A Pastor's Christmas Prayer

Wherever you may be during this holiday season, I pray that you are overwhelmed by the Father's love for you. That as you bust into presents you are reminded of the greatest gift of all, the Father sending the Son to be the great redeemer. I pray that as you look at the blessings of this past year, you are quickly prompted to give thanks for that which you do not deserve, that which He has blessed you with. I pray that your mind is filled with deep thoughts of the Father and how His love for you flows to all those around you, whether family, friends, co-workers, the neighbors, your barista. May you express that love and appreciation to them, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven. May we not waste this Christmas season, on trinkets and toys, but may we suck the marrow out of it by rejoicing in all that is good, and shouting with the angels, "Glory to God in the Highest!!!"

Blessings to you and your family this Christmas season:

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Where does Ministry Happen? Part 6-The Ends of the Earth

As regenerate believers we not only want to passionately pursue ministry here at home and where we are daily, but also we want to spread the supremacy of God among the nations. We need to be active in our involvement and participation in spreading the Gospel to those men and women that have not been afforded the opportunity we have been blessed with here in America. As we go we not only spread the supremacy of God to men and women who have never heard or seen the Gospel, but we get to see what God is doing all over the world and how much bigger this is then me and my life. I think the one thing that I walk away with from my overseas trips is how big God is, how it may not look the same as it does in the U.S. and that is good, if not better.

The reality is that God is going to spread His Gospel, He does not "need" us to do it, but He has asked us to walk in obedience, knowing that as we follow He will erupt more and more of Himself in our lives.

So we want to prayerfully consider where the Lord is asking and prompting us go, so that we may see the Gospel at work in our lives and those we minister to in hopes that it produces something back at home that ignites our hearts to love, cherish, and spread the Gospel more.

What is your role? Are you a provider, a goer, a prayer, the only part you don't have is to sit and do nothing.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Where Does Ministry Happen? Part 5-Local

Most people think the only of missions as going overseas, or going on an extended stay to some remote African village. But missions opportunities exist in our own backyard. As a church we believe that we are to be a light to the city, to shine forth His glory and push back the darkness here in Lubbock. This can be a number of things, whether it is mentoring at a school, or serving lunch to the less fortunate, or a neighborhood block party. The reality is that mission opportunities exist all around us, and this doesn't mean you even have to do it through a "Christian" organization, rather be a Christian wherever the Lord allows you to minister and through your life and your words look for opportunities to spread the love of Christ to a city that needs Him, not more religion.

May we as a church body be in our city, may we love it, pray for it, and serve it, so that that the glory of God shines through the darkness and the religious guise that has bound this place. Look for opportunities, keep your eyes and ears attentive and then when the Lord shows you, be quick to move.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Where Does Ministry Happen? Part 4

The 4th facet where we believe ministry happens is in the church. While we do encourage ministry outside the walls of the church building, there are many ways to serve the body here at FCL. Your passion for evangelism should be partnered with the encouragement of a local body, and commitment to that body. So many of us are running around from church to church, trying to get our "needs" met and the Lord, in His word, is calling us to join, be involved, receive encouragement from a body that is invested in you and knows you. God has given us specific gifts for the building up of the Body, that is the Church (1 Cor. 12, Romans 12). These gifts range from teaching, to leading, to organizing, to friendship, you name it. We are not to neglect the meeting together of the saints (Heb. 10:24-25), because it is here where we are encouraged in our gifts, where people see what we are good at and passionate about, and we are able to play well the role that God has given us. Paul reminds us, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10).

The question then arises who really knows you, how are you letting yourself be known, that you may be an effective minister for the Gospel. May we strengthen and encourage each other that we may run our race well.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Where Does Ministry Happen? Part 3

This week we will look at and examine the third area of where ministry happens in the life of the believer and hopefully examine the impact that we are having on the world around us.

In the SCHOOL OR WORKPLACE: God has placed you where you are on purpose. Paul tells those at the Areopagus that God has "predetermined the times and boundaries of our dwelling" (Acts 17:26). We are to be faithful in our work, as an act of worship unto God (Eph. 6:5-9). Our good deeds, our hard work, and faithfulness are all forms of evangelism (Matt. 5:13-16, 2 Thess. 3:10, 1 Peter 2:15).

As the salt and light to a lost and dying world we have been given the opportunity, through out jobs and schooling, to be an advocate for Jesus Christ. The regenerate believer should be excited that they have this amazing opportunity to show and share the love of Christ through the work that they get to do. You may think you are where you are because of a promotion, demotion, this was the only place that would hire you, etc. but the reality is that God has placed you there to show off His glory. Are the men and women that you are surrounded by everyday having our great God portrayed to them in a proper Biblical way, based on your hard work, and love for others. You may be in a difficult place and job right now, but our great Lord and Savior had purposed you to be there for such a time as this. Are you convinced of that. May you have a blessed week as you build relationships and show off His glory from 9-5.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Where does Ministry Happen? Part 2

This week we will continue in our series where does ministry happen and look at another place where we as regenerate believers are called to be advocates and ambassadors for the gospel in each area of our lives.

