BranchCreek Community Church Blog

An Important Financial Message from Pastor Craig

2008-12-23T12:18:00.000-08:00

December 2008

Dear Friend of BranchCreek,

The economy is on the mind of everyone these days. It dominates the headlines on radio, on television and in the newspaper. I have had many questions and prayer requests from those in our church that are reeling from the news of the last few months. And the news isn't good news. Words like recession, depression, downturn and uncertainty dominate the discussion. Dr. Seuss in "The Cat in the Hat" might have been writing about our present day: "And this mess is so big/And so deep and so tall./We can not pick it up./There is no way at all."

Perhaps right now you are feeling financial stress, fear of the future or even the pain of uncertain economic times. Or maybe you are like so many and you simply don't know what to think! You may be asking, "How will this affect me?" "What will this do to my job?" or "How will this impact my parents or friends?"

The truth is, none of us know the future. But I do know that living our lives by the ups and downs of the market is a very stressful (dare if say, hopeless) way to live.

In times of great uncertainty, we have to break away from the 24-hour news cycles that compete for our attention and focus on the unchanging, the eternal and the solid truths of life.

Here are four TRUTHS every Christian can hold onto regardless of the economic news:

GOD IS IN CONTROL. God is still in charge and He is not shaken by the economic uncertainties of life (or any other uncertainties for that matter). He still offers hope to those who trust in Him.

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe."
- Hebrews 12:28

GOD WILL GIVE YOU PEACE IF YOU CALL ON HIM. Turn off the anxiety-producing news reports and open the Good News of God's Word. Spend some time reading your Bible and praying each day. And remember this promise:

"Give all your worries and cares to God,
for He cares about what happens to you."
- I Peter 5:7

GOD WILL GIVE YOU ALL YOU NEED IF YOU PUT HIM FIRST. While it's tempting to "take control" of our finances when the future is uncertain, let me challenge you to do the opposite. Give control of your finances to God and put Him first. If you do, He will give you all you need.

'God will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern."
- Matthew 6:33

GOD WILL USE YOU MORE IN A TIME OF CRISIS THAN IN CALM. While none of us would have wished for this time of difficulty, there is an opportunity for us, as God's people, to model to the world that our faith is not just for good times. Throughout the ages, it has been during times of crisis that Christianity and God's people have had the most impact. Let me challenge you to:

· Being a person of generosity while everyone else is hoarding (John 3:16);
· Being consistent in faith while others are fearing (2 Timothy 1:7);
· Showing great love and concern for your friends and inviting them with you to our BranchCreek holiday services so they too can find hope
(I Peter 2:12).

I trust that these truths will be an encouragement to you and that they will help encourage strong faith and generosity as you end 2008 and move into the New Year.

Be encouraged,

Pastor Craig
For the staff

PS: On a church family note-we have been very blessed so far this year and I believe the future will be no different. God is in control! It is so wonderful to be part of a leadership team that will not be led by the loss or gain of the Dow but by the unchanging and powerful Lord Jesus Christ. Wherever He leads we will follow, trusting Him as we go.

A Note From Pastor Craig

2008-10-01T08:43:00.000-07:00

The last time this church focused on 40 Days of Purpose, we were not yet occupying our new building. In our church newsletter of March of 2002, I, by faith, gave my own version of an “I have a dream” speech. I wrote in part:

“May Branch Community Church always be a church built for those who don’t belong to it, a place where the helpless, the hurting, the spiritually lost can once again come “home.” I dream of a church welcoming others with an attitude of hospitality and celebration, full of people who have personally experienced the unconditional, radically inclusive love of God and wanting to ever widen that circle of love.”

In a recent service, I asked how many were new to the church since occupying this new facility and at least half of the people raised their hands. Our dream is being fulfilled. Again, my words from many years ago:

“The only difference between Christians and non-Christians is that Christians know where the feast is, where the party is, and are actively inviting others to the banquet.”

People are here, received Christ, been baptized, are growing and serving, because you have been a bringer and includer. Let’s strengthen our resolve to extend the invitation to join us at church.

All we do is ask and then trust God with the rest. Listen to the voice of one who was invited:

“I am one of those here because you hung a sign on your uncompleted building that said, ‘Making Room For You!’ The next Sunday I remembered that invitation and have been at BranchCreek ever since. I want to express my heart in a way that signifies to others that I, too, am ‘making room for you.’

