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Dear Friends,

Remember the classic old country western song by Tennessee Ernie Ford? It was called “Sixteen Tons” and it is one of the most despair-laden songs in my memory. As a kid I found myself singing along with the LP as my sister and I were driven to clean our rooms…ha! Hear it here. 

For many people, that is what work is. A burden. A grind. An “it’s a jungle out there” kind of daily fight for scraps of business. But the Bible takes another view of work altogether. While some look at work as the result of the Fall and God’s curse on humanity (remember what he told Adam?), the overall view of work in the Scriptures is a blessing. It should be done well. It should be done “as to the Lord” (Col 3:16). Nehemiah put people to work doing the noblest of tasks, even though it was hard and dangerous. Read in Chapter 4. He stations his masons as soldiers on the wall…and his soldiers as masons. He gives them both a sword and a trowel. Defend the wall while you are building the wall. That’s work!  But what a noble task it was! (By the way, this “building and battling” is the theme of the stained glass window in our chapel.) So…

Stained glass window in our chapel

A Labor Day Message for the Unemployed
This Sunday (Labor Day) I want to talk to you about work and your life in Christ. For some, this will be a very important message because you are unemployed and you would like some wisdom and counsel. For others, who have jobs but who are over-worked and exhausted, I hope to show how the Bible helps us meet the challenges of too much work.

I’ll see you this Sunday…and I also want to ask a special favor. Many of you know people who are unemployed or going through job transitions. PLEASE INVITE THEM TO COME TO WORSHIP. I want to take a few minutes to pray for the people going through work-related struggles. We will pray that the Lord would open up prospects and bring hope and wisdom and purpose to their lives. So please come…and bring a friend who needs to be there.

Here are a few things that you should know this week:

Experience of a Lifetime
We are filling up the trip to the Holy Land. We have one more Information Meeting planned for this Thursday, September 1 at 7 p.m. This is a great time to hear more about the trip, ask questions about the timing and details, and get a feel for the experience of a lifetime. Please come if you think you might be interested. Meanwhile, if you have ever wondered whether you should go on our trip, look at this amazing video. Nearly every place featured is a place we will see.

Coffee and Conversation for Men
On Point (men’s Bible study at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesdays) is going very well. There were about 20 men who leave after the teaching ends (about 7:15) and then most of the room clears out when it is officially over at 7:30. Even still, some of the men continue to finish their coffee and their conversations. These are great moments for our men. Any man is free to join us.

Remembering 9/11
Sunday, September 11, is the 10th anniversary of the attacks on that Tuesday morning (do you remember where you were when you first heard?) The mayor of New York is disallowing ministers and representatives of “faith communities” (the PC term) from being a part of the service commemorating the event in New York. But he cannot disallow the people of faith from making an appropriate response of our own. And so we will, at Christ Church, recognize that tragic turning point in the life of our country. And we will look to God for our hope and strength. Do you remember the moment on that Tuesday evening ten years ago when Christ Church filled up with people who came to seek God’s guidance and peace? Without any advertising and only by word of mouth, people came. Let’s come again, this time on Sunday morning, to think about these things in light of the promises of Scripture.

Prayers of the People
Finally, some of you asked for a copy of the Prayers of the People from Sunday. Here they are:

1. Father, we praise you for your  incredible faithfulness. All we have needed your hand provided. Your mercies and your graces are found everywhere through our lives whether in good times or in bad. We are learning to be content in any and every situation because you are sustaining us. We pray, Lord hear our prayer.
2. We ask that you would provide for this nation and all the nations in this time of anxiety and unrest around the globe. In Libya, in all the middle east, in Mexico, in places around the world where tragedy and human suffering is unreported or unseen. We pray, Lord hear our prayer.
3. For this country now in time of great need. These economic hardships brought about by our own hand have millions hurting and afraid. We pray that out of these days of hardship and concern America would turn to you for guidance, strength, and hope.  Make our nation strong in its Judeo-Christian heritage. We pray, Lord hear our prayer.
4. In recent days we have seen your mighty hand at work in the forces of nature. You are a mighty God who has established the heavens and the earth…and yet you care for us; you are mindful of us. Thank you God that no matter what comes our way, we can rely upon your infinite goodness.  Nevertheless, we pray for a long sustained relief from this heat…and long rainy days to refill our water supplies. Surprise us. Delight us with rain.  We pray, Lord hear our prayer.
5. For those who need spiritual renewal and an increase of faith. Give us renewal. Revive us, Lord.  We pray, Lord hear our prayer.

