Be Encouraged

Your Words Matter

2012-01-28T11:18:00.000-08:00

by Tim Howard

Howmany of you know somebody who seems to complain all of the time? Are you thatperson? Admit it, all of us complain about some things but some people seem tocomplain about everything.

Theweather's too hot, the weather’s too cold, the service at the local fast foodrestaurant is too slow. These stop lights take forever; for crying out loudthis person is driving 10 mph below the speed limit! I’m sure you have heardthem.

Somepeople complain about their jobs while others complain about not having a job.Some complain about not having enough time to do all that needs to be donewhile some complain about having nothing to do at all. There is ALWAYSsomething to complain about.

Ifthere's one group of people who were known for complaining more than any otherin the Bible, it has to be the Israelites in the Old Testament. If you knowtheir story, it's an interesting one. They were slaves, in bondage to theEgyptians and they had one prayer: 'God, get us out.' And God answered theirprayer, raised up a leader named Moses and did what they asked. Within threedays, however, they were complaining. Here’s the record.

Ex.15:22-24 “Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went outinto the wilderness of Shur. They went three days in the wilderness and came toa place named Marah… but they could not drink the waters of Marah for they werebitter… So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” Thisaccount started a pattern of complaining that went on and on and on…

Whatthey didn’t know and what many of us don’t realize is just how significant ourwords can be. What you put on your lips can open doors or close them.

God’sdisposition changed toward the Israelites when they constantly complained. Theyclosed the door on his favor and opened the door for his chastisement. His lovefor them remained the same but His propensity to bless them was altered. Justlike a parent who wants to bless their child with gifts but because of his orher incessant complaining the parent decides to withhold the blessing in orderto train the child in thankfulness.

Wordsput on our tongues are powerful. St. James tells us they are like a fire, whichcan heat things up in a positive way or set things on fire from hell. Solomonsaid death and life are in the power of the tongue…

In2012 I’ve committed myself to living out Philippians 2:14, “Do everythingwithout complaining or arguing…” How can this become a reality?

1.Ask God to purify your heart because the fruit of what you say is connected tothe root, which is in your heart attitude.

2.Stop comparing yourself to others because it is often the source for yourcomplaints.

3.Focus on the things that really matter in life. Much of what we complain aboutwon’t matter down the road. The material world will fade away but relationshipswith God and others will outlast time.

4.Ask God to help you become aware of it when you do it. Often it is so ingrainedinto our subconscious that we often complain without realizing it.

Here’sa truth. There is ALWAYS something to complain about. Yet, there is also ALWAYSsomething for which you can give praise. Choose to fill your mouth with praise.You will make a positive difference in those around you!

Bring Back the Joy

2012-01-21T08:43:00.000-08:00

by Andrew Cromwell

I am constantly reminded of how unnatural Jesus’ words soundwhen I compare them to my life. Inthe book of John, Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joymay be in you.” When I read thatstatement and look at my life, the reality is that I often do not feel joyful. Anxious, fearful, frustrated, impatient, fatigued — these are thefeelings that seem most natural to me.

So how do we experience His joy in our lives?

I believe the key to living joyfully, is to stayconnected to Jesus. If He is the source of joy, then itwould make sense that we need to stay plugged into the source! Just as we don’t expect a lamp to giveany light unless it is plugged into an outlet carrying electric current, weshouldn’t expect joy to bubble up in our lives unless we are connected to Him.

One of the reasons we don’t stay connected to Jesus isbecause we don’t trust Him. Eitherwe don’t believe that He could really forgive us for all we’ve done or we’reafraid that He is going to ask us to do something that we don’t want todo! Either way, we keep ourselvesfrom giving ourselves fully to Him and we unplug. We must remind ourselves of is that Jesus is all aboutlavishing His love upon us! Helooks for ways to have a relationship with us and to express His love tous. His plan for our life is morewonderful then anything we could ever even imagine.

Another reason we don’t stay connected to Him is that wedon’t know how. We tend toovercomplicate things. The bestway to stay connected with Jesus is to read His Word, talk to Him and getaround people that are doing the same thing. If we do these things regularly and with a heart thatdesires to know Him, then it’s hard to miss.

Now, it is important to know that you can stay connected toJesus, but still not experience joy. This is because joy is not a feeling, it is a choice. We have all seenpeople choose to be angry. Youknow how it goes. Somethinghappens that is negative and that person decides to focus on it. They think about it, they talk aboutit, they brood on it. Soon theyare consumed with anger. Theydecided to be angry.

In the same way, you must decide to be joyful. You do this by putting your mind in theright place. You refuse to take upoffenses. You recall who God isand His wonderful plan for you. You put a smile on your face. Before you know it, you are filled with joy.

The pastors of Kings County would love to help you livejoyfully. Why don’t you visit oneof the many wonderful churches available in our community this week? It’ll help fill you with joy.

Secrets

2012-01-14T13:21:00.000-08:00

by Tim Howard

When I was in grammarschool my sisters found it amusing to speak with each other in some unknownlanguage. I later learned it was called Pig Latin, which is a language game ofalterations played in English. It was a secret way of talking and they used itbecause they didn’t want me to know what they were discussing. They wanted tobe secretive.

The Bible talks about bothgood and bad secrets. Kind of like a good cholesterol and a badcholesterol. A good secret is something positive you do and wonder ifanyone notices. Jesus alluded to this type in Matthew chapter 6 when he talkedabout some religious people who liked doing things for human recognition. Heexplains the value of not emulating this approach to good works. God sees everygood thing we do in secret and rewards us for them. Every good secretwill be rewarded.

Bad secrets, however, arethings we want no one to discover. Keeping a dark secret can consume you. Darksecrets lurk in the back of our souls, in the shadows, and gnaw at us. We areburdened by our secrets. And when you least expect it, they often come tolight, and the fallout can be catastrophic.

The Bible gives us 4reasons we shouldn’t keep bad secrets and David the second King of Israelreveals all four.

David was a great manbut he had a weakness for women. He committed adultery with a woman nameBathsheba and after discovering she was pregnant with their child, he tried tocover his tracks.

His attempts failed,however, and adultery led to murder, then chaos and ultimately the death oftheir child.

David thought his secretwas safe but soon learned 4 lessons.

Lesson 1: You can’t fool God! 2 Samuel 11:17 “But thething David had done displeased the Lord.” David might have kept his secret from everyone else—he might have fooledthose around him—but he didn’t fool God. God knew. God always knows. Heknows your secrets and my secrets too.

So really, there are nosecrets with God. You can’t fool Him—He knows everything. Don’t fool yourself! Stop fooling yourself by thinking that you’ve got a secret, or that you’ve gotaway with it.

Lesson 2: Your secrets will be revealed. Luke 12:1-3 makesthis abundantly clear. We all know about David. It is no secret to anyone whohas read the Bible!

Lesson 3. Bad secrets, when kept inside, cost dearly. Listento how David puts it: Psalms 32:3-4 “When I refused to confess my sin, I wasweak and miserable; I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand ofdiscipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summerheat.” Bad secrets grow in powerwhen we refuse to confess them but confession brings us a fourthlesson.

Lesson 4. Living in the light brings the greatest dividends ofall.

When a man named Nathanconfronted David about his secret sin, he finally came clean. He came to thelight. He exposed the evil that lurked inside. He did what John recommends inthe New. Testament. 1John 1:9 “…if we confess our sins to him, he isfaithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.” The result? Forgiveness! Freedom!

As you begin 2012, beencouraged to walk in the light. Make a decision to live out loud, in the open,holding no bad secrets. It will be one of your best decisions for the New Year.

New Year, New Chance

2012-01-07T09:07:00.000-08:00

by Andrew Cromwell

As the calendar turns, we once again wrestle with the realization of how little we’ve changed over the last twelve months. The year passed so quickly. Resolutions that we made with dedicated resolve at the beginning of the year were quickly discarded as we found the rut of our routine too comfortable and familiar.

And now we find ourselves at the beginning of a new year and we are tempted to give up even before we have started. We wonder, is there really any point? Can I, in fact, change? Or will 2012, simply be a repeat of 2011?

Let me encourage you not to give up too soon! Change isn't easy and quitters never win. Just because you have failed in the past, does not mean you must fail in the future. I love the Bible verse in Proverbs that says, "the godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again" (Prov. 24:16). The difference between failure and success is often simply the decision to get up one more time and try again.

The best news of all is that you do not have to undertake your New Year's resolutions all by yourself, if you will simply invite our Heavenly Father to be involved in the process. After all, He wants you to grow and change! He knows what great things are possible in and through you because He created you for greatness in the first place.

So what resolutions do you need to invite Him to be a part of this year? Maybe you have some dirty laundry you need to give up to Him instead of carrying it forward. Perhaps you need to make a few phone calls, ask forgiveness and mend those broken relationships. Or maybe you need to change some old routines and exchange them for new ones. Sometimes we have done things for so long, we just assume that we must do them, but maybe it’s time to give up some of the old patterns of behavior.

One of the best things you can do is be around people who have resolved to grow and change. If all your friends are resolved to stay the same and to keep you there too, it might just be time to get some new friends! The pastors in Kings County would love to encourage you and help you get a fresh start for the New Year. Maybe one of the best decisions you could make would be to get right with God, get in His house and start looking at yourself through His eyes. You’ll be amazed at the wonderful things He has in store for you!

Top 10 Decisions for 2012

2011-12-31T08:49:00.000-08:00

by Tim Howard

Someonesaid: “You are today where your decisions have brought you and you will betomorrow where your decisions take you.” All of us make hundreds of decisionseach and every day. What we choose to wear, when we start our day, how we willget to work, what we will eat and on and on and on…

Manydecisions will not alter you in a dramatic sense but there are some decisionsthat will shape you and your destiny in profound ways. Events, experiences andother occurrences don’t have the power to shape you. It’s not what happens toyou that matters most but the decisions you make regarding how you will respondto those happenings.

Here are10 decisions that prove to be anything but stupid. They have been used byGod to shape many individuals into people of substance. If you’re lookingfor a Top Ten list, for 2012 you might want to consider some of these.

10. I willleave everything a little better than I found it. Putting it another way: Iwill give more than I take. If you make this decision, a promise follows: “Giveaway your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—givenback with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generositybegets generosity." Luke 6:38

9. I willlisten and think before I speak. Maybe that’s why God gave us two earsand one mouth. James 1:19… everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak…

8. I willmeasure people by the size of their hearts, not the size of their bankaccounts. Don’t be impressed by what you see. Like the Pharisees in the Bible,What is seen externally is not always a good indication of what’s really goingon below the surface. Check out Matt 23:25-27.

7. I willnot give up on anyone because miracles happen every day. Parentsespecially need to hear this regarding their children. I personally thank Godfor parents who didn’t give up on me.

6. I willwork on my own inadequacies before I critique and criticizeothers. “It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and beoblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let mewash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's thiswhole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thoupart instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face,and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.” Matt 7:3-5 TheMessage

5. I willwork for what I get rather than expect others to give me ahandout. When you do this you do away with a spirit of entitlement.

4. I willtake responsibility for my own life rather than blame someone else.

3. I willpraise God at all times. David pennedthese words in Psalm 34 because he knew that God is at work even in thedifficult moments of life.

2. I willlove my neighbor as myself. Matt. 22:39

1. I will Love the Lord with all my heart and with allmy soul and with all my mind and with all my strength.’ Mark 12:30

These 10 decisions for 2012 may not be the ones you chooseto follow but they will shape your life for the good if you do. Whatever you’vedecided to do in the upcoming year, make sure you don’t do it alone. Allow Godto participate and partner with others. You will be glad you did.

Unexpected Gifts

2011-12-24T09:20:00.000-08:00

by Andrew Cromwell

Manygifts will be given this season. Some will be beautifully wrapped, some will beexpensive and some will be hand-made. There will be big gifts and little gifts,toys and trinkets, gadgets and gizmos and everything in between. For many ofus, there really won’t be too many surprises this Christmas season. We’ve beenthrough it all before, and many times.

And while we willopen our gifts with a smile on our face, we don’t anticipate being greatlysurprised. There will be the obligatory clothing items, the gag gifts, the cutehand-made trinket from the kids and the gift we really wanted that we told themto get for us. We don’t anticipate anything will be out of the ordinary and wehave already decided in our hearts that our true enjoyment will come fromwatching the littlest ones open their gifts.

But every once ina while, we are surprised by an unexpected gift. You know the gift I’m talkingabout, it comes from a loved one and it comes out of left field. We didn’tspecify the make and model and it doesn’t conform to the standard gift givingroutine. But this gift really knocks it out of the park! As we open it, werealize the time and thought that went into the selection of the gift and wefeel so appreciated and loved.

Unexpected giftshave a way of doing that to us. They interrupt the routine for a moment andremind us that we can be surprised after all, no matter how jaded we are.That’s why unexpected gifts are often the best of all. It’s not about thewrapping and it’s not about the size of the gift—instead it is about theinsight and creativity of the giver.

These days eventhe story of that first Christmas has become so routine—so frequently recountedthrough nativity scenes, stories and Christmas plays—that we forget how truly unexpectedit was. God’s grand plan for the salvation of the world came wrapped in veryinauspicious packaging and in a size impossibly small and fragile. And yet, itwas the best gift of all.

This Christmas, Ipray that you would be surprised by God in an unexpected way. I pray that Hispresence would surprise you and your family on Christmas morning and that youwould rediscover how much insight, creativity and love He has for you.

We have placed aChristmas devotional for you and your family to enjoy on Christmas morning onour website at kcfchurch.org. On behalf ofall the pastors in Kings County, Merry Christmas!

Spend Less, Give More

2011-12-17T14:20:00.000-08:00

by Tim Howard

Howare you doing with regards to your Christmas shopping? Have you purchasedsomething for your children yet? Are you still frantically looking forthat perfect gift for that perfect someone in your life? What about yourfriends and co-workers? Are you running from store to store and checkingonline prices to find a great gift for a great deal? In all youractivities, have you ever stopped to think there might be a better way tocelebrate Christmas without spending a lot of your hard earned money? IfI could show you how to spend less yet give more, wouldn’t that be good news?

Thisyear I’ve decided to join the ‘Advent Conspiracy.’ I am conspiring withothers to find a way to celebrate the Advent of Christ without yielding to thespirit of consumerism, which is very much alive in our culture. I’m notimplying we should spend nothing! It’s not about being stingy, miserly oracting like a scrooge. Share nothing, have nothing or give nothing. NO! It’s all about giving gifts BUT giving gifts that mean something and make areal difference. Spend less and give more! Sounds impossible unlessyou realize that the greatest gifts we can give people cost nothing at all in amonetary sense.

Threeof the greatest gifts came to us through the birth of Jesus Christ and you cangive these three gifts to others. He came to reveal the Father’slove. He came to give us joy and He came to offer forgiveness and freedomfrom our past.

Didyou notice that Jesus came for everyone and not just a few? The very factthat God decided to live among us reveals His great love toward us and when youadd joy and forgiveness to the equation you have three pretty awesome gifts.That’s not only good news, that’s great news!

Thespirit of consumerism can too easily blind us from seeing the real message ofChristmas. If we miss out on what’s truly important the Christmas season can bea burden to endurerather than a blessing to be experienced.

Iinvite you to join the ‘Advent Conspiracy’. Return to the true meaning ofChristmas. Decide to celebrate God’s presence rather than focusing on gettingmore presents. Give more of yourself by serving rather than spending. In doing, the people you encounter will be energizedand see your love. Forgive those who have hurt you and they willexperience great joy - So will you! Many gifts can be given to people thisChristmas but Love, Joy and Forgiveness are among the best.