In your community group: God created us to function with deep relationships, there is evidence throughout the Bible of this, from the Israelites in their tribes, to Jesus taking 12 men and doing life together, to the church in Acts, and constantly built up by Paul as he refers often to the body and each part playing its role well, and how the hand cannot function outside of the body and what good is it to have eyes if they have no head to go on.

One of the best ways to serve is through loving others in your community group and building rich community through service and sacrifice (Acts 2:42-47). Most of the churches effective at pastoral care and assimilation report a great majority of people who became active in a community group setting before ever stepping into the church building. People have a tendency to belong, and then believe. We desire that men and women feel connected to the body and see each other loving and serving one another through study, prayer, fellowship. This is the basis of the church, this is when it functions well and the church experiences real growth, depth first, then width.

So what opportunities do you have this week to invite someone who may not be involved in a church, or who doesn't know what it means to be the body, or needs to see it functioning in the Biblical way. May our Community Groups be a place where men and women see the church on display.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Where Does Ministry Happen?

In today's church culture it is easy for us to think that "real ministry" happens only inside the walls of the church building. But I think that the Bible teaches us something much different, that God intends ministry to happen wherever the believer is present, and for the most part that is outside the walls of the church.

The church has become a country club, keeping the ministry inside, but according to 2 Cor. 5:18-20-the apostle Paul clearly teaches that we, all regenerate believers, have been given the ministry of reconciliation, that is God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

With that said where then does this ministry take place, over the course of the next 6 weeks we will look at the various areas the Lord has given us to be ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The first we will look at is: THE HOME

God wants us to have integrity in our homes. You cannot go far in the Bible until you see this. Gen 3:23-25-from the beginning man has been charged to lovingly lead their households, this thought however is not limited to Genesis, but is a theme that runs throughout the Bible, (Eph. 5:25, Eph. 6:4, 1 Tim. 2:8). Women are called then to care for and lovingly witness to their husbands and children (Eph. 5:22, 1 Cor. 7:14, 1 Pet. 3:1). And children are called to honor and obey their parents (Ex. 20:12, Eph. 6:1-3). This is a serious thing, for the Scriptures say that one can even be disqualified from church leadership due to a neglect of ministry in the home (1 Tim. 3:4-5). This even applies to those that are not married or those who have yet to have kids, how are you preparing to be the godly mother, father, husband, or wife, right now?

In the end the world doesn't need more talk from Christians, they need to see how the Gospel effects and changes our lives and that starts with how we minister in our homes when no one is looking.

How are you leading today in your home to show that God is utmost in your affections? What actions are you taking?

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Thoughts on Trust

Simple today, not at all complicated. Do you trust Christ? Do you trust His Word? Do you trust that He still works today? If yes, then why? If the answer is no? Why? For most of us it will be yes but only in certain areas. Why do you think that is? If we were honest wouldn't it be the areas that are easy that we find ourselves trusting Him, and not in the hard or difficult areas. The question I have is this: is that trust? Is that the real definition of trust? Today is not a long blog, but today I hope that what it does is drive you to your knees, to plead with the Father to strip away any area where you are walking in the strength of your own mind and where you have chosen your way and not His.

Today is about you, for the glory of the Father, it's about dealing with your heart, and maybe there may be some healing in your life and in the lives of those around you, and may your walk with Christ be strengthened by deeper faith in Him.

"Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie!" Ps. 40:4

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Thoughts from Gal. 2:20-21

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose."

That is a great verse and most of us, whom are regenerate, sitting out there would say, yes that is the life of a true regenerate believer. That is the way to live life. But how many of us cling to the law and think that our performance in this life, our cleaning our act up, is what makes God love us more and save us. I think that if we were to be real we cling more to this life then we would really like to admit. The life of the Christian is one that is captured by the Gospel, and what this verse says is not part of that life, all of it. The Gospel message encompasses the whole not the part, but so many of us live a life bound to what we think God should do. So we give Him a part of it over here, and maybe even go to a C.G. on occasion, and help with the Thanksgiving breakfast, but are there not those parts of life that we chose just to hold onto because we "know" best. This verse is encouraging in this fact: that God has a life for us far beyond anything that we could ever think or imagine. But it is not the life that the world would deem "successful," it is life marked by suffering and persecution, moments of joy and also deep sorrow. But Paul is telling the Galatians that no matter the circumstances that occur in this world, God in His amazing sovereignty has purposed you to live not for yourself, to find joy not in what you can accumulate but in what you can give. And he says that as we do this life begins to make sense and joy is not fleeting based on the circumstances but on the one that conquered death and life.

