullest revelation of God. Some will say that He never claimed to be God. But this is simply false. Consider the time in John 8 when the Pharisees were challenging Jesus' authority. Jesus said that Abraham saw His coming and rejoiced. The Pharisees replied, "You aren't even fifty years old. How did you see Abraham?" To which Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I AM!" <br /><br />Now this is critical. Jesus not only claimed to be around before Abraham, but also gave himself the holiest name of God in all the Old Testament, I AM. This is what God called himself in the burning bush when Moses wondered what to tell Pharaoh when Pharaoh asked who had sent him. God said, "Tell him, I AM sent you." And now, Jesus claims to be the one who said that! He claimed to be God in no uncertain terms. The Pharisees knew it, too. They tried to kill Jesus for committing blasphemy!<br /><br />Further, when you read the Gospels, you will notice Jesus doing things only God can do. Consider what the Gospel of Mark records Jesus doing: forgiving sins (Mark 2:1-12), controlling the weather (Mark 4:35-41, 6:45-52), providing bread from heaven (Mark 6:30-44, 8:1-13), controlling demons (Mark 1:21-28, 5:1-20), and taking authority over the law (Mark 2:18-3:6, 7:1-23). All of this points to the fact that Jesus is God. The authors of the Scriptures go to great lengths to convince us of this fact. Paul points out that Jesus is both God and man when says that Israel should receive the good news first since Christ is an Israelite. He says, "Theirs (the Israelites) are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen."<br /><br />When we think about speaking of Jesus to our unbelieving friends this Christmas, let's remember who it is we celebrate, God in human flesh, Jesus Christ. This is the good news, that God comes in Jesus Christ to save sinners. The good news we speak points to the man, Jesus Christ, who is our God and savior! Merry Christmas!<br /><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-6657057504775260873?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2008/12/speaking-of-jesus-who-was-jesus.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-3567471907501528832Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:45:00 +00002008-12-05T09:45:18.188-08:00Our church has a tremendous opportunity to join many other churches from around the country on February 28th, 2009 in a live video seminar on marriage presented by Focus on the Family. It is called "Focus on Marriage: Seeing Your Marriage through the Eyes of God." This all day seminar will take place at First Lutheran Church in Camarillo and feature speakers like John Trent, Beth Moore, Dr. Gary Smalley and more. The cost is $40.00 per couple. We have currently have 15 tickets available, but we can get more if the need arises. Please consider this day for you and your spouse to help refresh and energize your relationship. Also, if you have friends who would benefit from a day like this, please invite them! For questions and tickets, see Pastor Bob.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-3567471907501528832?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2008/12/focus-on-family-presents-focus-on.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-2557329395691560855Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:00:00 +00002009-04-11T06:29:42.333-07:00centro-cristianomissionThe Hispanic Outreach Ministry continues to move forward. On November 16, the Ministry Committee presented the latest information to the congregation in a meeting after second service. The presentation focused on “What the Ministry Is” and “What the Ministry Is Not.” For those who missed the meeting, view the presentation <a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2008/HispanicOutreachMinistry_2008_11_16.pdf" target="_new">here</a>. During the meeting there were a number of questions raised for which there are simply no answers yet. The Ministry Committee will try to provide answers as we develop this ministry.<br /><br />Very soon, Faith will be presenting the Living Nativity (Dec 12). This is a great opportunity to let the community know we are here. It’s also a great opportunity to let the Hispanic community in Moorpark know about Centro Cristiano Hispano. Members of Centro Cristiano will be at the Living Nativity to greet and speak with the Hispanic members of our community.<br /><br />The Hispanic Outreach Ministry is not an effort we are undertaking by ourselves. There are resources from Synod and from the Pacific Southwest District. Rev. Ken Behnken, who joined us on Sunday Nov 2, is from the District and “wrote the book” on cross-cultural ministries. Much of the study material and advice the Ministry Committee has been using came from Pastor Behnken. And Pastor Dennis and Tara Bradshaw have been involved in Hispanic Ministries for about 25 years in this area with churches in Oxnard, Carpenteria, and Santa Paula. The District has been planting cross-ministries throughout Southern California for some time. It’s been done before! We don’t have to reinvent “the wheel.”<br /><br />We are not alone in this ministry.<br /><blockquote>Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Matt 28:18-20 (NIV)</span><br /></blockquote><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-2557329395691560855?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2008/12/hispanic-outreach-ministry.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-588013903202876752Sun, 16 Nov 2008 19:50:00 +00002009-04-11T06:29:42.333-07:00centro-cristianomissionThe following presentation took place after the 2nd service on November 16th. The slides have been copied here for those that missed the presentation or would like to refer back to it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2008/HispanicOutreachMinistry_2008_11_16.pdf" target="_new">Hispanic Outreach Ministry</a> - 11/16/2008 PDF<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-588013903202876752?