Going for the Gold

Dear Worshippers,

Did you know the Olympics begin next Friday, 8-8-08 at 8:08:08 in the evening in Beijing? Many athletes will gather from all over the world to compete for the right to stand on top of the podium and claim the gold medal. Most of them will have trained for years, disciplining their entire lives to the pursuit of this goal, hoping for a few moments of glory and a place in history.

But before that, another exciting event begins: our annual Children’s Music Camp on Monday, 8-4-08 at 9:00 in the morning. Kids will gather from all over the area to prepare a musical to share which will declare the way to walk the golden streets of glory. Most of them will have done musicals before, but never one like this one, which will equip them with some very specific tools by which to share their faith in Christ.

You see, our musical this year is Hans Bronson’s Gold Medal Mission: A Kids Musical of Olympic Proportions. It will trace the coming to faith of the lead character and in so doing teach the kids to use the five colors of the Olympic rings to share their faith: black – sin, red – Jesus’ blood, blue – baptism, green – growth [prayer, Bible study, evangelism and fellowship], and gold – eternal reward. I can hardly wait to get started, except for the fact that there are still many details to care for before then.

I want to encourage you again to pray. I fully expect that there will be some kids who come next week who have never turned in faith to Christ. I know there are many others who need to grow in their faith. What a privilege to invest in the lives of these kids who have a life stretching before them that can be used to the glory of God.

I am very thankful also for a crew of support: Susan Floyd, my assistant director, Amy Davis, choreography, and Rich Kyer, drama, to name just a few key leaders. Pray for the each of these and me for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to be upon everything we do. Pray for the kids to receive that ministry. Pray for God to be glorified as we prepare this musical which will be used at two outreach events, one here and one in Fairmont.

I also want to encourage you to be “Going for the Gold”. Do not settle into this life, living comfortably looking forward to your reward. Instead, as Paul said, “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” [Phil. 3:14] Discipline yourself to serve faithfully introducing others to the Savior and the hope of heaven even while you anticipate your eternal reward.

Thanks for praying and “Living the Call Together.”

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Where Jesus Walked to the Cross

Dear Worshippers,

VBS week is upon us. We are taking a Holy Land Adventure to the Jerusalem Marketplace. We are walking in Jesus steps as we expose the kids to different aspects of Jewish life at the time of Christ. There will be children who decide to follow Jesus this week and you can play a role in that.

The last few weeks we have been considering the Core Values of the Alliance. We have been reminded that Holy Spirit empowerment is essential for us to accomplish anything. We have also been encouraged to engage in our primary work, prayer. So I want to encourage you to live out those realities in a very purposeful way.

In the opening night of VBS last night we shared Jesus with over 130 children. We need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to so this. Each teacher need that power, from song leaders to Bible teachers, games directors and craft coordinators, we want to introduce children to Christ, without the Holy Spirit we cannot do it. Here is where you come in.

Prayer. Please pray for every teacher and helper. From the registration desk to the final prayer, may each encounter show the love of the Savior. Pray for those who are serving Christ at VBS this week.

Please pray for the kids who are coming, and their families. Many of our church kids are there. Pray they will learn more of the Savior and be enabled to live in Him. Some other church kids are there as well. Pray that we would serve and love those kids and their families.Some unchurched kids are there as well. Pray that they would meet Jesus; not only them but their families as we serve and love them as well.

VBS is local missions. Pray that we would declare Christ well this week. Pray that we would disciple children in the faith. Pray that we will teach them to obey all Christ has commanded us. Pray that we will “Live the Call Together” and in so doing, do so.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Understanding Worship

Dear Worshippers,

I have been praying these last couple of weeks about Sunday School on July 20^th. I will be the teacher that morning for the combined class as we continue through a short course one our Core Values of worship. Pastor Andy Hawkins did a great job getting us started Sunday and I am looking forward to continuing the journey this weekend. I want you to join me in more ways than one.

First of all, pray with me. Worship can be such a divisive issue, and has been to some extent in our church as well. As we consider the transition that our pastoral change brings, there is some question as to what will happen with the direction of our corporate worship as well. This is a good time for us to expand our understanding and experience of corporate worship, and for that reason is a great time to consider these truths.

What I want to ask you to pray about with me is this: That this encounter with God through His word would broaden our concept of how we respond to God when we are together. We could approach this thinking that we are going to nail down what worship is and how we are going to do it, but rather what I am praying would happen is that each of us would embrace the opportunity to connect with God is a fresh way through our collective adoration.