So today are you seeking to lay all of your life down at the feet of the Savior, or are you making excuses to not be in fellowship, not be growing, or not trust Him that He says those who lose their lives will save them. Where are you today? Oh I pray that we would see our lives are not our own, but Jesus bought them with a great price and He wants it all.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Abide-Thoughts from John 15

In my personal time of study this week there just seems to be a common theme that arose in everything that I have faced, what does it mean to abide? This theme is constant in the Scriptures and one that deserves our utmost attention. John 15 speaks on this with great clarity, and amazing relevance.

V.4-Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

So if Jesus says that we cannot bear any good fruit unless we abide in Him we must know what it means to abide. Here is how I would describe what it means to abide: to continue in daily and personal relationship with Jesus, this is characterized by trust, prayer, obedience, and joy.

Let's break those down a little bit:

Trust-where is your trust, do you trust that in all things, no matter the circumstances that arise, or the bumps in the road, that Christ is good, that He does good and is truth. You cannot trust Him only with the good things of life, we must trust His sovereignty over all things.

This allows us to go where He desires us to go and do what He desires us to do. This is a key element to the Christian walk, it is why men and women all throughout history have died for the gospel.

Prayer-What does your prayer life look like, is it a wish list of sorts, a montra to state, or is it a way of life, where you are trying to line your life up with the way that things are. Are you seeking in your prayer life to draw closer to Him, that He may lift the fog and that you may see clearly what He is doing.

Obedience-to what? V.10-His Word-once you have prayer and trusted and God has opened your eyes to see the truth, are you walking in obedience or are you running away from the simple, uncomfortable things He is asking you to do. Here's a bit of advice, God doesn't always ask us to do things that come easy, often they are painful but in the end produce life and movement.

Joy-are you walking in joy? Joy that cannot be stolen by anything this world throws at us. Joy that is produced only by trusting in the King of Kings, praying to our Father in heaven, and walking in obedience to His call. That is the joy that cannot be sustained by sheer will or positive thinking, rather by a life that abides in Christ.

Today may we strive to characterize ourselves as men and women who abide in Him and do all that we can to make Him our supreme affection.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Thursday Thoughts-GOD DID!!

There are certain truths in Scripture that when we understand them, even just a little bit they erupt in our hearts a zeal for the name of Christ, one on those truths is found in one of my favorite songs of all time, God Did by Shane and Shane, this song describes for us that which our Savior has done for us and what He then has called us to, I think that we would do well to meditate on these words, to let the truth of the message saturate our hearts and produce in us a zeal to see His name lifted up, no matter the cost.

Growin’ up I overheard All the grown ups sayin’ You better be prayin’ And sayin’

All the right little things At the right little times And I had it down At least on the outside
I’d put my best side forward I could smile with the best And dress like the rest
Of the messed up church folk singin’ a song

Are you sitting down With all your sin and shame all stored up Are you ready to live
For what the law could not do God did

Could it be that morality Got the best of you and me Got us thinking That we’re on the brink Of a drink of the cup that’s all filled up With the cross havin’ even a little to do with us
It was His day It was His way To the glory of His grace Took our disease Enough to please The Father of lights To bruise Jesus

Maybe do’s and don’ts Were made to show How much we do And don’t ever make it

I hope that today this resonates with our soul, that He is our hope, because of what He did, that maybe today we lay down our pride, and embrace what He has saved us from and saved us to. Let these words read you, may they push you deeper into His Word, that you may serve Him deeper, and love others stronger.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Thursday Thoughts-Pursuit of Holiness

If you are like me there are certain things in your life that are there that you hate, whether it is the way that you react in a tough situation, or how you react to someone cutting you off on the Loop, or that you find yourself not leaning on the Lord as often or as well as you should. The reality is that most of us today find ourselves in these positions, but the sad fact is that for most of us this has just become a way of life. We say things like; "I know that I shouldn't react that way but it's just who I am." or worst we compare ourselves to others, "I know I struggle here, but at least I'm not as bad as he is." And sin has just become something that has lost it's weight and has left many believers feeling far from the Lord, unable to figure out why the Bible doesn't speak to them or why they are in a "desert" season. And for some of us it's because we have walked out of the oasis and into the barren wasteland. Now I know that there are certain times that God leads us into the desert seasons to grow us and refine our walk, but a lot of times we walk ourselves there and then wonder why we can hear the voice of the Lord clearly.

We have a saying here at the church, actually it was stolen from a friend of mine who is also a pastor, "We want this to be a place where it is ok to not be ok, it's just not ok to stay there."