Ifyou join the Advent Conspiracy, you will have more money in your pocketsand more life in your heart at the end of the season. You will honor Godby exalting His son Jesus Christ and that’s extremely important since it’s HisBirthday. He is the reason we say: Merry Christmas!

Red Bearded Pitch Fork Carrier

2011-12-10T15:11:00.000-08:00

by Andrew Cromwell

We donot live in a vacuum. Neither do we live in the realm of the purely physical.There is an unseen world that has direct impact on our lives. We would be wiseif we did not ignore this fact. Regrettably, our culture has become convincedthat the supernatural does not exist (except of course, vague references to a“higher power” and anything paranormal and associated with horror movies).

I amconvinced that reality is in fact rife with the supernatural. This is not becauseI see disembodied spirits or “dead people” behind every rock and around everycorner. Instead, I am convinced of this because I am convinced of the truth ofthe Bible. And if the Bible is true, then we are unwise to live our lives inignorance of the fact that there is more to the world than what we can see withour eyes.

In 2Corinthians 2:11, the Apostle Paul tells us that we should not be ignorant ofthe strategies of the Enemy. The devil is real. He is not the bearded,pitchfork carrying, two-horned, red-skinned cartoon character depicted sooften. He is instead, a created being—an angel—who was once in heaven, butbecause he decided to rebel against God, has now been thrown out of heaven andhis domain is now here on the earth.

He is apowerful creature, but he is not like God. He is neither omnipresent(everywhere) nor omniscient (all-knowing). Instead, he attempts to overcomethese limitations by cooperating with our own fallen nature. He has spent agreat deal of time and effort on setting up systems within the world that standagainst God and that enslave people to their lowest desires.

Whereveryou find deceit, hatred, bitterness, injustice, abuse, moral depravity andmurder, you have found the fingerprint of the devil. He may never have actuallybeen present in that situation, but his strategy and influence most certainlywere. Usually, we play right into his game when we begin to pursue our ownselfishness and personal gain. Love, forgiveness, peace, joy and all the giftsthat God has given to humankind are never the result of selfishness andself-centeredness.

Thedevil’s strategy is to keep you from becoming the incredible person that Godcreated you to be. He will do anything that he can to distract you from thatwonderful destiny. And because each of us was created with unique interests andabilities, the Enemy manipulates us all a little bit differently, but alwayswith the same goal in mind.

One ofthe more famous quotes about the devil is that the greatest trick he everplayed on mankind was to make them believe he didn’t exist. If he does exist, maybe you and Iought to be familiar enough with his plans so that we can avoid them!

Thisweekend the pastors in Kings County would love the opportunity to talk to youabout your destiny and how you can avoid the traps the Enemy has laid out foreach of us.

Born Free

2011-12-03T13:24:00.000-08:00

by Tim Howard

Sincethe inception of our country many wars have been fought. All of them remind usof one very important fact: we have an enemy! This enemy is often illusive,controlling and very deceptive.

TheBible makes us aware of a spiritual enemy and this adversary seeks to influenceus for the bad, control us in order to thwart freedom and deceive us intothinking that good is bad and bad is good.

Oneperson said to me, “ If you believe in God you must also believe in Satan.” Icouldn’t agree more! That’s one of the many names given to our spiritual enemy.Other names are: The devil, liar, deceiver, accuser and the list goes on. Eachname represents something of our enemy’s nature, character and strategy.

Beingborn into freedom is different than living a life of freedom. To ‘get free’from the tyranny of another is one thing, but to ‘remain free’ requires wars tobe fought, battles to be waged and skirmishes to be won. There is no victorywithout a fight and freedom is definitely worth a fight.

Knowingyour enemy is a key to victory. Whether it’s in Afghanistan, Iraq ora spiritual battle, we must have certain Intel to be successful. The enemydoesn’t want you to walk in freedom. Here’s 5 ways Satan seeks to keep you imprisoned.

1. Ignorance.I didn’t know the speed limit was 35 mph officer! Sorry about that, here isyour ticket. Isaiah. 5:13 … “My people go into exile for their lack ofknowledge...” Paul the Apostle said: “ we are not ignorant of Satan’sschemes.” Ignorance is not bliss! What you don’t know can hurt you.

2. Negligence.Luke 6:49 …"the one who hears my words and does not put them into practiceis like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The momentthe torrent struck that house, it collapsed…” Many marriages and relationshipsunravel, not because of what one does but because of what one doesn’t do.

3. Disobedience.Proverbs 21:3 “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD thansacrifice.” God’s laws are not meant to restrict us, but to keep us frombondage. Our Father is not so interested in slapping you on the wrist forfailure to follow His directives, as He is desirous to keep you free from thesnares of the enemy.

4. Arrogance.Proverbs16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”Your enemy loves to see you filled with pride. It hinders God’s work fromhappening in you because God draws near to the humble but opposes the proud.

5. Un-forgiveness.This can be likened to a Hydra monster. Hydra was a multi-headed serpentor monster in Greek mythology, slain by Hercules. Similarly (but unfortunately,it is no myth; it is hard reality) un-forgiveness will manifest in multipleways - resentment, vindictiveness, scornfulness, bitterness, anger, passive unresponsivenessand a host of other unproductive things. When you walk in un- forgiveness youare playing into the strategic plan of the enemy.

You were born to be free. Ifyou are to remain free, however, you must close the door to these 5 entrypoints and open the door to wisdom, participation, obedience, humility andforgiveness. God sent His Son to set us free. That’s why He came! Why not visitone of the many church families in Kings County as you enter the Christmasseason. You can celebrate His birth and the fact that you are born free in Him.

Gracias

2011-11-26T11:16:00.000-08:00

by Andrew Cromwell

Just a few short days ago we celebratedThanksgiving. Many of us gathered together with our families and paused to say“Thank You” to God, echoing the prayers given by the pilgrims so many yearsago. Oh, and we ate too, we gorged ourselves with turkey and fixings or withtamales or ham or whatever it is that your family prepares.

Thanksgiving is an interesting holiday. Itseems it is of little use to the retail machine that drives our economy. Themarketing possibilities at Thanksgiving seem to be somewhat limited to turkeydecorations and food. Sandwiched between Halloween—the fastest growing retailsales holiday at nearly $7 billion spent on decor, costumes and candy—andChristmas—at a whopping $465 billion—poor, sad, neglected Thanksgiving offerslittle in the way of sales. That is, unless you consider Thanksgiving merelythe doorstep to Black Friday, but then we are back to Christmas.

In one comic satire being passed around thisseason, the Thanksgiving turkey is shown angrily lamenting that he doesn’treally even get one measly day anymore! The moment Halloween is over, thestores are redecorated with reds and silvers, Christmas carols are playing attop volume and “leaked” Black Friday ads are everywhere. This Santa guy hasreally overstepped his boundaries!

Maybe the reason Thanksgiving is overlookedis because it stands for something that is in direct opposition to theconsumerism that makes this world go around. To truly be thankful, we must hitthe pause button. We must take a break from the frenzied shopping and spendingand stop the complaining about how we are unhappy with what we have. Instead,we must take a look at what we do have and turn our hearts in gratitude to theOne who has made it all possible.

Truly saying “thank you” does not comenaturally to us. That is why our parents had to teach us to say it (any parentwill tell you there is no child that didn’t need a lesson on saying “thankyou”). But being thankful is not just words that we say, it is an attitude ofthe heart. Scriptures says in Ephesians 5:20, “Always and for everything, givethanks to our God and Father in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

I find it interesting, that the more gratefulI am, the less that I need to “keep me happy.” When I am aware of how good mylife really is, of how much God has given me, then I am less and less concernedwith my next purchase or my current reason to be dissatisfied with my life.

Maybe that’s why retailers don’t spend toomuch time reminding us how much we have to be thankful for?

Optimist or Pessimist?

2011-11-19T10:56:00.000-08:00

by TimHoward

When youexamine your life would you view yourself as an optimist or a pessimist? I wasasked this question recently and my response was simply: “Neither; I considermyself to be a realist.”

A pessimisthas a tendency to see the worst aspect of things or believes the worst willhappen. The ones who also hold to a fatalistic view of life often convey a verynegative outlook of the future.

An optimisthas a tendency to view life with hopefulness and confidence about the future orthe successful outcome of something, even though the present reality mightconvey something very different.

Arealistic adopts anattitude or practice of accepting a situation as it is and prepares to deal withit accordingly. They seek to see things, or situations accurately or in a way that istrue to life.

Thereality is this: Life is full of positive and negative things. When youmarry someone, you will experience a combination of good and bad. Marriage is acommitment for better or for worse. You will have ups and downs. You will havehighs and lows. You will experience times of confidence and times of confusion.

What’strue in marriage is also true for those who follow Jesus Christ. No amount offaith will make your life into a path without problems. There are hundreds ofpromises in the Bible, but between the person and the promise there will alwaysbe a problem. When Jesus spoke to the disciples in Matthew 16, He told themthey would experience some struggles, opposition, obstacles and challenges. Heused the metaphor ‘gates of hell’ to illustrate this truth.

When youset out on the Christian journey, the Apostle Peter said: ”…do not be surprised at the painful trial you may suffer, asthough something strange were happening to you.” It happens to everyone whopursues Christ with his or her whole heart. They will encounter ‘gates’ createdto block their entrance into God’s promises. That’s pretty pessimistic isn’tit?

Well here’s the optimistic side! Jesus continues in Matthew16 and declares: Even though you will have trouble in the world, I have givenyou the Keys to the Kingdom of heaven. No ‘gate from hell’ can keep you fromexperiencing the promises of God if you use these keys to access heaven.

Keys give a person access. When we purchased our last automobileback in 2004, the dealership gave us a key that granted us access to thatvehicle. Whoever has the key has access.

No one knows exactly what the keys actually refer to in thismetaphor but we do confidently know they represent three levels of privilege.1. Authority 2. Power 3. Confidence. To those who know Christ, follow Him withhis or her whole heart and seek His assistance they have been given a position(authority) that carries clout (power) and releases confidence. A childbelonging to God has access to heaven and confidently knows their Father willhelp.

Romans 8:28 says: “…we know that God causes everything to worktogether for the good of those who love God and are called according to hispurpose for them.”

Armed with these truths, you don’t have to pretend everything iswonderful nor do you have to embrace a belief that everything is terrible. Why?Because when you turn to Jesus, he takes the good, the bad and the ugly andmakes it work out His purposes in you. That’s the realistic view. Getreal!

An Investment That Pays

2011-11-12T09:12:00.000-08:00

by Andrew Cromwell

A fewweeks ago, there was a story in the major news media about a couple who hadbeen married for 72 years and died within one hour of each other. As a nation,we collectively stood amazed at the longevity—not only in years, but incommitment—of these two people. These days, marriages lasting twenty years seemto exceed the norm.

Ibelieve people want to stay married to the same person. The couples I meet withwho are in the midst of relational crisis, would rather patch things up thensplit up. But staying together seems to be incredibly difficult. So many thingsconspire against marriages that are strong and unified—work, communicationstyle, personality conflicts, finances, and the list goes on and on.

Thetruth is, marriage is tough work. It is a clash of cultures (the way thingswere in her family and the way things were in his). It is a communicationlandmine (what he hears is not what she means and vice versa). It is anexercise in self-denial (not my will but thy will be done!).

I’mconvinced that the people who stick it out and stay married to the same personfor decades fall into two categories. Either they are too stubborn to give upbut they are miserable all along the way, or they have learned the secret ofcontinually finding beauty in their spouse. Of the two, I’d rather fall intothe second category—I don’t find stubborn misery particularly appealing.

Thereare so many reasons why we should fight for our marriage—especially men. Allthe studies show that men live longer and are healthier and make more moneywhen they are in a long-term committed, monogamous relationship. Both men andwomen report that their sex lives get better and better the longer they staymarried. And lets be honest, the grass isn’t really greener on the other side. The minute we think things would be better if we just got out of ourmarriage and into another, we have simply bought into a lie.

So whatare we to do with this most difficult but most rewarding of institutions? Wemust invest wisely. We must utilize a buy and hold strategy with continualreinvestment. We must be willing to wait out the highs and lows while wekeep our eyes on the prize. We must keep adding to our initial investmentlittle by little. When we do, we will have plenty to live on when it is time toretire!

Wedon't invest in our marriages with cash deposits (although I have seen it to beuseful), but with steady deposits of love. These deposits are made throughlittle acts like writing your spouse a love letter, taking them out on a date,and helping out with the chores around the house. They are also made by thedifficult acts of putting your spouse's desires first, choosing to speak theirlove language instead of your own and deciding to believe the best always.Invest in these ways and hold on and you'll be ready to enjoy the fruits ofyour investment.

So myquestion to you is this, are you using the right strategy for investment foryour marriage? Are you investing for the long term or are you jumping in andout and can't decide what positions to hold from one day to the next? Thepastors in Kings County would love to help you learn to invest in your marriagewisely and then maybe we'll be reading about you and your spouse holding handsafter 72 years of marriage.

Change From the Inside - Out

2011-11-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

WhenI was born on February 13, 1951 I weighed approximately 8 lbs. 2 oz. Myhands were only an inch or so long, my hair didn’t exist and my skin was allshriveled up like a little old man. Even though my parents used the term‘cute’ to describe me, I’m not sure that was absolutely true.

Ifyou were to compare some of my old baby pictures with some current photographs,you would immediately notice some major changes. I’ve grown to 5’8” tall, myhands are much larger, I’ve managed to put on 160 lbs, and I don’t want to talkabout thehair thing because it seems like I’m regressing back to my infancy in thatarea…

I’mvery thankful for is the possibility of change! I know God loves us too much tolet us remain the same but His interest in changing us is not only connected tothe external realm.

Backin the day Jesus confronted the Religious leaders about their emphasis onexternal change without any focus on what was happening internally. He statesit very bluntly and forcibly in Matt chapter 23.

"You'rehopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You burnish the surfaceof your cups and bowls so they sparkle in the sun, while the insides aremaggoty with your greed and gluttony. Stupid Pharisee! Scour the insides, andthen the gleaming surface will mean something… You're like manicured graveplots, grass clipped and the flowers bright, but six feet down it's all rottingbones and worm-eaten flesh. People look at you and think you're saints, butbeneath the skin you're total frauds.” (The Message)

Goddesires a heart change and not mere behavioral modification. Even though onecan change a specific behavior for a period of time, when the heart is notconnected to the change, it is only temporary. The ultimate result ishypocrisy.

Peoplein general and religious people specifically can look good externally but bevery corrupt on the inside. Isaiah the Prophet puts it this way: “ They drawnear to me with their lips but their hearts are far from me.” In other words:Some proclaim they are Christians but don’t practice what they proclaim. Theyseem to be religious but don’t have a personal, ongoing relationship with JesusChrist. They conform externally but aren’t changed internally.

Godwants to change us from the inside out. Yes, He is concerned with yourbehavior, Yes, He is concerned with your beliefs but He is ultimately concernedwith your heart and attitudes because all your actions flow from your heart.Maybe that’s why Solomon said: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is thewellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Changingfrom the inside out will require God. You can’t do it yourself! You need aheart transplant. The old heart is deceitful, disingenuous and untrustworthy.That’s where God comes in. Ezekiel 36:26 says God will give us a new heart ifwe ask. Christianity is not about conforming to certain spiritual laws butbeing transformed into God’s likeness by the power of Jesus Christ. Just like askilled doctor who is able to do heart transplants for those in physical need,Jesus can give you a new heart.

Somepeople try to change by searching for some key hidden in their past. Some seekto change their lives by working harder, praying longer or attending churchmore often. Various approaches to change may be helpful but only Jesus canchange you from the inside - out.