Guidance & Direction

2008-01-11T12:29:00.000-08:00

1. What makes it difficult to read the Bible and pray?

2. How do you or could you deal with those challenges?

My Prayer Warm-Up

2008-01-11T12:23:00.001-08:00

I found that I was having a difficult time moving past certain things in my life. I found that I was focused on certain significant frustrations and not experiencing God’s perspective or peace in those areas (job loss, marriage, etc.). I developed a document called a “Prayer Warm-Up.” I desired a warm up to the truth about God. I wanted to stimulate an attitude of prayer for the remainder of the day and a reminder to view my frustrations/issues/concerns from His perspective.

I begin with passages of Scripture that are meaningful for the issues that I face. After reading them, I pray reactively about the concerns and issues in my life. I am specific about the things that bother me about myself and my situations and circumstances. This is very personal and helps me to give those areas to God.

Then I pray proactively - reminding myself of who God is and asking Him to work in my life. I ask God to help me as I communicate with people throughout my day. Before I look at anything on my computer in the morning, I usually read and pray through a document I call a "Prayer Warm-Up." The verses are changed from time to time. The exciting thing has been that as I’ve been praying about concerns, I find that over a period of time, I find they aren’t concerns any more. I can delete them from the document and praise God for His work in my life. There are other concerns that surface and they are added.

I’ve had stops and starts with this document over the years, it gets easier with time in one sense. In another sense, I can drift and think that I don’t need it. I’ve learned that’s a sign that I really need God’s presence. I have not “arrived!” Just ask my wife! But, I am so thankful that God is at work and I pray that I will be more and more open to His leading and perspective.

This is only an idea. It’s not for everyone. I pray, at the very least, that this will stimulate you to figure out how you can open your concerns in your life up to God and allow Him to direct you and transform you through the Bible and through prayer. If you feel like God can use this in your life, I encourage you to pray through a few verses and a few reactive and proactive requests... Starting small was key for me and determining a consistent time/place to do it really helped.

May God direct you as you seek to His guidance, strength and peace. May our relationships with Him deepen this year!

Blessings,

Jeb

Prayer Warm-Up
Hebrews 12:1-3
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
John 15:9-17
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this; that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.”
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Psalm 19:13,14
13Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.
14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 139:23,24
23Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 86:11
Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

I need to daily give these areas to Jesus so that they will not inhibit my relationship with Him.
Ephesians 4:22
22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires
Here are some less personal examples:
- affirmation and approval of others
- trying to do everything humanly possible in my job
- lack of appropriate assertiveness with my wife
- not embracing God’s love or forgetting that God’s forgiveness or thinking it’s not enough

Now that I’ve given the above things to God, I pray that God will help me to put on these things…
Ephesians 4:23-24
23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Here are some less personal examples:
1.    God is holy and no one can fathom His greatness.
2.    God the Father loves me as much as He loves His Son Jesus. John 17:23
3.    God has forgiven me and my sin.
4.    God will do great things in and through me because He is a great God.
5.    God is my ultimate audience.
6.    Please help me plan with Your ideas in mind. Help me to say “yes” and “no” and obey You

I need spiritual direction!

2008-01-03T08:12:00.001-08:00

A man in his 30's worked for a respected orange producer in Florida. When asked what was the most difficult part of his job, he explained how he watched oranges pass in front of him all day and was responsible for removing any orange that did not meet the standards set by the producer. With fatigue and concern all over his face, he said, "I don't know how long I can keep at it. All day long, decisions, decisions, decisions!"

Does life at times seem to you to be an endless string of decisions? Do you ever wonder how God connects with your daily decision making? When was the last time you faced a decision that frankly seemed like more of a game of chance then a rational Spirit-led decision making process?

Spiritual GPS: Getting Guidance is designed for you - getting practical answers to the often times ambiguous task of "Discerning the Will of God".

Let us know how this 4 week teaching series helps provide you with guidance and direction

Craig Bishop's books now on Amazon!

2007-12-31T06:58:00.000-08:00

If you haven't stopped by Amazon lately, check it out. Craig's series of books are available there.
Faithspace in the Workplace: Fifty Days of Rediscovering Your Soul At Work
Emerging Faith
Discovering Your Divine Design

What are your top 5?