The truth of this statement is that it is ok to have struggles and doubts and sin that keeps coming back, and YES, it's even ok to be open and honest that we struggle, the only thing is that some of us believe that it stops there. The second half is the important part!! As we see our sin and recognize those blind spots, we must war against that sin. In 2 Cor. 7:1-Paul speaks to the church and he admonishes us here, "Since we have these promises (6:16-18) let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, brining holiness to completion in the fear of God."

I love this verse because it tells us to war over sin and violently pursue holiness. To not sit back and go, "oh well, I just guess this is my cross." But rather we wage war by the grace of God on those things that steal our affections for Him. This is the weight of the Christian walk, God has made us alive and calls us from death to life and therefore has called us to action.

Are you taking action today? What are you doing today to put to death the desires of the flesh and allow the Spirit to overwhelm every area of you life? That is the question, are you pursuing Christ in all that you say and do?

The answer is not always easy, but the great news is that we are not alone, we have a body that is here to wage war TOGETHER, and bring about holiness. That is awesome news !!!

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Thursday Thoughts-Lessons Learned From John Owen

John Owen is one of my favorite Puritans, ok I only have read like 3, but he is my favorite. His all consuming passion was the glory of God and his life was marked by that pursuit. Owen was a pastor in the 1600's, yet his life calls out to us today to take seriously the pursuit of our Heavenly Father. The following are quotes from this incredible man of faith:What amazed me about this man is that in the midst of all his activity his passion was not public performance, but personal holiness. He said,

My heart’s desire unto God, and the chief design of my life ... are that ... universal holiness may be promoted in my own and in the hearts and ways of others.

What better preparation can there be for [our future enjoyment of the glory of Christ] than in a constant previous contemplation of that glory in the revelation that is made in the Gospel.

For Owen the pursuit was for what God was doing in his life, what the Lord was stripping away, and what he was becoming, that he may pursue the Lord and call others to do the same. His passion for the supremacy of God is something that we all can learn from. I would challenge you today to think hard and think often of those areas where the Lord is asking you to wage war against and be sensitive to what He is doing in your heart. My experience is that when the Lord confronts you on areas for sin, and take a step to the left you have two choices:

1. You make a deal and say no I really don't want to deal with that, or let that go, and so you say instead I will run as fast as you can to the right. And so we busy ourselves with anything and everything deceiving ourselves into thinking we are following the Lord, because of all the stuff that we are doing, all the while we are growing further away from Him.

2. We take the step to the left, we engage our sin, we wage war over it. We call on friends to help us, by prayer, encouragement, and accountability, and we seek with all that we are, leaning on the strength of our holy God who conquered sin and death on the cross.

Today may we not be passive with our pursuit, but may we wage war that His name may be lifted high.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Thursday Thoughts-What is the Gospel?

There are certain things that we take for granted so often in life, air, food, simple necessities, etc. As a pastor one of those areas was the Gospel, you just assume so often that men and women living in the Bible Belt know and then can communicate the Gospel message, that message that has brought us from death to life, that message that changed our very nature. But this is something that I no longer am taking for granted, the attack on the gospel has been around for thousands of years, even in the Bible we see men enter the church at Galatia and begin to distort the Gospel, combining faith and works. To our own day where it has become less about the personal effect, that we are sinners and more about a broad, non-offensive creator. When you lose the message of personal repentance, based on the cross of Christ, you lose the Gospel.

So my goal is to help us here, to inform us, to give you confidence that when the Lord grants you the opportunity to share the powerful message you are ready. Here it is:

Jesus Christ is the Gospel!!! The good news of His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of God the Father. The cross of Christ stands at the center of our faith. It is His substitutionary and atoning death on the cross that satisfies the wrath of a just and holy God, toward a sinner like me. He is the great mediator, it is by His work done on the cross that clothes believers in righteousness. His death empowers the believer now to good works, until the consummation of all things when He one day returns again. The gospel, this message centered around the cross, is available to those who in true repentance place their faith and complete trust in the saving message of Jesus Christ on the cross.

There it is the message is centered around the cross and nothing else. It is about Christ and no one else, and it is for His glory alone. So today may the Lord open your eyes to see His gospel and open doors to share this message of hope and salvation.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Thursday Thoughts-Have you been Captured by the Gospel?

Last night, during our corporate prayer time I was reflecting on my day and the Words I had studied and read that day in the Scriptures and the thought came to my mind, "have I been captured by the Gospel?" Like has this all loving, redeeming gospel of Jesus, taken over me. Then I got to thinking, what does the Gospel do when you are captured by it? I then started to think of one man, Paul, a man that was an enemy to the cross, opposing it and those who chose to follow it. He may have killed people, but in the end before we were saved, we were all enemies of that beautiful cross. And I started to think about what he stats in Phil. 3:3-11-where he makes such statements as, v.7"but whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ, indeed I count EVERYTHING as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." And again in v.10,"That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and may share in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death."