Choose Weird

2011-10-29T16:13:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Cromwell

One of the constant themes of Scripture isthat the people of God - those who have made Him the centerpiece of their lives- are to be different. In the Old Testament the term "set apart" isused. In the New Testament the people of God are referred to as"chosen". Whatever term is used, it is clear that God desires Hispeople to be different from the rest of the world.

Over the course of history, groups haveinterpreted the meaning of "being set apart" differently. Some havedecided that the right response is to withdraw completely from the world andcreate a community unto themselves. We can think of the Amish in Pennsylvaniaas a perfect example of this. This group has decided to shun electricity andmodern conveniences. Other groups have removed themselves from societyaltogether, closing themselves up behind castle walls and taking extensive vowsof silence or personal mortification.

But I believe that when God tells His peoplethat they are to be different than the world around them, He is speaking abouttheir value system and how it is expressed in their daily lives. While theremay be times for the people of God to literally remove themselves fromrelationship with society, these occasions are rare. Much more common is thedecision to live one's life in a way that is countercultural.

It is in our heart where we decide whether ornot we are going to be obedient to our Father God. The choice for obediencewill mean that the way our lives are led is markedly different from the livesof those around us.

There are many value systems of the people ofGod that are different from the ways of the world. But one that touches veryclose to home is the way that God's people treat their money.

Our world is all about money. It iscontinually obsessed with getting more. No matter how much you have, how muchyou “need” is always a greater number. We fill our garages with toys, we buylarger houses and we find extravagant ways to spend money. What's more, wespend money that we have not yet earned.

One of the great curses of our contemporaryworld is the easy extension of personal credit. Because of personal creditlines almost all of us live beyond our means. It is impossible to quantify thenumber of divorces and the amount of unhappiness that has been caused by theeasy extension of credit and the ensuing spending sprees that have causedpeople to spin out of financial control.

The people of God, however, are supposed tolive differently. They live on less than they earn. They are not obsessedwith getting more and more things. They believe that giving is better thanreceiving. They feel a responsibility for their brothers and sisters of theworld who have less than they do. All of these things run in contradiction toour standard cultural value systems.

People who have discovered that true joy doesnot come from the acquisition of possessions are truly strange. The world looksat them and cannot understand why they have a smile on their face. They cannotunderstand why there is peace in their home. And yet when the dust settles andthe noise from the toys dies out, the world begins to realize that their madrush for more things does not fill the void in their heart. It is at thismoment, that the people of God begin to look awfully weird.

This weekend the pastors in Kings Countywould love to help you be countercultural! Who says that the world has it allfigured out?

Jesus Who?

2011-10-22T09:50:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

Back in1999 I had the privilege of attending a major league baseball game with my twosons. The weather was great, the teams were equally competitive and theopportunity to spend some extended time with my boys was a real treat.

Whilesitting in our designated seats two men walked past us and entered three rowsahead of ours. Since I was eating a hot dog I didn’t really notice theirentrance except for the fact they seemed to be very tall. With emphasis on theword ‘very.’ Within a 15 second span of time my oldest son leaned over andasked if I recognized one of the two men. I responded by saying no.

Heacted a bit surprised as if I should have known him and then said his name isKevin Johnson to which I responded Kevin Who? Then for the next 30 minutesI heard about Kevin’s prominent position on the Phoenix Suns Basketball team.His Rookie of the Year award, his Most Valuable Player awards, his All-StarGame Most Valuable player award and on and on and on…

Eventhough I left the stadium that day feeling like I knew a lot about Mr. Johnson,I never actually met him personally.

Like myson I might be a bit surprised if someone living in America had never heard thename Jesus. I met some people this year in Ethiopia and my wife met someindividuals in India who had never heard the name Jesus or Jesus Christ, but inAmerica, that name is prominent. Whether it’s spoken with disdain, contempt orwith respect and gratitude it is a name used frequently in our culture.

InMatthew 16:16 the Apostle Peter was asked the question: Who is Jesus and heresponded by saying: He is the Christ, Son of the living God. If you haven’theard about Jesus like I hadn’t heard about Kevin Johnson, Colossians 1:15-20gives one of the most concise, accurate and clear pictures of Jesus that bringsunderstanding to our minds. Here’s what it says:

Col. 1:15-20 “Christ is the visible image of the invisibleGod. He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over allcreation. Christ is the one through whom God created everything in heaven andearth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—kings,kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through him andfor him. He existed before everything else began, and he holds all creation together.Christ is the head of the church, which is his body. He is the first of all whowill rise from the dead, so he is first in everything. For God in all hisfullness was pleased to live in Christ, and by him God reconciled everything tohimself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of hisblood on the cross. NLT.

When Ileft that stadium in 1999, it was good to know a few facts about Mr. Johnsonbut it would have been nice to meet him and talk personally. The chances ofthat happening, however, are slim to none. He is famous, he is out of myleague, and he wouldn’t have time and a host of other reasons.

FromColossians you now know a few facts about Jesus. But the good news is you canmeet Him personally. He’s famous but not too busy to meet with you. Why notvisit one of the many Church families in Kings County this weekend and let themhelp you answer the question: Jesus Who?

Family Responsibilities: Giving Up

2011-10-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Cromwell

All ofus come from some kind of biological family, even if we did not have a goodrelationship with them. We are a part of that family because we were eitherborn or adopted into it. And membership in that family came with certainprivileges and responsibilities. In the same way, those who are a part of thefamily of God also have “family obligations”.

Beingpart of the family of God is a wonderful thing. Membership is open to all whoput the Father’s will before their own. And once we are a part of the family,we are given a new beginning. We are also given direct access to the Fatheralong with all of His great wisdom and resources.

But wehave some responsibilities as well. In my last column, I wrote about the responsibilitywe have to show up and be an active part of the family. This time, I’d like totalk about the responsibility we have to give up.

Anyonecommitted to his or her family will tell you that giving up is where it’s at.If you want a good marriage, you have to give up. If you want a lastingrelationship with your kids, you have to give up. You have to give up yourmoney, your time and your talents. You have to give up the need to always beright. You have to give up putting yourself first.

It isthe same in the family of God. You and I must decide to give up and put Godfirst in everything we do. In the Old Testament, the Israelites called this thetithe. Thetithe was the practice of taking the first part of whatever income was receivedand giving it to God. God directed them to do this so that they would notforget that their source of supply was Him and not themselves.

It isinteresting that today even large corporations are beginning to understand theimportance of giving. Many of them do it simply because it is good publicrelations, but some do it because they understand that there is a principle ofgiving that is activated when resources are released rather then locked awayand hoarded.

But itis not only money that we need to give, we need to give back to God in everyarea of our life. Doing so signals to Him that we are putting Him first ineverything we do. 1 Peter 4:10 says, Each of you should use whatevergift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’sgrace in its various forms.

When weput others needs before our own, we begin to look like the One who laid downHis life for us. We also activate the principle from God’s word, Give and itshall be given.Members of God’s family are supposed to be the most generous people in theworld.

Thisweekend, the pastors of Kings County would love the opportunity to teach youmore about being part of the family of God. Why don’t you change your routineand get your family in church? You just might be surprised at what you discover.

Where Should You Sit?

2011-10-08T10:18:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

I was born into a family of7 children. It was back when families practiced the great tradition of eatingtogether at least one meal a day. For us it was ‘Dinner.”

Even though the meals varied,the routine of finding a chair remained the same: When the call came from ourmother to gather around the table our dad would assign chairs. Donna, you sitin that chair. Beverly you’ll be over there, Mom will be here… and so on untileveryone had his or her designated seat.

That might be the reason Istill wait to be seated when I’m invited to someone’s house for dinner. I pauseand allow them to tell me where to sit.

Jesus addressed this issuein the book of Luke, chapter 14: 7 – 9, “When Jesus noticedthat all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit near the head of thetable, he gave them this advice: “If you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t always head for the bestseat. What if someone more respected than you has also been invited? The hostwill say, ‘Let this person sit here instead.’ Then you will be embarrassed andwill have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!”

You can imagine theawkwardness, chagrin and embarrassment a person might feel if they chose the wrongchair and experienced this.

In 1 John 2:13, the Apostleidentifies 3 life stages and there’s a chair for each stage. A chair forChildren, Adolescents and Adults

The High Chair is a symbolof childhood. We’ve all had to sit there! The chair is constructed to keepchildren confined to a restricted area because it helps to manage the mess.Children are a gift from the Lord but they can be very messy not to mentionthey whine, complain and pout like none other. One of the main characteristicsof childhood is the need to be fed. They are dependent. Infants cannot maketheir own food or feed themselves and toddlers can’t feed themselves with anynotable skill.

The chair for adolescents isa step toward growing-up. When a child transitions into this chair they areable to prepare their own food and they are able to feed themselvesefficiently. It’s a stage in life where more freedom is given. Along with thatfreedom, however, is responsibility. That may be one reason why some peopledon’t want to grow up. They want the freedom and privileges but not the dutiesand responsibilities.

The last chair around thetable is the Adult chair. The Adults can make their own food and eat withoutassistance but are also committed to mentoring others due to their maturity.The world needs more of these adults.

Here’s the problem. Peopleare sitting in the wrong chair!

God wants us to changechairs as we move toward maturity. If you are a child it’s ok to sit in a high chair but if you’re a 20something and still acting like a baby - something is wrong! It’s equallydisturbing to see children trying to sit in the chair of an adult; takingcontrol of their lives with no desire to listen to those who actually do sit inthe adult chairs. To be healthy, you must identify the chair you are currentlysitting in and then you can plot a path to the next chair.

What chair are you sittingin? What chair should you be sitting in? God is calling us to grow up!

Family Responsibilities: Showing Up

2011-10-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Cromwell

Familiesare pretty important. They are the laboratories that prepare us for the world.In our families, we learn how to play nice and how to treat others. We learnthe value of a dollar. We discover our identity—where we came from, who we arerelated to and what expectations we need to live up to.

Normally,we don’t get to choose our family and they don’t get to choose us. But oncewe’re in, we’re mostly stuck for life. The first years are spent with thefamily giving to us. Mom and Dad cleaned our diaper, fed us when we were hungryand gave us a bath when we were dirty. They helped us with homework and madesure that we learned our Ps and Qs.

Eventually,we started giving back. We mowed the lawn or washed the dishes, did the laundryor cleaned the house. We were expected to be a contributing member of thefamily. We learned about family responsibilities and how everyone needs to dotheir part.

Finallycame the day of freedom, the day when we moved out of the house and struck outon our own. But even the most independent of us were still called back fromtime to time—required to show up for Thanksgiving, Christmas or other sundryfamily celebrations.

And nomatter how good (or bad) your family experience was, there is another family—aspiritual family—into which you are invited. In the New Testament, in the bookof John, it says, “to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the rightto become children of God.”

What anamazing invitation! We can be part of THE family! You don’t have to win thegenetic lottery to get into this family, you simply have to believe and accept.And there are plenty of perks when you are a member of the family. You get tospeak to Dad anytime, anyplace. You are considered a favored son or daughterand given an early inheritance. You can walk with your head held high becauseof this special identity. And that’s just the beginning.

Thereare some responsibilities we have in this family as well. Just like we areexpected to be a part of family gatherings back on the home ranch, we are alsoexpected to be a part of our spiritual family gatherings. These are times whenthe family gets together to encourage one another and to learn more about beinga part of God’s family.

And,yes, just like at our home family gatherings, there are members of our newspiritual family that are a little strange. Some of the family members talk toomuch or too loudly. Some always say the wrong thing and end up offendingsomeone else. But because they are part of the family, we cut them a littleslack.

In caseyou haven’t guessed, I’m talking about church. It’s the time when God’s familygets together and celebrates. And if you’re part of the family, you’re supposedto be there! When you’re not there, not only are you not encouraged by yourfellow family members, but you are not able to encourage them. There are timeswhen we receive (when we are children) and times when we give (when we areadults). But no matter where we are in the continuum of life, we have a part toplay and when we don’t show up, we are missing out.

Thisweekend, why don’t you come and plug into God’s family? The pastors in KingsCounty would love to have you join them. Sure, there’s some weird Nelly’s inour family, but there’s some pretty awesome Uncle Dave’s too.

Finding Your Fit

2011-09-24T15:52:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

Back in 1982 a televisionshow called ‘Cheers’ debuted and ran for 11 successful seasons. It displayed apub where people gathered frequently and revealed a camaraderie that was desirousby all who watched. It was a place where everyone knew each other’s name and aplace where people felt like they belonged and ‘fit.’ It’s something we alldesire!

If you’ve ever been in aplace where you felt like an outsider looking in rather than an insider lookingaround, you know what I mean.

Finding a right fit withother people is more complicated than finding clothes that fit you properly. Ifyou are like me, you can go shopping for clothes and find the article you needand one that fits in a matter of minutes. My wife, however, will often visit 7to 10 stores, shop for 7 to 10 hours and spend more than 7 to 10 dollars beforeshe finds 1 to 2 articles of clothing that is acceptable and fits properly toher specific taste. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with that - Just incase my wife is reading this! Finding a right fit in the clothing arena,however, is a lot easier than finding a fit with other individuals.

Why is it so hard to findrelationships that fit us, to make meaningful connections with people? To finda place where you feel like you belong? Part of the answer may be wrapped up inunrealistic expectations. Here are 5 things you can’t expect if you want tofind your fit.

1. You can’t expect everybodyto like you. It’s unrealistic! St. John chapter 1 tells us that Jesus came toHis own people and was rejected by many. There were some, however, who receivedHim and to those He began a relationship. Give people the freedom to choosewithout coercion, force, pressure or manipulation. You don’t need everyone tolike you!

2. You can’t expect to getsomething when you give nothing. It’s unrealistic! There are too manytakers in the world. Life is about giving - not only getting. Ephesians 5:2,“walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, anoffering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” When you are a giver, youbecome a fragrance that attracts rather than an odor that offends.

3. You can’t expect to fitin by trying to be someone else. Even if you do find a place that accepts you,there will never be a sense of belonging because the one they embrace isn’t thereal you.

4. You can’t expect peopleto embrace you when you make everything about YOU. People don’t fit becausethey often think life is all about them. With one small exception, lifeis all about others. Philippines 2:3-4 “ Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make agood impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as beforeyourself. Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested inothers, too, and what they are doing.

5. You can’t expect peopleto care about you, if you don’t really care about them. The old cliché: “No onecares how much you know until they know how much you care.” It’s true!

Your chances of finding aplace where you fit like that which is portrayed on Cheers increases when youhave expectations that are realistic.

Why not check out one of themany Church families in Kings County this weekend. You might find a place whereyou fit!

Family Responsibilities

2011-09-17T08:48:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Cromwell

Being a memberof family comes with privileges and responsibilities. Depending on what familyyou are a part of, the perks might be fantastic (think what it would be like tobe a Rockefeller or a Walton) but the responsibilities might be rather serioustoo. Most of us are connected with a family. That family gives us a name andforms a significant part of our identity. And when it comes time for holidaygatherings or family meetings, we are expected to be a part.

The family of God is no different. Being ason or a daughter of God is full of wonderful privileges. Among other things,we get to spend time with the Creator of the universe. We are empowered withHis resources. We are forgiven of our past and we are promised an incrediblefuture. There are some amazing benefits to being part of God’s family.

But just as there are expectations in anearthly family, there is also a part for us to play as members of our heavenlyfamily. When we do these things we make our family a better place! If you wantto be the black sheep of the family—no problem—but I tend to think that it ismuch better to be right in the thick of it.