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2008/11/hispanic-outreach-ministry-with-centro.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-2470544873612958433Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:33:00 +00002008-11-28T10:50:19.982-08:00I don't know about you, but as I look back on the last few months, it really seems that the tone in our nations has been one of fear and frustration. Sky-rocketing gas prices, crashing markets, political debates, and on the list goes. And in the midst of all of <span style="font-style: italic;">this</span> we are going to take a holiday to give thanks?<br /><br />This is one of the great things, I think, about Thanksgiving. We are trained to be so negative and full of fear that we forget so often to remember the good things God has blessed us with. We get so caught up in the state of education of the cost of school that we may forget to be thankful for our kids. We may become so upset with food prices we forget to be thankful that we can afford food. Thanksgiving is such a wonderful day because it brings us to a place of reflection where we recall all the good things God has done and is doing.<br /><br />It is interesting to me that much of Thanksgiving is centered around a meal. The meal not only serves as a reminder of the abundance of blessings God has given us, the meal itself is a blessing as we sit with our loved ones and partake of the fruits of our labor. It strikes me that every Sunday we participate in a thanksgiving meal as well when we gather together around the sacrament of the altar.<br /><br />In some churches the Lord's Supper is called the Eucharist. This is Greek for "thanksgiving." The Lord's Supper has historically been known in the church as a meal of thanksgiving. And, just like at our Thanksgiving meals, we gather around this meal of bread and wine, which is Christ's body and blood, to be reminded of the death Christ died in our place. He says, "Do this in remembrance of me!" (Luke 22:19, 1 Corinthians 11:24-25). But not only do we remember with thanks what Christ has done for us, we receive with thanks the fruit of His labor! In this meal Jesus comes to us to give us His body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins. He says, "This is my body... This is my blood of the covenant poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26:26,28). And, as Christ gives us His body and blood for our forgiveness in this meal, we cannot help but respond with praise and thanksgiving! How wonderful a Jesus it is we serve, that He comes to us in such magnificent ways to give us His gifts of life and salvation!<br /><br />This Thanksgiving, let us not forget the wonderful salvation that is ours in Jesus Christ. Though the world does look bleak and times are getting to be tough, we can always come to the altar and give thanks. There Christ comes to us to remind us of His death died in our place and to five us what He won for us, that is, the forgiveness of sins which strengthens our faith and empowers us to live in this world so full of fear. What a blessed God who holds His cross ever before our eyes and freely gives us His forgiveness. How can we help but respond with thanksgiving?!<br /><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-2470544873612958433?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2008/11/meal-of-thanksgiving.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-4374071284732632774Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:01:00 +00002009-04-11T06:29:42.334-07:00centro-cristianomissionRecently several members of Faith Lutheran attended a service at St. John's in Oxnard. It was the celebration of the 25th anniversary of Centro Cristiano Hispano, Oxnard. This church started as a mission church sharing the facility with St. John's Lutheran and is now flourishing. It was a moving service that I with more from Faith could have experienced. St. John's has a large sanctuary which was filled with people of several cultures speaking at least 3 languages - English, Spanish, and Mixteco (the languages of the Oaxacan people of southern Mexico). The scene reminded me of the second chapter of the Book of Acts following at Pentecost.<br /><br />During the service, a young Hispanic girl of high school age spoke of what it meant to her to have Centro Cristiano Oxnard available to her. How it had enabled her to avoid the temptation of the streets - drugs, drinking, and gangs. She cheerfully witnessed to her teenage friends telling them of her loving God who protects her and provides for her. She tells her friends that she does not need alcohol or drugs to feel accepted. But rather she is loved and accepted by her Lord. And because of that she joyfully sings praises to God. I tried to put myself in the place of the non-English speaking people there. How would I feel if I could not worship God in my own language? Lonely and isolated! After all, church is a <span style="font-style: italic;">community of believers</span>.<br /><br />We have been given an opportunity to provide a place for non-English speaking children of God to worship in their own language. We have been blessed with a facility and with riches that we can now share with our Moorpark neighbors so that they, too, may become a <span style="font-style: italic;">community of believers</span>, a church. We are not trying to merge two separate cultures into one. Rather we are attempting with God's help to provide for both groups to worship God in their own language. As two separate congregations, we will have times when we will fellowship together and learn more about each other.