2007-12-20T08:12:00.001-08:00

A good friend of mine emailed me yesterday to ask what my top 5 books are that are "able to change one's way of living and thinking" (he is perhaps looking for some Christmas gift ideas). Here's how I responded, considering those books I tend to return to again and again:

1. “A Severe Mercy” by Sheldon Vanauken (an autobiography of a love story, and of how a young couple comes to Christ through the influence of C. S. Lewis; a beautiful book that I have read many times).

2. “The Cross of Christ” by John R. W. Stott (the very best book on the most important of subjects; a treasure).

3. “The Contemporary Christian” by John R. W. Stott (no other book has impacted me so greatly in terms of my philosophy of ministry).

4. “Jonathan Edwards: A New Biography” by Iain Murray (my favorite biography of one of my heroes; ever wonder where my son got his name?).

5. “The Chronicles of Narnia” by C. S. Lewis (I’ve read them many times, most recently to my kids – love these stories!)

What are your top 5?

- Dave Detwiler

Life While You Wait

2007-12-20T07:02:00.001-08:00

Your choice is simple. You can Trust God, or you can Worry! But you can't do both.

Find out more this Sunday…

-chuck faber

Saint Nicholas - The Man, the Myth, the Legend

2007-12-19T12:21:00.000-08:00

Saint Nicholas is the primary inspiration for the lovable and grandfatherly giver of Christmas gifts. He was a fourth-century Christian bishop in the city of Myra in Lycia, a province in modern-day Turkey. Although involved in the normal affairs of the Church, Nicholas was famous for his generous gifts to the poor in his area. In one instance he is said to have presented three daughters of a dear Christian man with dowries to keep his daughters out of prostitution. He is the patron saint of several towns around the world, including both Amsterdam and Moscow....read more of this article on our December Rising.

Read it, for the love of God!

2007-12-19T10:58:00.000-08:00

I'm always on the lookout for helpful resources to encourage us in our reading and study of the Bible, and this is a really good one: The Books of the Bible, published by the International Bible Society.
This is a printing of the Bible that encourages our reading and understanding of God's story by removing chapter and verse numbers (did you know those weren't added until well over 1000 years later?), presenting the text according to the internal divisions that the authors likely intended, and placing the individual books or letters in an order that will help us understand them better.
I think it's a great idea, and I'm enjoying reading through this version a little bit each morning, as I arrive at my office. You can learn more about it by clicking here.

- Dave Detwiler

Looking for guidance? Not sure where to turn?

2007-12-18T08:55:00.000-08:00

We all need help finding our way. During the month of January we will be learning how to find Godly guidance in our series GPS: Spiritual Guidance. Help us know what problems you are facing. Please answer these questions by clicking on comments below. (You may log in annonymously)

What one important decision are you currently seeking direction over?
What would you say is the greatest hinderance to knowing God’s direction in your life?
What are the most effective distractions of Satan in keeping you from knowing God’s direction for your life?

I, God, Am All-Knowing

2007-12-13T10:23:00.000-08:00

1. What changes do you need to make in your life in order to make knowing God your highest priority?

2. The idea that God is all-knowing can be either good news or bad news. How do you respond to this truth about God, and why?

3. How might knowing that God is all-knowing encourage you to be more honest when you pray?

4. Of all of the things you learned about God over this past month, what has proved most encouraging, and why? What questions remain?

I, God, Am All Powerful

2007-11-29T11:18:00.000-08:00

1. What is the purpose behind your quest for knowledge? Does knowing more lead you to loving more?

2. What obstacles in your life prevent you from trusting in God’s power?

3. What can you do to overcome these obstacles?

4. How have you seen God’s power at work in your life and the lives of others?

I, God, Am All Loving

2007-11-20T08:14:00.000-08:00

1. What makes it difficult for you to embrace God’s love?

2 What are some examples of God’s love in the Bible that are meaningful to you?

3. How does a greater understanding of God’s love impact the difficult circumstances that you face?

4. How do you think you could gain a greater understanding of God’s love?

Jesus And My Hot Tub

2007-11-09T08:47:00.000-08:00

1. How connected is my bank balance to my sense of happiness and security?

2. What possession or pursuit has captured a part of me? If I talked about that thing as having taken a "percentage of my heart", what % does it hold right now?