Over the next few articles, I want to explorethe part that we have to play in our spiritual family. My hope is that, even ifyou do not follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and do not consider Him to bethe linchpin upon which the whole universe hangs, you will come to betterunderstand this part of the Christian faith.

Next time we will discuss the responsibilityto show up! You know you always make mom happy when you show up at familygatherings! It’s kind of the same thing when we show up in God’s house.

The pastors in Kings County would love tohave you join them this weekend. It may have been a long time since youhave connected with God’s family. There’s no better time than thepresent.

Taking Care of the Environment

2011-09-10T14:59:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

I‘vefollowed several great men and women over my years and have been helped greatlyby them in the process of maturity. They led in such a way as to elicit from meloyalty, faithfulness, a willingness to sacrifice and a strong desire to followthem.

How doyou develop a team that people want to play on? A better way of putting itmight be to reword the question. How do you become a leader people want tofollow?

One keyword is “Environment.” We all create a certain environment, atmosphere or auraif you will, that other people can see, sense and react to. How many of youfind yourself rejoicing when a certain co-worker calls the office to say theywon’t be in on a specific day? Be honest! You rejoice when they are notpresent because they create an environment that’s not very pleasant. Theopposite is true also. We miss someone because they create an atmosphere thatis enjoyable.

A signI recently read said: “All people bring me joy, some when they come and otherswhen they leave.” That sums it up.

Agood atmosphere or a good environment keeps the morale high and when the moraleis high, people want to follow you. They look forward to playing on the team.Your goal and greatest challenge as a leader is not merely to complete atask but create an environment conducive to growth.

Here’s4 ways to destroy a good atmosphere on the job, in the home, at the school, ina meeting and a myriad of other places.

1. COMPARE people with others rather than ACCEPT them on their own merits. Whenyou do, an environment of favoritism flourishes. Jacob did this inGenesis Chapter 37. He loved one son more than the others and the family hatedthe climate this created. Whenever you compare people, you value one above theother.

2. The environmentdrastically changes when you CRITICIZE people more than COMPLEMENT them. How many of you wouldadmit: When the boss asks you to step into his office, the first thing to gothrough your mind is this question: “What Did I Do Wrong?” Focusing on the goodand giving some praise now and then can build the morale and create a positiveattitude.

3. TALK TO people and not COMMUNICATE WITH them. You will see howquickly things deteriorate. You can talk AT people, TO people or WITH peopleand it’s best to talk with them.

4. COMPLAIN about everything but don’t CHANGEanything. Peopledon’t want to follow a leader who chooses not to deal with the ‘elephant’ inthe room.

God’slooking for leaders who will accept others on His terms and not their own.Leaders who will focus on the positive and give praise regularly rather thancriticize continually. Ones who communicate with people and love people enoughto correct a wrong.

Whynot check out one of the many church families in Kings County this weekend. Youjust might find an environment you can enjoy.

Solving Problems

2011-09-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Cromwell

One of life’s most important skills is theability to solve problems. Why? People have and always will have problems.Truth is, problems and challenges for human beings are like water to a fish.Without them we cease being who we were created to be.

The next time you begin to think life wouldbe so much better without any of your problems, remind yourself of theyoungster who came across an old man sitting on a bench looking lonely anddepressed. He asked the old man, “What is life’s heaviest burden?” The old mansadly replied, “Having no burden at all.”

Am I suggesting that every problem is awonderful thing? Of course not! Many of our problems are caused by our ownstupid behavior and decisions. In a letter to Timothy, Paul writes “becauseof the love of money...many have pierced themselves with sorrows.” Many of us have created for ourselves seriousproblems because we haven’t been able to say “no” to the “I want” bug.

But every problem—whether created by our ownselfishness, by the actions of someone else or simply by the very nature of ourbroken world—can also be seen as opportunities. Problems present opportunitiesfor personal growth. They also give us opportunities for advancement at homeand at work. The quickest ways to gain favor is to fix a problem!

Just remember, not every problem can befixed. Sometimes we fail to differentiate between a problem and a fact of life.We then spend way too much time trying to fix something that is just the waythings are. Your mother-in-law is just your mother-in-law; don’t expect thatyou can transform her into something else! Please note, this does not apply tomy mother-in-law, just yours.

And don’t waste time fixing problems thatdon’t make a difference. Don’t polish the brass on a sinking ship. Focusinstead on things that really matter. My guess is that there are a few keyproblems that you have in your life. These problems are big ones—they involverelationships or deep financial issues or both. These things are not easilyfixed. But if you begin to address these issues effectively, your whole lifewill move in a positive direction.

We all face huge challenges in life. The goodnews is, we also have a Father in heaven who is bigger than any of them and Hewants to help. He wants His children to experience life at its fullest. Thequestion for each of us is, do we want His help?

This weekend, the pastors in Kings Countywould love to speak to you about the resources God has for you. So when youbegin to face down those problems that keep you awake at night, you’ve gotSomebody big standing next to you!

Work Ethic

2011-08-27T08:20:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

My parents did what many folks did back in the day, they instilled in me a healthy work ethic that still lingers in my life and affects the way I carry out my responsibilities. If you are like me, you may recall these words: “No you can’t go out and play until you clean your room! After you pick up your clothes you may have dessert but not until you do that! When you finish your chores you can go with your friends!

The commandments were intended to teach me the value and priority of work. Work first then play second! For quite some time, however, the message fell on deaf ears. It actually created a faulty view of work. I began to see it as a necessary evil, an undesirable obligation to carry out, and an obstacle to overcome before I could enjoy life. It was something to be avoided rather than embraced.

I fear that attitude may be more prevalent in our society than we care to admit. Maybe the “T.G.I.F.” slogan reveals a philosophical shift of our priorities from valuing work to making play a more desirable focus.

The Bible tells us that God worked 6 days and rested one. That pattern is presented as a healthy way to live and promises more fulfillment if implemented. We were created to work and not merely relax. We were created to be producers and not just consumers. We were created to give and not just take. Granted, there can be an imbalance, which is captured in that little proverb, which says: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”

God gives us work to do because He wants us to live with a sense of purpose and worth. Everyone needs something to do, someone to love and something to hope for. When you seek pleasure more than purpose, you alter the way you were created to function and do yourself a disservice.

I re-read an interesting verse in Philippians 2:12-13 a few days ago that caught my attention because it instructs those who follow Jesus Christ to “work out” their salvation. The author instructs people to do more than get informed. He told them to get involved! Don’t wait for God to do everything for you but respond to His leading by obedience and let him do things through you. More often than not, God helps those who are willing to partner with Him, participate in His plan and put their hand to the plow.

Many people today seem to demonstrate an attitude that demands others to do something for them without any participation from them. The spirit of entitlement is an aroma that’s very distinctive in today’s culture. It’s seen in our expectations of parents, government agencies, organizations and even God. If we aren’t careful we can fall into the trap of thinking God isn’t at work while failing to realize the problem is our un-willingness to work.

It’s straight forward, not softened or watered down and some would even say it’s harsh, but the Apostle Paul gives this directive in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 “…we gave you this rule: Whoever does not work should not eat.”

Whether it’s picking up your clothes, cleaning your room, laboring on the job, working on your marriage or earning a living, work will provide great dividends if done with the right attitude.

There is no unemployment in God’s Kingdom. There is plenty of work for everyone. Work is not a necessary evil but the pathway to fulfillment.

More Than You Can Handle

2011-08-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Cromwell

Have you noticed how busy people are these days? If it isn’t work, then it is the kids’ extracurricular activities, or the service clubs or the pet projects. And in the moments in between—at meals or in the car or in waiting rooms—there is no such thing as just sitting. Out comes the phone and these spare moments are used to catch up on email, continue that important text conversation or play Angry Birds.

It is amazing how busy the kids are. Half the time they are more scheduled than their parents. Three to four nights a week they have sports or some other type of class. God forbid they have a day where nothing is scheduled.

And it’s not the kids that get themselves into this predicament—yes, they want to play soccer and basketball and football and go to dance class and guitar class. But, it’s the parents that let it happen. Sometimes I can’t decide if it is because the parents want their kids to have and do everything they didn’t, or if they are afraid that if they don’t put their kid in all these things that somehow they won’t live up to their potential. There is a third option, I don’t like to consider, that involves the parents being afraid of their kids so they want to keep them busy and distracted lest their kids want to have a conversation.

Our whole culture is nuts. Nobody has time to do dinner any more. There is no such thing as an unscheduled day. We are addicted to busyness and adrenaline. What’s worse is that all this activity makes it even more difficult for us to unplug. When it comes time to just sit and do nothing, we find that our skin crawls and our thumbs twitch and we can’t breathe without doing something.

There is a common saying that says, “God never gives you more than you can handle.” We repeat this mantra over and over again whenever we are overwhelmed with life. But there are two problems with this saying.

First, it is not found anywhere in the Bible. God never said it. Jesus never said it. None of the dudes with long beards in the Old or New Testament said it. But somehow we use it as an excuse for not saying “no” to things that just make our life busier and more insane. Instead of being wise and selective, we just repeat it as if it is some special magic sauce that will make things all better.

Second, just the opposite is true. God actually does give you more than you can handle. But He does it so that you look to Him for help. The truth is, if you can handle everything, then you don’t need God. And lots of people are telling God with their schedules, that they don’t need Him.

Anyone ever heard of a day of rest? It’s the idea that you take a day and don’t do anything because you believe that God is big enough to take care of everything else.

So the next time you are tempted to add something to your schedule and say “God never gives you more than you can handle”, maybe you should say “no.” And while you are at it, say “no” to a bunch of things you are already doing. Oh yeah, and let God know He can handle the rest.

The pastors in Kings County would love the opportunity to help you and your family connect with a God who rested after work. Maybe your first step to finding some real rest is getting into church this weekend?

More Than You Can Handle

2011-08-18T06:45:00.001-07:00

Have you noticed how buys people are these days? If it isn’t work, then it is the kids’ extracurricular activities, or the service clubs or the pet projects. And in the moments in between—at meals or in the car or in waiting rooms—there is no such thing as just sitting. Out comes the phone and these spare moments are used to catch on email, continue that important text conversation or play Angry Birds.

It is amazing how busy the kids are. Half the time they are more scheduled than their parents. Three to four nights a week they have sports or some other type of class. God forbid they have a day where nothing is scheduled.

And it’s not the kids that get themselves into this predicament—yes, they want to play soccer and basketball and football and go to dance class and guitar class. But, it’s the parents that let it happen. Sometimes I can’t decide if it is because the parents want their kids to have and do everything they didn’t, or if it is that they are afraid that if they don’t put their kid in all these things that somehow they won’t live up to their potential. There is a third option, I don’t like to consider, that involves the parents being afraid of their kids so they want to keep them busy and distracted lest their kids want to have a conversation.

Our whole culture is nuts. Nobody has time to do dinner any more. There is no such thing as an unscheduled day. We are addicted to busyness and adrenaline. What’s worse is that all this activity makes it even more difficult for us to unplug. When it comes time to just sit and do nothing, we find that our skin crawls and our thumbs twitch and we can’t breathe without doing something.

There is a common saying that says, “God never gives you more than you can handle.” We repeat this mantra over and over again whenever we are overwhelmed with life. But there are two problems with this saying.

First, it is not found anywhere in the Bible. God never said it. Jesus never said it. None of the dudes with long beards in the Old or New Testament said it. But somehow we use it as an excuse for not saying “no” to things that just make our life busier and more insane. Instead of being wise and selective, we just repeat it as if it is some special magic sauce that will make things all better.

Second, just the opposite is true. God actually does give you more than you can handle. But He does it so that you look to Him for help. The truth is, if you can handle everything, than you don’t need God. And lots of people are telling God with their schedules, that they don’t need Him.

Anyone ever heard of a day of rest? It’s the idea that you take a day and don’t do anything because you believe the God is big enough to take care of everything else.

So the next time you are tempted to add something to your schedule and say “God never gives you more than you can handle”, maybe you should say “no.” And while you are at it, say “no” to a bunch of things you are already doing. Oh yeah, and let God know He can handle the rest.

The pastors in Kings County would love the opportunity to help you and your family connect with a God who rested after work. Maybe your first step to finding some real rest is getting into church this weekend?

Andrew Cromwell is the executive pastor at Koinonia Christian Fellowship in Hanford. E-mail him at andrew@kcfchurch.org or call 582-1528.

Back to the Future

2011-08-13T14:24:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

If you were asked to make a top 10 list of Bible stories found in the Old Testament, a few might come to mind. How about Noah and the ark, the parting of the Red Sea or David and Goliath to name a few! I’m sure your list would include a variety of classics if you’re familiar with the Bible but one great story that comes to my mind is found in Joshua chapter 6.

It was the time when the mighty walls of a city called Jericho collapsed. That miraculous event allowed the Israelite soldiers to conquer their enemies and claim the inheritance God had given them. Even though it was miraculous it wasn’t instantaneous. The siege lasted for 7 days with some very strange directives.

God had instructed their leader; Joshua to have soldiers; priests and people march around the city for six days while blowing trumpets and carrying the Ark. The people were to remain silent for these six days and God promised to defeat their enemy on day seven. On the last day the instructions were a bit different. Here’s what the record reveals:

Josh. 6:4 “Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the horns.”

Josh. 6:5 “When you hear the priests give one long blast on the horns, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the walls of the city will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the city.”

Josh. 6:20 “When the people heard the sound of the horns, they shouted as loud as they could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the city from every side and captured it.”

This victory happened because of faith. “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.” Hebrews 11:30

Trusting God can be extremely difficult when you focus on your problems rather than His promises. The walls or Jericho were unprecedented in that era and it was their first major challenge.

Faith will stretch you because it doesn’t operate on the basis of sight. What you see can be intimidating. What you see can immobilize you and impede your progress if it causes you to run from God rather than to Him. That’s what happened forty years prior to this victory when the last generation of Israelite people stood on the verge of entering the future God had promised them. They listened to the majority, who told them the land was too great, the people too big and the cities to strong. They sabotaged their future inheritance because they lacked faith in God.

Their lack of faith was seen in 3D. One, they focused on their inabilities rather than God’s ability. Two, their mouths did nothing but speak negatively and three, they refused to obey God’s directives.

God has a future for you! You will need to keep your eyes on His abilities and not your inabilities, however. We all have insufficiencies but He is sufficient for all things. With Him all things are possible. You can write a future for yourself but only God can write His future that’s been specifically designed for you. He wants to use your obedience as His pen to write your future. Don’t’ let the devil take away your pen. Walk by faith and not by sight. Be a part of the new generation and get back to the future God intended from the beginning.

How Old Are You?

2011-08-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Cromwell

My wife is celebrating a birthday today as I write this column. She is one of those rare individuals that age twice as slowly as the rest of us. She also grows more beautiful and kind by the year. When I first married her I knew that I was getting the better part of the bargain. Four kids and more then a decade later, I’m still convinced marrying her is the best thing I’ve done apart from deciding to give my life to Christ.

She represents that special breed of people that are always thinking of others first and themselves last. I struggle with this because I am a chronically self-centered individual. I hear it in my response to people or in my inner talk all the time, including my own children. I am perpetually telling others how busy I am and how I have so much to do.

My prayer is that as I get older, I am getting wiser and thinking less about myself. I think these qualities are a much better indication of a person’s real age then the number of years that have passed since their birth. Just because someone gets old doesn’t automatically mean that they are getting better and becoming less of a jerk!

I am sad to say that our culture seems to be getting more selfish rather than less. It seems that we are more and more focused on the things that matter to us as individuals—our personal happiness, our goals and our work. We keep telling ourselves that “we” deserve “it”, with “it” being whatever floats our boat at the moment.