Blessings,
David+

Dear Friends,

I got my “Stage Two” water consumption guidelines a few days ago. Twice a week is now the lawn-watering limit. I don’t know what the fines are for breaking the rules, but I have heard they are pretty steep.  (I actually had to pay a “watering-at-the-wrong-time-of-day” fine a few years ago. I had to go to court and everything. It was my sprinkler controller’s fault. Honest. But I still had to pay $250!)

Something happened in my heart, and quite likely yours, when the notice to only water twice a week was received. If you are honest and human, you may have thought about how you could sneak more water onto your yard to prevent it from drought damage.  Perhaps you thought maybe you could deluge your lawn for the full four hours twice a week allotted for watering. Be honest and admit it. It crossed your mind, didn’t it? It is human…oh, so human…to look at a set of rules and believe that they might NOT apply to us in our unique situation.

This is a rule of humanity: The Law causes us to have Sin in our hearts, even if not in our actions.

Right? We are very creative when it comes to ways of getting around the law. We edge up our cruise control to four miles over the posted speed limit because we have heard that highway patrol never gives tickets to cars going “just over” the speed limit. We see a policeman in our rear view mirror, and the very sight of him makes us pay attention to our speed. We slow down. When he is gone, we breathe easier…and then speed up a bit.

What am I saying? The Law actually causes us to sin! There is a rebel streak within us (the nature of sin) that is activated in the presence of the Law. (Read Romans 7:7-9 for more on this.)

If you have children, you know that “laying down the law” actually causes disobedience in the heart, if not in actions. This cartoon illustrates the seductive power of the Law.

This is why Jesus came: to answer the demands of the Law–living under it and yet never rebelling in His heart or in His actions. That is why He was perfect. Both in His outward actions and in His inward thoughts, He never condemned Himself by sin.

His perfect live covers me for my imperfect life. Because He didn’t sin while under the Law, and I am with Him, I am just as blameless as He is! That is Good News! That is why I included this quote from R.L. Wheeler as I closed each message over this past weekend:

If I had the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of John, the meekness of Moses, the strength of Samson, the obedience of Abraham, the compassion of Joseph, the tears of Jeremiah, the poetic skill of David, the prophetic voice of Elijah, the courage of Daniel, the greatness of John the Baptist, the endurance and love of Paul, I would still need redemption through Christ’s blood, the forgiveness of my sin.  R. L. Wheeler

Cool Moments of Grace


Here are a few thoughts about our Fall Kick Off last weekend. In addition to nearly 1,800 in attendance, we had some really cool moments of grace that I will never forget:

a.    The names of all the children on our rolls were written in chalk and prayed for by our Children’s Ministry. That is dedication. That is pure passion.

b.    For the second week in a row, we had a great number of people come to the prayer room behind the chancel to be prayed for. People know that they can come there to receive prayer for themselves or to pray for someone else.

c.    We commissioned and sent Kym McDaniel into full time missionary work. She will serve the Gospel in Arequipa, Peru.

d.    I was blessed to be the preacher at all of our services with (generally) the same message: Stop, Look, and Listen. Several people asked me for more information about the article I read from. It was about the riots in London. You can read it here. As if to prove the point, one 19-year-old explained the reasons for the riots: “No one has done nothing for us…” Point made.

Here are some pictures from the weekend.