Second, come. You each play a role in modeling worship in our services. You also play that role wherever and whenever the Lord leads you as a part of this body. Your presence in these classes will be instructive for you as a worshipper, but will also have a profound impact on your ability to lead as well, both during the class and afterward. The point here is transformation, not information.

My title above is a lofty goal, but it is also my call and my life’s pursuit. I am thankful to each of you who partner with me to nurture worship as a lifestyle. Will you continue to sincerely give yourselves over to God in response to His self-revelations? I am excited about what the future of our worship collectively will look like if we labor to this end. We will see the presence and power of the Almighty in remarkable ways. Pastor Jack Hayford put it this way, “Where worship is released, God’s presence comes to dwell, and where God’s presence abides, there will be power.”

I pray we understand that more and more as we experience the presence and power of God in our worship.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

A Vision…Fulfilled!?

Dear Worshippers,

What is vision? Pollster George Barna has defined vision as “a clear mental image of a preferable future imparted by God to His chosen servants.” He goes on to say that vision is “based on an accurate understanding of God, self and circumstances.” So that you so not think that the idea of “vision” is a term borrowed from the secular world, let me remind you of Proverbs 29:18, “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is happy.” [NLT] The words divine guidance here are translated vision in other versions, the point being prophetic revelation.

It was about seven or eight years ago when the Lord began to guide me into something that happened last Friday evening. While visiting some family on the eastern Florida coast I experienced a combined church musical that blessed me greatly. I did something like it the next two years in Florida, then each year since my return to Morgantown. As we concluded singing “In God We Trust” to the rain soaked crowd at the Amphitheater the fireworks began to go off. We were still singing and playing. It was amazing, choreographed better than I could have asked.

I saw something with my eyes that God have given me a clear mental image years before: a choir by the river singing His praises as the fireworks began. To inject our community’s celebration of America with God’s people singing of our trust in Him was the fulfillment of a vision. As the fireworks continued, I found a seat with my family and wept. God had fulfilled the vision that I had often spoken of publicly, at times I must admit with some doubt. We faced a lot of opposition over the years to this, but God had made a way. Hallelujah!

As I reflected over the weekend, I was reminded of more of the vision. I have often spoken of a 100 voice choir and a 50 piece orchestra. This year we were at about 40 and 30 respectively, and a talented bunch they were, but I am believing with a newfound conviction that God is not yet finished with this move. It is that newfound conviction that I want to encourage you with this week.

Pastor David began a new series on the Core Values of the Alliance. It will be his last. But God is saying something to me in these days, and I believe to our church. He has work for us to do. There is a preferable future ahead of us and He wants to give us a clear mental image of it. Not only corporately, but individually as well.

What role are you playing in making the knowledge/guidance/revelation/vision of God known? Are you telling others about the Sovereign One Who alone can choreograph fireworks to music? Has God put something on your heart that has been a long time coming? I encourage you today to press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus. [Phil 3:14] Now that’s a vision!

In Christ,

Pastor Scott

Fire Works

Dear Worshippers,

As Pastor David has been taking us through this series on the Holy Spirit, I have often been led to the idea of fire. This past Sunday and the one to come are no exception. I thought that their serving as bookends for the July 4^th holiday it might be appropriate to speak into the work of the fire of God in the life of the believer. As anyone who has been aware of the process of sanctification can attest: fire works.

Oh, the work that fire does. The same fire works different way depending on your proximity to it. The fire is “unchanging” if you will, but works to change the area around it in various ways. Fire works in these ways which have significant spiritual corollaries: lighting, warming, and purifying.

The first thing that comes to mind for me is that fire lights. Wherever there is fire the darkness has to flee. I built with my boys while camping a couple of weeks ago. It was dark all around except near the fire. What things does the Spirit of God want to illumine in your life? Maybe there are places where darkness dwells, or maybe there is something that you have stuffed that He wants to remind you of so that you can deal with it.

This brings us to the next thing fire does, it warms. Have you ever been really cold, like to the bone, and drew close to a fire? The degree of heat, just like light, depends on your proximity. What does the Spirit want to warm in you? Maybe your heart has grown cold with disappointment or discouragement. Draw near to the fire of God, and let Him do His work in you, reviving you. Remember, you can warm up quickly if you get close enough.

If you get close enough you will experience get another thing that fire does, it purifies. For something that will not catch fire, flames have a way of separating the different parts. Think gold being refined. The “other” materials separate from the gold, purifying it. What does the Holy Spirit want to purify in you? Maybe some things are apart of your passions and desires that keep you from loving God with your whole heart. Let God’s refining fire make you holy, set apart for Him, ready to His will.

May the Fire of God work in you these days, and always.

In Christ,

Pastor Scott