I think it is fair to say that children are generally selfish. As a general rule, they just come out that way. Half of the job of a parent is teaching their child that the world is not centered around them. We expect kids to be selfish, and we also expect them to become less selfish as they grow older.

But it seems that fewer and fewer of us are actually learning this important lesson. And so people walk around in adult bodies but still act like children. They still throw tantrums when things don’t turn out the way they thought they were going to. They still get their feelings hurt when someone doesn’t treat them just right. And they still demand all the attention in the room.

Meanwhile, there is a world all around us that is hurting and that we could help make a better place — but we don’t because all we can see is our own little world where all that exists is our own stuff. Our kids are begging for our real attention but we’re too busy to give it. Our friends are frustrated because all we talk about is ourselves. And our spouse is fed up with having to parent their husband or wife because they refuse to be anything other than a child.

So the question I pose is, how old are you? Are you just getting older or are you maturing? Are you better this year than you were last year? Make a choice to exchange your happiness for someone else’s every once in a while and watch what happens to your own!

The pastors in Kings County would love the opportunity to talk to you this weekend about the ultimate servant Jesus Christ. Why don’t you get your family in church this weekend and see what God can do.

You Said What?

2011-07-23T14:34:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

I made some comments the other day, which caused a host of problems. I regretted the words spoken, but it was too late! It was like writing an e-mail to someone and then pressing that dreaded ‘send’ button without proofreading the text. You can’t take it back, it’s already gone and all you can do is wait to see what happens.

The fiasco I created reminded me of the truth found in James 3:2-6: “We all make many mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also control themselves in every other way. We can make a large horse turn around and go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a tiny rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong. So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire…” NLT.

A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that! By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation and send the whole world up in smoke because we started a fire that comes from the pit of hell.

This is a bit scary wouldn’t you say? You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue—it's never been done. The tongue runs wild. With our tongues we bless God our Father and then with the same tongues we curse the very men and women He made in His image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth! WOW! This shouldn’t be happening.

Back in the day, a comedian named, Flip Wilson, often said: “What you see is what you get.” It’s also accurate to say: “What you say is what you get.”

What you say has the authority to open doors for tomorrow’s troubles or triumphs! Many people have been influenced and swayed throughout history both positively and negatively by the use of words. There is a tremendous force released when you speak! The words you declare actually have the power to produce an atmosphere of life for people to enjoy or create a morbid gloom that results in death. Proverbs 18:21 makes this truth verifiable.

The Israelites witnessed this fact in the Old Testament when the twelve spies returned from a reconnaissance. Ten of them gave a bad report while the other two remained true to what God had told them and spoke His words to the people. The results were devastating. A whole generation missed out on their inheritance because they listened to the words of the majority. As in this case, we often discover the majority isn’t always right.

It’s no wonder David said in Psalms 141:3 “Set a guard over my mouth Oh Lord and keep watch over the door of my lips”. Or why James said in chapter 1 of his book “My dear brothers and sisters be quick to listen and slow to speak…”

If your mouth has gotten you into trouble in the past, you might want to try to be more like David and ask God to put a filtering system on your tongue because only He can tame it. And try to listen more and talk less - or at least think more before you speak. It just might guard you from those loose-lipped comments that can cause a fiasco.

Possibility

2011-07-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Cromwell

Each one of us has a powerful God-given ability. But more often than not we fail to realize the great gift that is residentwithin each of us. We have the power to see people and situations through the lenses of possibility and potential. We can look beyond their limitations and failures, through the imperfections of the present, and see through eyes of faith.

Eyes of faith give color to what can be a drab, gray world. And it is because this world is often disappointing and reminds us of all the things we cannot do, that eyes of faith are so important. No one need remind us of what we have not done or of what we have tried and failed. We don’t need someone to remind us about our limitations—our lack of education, our relationship screw-ups, our failed attempts at moving forward—we need no help remembering these.

What we need is not a reminder of our failures but of our possibilities. We need someone who will choose to look at us with eyes that see potential. A parent who sees his children and chooses to look beyond the limitations of their age or experience and sees instead the hidden spark. A husband that sees his wife’s true potential hidden under the layers of disappointment that life has placed upon her.

But it is not enough to just see that possibility is present, we have to go one step further. We must call it out. We have to speak into the person’s heart and inspire them to step forward into a new future. Left to ourselves, we often cannot see what others can see. But when someone comes along and says, “You can do it”, we are suddenly lifted on their shoulders to see what we once could not.

What incredible power we have to lift people beyond where they currently are and give them a glimpse into another, better future! Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” When we help people move beyond what they can do in their own strength and encourage them to step into the strength of the One who makes all things possible, then we have stepped into a new dimension—the dimension of God-possibility.

So what type of person are you? Are you the kind that only sees the failures of the past, or do you see the possibilities of the future? Will you choose to look at your life and the lives of others through your own eyes or through the eyes of Christ? The world will be a better place if you do the latter.

The pastors in Kings County would love to help you see the world through eyes of possibility. Why don’t you give them a chance this weekend to encourage you and your family?

Take Out The Trash

2011-07-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

Recently while talking to a doctor friend about some physical challenges, we began to discus some of the systems in the human body which enable people to live a full life. It was fascinating to hear him share insights into the Digestive System, Respiratory and Circulatory System, Musculoskeletal System and Nervous System. He went on to explain the excretory system It is one of several major body systems designed by God to regulate the volume and molecular and ionic constitution of internal body fluids and eliminates metabolic waste products from the internal environment - In simplified terms, the human excretory system functions to remove waste from the human body. This system may be less glamorous when compared to others yet it too is absolutely necessary.

Don’t laugh! We all have waste. Every household has trash that needs to be removed and that’s true for our personal lives as well.

We all have some garbage laying around due to unhealed hurts, disappointments, painful memories, wounds, broken promises, broken hearts, unmet needs and unresolved issues. If we don’t have a systematic way to dispose of these items, problems tend to grow, emotional sickness often develops and Spiritual growth can be stifled.

Simply stated; life stinks when you don’t remove your trash. The system necessary to experience cleansing is revealed in 1 John 1:9. It says: “…if we confess our sins to God, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.”

When you confess your hurt, your needs, your sin, you bring it into the open. You quit hiding and admit to what’s really going on. You choose to reveal it rather than conceal it. In doing so, you experience forgiveness from God, a cleansing from the stench and a brand new start. In the same way you take your waste container to the curb on the proper day of the week so the waste management department can take it away, we are to bring our contaminants to God. Once a year Kings County gives each homeowner a free trip to the Kings Waste & Recycling Plant but God gives you free access to Himself each and every day.

What needs to be disposed of in your life? What have you been holding on to that is holding you back? Is there any hurt that is in need of forgiveness? Is there a painful memory in need of healing? Why not take out the trash?

The cross is the place where Jesus died for you. He dealt with your personal failures, sins, weaknesses and trash of all types. The cross is the place where sins are forgiven. The cross is the place where you can exchange the old for the new. The cross is the place where you can confess without the fear of being criticized or attacked. God can deal with your garbage! So take your trash to Him.

Why not visit one of the many Church families this weekend in Kings County. They would love to help you experience the forgiving, cleansing, healing and restoring power of Jesus Christ.

Capital "A" Confession

2011-07-02T08:42:00.000-07:00

by Kim Hogue

Maybe it’s because I regularly talk with Christ-followers and not-Christ-followers that live condemned or ashamed. Maybe it’s because a recent conversation caused my deeper reflection on confession and my Catholic roots.

But one confession still comes to my mind today; I remember a time when I was a little girl, 9 yrs. old, with six children in our family and one working parent. There were not a lot of frills, but mom had one prized possession, her dining room table. It was a special table to her and to us. I think it was special because of the way it was treated. We were always careful pulling the chairs out making sure not to drag the legs across the floor, everyone had their own place around it, and extra attention was given to every setting, everything in its proper place. Sitting around that table was almost magical, the talk of everyone’s day and the laughter shared around that table are forever etched in my fondest memories.

But one day something happened to that table. My mother was setting all its places when she found a very large capital “A” carved in to its dark, polished wood. I remember being lined-up like all the children from the movie “Sound of Music” and Captain VonTrapp (my mother) wanted to know who the culprit was! No one fessed-up, can’t say I blame them, the death penalty seemed imminent!

Forward two years later, I’m 11 yrs. old, our youngest sister Colleen is 7 and making her first confession. She enters the little booth, pulls the curtain shut and begins in strangely enough, a very loud voice, I mean she is loud! Everyone in the church can hear her! She starts in the Catholic way, “Bless me Father for I have sinned, aloooong time ago I carved a capital “A” in my mom’s table!” It was out! We finally knew who the woodcarver was! My mother’s knuckles turned white clenching the pew in front of us. Me and my other sister Kelly, barely manage to keep our laughter from filling the high ceilings of the church. Mom gives us “the look” and then says, “don’t you dare tell your sister we know!” I can still see their faces, I remember the look of relief on my little sisters face as she exited the confessional, the weight of her deed lifted and the look on mom’s face, was one of my first pictures of grace. To our amazement mom never said a word. So? How much more is our Father God willing and desirous to forgive us?

Who do you need to forgive? What do you need to confess?

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Christmas in June

2011-06-25T09:19:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

I recently returned from a trip to Ethiopia where we visited the poor, ministered to the sick and tried to encourage those who were depressed, discouraged and disenfranchised. Our 12-day excursion was based upon Luke 4 where Jesus said: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.”

It was my first visit to a developing nation. I must say it was an eye opening and heart altering experience. The receptivity of the people, however, the warmth they exuded and the joy they demonstrated upon receiving some of God’s gifts made me feel like it was Christmas in Spring. As I left the country with fond memories and a renewed desire to help hurting people I purchased a couple of small gifts for my family. My wife said she liked the two scarf’s and my grandson expressed great emotional euphoria when he received his new T-shirt with a picture of an elephant on it. I figured if you visit Africa you ought to have a picture of a giraffe or an elephant or something. Once again it felt like Christmas in Spring.

Presents are a part of Christmas, birthdays, special events and other significant occasions. The word ‘Present’ can refer to both the act of giving a person something such as: the top executive will present an award to the top employee, or an actual item such as a Christmas gift.

In Romans 12:1 the Apostle Paul uses this word ‘present’ and combines the meaning of both. He urges us to ‘present’ ourselves to the Lord as though we are offering something to Him and that something is our own life, which coincidently is the actual gift or present.

You too can experience the true meaning of Christmas throughout the year by bringing to God four ‘presents’. I personally do them each morning after I rise and start my day.

1. ‘Present’ yourself to the Lord through praise and thanksgiving. Psalms 100:4 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. “ It’s amazing how different your day can be when you start with a thankful heart rather than a critical and complaining spirit. Seeing God’s goodness in the beginning of the day sets your course for the following hours.

2. ‘Present’ your heart to the Lord. Proverbs 4:23 “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” It’s not just your actions that count but your attitude as well. Your deeds will never be greater than the motivation or attitude that precipitated them.

3. ‘Present’ your day to the Lord. Invite Him to help, guide and assist you in all your planned activities. While you’re at it, why not ask Him to change your schedule if it needs some adjusting.

4. ‘Present’ to the Lord your sphere of influence. We all are connected to other people and have a level of influence. Pray for your family, relatives, friends and co-workers. Seek to be a blessing.

When these four presents are brought to God each day, you position yourself for a celebration. Are you ready to celebrate? Could you use a little joy? Then start presenting yourselves to Jesus. Begin Today! Who said you can only experience Christmas in December?

Collision Course with Conflict

2011-06-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Cromwell

There are some things in life that you are just not going to be able to avoid. On this list are things like problems, weird relatives and people who won’t stop talking about their iPhone. And not to be forgotten, is the inevitable reality—conflict.

No matter how much you try, you will not be able to avoid conflict. It could be argued, that even if you were to live in total seclusion, you would still be in conflict because of the ever-present battle that wages inside between our heavenly and earthly natures.

This is not to say that every conflict that happens in your life is inevitable. Not by a long stretch. Many of us seem to go out of our way to create unnecessary conflict and contention because we can’t control our tongue. Are you the kind of person that always likes to have the last word or that always has to be right? If you are always in conflict with your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers, then wake up and smell the coffee. You are probably a bit too vocal and you need to stop blaming everyone else for all the drama in your life because it’s you.

But there are some conflicts that are absolutely essential. The battle for your personal destiny, the fight to protect your kids’ innocence, the struggle to keep your marriage—these are just a few. These important conflicts take time and attention. You can’t shortchange them; if you do you always lose.

Are you embroiled in too many conflicts? Maybe it’s time to stop taking yourself so seriously and allow someone else to win an argument once in a while. Those who always have to be right end up being right by themselves. Decide to give up on things that are not essential and make amends.

Have you given up on fighting for the things that matter? It’s time to get back into conflict again. Get back on the horse and start fighting for your marriage again. Sometimes the easy thing (avoiding the difficult conversation) is not the best thing!

This weekend, the pastors in Kings County would love the opportunity to help you settle the conflict between you and God. Once that conflict is settled you can use the strength He gives you to deal with every other conflict in your life!

Keep It Simple

2011-06-11T10:47:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

Many, if not most people have heard of the Ten Commandments, even though they may not be able to quote them verbatim. Exodus chapter 20 records them for us and they go like this. “Do not worship any other gods besides me. “Do not make idols of any kind, … “Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God. “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God… “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God will give you. “Do not murder. “Do not commit adultery. “Do not steal. “Do not testify falsely against your neighbor. “Do not covet your neighbor’s house, your neighbor’s wife … or anything else your neighbor owns.”

These Ten Commandments are also called the 10 Laws of God. They are given to guide and help us discover the best way to relate to Him, others and the world around us. Someone said these are not the 10 Demand-ments from God but the 10 Commandments because He doesn’t force anyone to follow His ways.

In the course of history, religious leaders have added to these 10 commandments more and more laws, numbering in the 100’s and in doing so created a complex system and complicated things greatly. Jesus, however, comes to us in New Testament times and brings us back to simplicity. In response to a man’s question about what is the greatest law, Jesus made this reply: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

He sums up the whole law, whether it is 10 divine commands or 100 man-made ones, and brings life back into focus by giving two clear, concise, simple and yet profound truths.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, before he died at the hands of the Nazis, said, “To be simple is to fix one’s eye solely on the simple truth of God at a time when all concepts are being confused, distorted, and turned upside down.” That was the Apostle Paul’s prayer for certain people, which is recorded in 2 Corinthians 11. He prayed for them to maintain a clear view of God and not be removed from the simplicity of the gospel.

Jesus lived a simple life and advocates a simple lifestyle, even in the 21^st century. He did not intend to promote a simplistic way of thinking nor a shallow way of living because life can get twisted, tangled and downright difficult at times. Easy and simple are not always synonymous terms. Even though life is not always easy, the answers to all of life’s challenges can be found as you simply look in one direction. “Up”

David said it well in Psalms 121. “I will lift up my eyes … where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

You may not be able to quote the 10 Commandments to someone who asks but maybe you could remember, recall and repeat the two Jesus gave. Love God with all you have and love your neighbor as yourself. Keep it simple!

Gatekeepers

2011-06-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Cromwell

In the Bible in Matthew 16:19, Jesus says to Peter, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.” Much has been said about what Jesus meant by this statement. Some scholars believe that at that moment, Jesus made Peter the head of the church. I am persuaded that Jesus was doing something slightly different.

When you have a key, you have the ability to open or close access to a locked location. Now, if everyone has a key, then it is not particularly special—you just have one more copy. But if not many keys have been made, then you become the gatekeeper. You have the ability to grant access because you hold the power in your possession.

