Friday, January 30, 2009

My Assessment Of Calvary Santa Fe

I was asked by a brother what my assessment of our Church is

This is not an exhaustive list

1 Timothy 3:15 I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Leadership
Unity among the leadership – Everything we have done and are doing has always depended on the unity of the pastors as well as the deacons here at Calvary

We Are Dedicated To:
Expositional Teaching – Teaching that expounds what scripture says in a particular passage. Carefully explaining its meaning and how it applies to the church

Biblical Theology – Being committed to know the God of the Bible as He has revealed Himself in Scripture

Doctrine – Doctrine means “good teaching”. Doctrines are the non-negotiables of the Christian faith (i.e. The Trinity, The Resurrection, salvation by grace through faith alone)

Church Discipline - Each local church actually has a biblical responsibility to judge the life and teaching of its leaders, and even of its members, particularly insofar as either could compromise the church’s witness to the gospel

Discipleship – Small groups, new believers classes, home fellowship groups are helping our church grow in godliness, holiness, and humility

Apologetics – Giving a defense for the faith (1 Peter 3:15)

Children’s Ministry – We are dedicated to the spiritual growth of our children. Our curriculum goes through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation

The Congregation
Single mindedness – the congregation has always attended church to worship, hear the word (no matter who is teaching), and serve Jesus Christ

Unity – the church is unified in many areas. One being the call to godly, holy, humble lives

Passion for the Gospel – We hear testimonies of those who preach the gospel to themselves as well as to the lost in their families, coworkers, and friends

Compassion – I have been ill since June of 2006. Since then I have received so much encouragement from the congregation. Not only myself but to all who have presented a need

Evangelism – Many invite family members and friends to church to hear the Gospel. We have had many people come to Christ this last month as a result

Prayer – Our prayer chain is expanding every day. We have many who commit to prayer for all the prayer needs. In our men’s prayer on Tuesday mornings the men of the church pray for all the prayer requests we get during the week

Servanthood - We serve God for what He has done. Servanthood than is the result of making Jesus the Lord of our lives. There are many people who are responding to God's grace by serving the body at Calvary

Hospitality – People who attend our church for the first time have commented to me that our church is full of people who are genuinely concerned for their needs

Resiliency – In most cases, when a pastor gets ill the church seems to dwindle and puts tremendous pressure on the pastor to “get someone else”. Here at Calvary by God's grace our congregation has had the ability to adjust to the changes that have taken place

Patience – Although very difficult, our church is patiently waiting to see what God will accomplish in the trial set before us

Fellowship – There was a time when the services ended people headed for the door. Not so today, people can be seen hanging out an hour after service. Men’s ministry, women’s ministry, home fellowships, etc are constantly growing

Missions – Support for missions (financial as well as prayer and communication) has increased significantly

Para-church Ministries – Compassion international, operation Christmas child, angel tree, as well as others. has been very well supported in our church

Our Church is doing very well
Thank you Calvary Santa Fe

Pastor Paul

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Praise in the Midst of Hardship

It has been one hard week for the staff and I
Please pray for us
Our church is so blessed by God
Our church is godly, holy, and humble
I praise God for you my brothers and sisters

All for His Glory
Pastor Paul

Saturday, January 17, 2009

How Barack Obama Will Make Christ a Minister of Condemnation

At Barack Obama’s request, tomorrow in the Lincoln Memorial, Gene Robinson, the first openly non-celibate homosexual bishop in the Episcopal Church, will deliver the invocation for the inauguration kick-off.

This is tragic not mainly because Obama is willing to hold up the legitimacy of homosexual intercourse, but because he is willing to get behind the church endorsement of sexual intercourse between men.

It is one thing to say: Two men may legally have sex. It is another to say: The Christian church acted acceptably in blessing Robinson’s sex with men.

The implications of this are serious.

It means that Barack Obama is willing, not just to tolerate, but to feature a person and a viewpoint that makes the church a minister of damnation. Again, the tragedy here is not that many people in public life hold views (like atheism) that lead to damnation, but that Obama is making the church the minister of damnation.

The apostle Paul says,

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves , nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

What is Paul saying about things like adultery, greed, stealing, and homosexual practice? As J. I. Packer puts it, “They are ways of sin that, if not repented of and forsaken, will keep people out of God’s kingdom of salvation.” (Christianity Today, January 2003, p. 48).

In other words, to bless people in these sins, instead of offering them forgiveness and deliverance from them, is to minister damnation to them, not salvation.

The gospel, with its forgiveness and deliverance from homosexual practice, offers salvation. Gene Robinson, with his blessing and approval of homosexual practice, offers damnation. And he does it in the name of Christ.

It is as though Obama sought out a church which blessed stealing and adultery, and then chose its most well-known thief and adulterer, and asked him to pray.

One more time: The issue here is not that presidents may need to tolerate things they don’t approve of. The issue is this: In linking the Christian ministry to the approval of homosexual activity, Christ is made a minister of condemnation.

I agree with John Pipers January 17th Blog

Pastor Paul

Friday, January 2, 2009

Nine Ways to Pray for Your Soul

Here are some ways to pray for yourself so that you're praying in sync with the way God works.

1. For the desire of my heart to be toward God and his Word.

Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to gain. (Psalm 119:36)

2. For the eyes of my heart to be opened.

Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. (Psalm 119:18)

3. For my heart to be enlightened with these “wonders.”

[I pray] that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. (Ephesians 1:18)

4. For my heart to be united, not divided, for God.

O Lord, I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. (Psalm 86:11)

5. For my heart to be satisfied with God and not with the world.

O satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14)

6. For strength in this joy, and endurance during the dark seasons.

[I pray that God] would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man. (Ephesians 3:16)

7. For visible good deeds and works of love to others.

[I pray that you] will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord...bearing fruit in every good work. (Colossians 1:10)

8. For God to be glorified.

Hallowed be thy name. (Matthew 6:9)

9. In Jesus’ name.

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? (Romans 8:32)

Got this from Desiring God - Pastor Paul