<br /><br />In Christ,<br /><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email/?to=sharedFacility">Dave and Joyce Bovey</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-4374071284732632774?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2008/11/community-of-believers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-347873902945727737Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:55:00 +00002009-04-11T06:28:23.024-07:00centro-cristianomission<blockquote>Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."<span class="site">Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)</span></blockquote><p>How many times have we heard these words? So many that we probably can't count! But a more important question is really how many times have we acted on these words?</p><p>Several years ago, the FARTHER Committee developed the Biblical Purpose Statement for Faith Lutheran Church. That statement was adopted by the congregation.</p><blockquote>"Faith Lutheran Church, responding to God's grace and guided by His word, acts with genuine care as we search for those who are separated from Christ, carrying His message of salvation and binding all together so that all may grow toward spiritual maturity."</blockquote><p>When we walk out of church on Sunday morning, we are entering a vast mission field. Over the years, Faith Lutheran has supported many community programs: Food Pantry with food and school supplies, Centro Cristiano Hispano with Christmas presents for the children and financial support for future pastors, Carmen's Kitchen in Juarez, and CROP Walk. These are extremely important opportunities to show the love of Christ to others around us.</p><p>But the time has come to take another step into the Mission Field. Faith has a tremendous opportunity for Mission and Ministry right here in the Moorpark area. The population of the Moorpark area is estimated to be approximately 30% Hispanic. The majority of this population is not being reached or ministered to by ANY church. And Faith is right in the middle of this community!</p><p>A small group of members have been meeting to explore an Hispanic Outreach Ministry here at Faith. This group has been working through a Bible study that lays the biblical foundation for outreach and ministering to a culture different than our own. In addition to Bible study, the group is working to determine what the Ministry might look like. Because this Ministry is in the early stages of development, there will be more questions than answers. Some of those questions were asked at the congregational meeting on Sep 14. So let’s take a look at what we do know at this point.</p><ul><li>Outreach Ministry Vision Statement:<br /><strong>Alongside Centro Cristiano Hispano we will help establish a Spanish speaking Lutheran congregation in Moorpark with whom we will share our facility.</strong></li><li>The Hispanic Mission Society of Circuits One and Two of the PSWD (of which Faith is a member of Circuit One) exists to support the Hispanic congregations of Centro Cristiano Oxnard, Redwood, and Santa Paula. These congregations have been established through the efforts of Pastor Dennis and Tara Bradshaw along with many extraordinary leaders within these congregations.</li><li>We are not doing this alone. We are going to work with the Mission Society and Centro Cristiano Hispano to reach the Spanish-speaking community in the Moorpark area. The Bradshaws along with Marcelino and Lupe Velasco and Leo Garcia from Centro Cristiano Santa Paula are anxious to help us plant a Spanish-speaking congregation in Moorpark. Both Marcelino and Leo are in training to become Lutheran pastors.</li><li>This will be a Spanish-speaking congregation. Most of us have limited Spanish capabilities at best. But the Bradshaws are fluent in Spanish and Marcelino, Lupe, and Leo are native speakers. And for those who wish to learn a little Spanish, Pastor Dennis has agreed to hold a "Spanish as a Second Language" class. ¡Qué bueno!</li><li>This will be a Lutheran congregation in Moorpark. The pastors of the churches planted by Centro Cristiano are LCMS seminary trained men called by God to shepherd these congregations. While worship services may look different than ours, the theology is Lutheran.</li><li>We will share our facility with another congregation. Occasionally, we may have joint celebrations and functions. They won't be "renters" at Faith. The facility will be "ours", their facility and our facility. Faith Lutheran will be the Mother Congregation helping to plant a Spanish-speaking church in Moorpark. </li><li>The Pacific Southwest District and Synod both provide financial assistance for planting new congregations. The initial startup expenses are minimal. But as we get further along in this Ministry, we would look to both Synod and the District for financial assistance. </li><li>Remember! We were a Mission Church not too long ago.</li></ul><p>Just as we have been called to "go and make disciples of all nations," our hermanos y hermanas (brothers and sisters) of Centro Cristiano Hispano have also been called by our same Lord and Savior.</p><blockquote>Jesús se acercó a ellos y les habló diciendo: "Toda autoridad me ha sido dada en el cielo y en la tierra. Por tanto, id y haced Discípulos a todas las naciones, bautizándoles en el nombre del Padre, del Hijo y del Espíritu Santo, y enseñándoles que guarden todas las cosas que os he mandado. Y he aquí, yo estoy con vosotros todos los días, hasta el fin del mundo." </blockquote><p>Together, with God's blessing and help, we can reach a large population who need the grace of God through Jesus Christ. Please keep this Ministry in your daily prayers. Let's pray that God blesses our efforts and above all, we follow His Will.