Finally, On Point, our men’s Bible study, was back in session this morning with a full house of 120 or so men. They are taking the “touchstone challenge”. That is, they are holding their own lives up against the truth of Christ’s words, and imagining what kind of mark it would leave. It’s very powerful study, and all men of the church are encouraged to join us. It starts at 6:30 sharp each Tuesday Morning. I know that’s early, but it allows our working guys to attend and still get to work on time. I look forward to teaching it next week.

In Christ,
David+

Dear Friends,

There is a story about Van Halen and brown M&M’s. They put into their concert agreement, amidst all the technical specifications about sound and staging, that they wanted a bowl of M&M’s. This bowl couldn’t contain any brown ones. Brown M&M’s would be grounds for termination and forfeiture of all monies.

Why? Because they found out the hard way that people skim contracts and don’t pay attention to detail. Eddie Van Halen figured that if he saw a “brownless” bowl of M&M’s he could be sure that the rest of the agreement had been read.

My point? Please read this whole blog entry. There is critical information for you contained here.

Troubled Teens
First of all, Sunday’s moment before the Lord was amazing. I think we all sensed that God was working with people. One of our young members, who is a probation officer, wrote me about a few of the troubled teens he invited to church. You will want to read this amazing true story:

Dear Father David,

There are a few teenagers that have recently been coming with me to a Bible study on Tuesday nights. These kids are not members of Christ Church or of any other church. These are some kids that I know who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. Some of them have even been locked up in the county jail. They have a lot of questions about Christ, but they are still struggling everyday with their addictions

Two of these young men called me this last Sunday morning and asked me if I could pick them up so that they could come to church with me. They also told me that they were bringing a girlfriend of theirs with them. I picked them up and on the way to the church they confessed to me how they had been up all night partying and drinking. They smelled like alcohol. I almost turned the car around to take one of them back home because I wasn’t sure that he would be able to make it through the service! He convinced me that he would be alright and that he really wanted to go. I was nervous about this.

This young man (who was in the worst condition of them all) was drifting in and out of sleep throughout the first few minutes of the sermon. However, about halfway through, I noticed that he was suddenly very much awake and paying attention. As the sermon continued you began to talk about addictions such as drugs, alcohol, pornography, etc… I could see that the Lord was opening his heart. All three of these kids were now hanging on every word that you were saying.

Next came the time for communion. I did not want these kids to partake of the cup of Christ in an “unworthy manner” as Paul spoke of in the Scriptures. After all, they had just been up all night partying and getting drunk. Up until just a few minutes ago, the one next to me could barely stay awake. I told him that when we go up that he should just cross his arms and not partake. He then stated to me that he had asked Christ into his life when he was younger, but that he had been living apart from God for the last several years. He told me that he understood that communion was the partaking of the body and blood of Christ and that he really wanted to do this.

I still did not want to let him or any of the others do it but then suddenly I remembered this verse, “Let the children come to Me and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God.” I reluctantly said okay. After taking communion, this teenage boy sat down next to me in the pew and began to cry uncontrollably in repentance. His friend who was sitting next to him began to weep also. After the service I spoke with all three of these kids and they stated that they all felt the love of Christ touching their hearts.

The Scripture says that “The Lord inhabits the praises of His people”. Every time I go to Christ Church I feel the presence of Christ because He is truly in our midst! He literally walks among us as we worship Him and is able to deliver even the greatest of sinners. How amazing is His love! I now realize that my job is to get people there and then get out of the way and let the Lord move. The Scripture also says that, “It is the goodness of God that leads a man to repentance”. I saw those words literally fulfilled in front of me today. The Lord Jesus is doing some amazing things in our church right now and I just wanted to share that story with you.

It is amazing to see God work. This week, please pray with me that God will take us to no less powerful places underneath His Word.