3. Has there been a time in my life when I felt the pull of God to do something or go somewhere, but was hindered by some financial factor in my life?

4. Does everything really end up "in the junkyard" as Randy Alcorn writes in The Treasure Principle? What things truly last beyond me?

Life Experiences

2007-10-25T09:08:00.000-07:00

1. What experience in your life made it really challenging for you to see the Lord?

2. Do you think humans have a tendency to recall positive or negative experiences with greater precision? Why do you think this is so?

3. If nothing on this planet happens without God’s permissive or decretive will, is it really true then, that it is only God who disappoints us?

4. Can you recall an experience you did not understand but later came to see how it was useful in preparing you or strengthening you for a situation you faced?

5. We say some potential employees are not qualified because they lack the "experience". Why do we at one point say we value experience, and at another point, regret experiences?

Using Abilities

2007-10-10T13:09:00.000-07:00

1. Can you give three reasons why God wants you to be you, rather than trying to be someone else?

2. What would you say to someone who says they don’t have any talents?

3. What is the relationship between your shape and God’s will?

4. Explain how your vocation or hobby can be an expression of your SHAPE, and be used to bring honor to God.

5. Read I Tim 4:5. How can your abilities affect other people in a Godly way?

Additional Reading:

Ex 31:3

Job 10:8

Eph 4.28

Matt 20:5

Romans 11:29

2 Tim 2:21

Luke 12:35

I Cor 12:5

Unwrapping Gifts

2007-09-26T11:43:00.000-07:00

1. Read 1 Peter 4:10-11, Ephesians 4:7-13, Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, and 1 Corinthians 12:27-31

2. What do they all have in common? And what do you make of their differences?

3. What is the main point that all of these passages are making?

Understanding the SHAPE I'm In

2007-09-19T10:58:00.001-07:00

1. Explain how our differences can be a cause for celebration or conflict. Which do you most often experience in your life?

2. How does God’s creativity and the high value He places on life affect issues of abortion, living with impairments and dealing with the elderly?

3. Why do most people envy others rather than celebrate their uniqueness?

4. Which part of your SHAPE do you know the least about? Why?

5. Read Psalm 139: 13-16. What is the point of this passage? What difference should it make in your life?

Let's Start Something New!

2007-09-05T13:02:00.000-07:00

1. Give an example of how an incident from the past has frozen your forward progress.

2. Do you keep track of the lessons learned in your spiritual development? Give an example of a lesson learned this past week.

3. How does faith help you overcome spiritual inertia? Does this come naturally for you or is there a specific process you go through?

4. Read Psalm 1:1-3. Give a recent example of how God’s Word helped you face a difficult circumstance.

Additional References:
Proverbs 16:9 (TLB) Psalm 1:1-3 (CEV) Proverbs 29:25 (NCV) Zech. 4:6 (NCV)

Resuscitate: A Time to Trust Others

2007-08-31T06:38:00.000-07:00

1. How would you define an authentic biblical community?

2. Do you find that you have experienced this type of community at BranchCreek? Why or why not?

3. What can we do to improve our sense of comunity here at BranchCreek?

4. Share stories of times when people in your community have helped or hurt you during times of CRASH and SHOCK?

Begin Your Journey Today

2007-08-22T11:28:00.000-07:00

1. Think of a life experience in which you felt totally out of control. How did you respond to it? Did it weaken your faith or make it grow stronger? Why?

2. People often say, "It happened for a reason." Did you ever have a life experience that made no sense at the time but you now understand? What was it?

3. What situation are you going through now that doesn’t seem to make sense? Imagine yourself 5 years further down life’s road. What might you see then, that you don’t see now?

4. What role do you think God plans for our family and friends as we go through life’s crashes? Do they help us or do we help them?

Read Phil. 4:11. How does this verse apply to your life CRASH?

Accept God's Timing as Best

2007-08-15T12:42:00.000-07:00

1. How has waiting on God’s perfect timing been a blessing to you?

2. How has God worked through you during the Crashes in your life?

3. What suggestions do you have for others to help them deal with the changing seasons in their lives?

Better Bible Study: "Where Should I Start?"

2007-08-02T06:53:00.001-07:00

In the post below, I address the question,"Which translation should I use?," so give that a look if you need guidance in that area.