</p><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=sharedFacility"><i>Dave &amp; Joyce Bovey</i></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-347873902945727737?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2008/10/mission-news-october-2008.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-844641789599446539Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:19:00 +00002008-11-09T07:34:59.697-08:00On Sunday, September 21st a group of us from Faith went up to St. John's Lutheran church in Oxnard to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Centro Cristiano Hispano. It was a wonderful service full of memories and music in three languages (Spanish, Mixteco, and English)! It was a great day to look and see what the Lord has done through Centro Cristiano in the past. But for those of us from Faith, it was exciting to see what God could do through our church in the future! I truly believe that the Lord is going to open some new and exciting doors for us in the next few months and years!<br /><br />But as we were there, the pastor of St. John's, Mark Beyer, made two very interesting points in his talk. He said that "faith takes risks" and "institutions don't do ministry, people do ministry." In light of our recent sermon series on <span style="font-style: italic;">Talking About Jesus</span> I found these to be very helpful insights. Certainly as we start this Hispanic outreach, we are going to be taking risks and stepping outside of the box (no one ever said God would call us to something easy!) and we will be developing relationships with new people in our community. But as I thought about these comments, I wondered about how they apply to us in our own mission fields (home, work, school, etc). Do we take risks in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ? Are we working through life's hardships with our loved ones? Or, are we waiting for the church to do this for us?<br /><br />Now, don't get me wrong, we as the "institution" need to be equipping you and preparing you to talk about Jesus, absolutely. But God uses your presence and your mouth to deliver the good news! The same faith He has placed in your heart He draws from your lips to bring the faith giving message of salvation to your friends and loved ones. He gives you the car to pick them up and bring them to church where they will hear about Jesus' love for them. And, as you take risks in sharing Jesus with those struggling through this world of sin, you will always have the church here to love, support, and encourage you along the way. For Christ is always present in His Word and sacraments to forgive and encourage. It is my prayer that we would trust Christ to carry us through as we take risks and present Jesus to our friends and neighbors!<br /><p><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-844641789599446539?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2008/10/faith-takes-risks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2997916666332784933.post-7968777502978131425Sun, 28 Sep 2008 22:01:00 +00002008-09-28T15:18:09.909-07:00On Sunday, September 21st a group of us from Faith went up to St. John's Lutheran church in Oxnard to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Centro Cristiano Hispano. It was a wonderful service full of memories and music in three languages (Spanish, Mixteco, and English)! It was a great day to look and see what the Lord has done through Centro Cristiana in the past. But for those of us from Faith, it was exciting to see what God could do through our church in the future! I truly believe that the Lord is going to open some new and exciting doors for us in the next few months and years!<br /><br />But as we were there, the pastor of St. John's, Mark Beyer, made two very interesting points in his talk. He said that "faith takes risks" and "institutions don't do ministry, people do ministry." In light of our recent sermon series on Talking About Jesus I found these to be very helpful insights. Certainly as we start this Hispanic outreach, we are going to be taking risks and stepping outside of the box (no one ever said God would call us to something easy!) and we will be developing relationships with new people in our community. But as I thought about these comments, I wondered about how they apply to us in our own mission fields (home, work, school, etc.). Do we take risks in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ? Are we working through life's hardships with our loved ones? Or, are we waiting for the church to do this for us?<br /><br />Now don't get me wrong, we as the "institution" need to be equipping you and preparing you to talk about Jesus, absolutely. But God uses your presence and you mouth to deliver the good news! The same faith He has placed in your heard He draws from your lips to bring the faith giving message of salvation to your friends and loved ones. He gives you the car to pick them up and bring them to church where they will hear about Jesus' love for them. And, as you take risks in sharing Jesus with those struggling through this world of sin, you will always have the church here to love, support, and encourage you along the way. For Christ is always present in His Word and sacraments to forgive and encourage. It is my prayer that we would trust Christ to carry us through as we take risks and present Jesus to our friends and neighbors!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.faithmoorpark.com/email.php?to=2"><i>Pastor Bob</i></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2997916666332784933-7968777502978131425?l=www.faithmoorpark.com%2Fnewsletter'/></div>http://www.faithmoorpark.com/newsletter/2008/09/sharing-good-news.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Faith Lutheran Church)0