As we move into fall (can you believe it is almost fall??), please pay very close attention to the following efforts:

Middle School Minister
The search for a Middle School Minister is well underway. Thanks to Fr. Clint Kerley, the Parent Board, and a few “scouts” around the country, we have a promising candidate that we are interviewing. Please pray that we will be able to make an announcement shortly. In the meantime, we are moving forward with the program initiatives in place. It is a great season for our Youth Ministry and we hope every student and every parent takes full advantage of the many offerings and programs found here. Don’t let your teens miss out. These are critical years in their faith formation! Parents, look for an email update from Fr. Clint later this week.

Early Bird On Point
Over the years that I have been teaching On Point Bible Study on Tuesday Mornings, I have gradually seen a decrease in the the number of men who are able attend. The most commonly cited reason for this is the start time. On Point is therefore moving the start time to 6:30 a.m. on Tuesdays. beginning August 23.  The new time will allow more men to be part of a great Bible study, meet some other guys, and be on the road to work by 7:20 if needed. [By the way, if you've read this far and you're planning to be at On Point, I'd love to hear from you! Email the word "BROWNM&M" and your name now! Email]

About Our Radio Show
During Christ Church’s 25th anniversary year, we enjoyed the privilege of airing our sermons on WRR 101.1 FM radio on each Sunday morning. Feeling that the show has run its course, and desiring to focus on a new audience of potential first-time visitors, we have made the decision to end the show and redirect those funds. If you hear of anyone who is missing the show, please direct them to our website where they can view each week’s sermon video, or better yet, invite them to worship with us here each Sunday!

“The Screaming Mimes”?
As many of you know, when Josh Havens is not worshiping with us here at Christ Church, he is typically on the road with his band, The Afters. Here is a recent interview he did with the Billy Graham association about some events with Franklin Graham this month.

Holy Land Information Meeting
I hope you can make the Holy Land information meeting tomorrow night, 7 p.m. in Room. 200 of the Adult Education Building. This is an “information only” gathering—no commitments expected. I hope to answer all your questions about the upcoming trip.

Information Meeting August 17, 7 p.m.

I have led seven trips to the Holy Land since 1999. I can tell you without reservation that every trip is a blessing from God. The land is rich and wonderful; there is beauty and wonder nearly everywhere we go. The experience is life-changing for many people. We have had several people go back again because of the wealth of memories it produces. Please come and listen; I think it will heighten your interest in the trip. ‘See you tomorrow night.

In Christ,
David+

Dear Friends,

We began to observe our church’s 25th anniversary last September. What a great season it has been since then. We launched a successful capital campaign to eliminate our debt because we wanted to put the children and youth ministry of our church on the front burner. We invited many to come to church and experience Christ Church. We launched a radio program, we blessed and sent a new start-up congregation to Dallas, and the list goes on.

In just a couple of months, we are almost halfway toward the paying off of our debt! Every day that goes by frees up funds that can go toward our vision of building world-changing disciples of Jesus Christ. Fr. Clint Kerley has moved over to the Children’s Ministry to oversee this new season. He is the man for this in every way. You will hear from him often throughout the year as we implement some changes and improvements. We expect that kind of energy and passion to permeate our youth ministry, too, and I am working directly with the youth staff to insure that it does.  I am thrilled with the progress we are making.

There is one more way we are going to celebrate our 25th anniversary. We are going to party…and you need to be there!  On Sunday, June 5 at 9:30 we are going to combine the 9:15 and 11 a.m. services into one grand moment of worship. It is a date NOT to miss! There will be a full house, we will take a great big family photo (children and youth included!) and then we will enjoy a fun BBQ picnic outside. For those who really prefer the 5:30 or 7:45 services, those will be held as usual. But it is my preference to have the whole family in the Sanctuary at 9:30 so that we can celebrate together. No registration necessary…just mark your calendar!

Now, here are some things you need to know.

Fellowship of the Unashamed
At On Point (men’s weekly Bible study) this morning I read this exhilarating statement attributed to Dr. Bob Moorehead but some think it is anonymous.  But whoever wrote it has blessed us with an excellent summary of the power of faith and commitment. Many men asked for a copy of it and I thought you’d like to read it, too.