Now, if you have the keys to the kingdom of heaven, you become a gatekeeper. Either you can welcome people in or you can keep people out. At one point during Jesus’ ministry (Matthew 23:13), He has a conversation with the religious leaders of the day and tells them, “Woe to you...for you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men....”

The religious teachers of Jesus’ day were good at making rules that kept people away from Father God. This is just the opposite of what spiritual leaders are supposed to do. Their whole job is to help people connect with God. But there is something in human nature that is twisted by knowledge and power. Isn’t it amazing that as soon as someone goes to school and gets a degree, he or she immediately starts to divide the world up into those worthy to hear their great wisdom and those that are not?

Peter’s keys were not to be used in this way. They were to be used to open the doors wide to all those who were seeking to reconnect with the Father. Later in Peter’s life, we see that he is instrumental in opening these doors to three distinct groups—first to the Jews (Acts 2), then to the Samarians (Acts 8) and finally to the rest of the world (Acts 10). Because Peter was generous with the message of God’s love for people, because he opened wide the doors to the kingdom, we today benefit from that message.

I believe we can draw two conclusions from this. First, if you don’t know God personally, the door is wide open. The Father has made a way for each of us to return back to him. The Bible says, “Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Second, if you do know God, you are also a gatekeeper. You can make it difficult for people to connect with Father God (just like those religious leaders in Jesus’ day did) or you can make it easy. You can unlock and swing wide the doors and shout the good news of a God that loves the world, or you can bury the key and keep your mouth shut.

This weekend the pastors in Kings County will be seeking to help people reconnect with God, make sure you’re in church and that you bring someone along!

You Are Chosen

2011-05-28T10:36:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

Back in grammar school my favorite class was “Recess!’ I know now that it’s not really a class but it was always something I looked forward to. My least favorite thing during recess, however, happened whenever the teacher lined the students up, selected two Captains and had them choose teams. It was horrible! I was usually the last to be chosen and then the two Captains would fight over me. “You take him!” and the other would respond, “No you take him!” This would go on until the teacher made the final determination and assigned me to a team. What a confidence builder.

God‘s not like that! He wants to connect with you. He wants you to be on His team. He has chosen you to have an ongoing relationship. 1 Peter 2:9 says: “…you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a Holy Nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that many are called but few are chosen. Everyone is invited to have relationship but those who respond positively to the invitation are chosen to experience, develop and enjoy fellowship with God.

Paul the apostle gives a little insight into the motivation behind God’s choice. 1Cor. 1:26 - 29 “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And He chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important, so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God.”

His choice of you isn’t based on your skill set, your intellect, your abilities, your position, and surely not your past. He sees your potential. His focus is on what you can be and not what you have been.

Not everyone can see potential! Sometimes it’s hidden from view. Like an automobile that loses it’s luster because of the mud that covers it - the dirt of life can cover the treasures hidden within. God, however, never loses sight of them. He isn’t surprised or shocked when the hidden treasure is revealed because He’s the one who put the potential there in the first place. When He views your life, He sees something wonderful and with delight in His voice says, you have possibilities!

God chose you in order to help you find your way back - back to the original you. He originally created you in His image but the hurts of life, the daily grind, the pressing problems and pressures of the day have hidden the real you from view.

I recently saw a restored 1957 Chevy, which was beautiful. But it‘s a million times more wonderful when you see a person restored to their original condition.

Have you ever looked at a married couple and wondered how they made a connection? Why did he marry her? Why did she marry him? From your observations you conclude that they don’t seem to fit together. Yet, they are together.

You may not be able to comprehend or understand this simple truth but one thing is certain: God could have chosen anyone, but He chose YOU!

Don't Be Boring

2011-05-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Cromwell

Life is too short to be boring. Life is also too fantastic to be boring. God has created this incredible world in which we live. He is so amazing He has actually arranged things in such a way that we each have a destiny and a purpose. But far too often we take this wonderful, challenging and awe-inspiring spark and turn it into a dull and dreary existence.

More than ever, it is creativity that can make the difference. A little creativity can transform something ho-hum into something memorable and fun. Because as humans we are creatures of habit, we fall into routines that get old and stale. The love that used to crackle between your and your spouse, has fallen prey to the old routine. Your job that used to be fun (okay, fun may be stretching it a bit), has reverted into the old grindstone that we can turn without even being awake.

Some people are masters at the creative. They just make life fun. We all want to be around these individuals because they put that little twist on life through their humor, their work, their smile and their conversation that makes all the difference.

You see, the creativity we all need is not the kind of creativity that resulted in the painting of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel or the design of the Taj Mahal. That type of genius is granted to only a few. But the creativity that can take a dull situation and turn it into a fun moment is something we can all find.

The dad that decides to do something spontaneous with his kids every once in a while instead of allowing the family to repeat the same old routine. The co-worker that decides to change up the office gathering so that the people attending aren’t mistaken for corpses. The homemaker that moves the furniture, “just because.”

I think we actually work at removing the creativity from our lives. Our education system certainly does its best to turn creative, vibrant children into mind-numbed robots that can spit out the right answer for a test. And somehow we get older and decide that it’s easier to be boring than to be creative.

We serve a creative God with a sense of humor. He made you, didn’t He? He is the most creative person in the universe and according to the Bible He has made each one of us in His image. That same creative spark is inside us; we just need to use it.

The pastors in Kings County would love to help you learn more about our creative God and the incredible oh-not-boring-at-all destiny He has for you. Let me encourage you to visit church this weekend...it may not be as boring as you think.

Jesus, the Change Factor

2011-05-14T15:40:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

There’s a scripture in the Bible that gives a lot of hope to people who are stuck. It communicates the incredible possibility of change and how it can happen. It’s found in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” NIV

Everyone gets stuck between a rock and a hard place throughout his or her journey. When it happens, you may feel like you’re trapped, locked in, powerless to change things and the possibility of real transformation will seem to be only a dream.

This scripture doesn’t tell us that God will change or remove all our difficulties but if we turn to Him, He will change us! I can’t speak for you but that is very encouraging to me. Even though I may be powerless in the midst of a difficult situation, God has the power to change my heart, change my perspective, change my attitude and change my future. All He needs from me is my attention, adoration, a willingness to seek Him and responsiveness to His directives.

Many people in the Bible have experienced this type of transformation when they responded to Christ. Mary Magdalene had a very sordid past. It is even said she struggled with demonic forces and was considered possessed by demons. Then she met Jesus and was transformed from being possessed to a passionate follower of Christ. The disciples went from being fearful to ones filled with faith when they encountered the risen Lord. Thomas was a doubter but after his encounter, became a full-fledged believer.

Paul the Apostle was a religious person but hated Jesus and those who proclaimed their belief in Him. He’s an example of those who go through the motions and do a lot of religious stuff but don’t have any real relationship with Jesus Christ. You can read his story in Acts chapter 9 and see how he went from being a persecutor of Christians to one who preaches the truth to people.

God wants to change you! Not because he doesn’t like what He sees but because He does. Someone said: “God loves you just like you are but He loves you too much to let you remain as you are.”

There are four ways God uses to bring about change?

1. He first starts with kindness and blessing. Rom. 2:4 God’s kindness, tolerance and patience… leads you toward repentance. God wants you to recognize his goodness and volunteer to be changed by Him. The word repentance means a change.

2. If there is no response, He will convict you. Your conscience when trained by the Word of God functions like our modern day GPS system. It will correct your course and keep you on track if you follow its advice. Check out John 16:8.

3. God counsels you. Psalms. 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. The Bible, books, seminars, small group meetings, one on one fellowship, classes, DVD, CD teaching series and weekly church family gatherings are a few ways God provides direction and the possibility of change.

4. If all else fails, God will confront you. The author of Hebrews calls it: ‘Chastisement’ or ‘Discipline.” Heb. 12:10 “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.”

Can you identify any attitudes, beliefs, expectations, thinking or behavior that needs to change? If so, there’s someone who can help you. His name is Jesus.

Where's the Joy

2011-05-07T08:25:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Cromwell

I am constantly reminded of how unnatural Jesus’ words sound when I compare them to my life. In the book of John, Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you.” When I read that statement and look at my life, the reality is that I often do not feel joyful. Anxious, fearful, frustrated, impatient, fatigued — these are the feelings that seem most natural to me.

So how do we experience His joy in our lives?

The key to living joyfully, is to stay connected to Jesus. If He is the source of joy, then we need to stay plugged into the source! We don’t expect a lamp to give any light unless it is plugged into an outlet, so we shouldn’t expect joy to bubble up in our lives unless we are connected to Him.

One of the reasons we don’t stay connected to Jesus is because we don’t trust Him. Either we don’t believe that He could really forgive us for all we’ve done or we’re afraid that He is going to ask us to do something that we don’t want to do! Either way, we keep ourselves from giving ourselves fully to Him and we unplug. We must remind ourselves that Jesus is all about lavishing His love upon us! He looks for ways to have a relationship with us and to express His love to us. His plan for our life is more wonderful than anything we could ever even imagine.

Another reason we don’t stay connected to Him is that we don’t know how. We tend to overcomplicate things. The best way to stay connected with Jesus is to read His Word, talk to Him and get around people that are doing the same thing. If we do these things regularly and with a heart that desires to know Him, then it’s hard to miss.

Now, it is important to know that you can stay connected to Jesus, but still not experience joy. This is because joy does not start with a feeling, it starts with a choice. We have all seen people choose to be angry. You know how it goes. Something happens that is negative and that person decides to focus on it. They think about it, they talk about it, they brood on it. Soon they are consumed with anger. They decided to be angry. In the same way, you must decide to be joyful. You do this by putting your mind in the right place. You refuse to take up offenses. You recall who God is and His wonderful plan for you. You put a smile on your face. Before you know it, you are filled with joy.

The pastors of Kings County would love to help you live joyfully. Why don’t you visit one of the many wonderful churches available in our community this week? It’ll help fill you with joy.

You Are Invited

2011-04-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

As I re-read the life of Christ during the Easter season several things caught my attention. One of the interesting facts I underscored had to do with the way Jesus interacted with people. Even during His last week of life, before the crucifixion and resurrection, He never demanded anything from his followers nor did He seek to control their lives in a dictatorial way. In one of His darkest moments while in Gethsemane, He didn’t demand that His disciples stand alongside Him but merely asked them to join Him in prayer. No pressure, no pushiness and no strong-armed tactics. He simply gave an invitation.

In the early days of Jesus’ ministry He began to approach people and invited them to become His partners. He said in Matthew 4:19: “ … Follow Me, and I will make you into a fisher of men.” His promise to them had to do with transformation. If you follow me, I will make you, shape you and show you how to become a person who develops meaningful and lasting relationships.

Following leaders is important if you are going to live a lifestyle of togetherness. There may not be a need for leadership if one chooses to live alone, isolated and set apart from others, but we were created to be integrated and if there is no leadership, chaos thrives.

Jesus is a different type of leader. He doesn’t merely talk about doing something but actually shows a follower how to walk and how to live a fruitful life. While many today wax eloquent in mere rhetoric and pontificate specific dogma that sways people, Jesus practiced a ‘Show and Tell’ mentality.

Jesus told those who were lost and needed direction for their lives to follow him. I won’t just tell you where to go and what to do, I will actually lead you and show you the way. Follow Me! Wow that simplifies everything. Do what He does, go where He goes, say what He says and things will work out. Jesus will get you to your appropriate destination because He knows the way.

I am a follower of Christ because I accepted His invitation over 45 years ago. That being said, I must admit I follow reluctantly at times. I don’t always like where He is taking me! Sometimes it’s through darkness and difficulty but in those times Jesus develops character in me. Sometimes He leads me into the unknown but even when I’m unable to see the future and fear seeks entrance, I develop trust in His guidance. At times it’s through dryness and a season of barrenness, but even in the dessert He provides water.

Someone recently asked me if I was going to attend a major event that was happening in the city. I expressed that it was by invitation only and I hadn’t received an invitation. Possibly you know the feeling when you discover you aren’t on the ‘invite list’. It hurts! The good news in God’s Word, however, is this: You are invited!

Matthew 11:29-30, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." MSG

I pray you accept the offer because YOU ARE INVITED!

Spending Ourselves To Death

2011-04-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Cromwell

According to one report, 85 out of 100 Americans have less than $250 in savings when they reach 65. If this is true, then most of us are either (a) planning on living on far less than we currently do, or (b) denying reality and sticking our head in the sand. Combine this fact with our habit of spending just a little bit more than we earn and any chance of a comfortable retirement goes right out the window.

Saving your money instead of spending it goes against the grain. Not only is everyone around us doing it, the media reports to us that if everyone were to stop spending so much and start saving their money, the economy would simply crash even further. We know in our heart that we need to be saving for a rainy day, but somehow we are never able to get around to it.

Money is a big deal. So big, in fact, that Jesus talked about it a lot. Half of the stories he told were about money. One out of every six verses in the gospels is about money. He talked more about money than heaven, hell or prayer. He obviously considered our relationship with our money to have big time spiritual implications. He said, “where your treasure is, there will your heart be.”

I believe there are three important things that we must do if we are going to run our finances instead of having our finances run us.

First, we must look ahead. Proverbs 14:8 says, “The wise man looks ahead. The fool...won’t face facts.” Where are our current money practices taking us? Am I paying only the minimum on my credit card? Am I spending all that I earn? Am I buying things I don’t need? These foolish money behaviors not only steal from my own financial future, they also demonstrate that I am a person that God cannot trust to manage His money!

Second, we must make a plan. Proverbs 16:9 says, “We should make plans--counting on God to direct us.” You spell plan, B-U-D-G-E-T. Most of us don’t have a real budget. We have an idea of where our money goes, but we don’t really know. We need to sit down and crunch the numbers. When it comes to money, you need to know four things: what you own, what you owe, what you earn and where it goes!

Finally, we must act quickly. When it comes right down to it, without action we can look ahead and make plans all day long and nothing will change. It is not enough to agree that it is good to systematically save for retirement. It is not even good enough to write down a budget. Unless we actually do it, then it doesn’t matter one bit. We need to stop telling ourselves we’ll do it tomorrow and start today.

Maybe this is all overwhelming to you. I know that when I look at the big picture of my finances, I begin to feel stressed and even a little panicked. Then I remind myself that Rome wasn’t built in a day and my finances won’t be fixed in an hour. Small decisions that are followed through on, result in big changes. So maybe you cancel your cable or eat out half as much — we all can do some small things that will end up making a huge impact on our bottom line.

The pastors in Kings County want to see you experiencing God’s freedom in your finances. Why don’t you give them the opportunity to encourage you this weekend?

Truth or Consequences

2011-04-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

I just finished reading a narrative found in Acts chapter 5 which talks about a young couple named Ananias and Sapphira. This Biblical story is very dramatic and ultimately ends in their death. It all happened because this husband and wife team concocted a plan, which involved lying, deception and greed. Money wasn’t the core issue but it was the vehicle that revealed their flawed character.

The core issue is seen when this young couple makes a bold faced, calculated lie to the Apostle Peter regarding some financial dealing they were involved in. Their lies, their deceitfulness and their false pretense led to their demise.

You may wonder about the severity of the penalty they paid for this falsehood but you must admit that in similar fashion many long lasting, healthy relationships have experienced the same fate because someone decided to lie and act deceptively.

Lying kills! Lying destroys! Lying severs relationships! Yet we all are tempted to do the same thing for a myriad of reasons. Peter asked Ananias and Sapphira, “Why? What made you lie to me and ultimately to God? How could you do such a thing?” Any person reading this text should begin to understand that lying is not the real problem or the main issue. It is a symptom of a deeper problem. Why do we lie? What prompts us to be deceitful? Allow me to suggest three reasons:

1. We lie to COVER UP something we don’t want seen. John 3:19-20 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.” Many marriages and families have suffered severe ramifications because secrets were kept and lies were told.