Now these are some powerful statements from a man who once persecuted the church, now he is saying I will die for Him. That is the power of the gospel, it changes us, it so overwhelms us that it changes all of us. It penetrates the heart, mind, and soul, every part of our being, changing the very essence of who we used to be(an enemy of the cross), to those that would die if called.

This is why it is so dangerous to add anything to the gospel, any time you add something to the gospel, i.e. prosperity gospel, liberation gospel, social gospel, it ceases to be the gospel, because our center focus shifts for the Jesus of the Bible and onto our circumstances.

So today may we declare that He is all we want, no matter the circumstances, no matter how the picture looks, it times of great prosperity and in times of great lost, may we rise to echo the statements of Paul, it all is rubbish, the only thing that matters is knowing Him.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE

Brandon

Thursday Thoughts-Back-to-School

Oh my gosh  I cannot believe that it is already time for school to start, the routine ensues and the madness begins.  This year my prayer for our families is that you do dinner.  No, not McDonald's in your car on the way to whatever, really use that massive table, in that room you hardly go into.  I pray that this year would be one that we really do life together.  Teaching, challenging, mentoring, checking up on, leading our families closer to Christ.  Let this year be one that you take advantage of a meal.  The Bible has some things to say about dinner and the sacred aspect it should play in our lives.  Jesus chose to spend His last moments with His disciples around the dinner table, loving on them.  The church in Acts went from house to house, celebrating the goodness of God.  

It may seem insignificant and you may "not have time" for it, but as you make it a priority, may the depth of your love for Christ, for who He is and what He has done, grow you closer and closer to Him.  As you sit around the dinner table this year, let this verse be one that comes to mind often:

One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare 

your mighty acts, on the glorious splendor of your majesty...

Ps. 145:4-5a

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE 

Brandon 

Thursday Thought-We are Not our Own

A couple of weeks ago one of my heros in the faith celebrated his 500th birthday.  Yeah I know, he's not alive how can he be celebrating his birthday?  It was his desire for more of the Lord, his tireless work to breakdown the Scriptures, and leave this earth working out his salvation with fear and trembling that still lives on, and still convicts me, and is there to show us the example of a man consumed by the Father.  John Calvin is a fascinating figure, whose life was lived not for his own gain, but for the glory of God and the good of those around him.  Last week as I was reading a book I came across this quote from Calvin, that stuck with me, I mentioned it in staff meeting last week, and I think we would all do well to read and examine our hearts in light of this statement:

"If we are not our own (1 Cor. 6:19), but the Lord's, it is clear what error we must flee, and whither we must direct all the acts of our life.  We are not our own: let not our reason nor our will, therefore, sway our plans and deeds.  We are not our own: let us therefore not set it as our goal to seek what is expedient for us according to the flesh.  We are not our own: in so far as we can, let us therefore forget ourselves and all that is ours.   Conversely we are GOD's, let us therefore live for Him and die for Him.  We are God's: let His wisdom and will therefore rule all our actions.  We are God's: let all the parts of our life accordingly strive toward Him as our only lawful goal(Rom. 14:8).  O, how much has that man profited who, having been taught that he is not his own, has taken away dominion and rule from his own reason that he may yield it to God!!  For, as consulting our self- interests is the pestilence that most effectively leads to our destruction, so the sole haven for salvation is to be wise in nothing through ourselves but to follow the leading of the Lord alone.

So today may we ponder, this thought deeply and live to show that we are all His.  If you get a chance this week check out Ps. 51, it's a great one.  Have a great week and see you Sunday!!!

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE 

Brandon 

Thursday Thoughts: May the Vision Of Him

There are certain songs, that when I sing them, I find myself falling on my knees before my God.  As we were in the mountains this weekend I heard one of those songs, Shane and Shane's Vision of You.  Now I have heard this song a countless number of times but for some reason this time was different, I actually heard the words and saw the mountains and the creation and it made sense to me.  The chorus goes like this:

Awaken what's inside of me, Tune my heart to all You are in me, Even though You're here God come.  And MAY THE VISION OF YOU BE THE DEATH OF ME, and even though you've given everything Jesus come.

It is that line, "may the vision of you be the death of me" that hit me so hard this time.  It was seeing Him in His creation that let me realize, for a moment, how big my great God is.  And at seeing that came the desire to lay my life, my thoughts, my will, my desires at His feet that He may be glorified in me in some small way.  