Be Part of the Silver Anniversary Class!
We have a Welcome Class coming up this Sunday afternoon. They are always great, but this one will truly be historic.  The people who join our church from this class will part of a “silver anniversary” class at our June 5  service.  What a great time to join.  If you have been thinking about it…or just want to know about Christ Church, please attend this Sunday afternoon at 5:30 p.m.  The staff and I will be happy to welcome you to this congregation. If you’d like to come, contact Jill Nauta at 214-291-5021.

Part 2 of 2 this Saturday...come on out!

Anglicanism for Everyone – Part 2
This Saturday we are offering the final installment (part 2 of 2) of “Anglicanism for Everyone” (which also serves as our preparation class for Confirmation.)  Last week’s class was great. Our “studio audience” was great. They were excited to be there, we had some great teaching, and several people have already signed up to be Confirmed on May 21 when the Archbishop of the ACNA attends our services. It’s not too late to join us for Part 2. Just come on out this Saturday at 9:30 a.m. For more information on this class or about being Confirmed, contact Fr. Clint Kerley.

In Christ,
David+

Dear Friends,

There is something for everyone at Christ Church these days.  Here are a few things you might like to know:

Month of Missions
October has been a month of missions! First, a team of women went to Lima two weeks ago to assist with a women’s retreat hosted by the Diocese of Peru. The word from Peru is that their presence and service there were greatly appreciated. A second team of all men is heading this week to Arequipa, Peru, where they will help with the

Kids in Peru move to temporary quarters during construction of the new orphanage.

construction of the new dormitory for the older kids at the Casa Hogar orphanage. Yes, construction has begun! This is the long-awaited orphanage for which the Roof Dog Run raised funds.  Please pray for the safety of our workers and missionaries, and for opportunities to display the love of Christ. Follow the ongoing construction updates and view more pictures of the Casas Hogares by visiting their blog.

Picture Perfect Retreat
Our  Middle School Fall Retreat was last weekend. The youth ministry brought back this report; reading it reminds me to give thanks for the caring adult leaders, both staff and volunteers, who are investing their time in the lives of these kids:

The backdrop for the Middle School Retreat was picture perfect with the changing leaves, rays of sunlight reflecting off the lake, nature alive and moving among the pine trees. A gentle breeze cooled the 80-degree temperature as 95 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders teemed with excitement. Our gifted speaker and illusionist, Sammy Nuckles, literally brought his bag of tricks as he creatively captured the attention of students and adults while sharing God’s word. He challenged them to step out on faith and to trust God in their lives.

On Saturday afternoon, the students faced their fears and put faith and trust into practice as they flew down the zip line, were released over the treetops by the pendulum and jumped to a trapeze while standing on top of a telephone pole three stories in the air. However, our other activities and adventures did not require such courage and effort. There were the restful, peaceful moments that knit the weekend together…like the conversation held while eating an afternoon snack, and the relationships built sitting by the evening camp fire. Those are the priceless moments that cannot be engineered or forced, but are simply God’s blessing.

A favorite memory of the weekend was the sight of students with their hands raised in the air, eyes closed and singing praises to the Lord. Once again picture perfect. (Photos below.)

Middle School Fall Retreat 2010

Fun times at fall retreat

Middle school boy reading his Bible

Christian Response to Islam
On Tuesday, November 2, we are having a guest speaker at On Point men’s Bible study. His name is Michael Craven. He is the president of the Center for Christ and Culture. He is the author of The Christian Mind: The Key to Cultural Relevance & Renewal and Uncompromised Faith: Overcoming Our Culturalized Christianity. His topic for us will be: “A Christian Response to Islam and Muslims: Sacrificing Our Rights to Stand for Christ”. Fr. Jason will be in touch with the men of church about this event.

