GC -- Day one

A good day in Portland. Two business sessions, seminar time, and corporate worship were on the agenda. The best part for me was the morning devotions led by Tom Mullins. Below are the main points from the message. I will be passing even more detailed notes to our Discipleship Committee. Keep praying for our denomination, it is important that our leadership feel and know that they are being led by God in all they do.

Defining a Godly L.E.A.D.E.R.
Dr. Tom Mullins

Lead by Integrity
Excellence
Attitude
Developer of teams
Endurance
Ready to serve

I will be having "take away moments" from this message for some time. Nothing like being motivated by an old football coach.

GC -- Photos #1

It appears I have overcome the issue keeping me from uploading photos. Here are a few, more to come for sure. The top and bottom ones were taken form the walkway outside the hotel at approx. 5 AM Pacific this morning; it was incredible! The others are from the plane. One of Mt. Hood as we approached that the other two looking down on Yosemite National Park.

It has heated up today, but still is great.

As I write 1 business session is in the books and another in about a half hour. We are feeling our way through issues that may seem on the surface to be no brainer type things but will carry implications for the future of the denomination as it seeks to find the Lord's direction for the future. Please keep praying.

I hope to post notes from the awesome morning devotions lead by Tom Mullins today as well.

General Conference (GC) -- The trip In

Pastor Bud, Matt and I took off yesterday morning from OHare on our excellent journey. We saw Chicago and San Diego on our way to Portland. It was an excellent day for flying and we were treated to views of mountains, mesas, deserts, Los Angeles, and at least 2 National Parks. God's creation is truly amazing!!
We arrived in Portland over the Columbia River with Mount Hood in the background. Our hotel room has a great view of the river just yards away and we can see the mountains and into Washington state as well. Unfortunately we arrived about 8 hours ahead of our luggage. For clean shirts and socks we are truly greatful.
Last night we enjoyed a local BBQ joint named Boomers (great stuff) and we enjoyed a walk this morning before breakfast. The first sessions start in about 40 minutes. Keep checking back in on the blog as we will be posting more info and some photos as well.
Please be praying for the business of the Missionary Church.

Thought for the day -- July 7th

Sometimes we don't need another chance to express how we feel or to ask someone to understand our situation. Sometimes we just need a firm kick in the pants. An unsmiling expectation that if we mean all these wonderful things we talk about and sing about, then lets see something to prove it.

--Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Thought for the day -- July 6th

No man has the mind of Christ, except him who makes it his business to obey him.

—George MacDonald

Thought for the day -- July 5th

Let no one imagine that he will lose anything of human dignity by this voluntary sell-out of his all to his God. He does not by this degrade himself as a man; rather he finds his right place of high honor as one made in the image of his Creator. His deep disgrace lay in his moral derangement, his unnatural usurpation of the place of God. His honor will be proved by restoring again that stolen throne. In exalting God over all, he finds his own highest honor upheld.

--A.W Tozer

Thoughts for the day -- Independence Day Part 2

As I have been reviewing the freedom/ patriotism quotes for the past few days it has come to me how important it is to remember those who are still in need of a spiritual Independence Day. Without this, even the best of life circumstances and all the freedom in the world means nothing toward eternity. Here are a few thoughts on salvation that struck me:

The salvation of a single soul is more important than the production or preservation of all the epics and tragedies in the world.
-- CS Lewis
The knowledge of sin is the beginning of salvation
-- Latin Proverb
Reply implicitly upon the old, old gospel. You need no other nets when you fish for men; those your Master has given you are strong enough to hold the little ones. Spread these nets and no others, and you need not fear the fulfillment of His word, ‘I will make you fishers of men.
--Charles Spurgeon
Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff, including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see.

Thoughts for the day -- Independance Day Part 1

As promised, here a several more quotes surrounding patriotism, etc. Hope these provoke thought in your own life...

Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.
-- Adlai Stevenson

Does the government fear us? Or do we fear the government? When the people fear the government, tyranny has found victory. The federal government is our servant, not our master! --Thomas Jefferson

Each must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, and which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your convictions is to be an unqualified and inexcusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let man label you as they may.

-- Mark Twain

If our country is worth dying for in time of war let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace.

-- Hamilton Fish

In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms The first is freedom of speech and expression--everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way--everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want--which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants--everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear--which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor--anywhere in the world.

-- Franklin D. Roosevelt

Loyalty to the country always. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it.

-- Mark Twain

My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!

-- Thomas Jefferson

These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.

-- Thomas Paine

We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.

-- William Faulkner

You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.

-- Erma Bombeck

You're not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it.

-- Malcolm X

Coming Events @ CRMC

The following are events happening in the next 2 weeks. Who said summer is a slow time?

July 3rd: 7PM Prayer for the Nation

July 9th-13th: General Conference in Portland, OR (Pastor Bud, Pastor Matt, and Paul)

July 10th: 6PM Softball @ Cedar Road

7PM Prayer for the Nation

July 13th: 6:30 PM Family Night @ CRMC

-- Also, remember that there are no services on the 4th --

The measure of a man

The Measure of Man

Not “How did he die”? But “How did he live?”
Not “What did he gain?” But “What did he give?”
Not “What was his station?” But “Had he a heart?”And “How did he play his God-given part?”
Not “What was his shrine? Nor “What was his creed?”But “Had he befriended those really in need?”
Not “What did the piece in the newspaper say?”But “How many were sorry when he passed away?”
Was he ever ready with a word or good cheer,To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
These are the units to measure the worthOf a man as a man, regardless of birth.

Author Unknown


How will you be measured?

Thoughts for the day -- July 3rd

In honor of Independence Day I will be focusing the quotes around liberty/ freedom. I couldn't pick just one or two favorites so there will be several for each day. We have much to be thankful for. I am amazed at how many of these take spiritual application as well.

Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die.
~Dwight D. Eisenhower

He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself.
~Thomas Paine

It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you.
~Dick Cheney

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.
~Thomas Paine

Order without liberty and liberty without order are equally destructive.
~Theodore Roosevelt

Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.
~George Bernard Shaw

Thought for the day -- July 2nd

The Bible parable says that while men slept, the enemy sowed tares among the wheat. A boy who rises at 4:30 to deliver papers is considered a go-getter, but to urge our young people to rise at 5:30 to pray is considered fanaticism. We must once again wear the harness of discipline. There is no other way.

--Leonard Ravenhill