2. We lie to avoid CONSEQUENCES. A child will lie to his mother so he doesn’t have to take a ‘time out’. An employee will lie to their employer to avoid some punishment and some adults will lie to protect themselves from an undesirable repercussion.

3. We lie to CREATE a better self-image. This is when you lie to impress people. Proverbs13:7 “One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.” The word ‘pretends’ used in this verse is rooted in the word: ‘pretense.’ It is an attempt to make something that is not the case appear true. When you live a life built on pretense, the path is littered with lying. You're trying to create an image or cover up low self-esteem so you lie. That’s what seems to be the motivating factor behind this couple’s act in chapter 5. They wanted to be viewed by others more favorably than they deserved. They were caught in the web of conceit and pride.

So what's the solution? It starts with identifying the motivational factor. Once you understand the motivation behind your lying, then you can begin to deal with the real issue by seeking God’s help. He is the author of truth. Everything he does is based on truth and there is no deceit in him. When you fall in love with Jesus and begin to follow instructions, you start growing a love of truth. Then if you look for the truth, learn the truth and listen to the truth, you will be on your way to becoming a person of integrity. The Consequences that come from living a truthful life outweigh the ramifications of a life based on lies and deception.

Who Do You Trust?

2011-04-09T13:07:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Cromwell

If you are anything like me, you find yourself being caught up in some of the anxiety over the economy and the future. Reading the paper or listening to the evening news is like exposing yourself to a highly infectious flu called “worry”. You may not catch the flu the first time around, but eventually if you keep exposing yourself, it’s going to move into your body and run its ugly course.

But it’s not just the news. Our own hearts conspire to make us worry about the future. We start worrying about losing our job or our house. We get nervous and start hoarding things thinking that we might not have enough.

But it’s a downward spiral. Once you start putting your trust in your bank account or your job or your inheritance, you are putting your faith in something that will always let you down and will also make you a smaller person. When you are worried about the future and put your trust in what you have, you become stingy and closed-fisted. You hold on to what you have because you believe your source of supply is small and undependable.

What is fascinating is that it doesn’t matter if you have a little or if you have a lot. We all find this infection creeping into our hearts. We are like the millionaire workaholic who was asked, “How much more money do you need?” His response: “Just a little bit more.”

Wouldn’t it be nice to be free from this “little bit more” trap? The answer is simple, but it takes a lifetime to live it out. The Bible says in Romans chapter eleven,

Everything comes from God; everything exists by His power; and everything is intended for His glory.

And here is the secret -- we must put our trust in God as our source and supply. Nothing else is truly stable and trustworthy. And when we trust Him, we don’t have to worry about the future because He takes care of His children.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. — Matthew 6:33

Putting God first is something we do everyday and in everything we do. It is also something that is easy to forget to do! Before we know it, there we are putting our self first yet again. The pastors in Kings County would love to encourage and remind you that putting God first is the only way to live worry free. Why don’t you give them a chance this weekend?

A Guide to Health

2011-04-02T12:53:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

When the topic of the American economy and the economic stability of our nation is broached, most would agree these are challenging times. There is a sense of powerlessness when it comes to the multi-Trillion dollars of debt we carry as a nation and the projected 23+ Trillion dollar debt by 2019. It is enough to cause fear and insecurity in any person who is trying to make ends meet. When that happens there is a tendency to hold on to what we have, stop giving to others and put a moratorium on all outflow.

Many, however, have decided to remain faithful to the giving principles taught in the Bible and I too want to be among them. I have visited impoverished countries in the past and even though they have far less than most in America, many haven’t lost their spirit of generosity.

The Bible gives at least 10 reasons why we should give at any time and in all times. If I were to note them in a top ten list they would look something like this:

10. You will receive a REWARD. It may not be the highest motivation but Luke 6:38 reveals you will receive back a great increase whenever you give. We should guard ourselves against a selfish bent toward life but at the same time not despise the reward that is offered.

9. You have a RESPONSIBILITY or to put it another way, you ought to give something. People who take but don’t give back develop an unhealthy lifestyle and perspective. It does more harm than help.

8. The Bible clearly TEACHES the principal of giving. Phil. 2:4 Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and the needs.

7. It is BETTER to give than to receive. Jesus said that and many have experienced the reality of this truth.

6. Giving puts FEET to your faith. Too many people profess one thing but practice something totally different. When you give to others, you are putting your money where your mouth is. Check out James 2:18. It’s one thing to espouse a certain philosophy but much more difficult to live it out. One person said it is easier to make someone think you are great than to actually be great. Jesus said if you really want to be great, be a server - give!

5. Giving brings BALANCE. Those who give are blessed because they give and those who receive are blessed because they have their needs met.

4. It provides an OPPORTUNITY for God to move. When you give to a person in need, you release ministry to happen.

3. It MIRRORS God to people. You can’t read the Bible without seeing God as a giver and no one will ever give back to him or others more than He has given to them.

2. God absolutely LOVES it. He loves a cheerful giver. I can identify with that. A tremendous joy comes to me whenever I see my children giving to others and helping people.

1. God has DEMONSTRATED so much grace that we would be remiss if we didn’t pass some of it on.

I grew up with a sense of right and wrong but very little explanation as to why I should do the right thing. God has a reason for every commandment He gives to us. When He says to GIVE, it’s not because He needs your money but because He wants you to be healthy.

Why not check out one of the many church families in Kings County this weekend and give God some of your time.

Prepared

2011-03-26T13:02:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Cromwell

Japan’s earthquake and tsunami, the global financial crisis, the Aztec end of days in 2012, oil at over $100 a barrel, the Middle East melting down—are we getting close to the end of the world? There is so much anxious talk going on that you would think that we humans like obsessing over things that cause us fear and anxiety.

It happens without fail. Something major happens in the Middle East—a war, an attack on Israel, a dictator makes threats—and someone writes a book about how it fits into the end times plan as laid out in the Book of Revelation. People get worked up and spend time anxiously fretting about what they should do when the next shoe drops and they start stamping “666” on people’s foreheads.

I’m not making light of the Book of Revelation. Not at all. But I do think it is humorous how we have this unfailing tendency towards alarmism and fear-mongering. We spend so much time on “what ifs” when this rarely results in anything positive.

I am not advocating sticking your head in the sand and ignoring major natural and economic disasters. And I am not suggesting that you shouldn’t ever talk about them. But I do believe that instead of focusing on forecasting the future and panicking in the present, we do the thing that God has told us.

Be prepared.

Jesus told His disciples that no one knows when the end of the world is except for Father God. He did say that there are some signs that we are getting closer to the end (see Matthew chapter 24) and in that list are earthquakes and famines and wars. Well, as far as I can tell there seem to be plenty of earthquakes and famines and wars, and maybe they are even getting more frequent.

Jesus’ advice -- get ready! Wise people can read the signs and they make decisions before the panic hits. People that have a plan are always at an advantage in the moment of calamity. What are you going to do if you lose your job? What are you going to do if your house burns down? What are you going to do if an earthquake hits?

Panic won’t help you. Ignoring it won’t help you. And worrying without end that the worst might happen won’t help you. Instead, save some money. Buy some fire insurance. Stock up with some extra bottled water. Don’t panic, prepare yourself.

The pastors of Kings County would love to help you be prepared spiritually for whatever might come your way. Perhaps you should reconnect with God this weekend.

I Quit

2011-03-19T14:21:00.000-07:00

by Tim Howard

Back in the day, a man named David Allan Coe wrote a song which was made famous by a singer named Johnny Paycheck. The song was about the bitterness of a man who worked long and hard with no apparent rewards to show for it. The title was: "Take This Job and Shove It" He evidently reached a point where he couldn’t endure the pressure any longer and finally quit. That may only be a song but it speaks of a reality faced by many of us throughout the journey of life.

Paul the Apostle talks about the pressures he faced and what was true for him can be true for you. He said: “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.” (2 Corinthians 4: 8-9)

Paul reminds us that pressure comes from many sources. He said: “ We are pressed on every side…” You may face it in a marriage when your mate tries to remake you into what he or she wants you to be. It may come from a job that has downsized and now expects you to pick up the added workload without increasing your income. The sheer responsibilities of paying the bills, walking the dog, fixing the car, cleaning the yard and meeting the day to day necessities can weigh heavily on a person and bring them to the point of contemplating those two words: ‘ I QUIT’

The best news from Paul’s comments is that pressure doesn’t have to break us if we respond to it in God’s strength. It may bend us to the breaking point but it doesn’t have the power to crush us. When we fall under the weight, we can still get up and keep going if we put our trust in God and follow His instructions. Knowing that God is on your side is a key to the resilience and strength needed to face the everyday pressures. He is with you and will not abandon you. You don’t need to quit! You don’t need to give up! The Bible says that, it’s not just my opinion.

Don’t get me wrong! There are some things you should quit. You should quit complaining because it causes you to focus on the negative side of life. You ought to quit making excuses and start following the right path. We all should stop lying, cheating and defrauding our friends. The list goes on… Rodney Dangerfield said he contacted his father to tell him he had stopped smoking. His dad responded by saying: I knew you were a quitter! I laughed as I read that joke but there are some times when we all should be quitters. Wisdom will have to make the judgment call.

You can withstand the pressure that’s designed to hinder your progress. You may be pressed on every side like the Apostle Paul but God is with you. According to Romans 8:32; God can use anything, even pressure for the purpose of shaping and making you into a person of character. If you love God and have responded to His grace, you are a candidate for his transforming work. He says to you: Don’t be conformed to the world by yielding to various pressures. Allow Me to give you a new way of thinking so these pressures will produce something positive in you. If you do, even the greatest pressure can’t make you say: I QUIT!

Extra-Ordinary

2011-03-12T10:44:00.000-08:00

by Andrew Cromwell

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is smaller than what we think. We look at the most successful people and business organizations and believe that they have either been extremely lucky or possess some special talent that puts them ahead of the crowd. And while it is true that some do possess great talent and have experienced good fortune, these are not the people of whom I’m thinking.

Forget all the famous people and the multi-billion dollar organizations. Consider the extraordinary people you know. They are our friends and neighbors whose lives are making a meaningful and significant difference in our community. They look just like us on the outside. They don’t have big salaries and they are not particularly talented. Very often, these people don’t leave a big estate behind them when they die, but they do leave a legacy of changed lives.

What makes these people different? What makes them extraordinary? Well, I believe their secret is that they have simply added something a little “extra” to their ordinary lives. They have decided that they are going to put a little “extra” effort into things. They have dedicated a little “extra” time to things that matter. And they have chosen to have a little “extra” attitude (the positive kind).

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is nothing more then this little “extra.” A little extra decision to invest in those things that are worthwhile. A little extra choice to focus on that which is positive and life-inspiring. A little extra encouragement given to those all around.

We all would do well to take a lesson from the extraordinary people around us. They remind me of the verse in the Bible in Galatians that says, “So let’s not get tired of doing good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

Imagine what would happen if more of us decided that we were going to just invest a little more time and energy into the things that matter—our families, our communities, our marriages. My guess is that we would see a lot more extraordinary things happen.

This weekend, why don’t you consider investing a little “extra” into your relationship with Father God? The pastors in Kings County would love the opportunity to encourage you to move from the ordinary to the extraordinary.

In The Waiting

2011-03-05T09:22:00.000-08:00

by Tim Howard

If you ever see me at a store waiting in the checkout line, don’t get behind me! I’ve not been given the gift from God that enables people to choose the line that will require the shortest amount of time. It doesn’t matter what store I frequent or what time of the day, the result is generally the same. In similar fashion, I am positive that all the slow drivers in Hanford follow me around town whenever I get behind the wheel of my car.

Whether it’s waiting in the checkout aisle or waiting behind an automobile driver who seems to move slower than I prefer, patience is not my strongest suit. That’s unfortunate because waiting is a part of life and there is no escape. I remember this incredible feeling that surfaced in my senior year of High School when I just couldn’t wait until I graduated. Then I couldn’t wait to get into college, I couldn’t wait to get married, I couldn’t wait to have children, the list goes on and on… you are always waiting for something!

Patience is the ability to wait with a positive attitude. It is an old English word that means ‘longsuffering’. One person asked, “How long does one have to suffer?” and someone answered: “Longer than you want.” That says it all! Patience is waiting longer than you want for something to happen.

What we often overlook is the work God is trying to accomplish in us while we are in the waiting process. From His vantage point it is not idle time. It is not a time to twiddle our thumbs or tread water until something changes. It is an opportunity to expose what’s on the inside and deal with our character. When I wait with the wrong attitude, I see frustration, irritation, sometimes anger and intolerance coming to the surface. The waiting doesn’t create these character flaws but reveals them.

God tells us in the book of James, chapter one, that times of waiting will test our faith. Once you pass the test, however, you can move on to greater things. The author puts it this way: “…when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”

Learning to wait is essential. Everything cannot, should not and will not happen NOW or as quickly as you might desire. Instant gratification may be prevalent in our culture but delayed gratification will build character when your attitude is correct.

There is danger in the waiting period. You might be tempted to draw wrong conclusions about God. You may start to doubt His love for you. You may think He has forgotten about your situation. You may even be tempted to take matters into your own hands since He isn’t moving as fast as you would like. Let me assure you God hasn’t forgotten you. He is never late and He always has your best interest in mind.

The next time you are in the waiting process, check out what’s going on internally and take note of what’s coming to the surface. Don’t forget that God is at work in you to develop your character in these times. If you remember this you might even be able to relax and rejoice in the waiting!

Stand Firm

2011-02-26T11:19:00.000-08:00

by Andrew Cromwell

You can tell a lot about a person by how they stand. Are shoulders slouched or held square and straight? Are eyes cast downward or looking forward confidently? Is the face open or clouded? The way you stand communicates confidence level, amount of training and readiness.

Stance is important for athletes as well. Virtually any sport that involves physical exertion is concerned with how the player stands. In football, different players use different stances so they can do their job effectively. Linemen crouch low and stand with their feet wide apart so that they are stable and powerful. The quarterback keeps his head high and feet moving so that he can move quickly. Receivers setup for explosive speed and keep their hands up and ready to catch the ball.

Baseball, soccer, tennis and golf players are all concerned about their stance too. Coaches spend lots of time making sure a player knows the optimum stance and they force the player to practice it until it becomes second nature. Everything flows from the stance.

A player that, both literally and figuratively, starts off on the wrong foot is at a disadvantage. He or she is often slow to react and cannot take advantage of an opportunity. Full power cannot be delivered to the bat or club. Worse, he or she is off balance and can fall to the ground and be out of play altogether.

But stance is not just for athletes. It is incredibly important to everyday life. There is an interesting verse in the Bible that says, “Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

In this passage, St. Paul is directing followers of Christ to be ready for evil days. He knew that evil days are part of life. They happen to everyone. If you haven’t experienced an evil day, don’t worry; it’s in the future.

And because evil days are on the horizon, it is important to be ready for them. Paul first talks about the armor that God has given to us, and then he talks about the stance we are to take. He says, “stand your ground.”

Picture a soldier who is ready for battle. The line has been drawn and his commander has told him to hold his assigned piece of ground. The soldier prepares himself. He checks and re-checks his armor. He checks the positions of his fellow soldiers relative to himself. He stretches his muscles. And then as the enemy approaches he crouches in a state of readiness. No one looking at this soldier from afar would doubt that he is prepared for battle.