My prayer for us this week is that we are a church that feels the weight of those beautiful words and strives, oh how we will not do this perfectly, but may we strive to live a life humbled before a huge loving and just God.  Imagine if the world around us saw a church in love with a real and powerful Jesus that changed everything about us.  May we continue to strive after this and may we look to each other for encouragement.  I love you guys and can't wait to see you Sunday!!!! Have a great end to your week.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE 

Brandon

P.S. here is a link to the song above if you have never heard it before: (simply copy and paste into your browser).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4_uNCEhmN4

Thursday Thoughts Week of July 9-16- Lifestyle

This week we want to look at the 4th and final installment of our blog-based core values, over the last few weeks we have looked at each core value and how they build on each other, and how they are not meant to dwell apart from each other, but to compliment each other to grow us into disciples hungry and desperate for Jesus.  Today we want to look at the final one that ties all the rest of these together, LIFESTYLE.

Life is meant to be lived in the truth setting freedom of Jesus Christ and as we see His life we are called to follow and do likewise.  We believe that the two most important lifestyle characteristics that can become part of our lives are two of the most important to the early church, PRAYER AND FASTING, Acts 2:43.  

Prayer as we understand it is not just mere words but rather something that transcends our everyday life and bleeds over into everything that we do.  It is constant communion with the Father, it is about laying all that I am, have, and desire at His feet.  Prayer is about focusing on the holiness of the Father, it is about coming into His presence with a Christ-centered mindset that He is all we need.  Prayer is about living a life that is constantly on our knees, humbling our hearts, where we say "amen" but it doesn't end there.  Prayer moves us from a casual knowing about God into a deeper heart understanding of our great Father, Matt. 6:5-13.

Fasting is not merely the absence of food, but rather to abstain from anything that distracts me from experiencing the revelation knowledge of God to its fullness.  It is the simple act of us saying that nothing here on this earth is more important than my pursuit of Jesus, and it becomes our way of mourning for the return of the King of Kings, Mark 2:19-20.  

I pray that you are having a great summer, but no matter where you are or what you are doing, my prayer is that you are seeking and striving to live a lifestyle that seeks to serve, and love our great Lord and Savior.  

See you in a couple of weeks 

Brandon 

Thursday Thoughts Week of June 25-July 2-Missional Living

This week we take a look at Missional Living, what does it really mean, how do we do this is in the real world.  We have, over the last month looked at 2 other core values, and without those as our foundation, 1. remembering that Christ is our treasure, He is the Word of Truth, and 2.  that we are encouraged in community to spread the truth, this can go very bad, or get off the intended track God has set forth in His word.  So with that in mind let's examine what it means to live missionally.

Life was never meant to be compartmentalized, yet so many of us walk around in a life filled with areas that rarely bleed over into each other, we have our family box here, and our work box over here, and we keep our Jesus box over there on the mantle.  We however, believe that Christ came to show us that life is meant to be lived intentionally.  That He has made us for a specific end, namely to glorify Him in everything that we say and do.  You see the Bible is clear in Ps. 139:13-16 that God was intentional when He formed us and therefore we should live our lives with that same thought in mind.  He has placed us into specific places in this world; jobs, neighborhoods, gyms, coffee shops, etc.  Life therefore is not random and each place that we are was designed to a place where we are living, serving, walking out our lives in the same way Jesus did, thinking of the Gospel and doing all we can to be a witness to that truth. 

Therefore we believe that we are to be in culture, we are to befriend the unregenerate, to form relationships with those outside the kingdom that we may look for opportunities to share the Gospel, to live lives that point to Christ.  

So may we engage this week, may we seek out the lost and dying and may we, in the name of Jesus, offer them living water.  May we not spend all our time hidden in the Christian subculture and may we be salt and light of the great Gospel, and then leave the rest in the hands of a holy and sovereign God.  

I hope you have a great weekend and can't wait to see you Sunday, this week we will be in Eph. 4 and 1 Cor. 12-13, take some time to read.  Love you guys and see you soon.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE 

Brandon 

 

FRIDAY NIGHT DATE NIGHT-June 26

That's right!!!  Just a reminder that this Friday, marks our first Friday Night Date Night, this is a time for you and your spouse to take some time away from the kidZ and enjoy a night just the two of you.  I feel so often if we are not careful and are not intentional we can lose that connection, the intimacy, the communication.  So here is what you do, bring your kidZ and drop them off at the church around 6:30, go get dinner, run errands, see a movie, and relax.  Susie will be here taking care of your kidZ through a Bible lesson designed to engage them and teach them.  Then pick up your little ones anytime before 10:30.  It is our belief that a strong home is made by a strong marriage and we want to do all that we can to help strengthen that area of your lives.  I hope you would take advantage of this time.  RSVP with Susie, susie@fellowshiplubbock.com, We love you and are passionate for families.