The question at hand, "Where should I start," goes on to ask, "Is there a resource that maps out where to start, and explains the chapters along the way?" Great questions!

Many people do what seems to make sense: start reading at the beginning of the Bible, and continue toward the end. There is nothing wrong with this approach, but I know of many who get bogged down pretty early on in this pursuit (say, around the book of Leviticus, or perhaps Numbers!).

On your tear-offs, a few of you mentioned a resource that you found helpful: It's called The Victory Bible Reading Plan. My wife has used this in the past, and I know she really liked it as well. I just checked, and it's available through amazon.com (just type in the title).

My recommendation, if you're just starting to read the Bible, is to start with one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John - giving perspectives on the story of Jesus), and then proceed through the book of Acts (what happened immediately after Jesus ascended into heaven). This will ground you in the heart of God's Story. And since Luke wrote both the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, that might be the best place to start - reading Luke, and then Acts.

And for those who might prefer either watching or listening to the Bible, there are DVDs on Matthew (Matthew: The Visual Bible) and John (The Gospel of John), both of which I have used and like. Plus, there are audio versions of the Bible for most any translation. A recent resource, called The Bible Experience, is a dramatic audio version of the TNIV, and I really like it (it's on my iPod for when I walk).

Now, as far as a resource that "explains the chapters along the way," a few of you mentioned that you benefit from a study Bible - a large Bible that has many helps, including introductions to each book, and explanatory notes to help you understand what you're reading. One of you mentioned The Life Application Bible as a great resource. I can add to that the recently published TNIV Study Bible, which has loads of helps in it (making it a pretty hefty Bible, but most study Bibles are big).

Another resource that I have found really helpful is called How to Read the Bible Book By Book, written by Douglas Stuart and Gordon Fee, which walks you through each book, helping you to know what to look for as you are reading (their companion volume, dealing more directly with how to interpret various parts of the Bible, is mentioned in the post below; both are highly recommended).

Stay tuned! More encouragement to come in future posts!

Yours for better Bible study,
Dave Detwiler

Better Bible Study: "Which Translation Should I Use?"

2007-08-01T12:31:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is the first of several posts that I hope will encourage you as you seek to be strong, with the word of God living in you (1 John 2:14, one of the passages we looked at this past Sunday).

Assuming you don’t read Hebrew or Greek (the two main languages in which the Bible was originally written), the most basic tool for your study of Scripture is a good English translation or, actually, several good translations.

The reason for this is explained well in chapter 2 of Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Zondervan, 2003; a very helpful book, by the way), but the bottom line is this: No translation is perfect. Some try to be as literal as possible (called “formal equivalence”), but this sometimes obscures meaning and often reads funny (that is, in ways we don't actually speak); others try for a more “thought-for-thought” approach (called “functional equivalence”), but this can end up being more interpretation than translation at times, and some significant nuances in the original language can be lost. So, use a couple of different translations, and when they read quite differently for a particular verse, you’ll likely need to seek outside help (such as a good commentary - more on this later) to clarify what the verse says.

Here are the best translations to use (in my opinion), listed from the more “word-for-word” to the more “thought-for-thought” in approach:

NASB - New American Standard Bible
ESV - English Standard Version
TNIV - Today’s New International Version (an excellent revision of the best-selling NIV)
NLT - New Living Translation

There are certainly other translations that you may find helpful, such as The Message (which is actually more a paraphrase than a translation), but these are the ones I primarily use. You can access any of them (and more) for free online at www.biblegateway.com. I go there all the time to compare translations and create my teaching outlines by cutting and pasting verses (you can look up the same passage in multiple translations at www.biblegateway.com/passage).

But what if you are looking to get one Bible for basic reading and study? I really like the TNIV. Like its predecessor (the NIV, which is what we have in the auditorium seats), it strikes a good balance between "word-for-word" and "thought-for-thought," but it brings the NIV up-to-date in terms of contemporary language usage (for example, where the NIV reads "God . . . wants all men to be saved" in 1 Timothy 2:4, the TNIV reads, "God . . . wants all people to be saved").

One last tip: There is a great web-based translation found at www.bible.org/netbible that has thousands of excellent footnotes giving you insight into the original languages. Check it out—it’s free!

Yours for better Bible study,
Dave Detwiler