Renew for Our Future
Over the past few weeks, I have been very busy having discussions and making plans with our staff, vestry and church leadership about what our future ministry should look like. This is one of the things I love most about my job as Rector: looking at the blessings that God has given our church and dreaming about how to leverage them! What I have shared, and what you will hear more about in the coming months, is a three-pronged vision to 1) concentrate on fortifying our ministry to children and youth 2) focus on Anglican church planting, and 3) come together as a church family to pay off our debt through a capital campaign called Renew for Our Future. There is nothing you need to do right now…you’ll hear all about it in January. I just wanted to let you know that exciting plans for our 25^th anniversary year are brewing.

Money Talks
This weekend, I will wrap up our three-week “Money Talks” sermon series…and I want to challenge you. If you know someone who is in financial distress or who is a victim of this economic crisis and may be in need of a hopeful message, please consider directing them to this sermon series. The videos are free on our website, or you can order a CD set. Either way, the Bible has surprising, life-changing messages about money that could benefit someone in need. Don’t keep them to yourself!

‘See you this weekend,

David+

Dear Friends,

How can I improve the weekly sermon study guides?

After my sermons, on my way home, I always have a series of ‘”gee-I-should-have-said-it-this-way” moments. Until now, I have had to live with the frustration that all messages are completely preached on Sunday morning. But now I can get one more chance…and I am thankful to take it.  I get to come home and write out a Sermon Study Guide for members of our small groups and many other individuals who want to take a second look at the message. Go here to see what I am talking about.

The Sermon Study Guides come out every Tuesday in The Call and are a helpful tool for thinking and sharing at a different and deeper level. For example, this week, the newspaper article I referred to (the one about the church and the dance club) is referenced and linked to in the study guide. Additional ideas about what Paul means by “adoption” are linked to in the study guide. An extended quote from C.S. Lewis about the glory of humanity is listed in the study guide. I do hope you will make it a weekly discipline to use the study guide in your small groups and personal life, too. And if you have any suggestions about ways to improve the study guide, please let me know. You can email me, or leave comments at the end of this post.

Here are a couple of things you should know:

Fall Kick-Off Was Fantastic!
Our Fall Kick Off this past weekend was fantastic. After the 9:15 sermon, I ran over to Archgate Center to see our youth ministry program take shape. I was very pleased.  I spoke to 56 high schoolers, 67 seventh/eighth graders, and 47 sixth graders. I invited them to worship with us in the Sanctuary week by week at 11 a.m. I hope to see many of them in worship, and I invited them to stay connected to the sermon series through Facebook, too.

I also heard a few stories of the youngest members of our church yelling out to their parents after Sunday School. One little guy, without really caring who heard him, shouted that he had attended his Sunday School…and he loved it. He was proud of himself. And you can be proud of our Children’s and Youth Ministries, too. Both programs depend on the commitment of students and their parents to make it work. Christian education does not work without the parent(s) being thoroughly involved! Our staff is dedicated to partnering with the parents to raise their children to know, love, and serve the Lord.

On Point for Men
By the time you read this, the men will have met for their first session of On Point Bible Study. This is a great joy for Fr. Jason and me to teach. Over the six years that I have led this men’s study, I have seen incredible growth and spiritual strength emerge in these men. I love these guys and I try to prepare material that speaks to where they are in life. We deal with issues that connect directly to the life of the men of our church. All men are welcome to attend…and you don’t need prior Bible knowledge to come and get started.

Men, I hope you will make plans to be here next Tuesday at 7 a.m. We are studying the Book of 2 Samuel. You will be welcomed with fresh hot coffee, and we end promptly at 8 a.m.

On Point - Tuesdays 7 a.m....You're Invited!

Finally, I would want you to know that our church offers Christian support for many important areas of life: finances, grief, divorce, marriage, illness, etc. If you are seeking to not just “get through” some issues in your life but also to grow through them, you may want to contact our clergy staff. Don’t be shy. Fr. Clint Kerley can be reached at 214-291-5056.

‘See you soon,
David+