Thursday Thoughts-June 11-18-COMMUNITY

This week I want to examine that second element that encompass our Core Values, Community. Community is one of those themes that runs all throughout the Scriptures, beginning with the creation of man and women, and extending into Israel and the First Century church.  It seems that God has place a massive emphasis on men and women growing together and doing life together.  This is a concept and idea that is being challenged in our very individualistic society, my problems are mine to deal with, my life is my life, and in this shift we have learned to rely more on ourselves and our ideas.  While God did create each of us different, with different personalities, and preferences, He did not create us to let those things terminate on us alone, nor did He intend for us to bear those burdens alone.  So often we take our God given individuality and turn it into pride, leading most of us to think that our problems are something that we need to deal with.  This has left our society in shambles, marriages crumbling, because we are too proud to ask for help until it's to late, our children rebelling, because we have lost sight of what is central, depression on the rise.  This was not God's intention from the beginning, for people to live secluded lives apart from any meaning contact, rather He intended a group of people that shared a mutual love and servant's heart for each other.

So that is the fight we face in a world that tell us it's all about you, we must fight to defend what the Bible stands for, a people unified under one cause, seeking to walk out one purpose.  Philippians 2:1-11-lays out the mindset that you and I are to be striving for, the same mind that our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus had.  

Let me ask you a question, where do you turn when the bottom drops out of your life?  Or when you face an issue that is embarrassing, or even scandalous?   

This week I want you to ponder this idea, what would a church be like if it operated in unity and selfless humility, Phil. 2:1-11.  Let us not simply think or dream about it, let's become such a place!!!!!

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE 

Brandon 

Thursday Thoughts Week of May 28-June 4-The Word

There are places that we must start, for the runner it is at the starting line, for the cook it is with the ingredients, for the believer it is the Word.  Col. 3:16-admonishes us to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly.  There is a reason for this being the starting point, it is the starting point of the Bible, Gen. 1-God spoke, John 1-The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.  So we believe that the Word is expressed in a two-fold manner: 

1.  The person of Jesus Christ, we can read all the Scripture that we want and still not know who Jesus is, John 5:39-40-Here He tells the Pharisees that they search the Scriptures thinking that the Law has the life, but Jesus reminds them that the Scriptures are about Him, they speak of Him, and they lead people to Him.  

2.  Thus with this mindset we believe in the perfectly inspired Word of God, every word was written to reveal the character of a huge God to finite man.  And so we preach this Word, we talk about this Word, and we get really excited about this Word, because it leads us to Jesus, who as John 14:6 says is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father but through Him.  

So how do you walk this out:  

1.  Through the teaching of the Word, making sure that we are devoting ourselves regularly to the preaching and teaching of God's Word.  

2.  Through meditation, by not just reading Scripture but lingering, chewing, digesting the Word of God, that we may know it.  

3.  Studying, this goes hand in hand with meditation, both go further then mere reading, it means finding some good, God-centered study material, and set aside some time to pursue the Father by reading and examining the Scriptures.

This is why we believe the Word is so important it is the revealed word of God to man, it is God in the flesh, so may we love the Word and may we search it to find Jesus.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE 

Brandon 

The week of May 7-14

Here are the exciting things going on at FCL over the next few weeks:

1.  The youth golf tournament is just around the corner, May 16th.  If you are willing and able to help we can use you, whether to sponsor a hole, play, help set up, anything, you can help, email Jerry, jerry@fellowshiplubbock.com, and let him know, or see him Sunday morning. 

2.  CAMP SIGN-UP!!!!! Sign-ups for youth and children's camp have started so reserve your spot now, for more info email Jerry or Susie,  jerry@fellowshiplubbock.com susie@fellowshiplubbock.com. 

  3.  Please remember the Hope Pantry as you are out shopping, remember that we are now accepting gift cards as well.  

4.  The worship ministry is looking for participants, if you are abled and equipped contact David, david@fellowshiplubbock.com and set up a meeting time with him.  Also we are looking for volunteers in the technical ministry, if you are interested contact David as well.

5.  We have placed some useful website resources, these sites deal with doctrinal issues, church issues, gives you advice on Bible study methods, they are invaluable resource and great to explore, check them out.  

That about wraps it up for this week, I hope that you pray about and seek ways to serve in your church.  This week we will be in Eccl. 10:2-11:6, take some time this week to read over it, and look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE 

Brandon 

THis Week at FCL

This week I want to make you aware of some things that are upcoming here at FCL:

1.  This Sunday morning starts our 2nd Covenant Membership Class of the year, it begins at 8:30 a.m. in Pastor Brandon's office.  The class will run three weeks, if you are interested in covenant membership, or simply want to know more about the church this is for you.

2.  May 2nd we will have our first ever Parent's Connection Dinner, this time is for those of you who have children between toddler, and 5th grade, to inform you of what the summer holds and keep you up to date with all that your children are learning and how you can encourage their growth at home.  They will meet at 6 p.m. at 50th St. Caboose.  Email Susie at susie@fellowshiplubbock.com to reserve your spot.

3.  Sign up for this years addition on children's and youth camp begins in a week and a half, starting making plans for June 16-19.

4.  Our next installment of the Pursuing Him series will begin May 31st at 8:30 a.m.  This series will study the aspect of prayer and how we are to pursue our heavenly Father in prayer.  The class will run 5 weeks, make plans to attend now, sign up by emailing us at fcl@fellowshiplubbock.com.  

May the Lord grant you wisdom today as you seek Him and press into His heart.  Let us not be a place of mere cultural converts but of true Biblical Disciples.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE 

Sunday Morning Community Group

Just wanted to let everyone know that the Sunday Morning Small Community Group will NOT meet this Sunday the 25th.  We will see all of you at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 3rd.

Basking in the Glory

Well like it or not April is already here and Easter is here wow!! What a year it has already been for us.  This week is set aside for us to celebrate and rejoice as a family, both local and universal in what Christ did on the cross.  We hope to see you Sunday as we celebrate and remember in a very cool way.

Here are a few items to remember throughout the upcoming weeks and ways that you can actively be involved in your personal growth and our growth as a church:

1.  April 19th Eric Barbee will begin a Sunday morning Community Group that will begin studying 1 Timothy.  The group will begin at 8:30 and go until 9:45-what a great opportunity to be involved if you are not yet in a Community Group.

2.  April 23rd we will begin our next Covenant Membership Class-This is for those who are interested in finding out more about the church, our beliefs, why we do what we do, and for those who seek to covenant with us in membership.  The class runs three weeks and meets in Brandon's office.  If you are interested in signing up fill out a communication card and drop it in the joy box or email us at fcl@fellowshiplubbock.com.

3.  As always remember the Hope Pantry.  As you are out shopping pick up some of those items or if you are running short on time just get a gift card and drop it in the basket on Sunday, any amount will help.

May the Lord grant you the vision and wisdom to see Him clearly this week.  I'm looking forward to seeing you on Sunday for a time of celebration and reflection.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE 

Brandon 

This week at FCL

I wanted to bring your attention to some things going on here at the church be in prayer over them and search out ways to be involved yourself:

1.  Golf Tourney-May 16-Email Jerry at jerry@fellowshiplubbock.com if you are interested in playing or sponsoring.

2.  The Hope Pantry-our weekly ministry to the middle school-shop intentionally

3.  New Community Group-beginning April 19-led by Eric Barbee-if you are interested see or email him at eric@fellowshiplubbock.com.

4.  Easter Service-join us on Sunday April 12 as we celebrate and remember our Lord's Death and Resurrection, and how that empowers us to serve and love the world around us.

Verse for this week:  Romans 8:1-3-There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin an death.  For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh could not do.

Thank you JESUS!!!

Golf Tournament Fundraiser

May 16, 2009

All proceeds benefit FCL Youth Ministry

Please call the church office for details regarding team sign-ups, 

volunteer & sponsorship opportunities.

806-687-3253

SAME POWER

The song we sang yesterday in church really is the message summed up, "the same power that conquered the grave lives in me."  I think that if we are not careful what we can boil this year down to and the resolutions that we made is will-power.  I can do it, the problem with that is historically that has not worked, because the power of my will will so fail, probably within 2-3 days and I find myself starting over thinking that somehow this time it will be different.

Here is the encouragement today: We no longer need to depend on our will, the great news is that we find our strength in the cross, where our sins past, present, and future are paid for.  The object that we fix our eyes firmly on is the author and perfecter of our faith Jesus.  Rest in that fact today, His love for you does not depend on your performance, but rather His.  

With our eyes firmly fixed on Him let us run after Him, that is the greatest joy.  Have a God-saturated day.

LOVE GOD LOVE PEOPLE 

Brandon 

Hope Pantry

Please do not forget about The Hope Pantry.  This is an amazing opportunity to impact our local community.  You can bring your donations to the church during regular business hours or on Sunday mornings.  Below is a list of items that are regularly collected.  Any item that is kid friendly and shelf stable is very much appreciated.

* PopTarts * Ravioli * Canned Soup * Canned Fruit * Ramen Noodles 

* Crackers * Peanut Butter * Jelly * Mac N' Cheese

Welcome to the world of Blogging

We want to welcome you to the FCL blog page, feel free to look around, leave us a comment or just enjoy your time spent here on our page.  It is our goal that as you read this from Lubbock or Colorado or anywhere in the world that you see what the Lord is doing here at FCL.  We desire to use this page to keep you updated on events and happenings here at the church, as well as from time to time give you an opportunity to hear from your pastors on all things from religion and doctrine to movies and great places to eat.  

It is our desire that through this page that you see the passion and desire that we have for Christ in all things, and that our desire is to inform you and inspire you through the Gospel to live a Christ filled life.  Thank you and check back with us in a week to see what's going on here at FCL.

Brandon 

Lead Pastor