All of us are in a battle every day of our lives. We battle for our families, for our marriages, for our children, for our friends, for our faith, for our health...for our lives. Far too often, we forget to prepare ourselves like a soldier preparing for battle. And far too often, instead of crouching low and being ready, we bumble along blindly and are surprised when the enemy attacks.

Your stance can make all the difference. A stance of confidence in a God that is faithful and true. A stance of faith that believes the best in the midst of the worst. And a stance that communicates a willingness to fight to the death for that which is worthwhile.

How’s your stance today? Have you gotten lazy? Have your forgotten that you are engaged in a battle? The pastors in Kings County would love the opportunity to encourage you this weekend. Why don’t you give one of our great churches a visit and get back in the battle?

Is God Dead?

2011-02-19T11:27:00.000-08:00

by Tim Howard

If you were alive in the 60’s then you may remember the April 1966 issue of Time Magazine, which had this question on its cover, “Is God Dead?” It alluded to the widely quoted statement by a German philosopher named Friedrich Nietzsche. He wrote several articles proclaiming, ”God is Dead.”

The New Testament followers of Christ believed just the opposite. They knew that God was alive through Jesus Christ because he had in fact risen from the grave. A Doctor named Luke tells us in Acts chapter one these facts: “During the forty days after his crucifixion, Jesus appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.” Then in 1Cor. 15:6 Paul tells us, Jesus was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time after His resurrection…

One of the reasons the New Testament Church succeeded in their mission is because they served a living God. Unfortunately many people today have killed God in their mind through rationalism, a faulty understanding of science and a number of other things for a myriad of reasons. If there is no God then you can make up your own rules. If there is no God, you are not accountable to anyone for your actions. If there is no God, you can live a life of self-focus and elevate yourself to the place of being a god. It was tempting to Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis and it is tempting to people of the 21st century.

If on the other hand God is alive, you will have to give an account for the decisions you make and the actions you choose. The author of Hebrews in chapter 10 makes it clear that God is living and He will ultimately bring us before Himself to have a time of reckoning. The author goes on to say this can be a fearful thing if you have been living a life as though God is dead.

The disciples and other followers of Christ were not at the mercy of those who had an argument or made bold statements like Friedrich Nietzsche because they had a valid and verifiable experience. They knew He was alive because they were in his presence, they felt his closeness and a saw his acts. Once you have had an encounter with the living Lord revealed in the scriptures, all lies about Him lose their power.

For the present day person, it is good to know that God is not only alive but He’s actively involved in the lives of those who put their faith in Him. He is not aloof or far away. He helped Moses when he faced a crisis at the Red Sea. He assisted Noah when the rain started to pour down. He delivered Daniel from the mouths of lions when death was imminent and He will guide and assist you each and every day through every challenge.

Only a living God can do these things! By the way, the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche died August 25, 1900 but God is still alive and doing quite well. He is not dead!

Why not visit one of the many church families this weekend in Kings County and encounter a living God. Don’t go as one who visits a cemetery to remember the dead but go seeking the Lord who is alive. Luke 24:6.

How Committed Are You?

2011-02-12T11:05:00.000-08:00

by Andrew Cromwell

Vince Lombardi said, “The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”

All too often, we have a commitment problem. Sometimes we don’t commit to something because we want to keep our options open. We are concerned that a better opportunity might come walking by and we might miss it if we are otherwise engaged. Sometimes we don’t commit because we don’t want to feel boxed in. The idea of being restricted is uncomfortable and therefore undesirable. And sometimes we don’t commit because commitment can be difficult and we are afraid that we might fail.

Our commitments (or lack of them) define us. People that are unshakably committed to the right things make a significant difference in our world. It is easy to list famous people whose impact still echoes today because of the positive commitments they made. Political and social figures Winston Churchill (“we will never surrender”) and Martin Luther King Jr. (“I have a dream”) refused to compromise. Thomas Edison (“I have not failed, I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”) wouldn’t give up. And Babe Ruth decided he was going to keep swinging the bat even when it meant he held the strikeout record for decades (“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run”).

Commitment doesn’t only make a difference in famous people’s lives, it transforms everyday lives as well. The dad that makes a commitment to spend time with his kids; the husband that commits wholeheartedly to pursue the heart of his wife; the teacher that decides that no child is unteachable; the friend that chooses to believe the best and always has your back: the employee that decides they don’t just work for their boss, they work for their Father in heaven (Colossians 3:23 “work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord”).

Of course, you can be committed to anything, and it is possible to be committed to things that are just a waste of time or are even destructive. But when you commit to those things that are truly meaningful—your family, building healthy relationships, Father God, work that makes a difference, giving rather then hoarding—you sow the seeds that will result in a harvest of blessing in your life.

I will never forget the story someone told me about the day their dad made the commitment to get their family in church. Church and spirituality was not a part of the family’s life up to that point, but one Sunday, dad made the decision that it was important. He gathered his family together and they headed off. More than thirty years later, the decision that father made continues to bless that family, and there is no doubt it will for generations to come.

The best commitment you can make is to chase after our Father with all of your heart. Joshua said, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” That quality decision resulted in great blessing. Yours will too.

This weekend, the pastors in Kings County would love to have the opportunity to encourage you in your quality commitments. All over this community, pastors are invested in helping people build their marriage, their families and their relationships. Isn’t it time you made that quality commitment to get you and your family into church?

Enough is Enough!

2011-02-05T08:27:00.000-08:00

by Tim Howard

In John chapter 6 the Bible tells us of a time when Jesus fed 5,000+ hungry people. The disciples had asked Jesus to send the people away since it was getting late and they hadn’t had dinner yet. But when Jesus told the disciples not to send them on their way but to feed the people themselves, they reacted with an attitude. They knew they couldn’t afford to purchase the necessary items and even if they did have the finances where would they find enough food to meet the needs of that many people.

Regardless of their reaction Jesus was confident and committed to meeting the needs of the moment and asked the disciples what food was available. One responded by saying: “There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this.”

That statement was similar to the words spoken by a mother, as she looked into the pantry for food to feed her four children. A sense of panic began to pierce her heart as she moaned quietly, what shall we do – there’s not enough!

Instantly, however, a voice within her spirit asked a poignant question. Why don’t you give thanks for what you DO HAVE rather than what you DON’T HAVE? It didn’t make sense from a rational point of view but she responded by giving thanks nonetheless. In that specific moment of time, this mother of four began to sense a peace that went beyond her comprehension. She experienced the reality of Phil. 4:6-7, which says: “ Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

On the journey of life, there are many critical moments when we discover there just isn’t enough to make it. Those times are reality checks. When Jesus suggested that the people be fed, the response of the disciples revealed their human perspective. “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish…” There simply isn’t enough!

When Jesus saw the small amount of food, however, He wasn’t intimidated or doubtful because He knew what God could do when offered even a little. He took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.” Everyone ate that day.

Jesus paused and GAVE THANKS. It wasn’t much. It wasn’t impressive. It wasn’t enough to make a real difference in the human sense but He gave thanks anyway. Then, He broke the bread and it multiplied! What God takes, He breaks and whatever He breaks, He blesses. When God gets involved, whatever we have – is enough!

Giving thanks for what we do possess rather than focusing on what we do not possess will always open a door to the supernatural. It’s the beginning point for man and the entry point for God. May I suggest a threefold plan when there is not enough food or not enough money or not enough time or joy or romance etc... 1. Give thanks regardless of the shortage. 2. Offer what you have to God even though it may be miniscule. 3. Then watch God work on your behalf. You will discover you have enough to make it!

What's Your Location

2011-01-29T08:15:00.000-08:00

by Andrew Cromwell

Everyday we make a decision as to where we are going to place ourselves. I’m not talking about where we go physically, although that is certainly a part of it. Instead I’m talking about where we place ourselves spiritually. The truth of it is, our physical location and our mental location both directly influence our spiritual location. We are fundamentally spiritual creatures and nothing that we do is merely physical or mental.

This is an important concept to understand. Far too often we buy into the idea that we have little power over our world. We begin to act as if we are simply reactionary beings who are only able to respond to the things that are being thrown at us. This type of thinking is victimization thinking. We become victims of our circumstances, victims of the people around us and victims of even our own shifting emotions.

We are swayed by what we hear. We are worried about the future. We overreact to the smallest things. We are first convinced and then we are doubtful. We are hot and then we are cold. We believe God is for us and then we are not so sure. We are overjoyed that so and so is our true friend and then our worst enemy.

It is easy to identify these tendencies in other people, but all of us are drawn into this kind of instability to varying degrees. The key is to place ourselves in the right location.

Psalms chapter one says, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.”

There are many places we can put ourselves. We can place ourselves in worry. We can place ourselves in lust. We can place ourselves in anger. We can place ourselves in the worship of money or sex or stuff. But according to the Scripture, if we place ourselves where we find joy in following God’s voice and obeying His Word then He places us by a stream of water and makes us fruitful.

So this is the key, we place ourselves in God, and then He places us where we need to be. Jesus said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you....” Our location is incredibly important. If we are placed in the right location then we don’t need to worry or fear and we can deal with the cares and challenges of life in a new way.

So where are you placing yourself today? Maybe you need to put yourself in the hands of Father God and allow Him to plant you by a stream of living water. You might just find that the fruit that comes out of your life is better then you have ever experienced.

The pastors in Kings County would love to teach you how to abide in Him. I encourage you to get in His house this weekend; He’s got places all over town.

The Power of Presence

2011-01-22T08:07:00.000-08:00

by Tim Howard

In the profession I have chosen there are many opportunities to gather with people in a variety of settings. It may be at a conference, a seminar, a party or something as simple as meeting at a restaurant. Recently at one of these meetings, I noticed something others were aware of as well.

The meeting had started with those present and approximately 10 min into the gathering a certain person entered the room. At that precise moment, there was an immediate change in the very atmosphere. It was as though someone had gone over to the thermostat and changed the temperature drastically. It was that noticeable!

As this was happening I realized how one person’s presence could change the climate of a gathering. They can have a negative effect on people or a positive one. Surely you have noticed the same thing at some time. I overheard one employee express great joy when they heard the boss was going to be absent on a given day. His presence evidently had a negative effect on this employee. It reminded me of a sign I recently saw on a desk. It said: “All people bring me joy. Some when they come, others when they go.”

Your presence affects people. The question is: Do people look forward to your coming or your going?

In the Old Testament, Moses said he did not want to continue on his journey unless God’s Presence would be with them. Moses knew if God was with him and the people he served, the outcome would be totally different.

The Bible tells us that God is “Omnipresent”- His presence is everywhere! David in Psalms 139 said, “Where can we go from your presence since you are everywhere?” Jonah realized this truth as well. He learned you can run from God but you can’t hide from His presence.

All of God is present at all times, and in all places but there are those moments when He manifests Himself in such a way that we are acutely aware of Him being near us. This is what Moses hungered for and I must admit this is my great desire as well. His manifest presence and our awareness of His closeness allows for genuine life to happen in the midst of any gathering. According to Exodus 33:16, His presence is what distinguishes His people from all the other people groups on earth.

There are four ways you can position yourself to experience the manifest presence of God.

1. Keep a clean heart! It will welcome God’s presence. Even as you shower daily to cleanse your body, God is willing to cleanse your heart each day if you will simply ask and repent.

2. Develop a seeking heart! It will discover God’s presence. According to Matthew 7:7 & James 4:8, a person who looks for God with all their heart will find Him.

3. Make sure you have an obedient heart! In Exodus 33, when the Israelites were in danger of going it alone - without God’s presence, they repented. Before this, however, they rebelled, didn’t listen, were arrogant, complained and would not obey. As they changed their heart attitude, God decided to go with them.

4. Maintain a humble heart! God resists the proud but draws near the humble.

You may be in need of by-pass surgery on your heart. If so, visit one of the many church families in Kings County this weekend and let God change your heart. His Presence is worth it.

Dropped Signal

2011-01-15T10:14:00.000-08:00

by Andrew Cromwell

People are a lot like cell phones...they are constantly searching for connection. Inside your cell phone is a little chip that demands to be connected to a cell tower and it is always searching, searching, searching to get the best connection possible. You and I are just like that, we have a deep need inside of us for connection. Of course, it’s not a cell tower that we are seeking, but rather the connection of a real relationship.

Instead of bars that indicate signal strength, our connection indicator is a little more subtle. More often than not, we can tell how strong our connection is by paying attention to our inner world. How are we feeling? Is that black hole of depression or anxiety threatening to swallow us alive or do we feel secure and fulfilled?

Often things can be going very well on the outside. We might even wonder why we feel this way when nothing is wrong in our life. But on the inside we feel numb or hopeless or helpless. This is when we begin to search for ways to compensate for what is going on inside. What we are really doing is trying to find something to either substitute or numb the pain from a lack of connection with others. So we act out by returning to our addiction of choice. It might be overeating, a temporary escape into an empty sexual relationship, alcohol or some risky behavior that gives us an adrenaline rush and covers up the pain.

All of these behaviors are attempts to compensate for lack of connection with others. And they are all lousy substitutes. There is something about connecting with another human being that actually changes the way that we feel. It is amazing what happens when we open up to others and let them know what is going on inside.

I am not suggesting that when you share your inner life with someone else that they will give you an answer and this will solve all of your troubles. Instead, what I am saying is that by simply sharing your inner thoughts, worries and concerns with a close friend that listens without judgment (and without an attempt to “fix” you), your connection signal strength rises and that healthy connection feeds your inner need to be known. Suddenly you begin to find that your desire for unhealthy substitutes for connection lessens.

So the next time you feel like self-medicating with your preferred vice, why not pick up the phone instead and talk to a friend? Tell them what you are feeling. You might be surprised at the result.

The pastors of Kings County would love to help improve your signal strength and connection with Father God. And there are many wonderful people who are seeking Him as well who would love to encourage you on your spiritual journey. Why don’t you give church a try this weekend? You might be surprised at what you find.

Lighten Up

2011-01-08T15:05:00.000-08:00

by Tim Howard

It’s only January 8, 2011 and I have already lost approximately 25 pounds! Some of you might be wondering how I did it in such a short time. Maybe I should consider being on that T.V. show Biggest Loser…

The truth is I didn’t lose physical weight but emotional poundage. It happened when I decided not to carry some of the hurt, pain, shame and disappointments of the past into the future. I left some of my emotional baggage behind!

A man by the name of Dick led a group of 12 men into Africa on a mid-life adventure. They traveled 7000 miles on this expedition to come face to face with Africa and themselves. As leader of the trip, Dick purchased an ultra-light backpack that was designed for maximum cargo-carrying efficiency. It was packed with eating utensils, cutting devices, digging tools, direction finders, various garments in various sizes for various functions. It had medical supplies, remedies and cures. Little bottles inside little bottles inside little bottles… You name it and he had it. When they came to Magaduru, a small Maasai village they were met by a tall lean Maasai man who stood proudly with nothing more than a loincloth, a spear and a stick used for cattle tending. As they talked together, this man became very intrigued with the large, awkward and packed to the brim backpack. He proceeded to ask a very simple question but with great intensity:

Does all this stuff make you happy?”

All of us have material stuff but we also have emotional baggage, which is a part of our personal history. Like this Maasai man, we periodically need to ask ourselves a few questions. Does all this stuff help me become a better person or is it hindering me? Do I really need this stuff or should I leave it behind? As I entered 2011, one week ago, I decided to unpack and repack my bags. The result? A much lighter load!

Unpacking simply means taking a long, hard look at what we’re carrying and why. Seeing if our possessions, responsibilities and relationships are still helping us move forward or if they are dragging us down. Repacking then is the ongoing activity of reevaluation and reinvention. Rearranging our priorities, reframing our vision of life and recovering a new sense of being alive.

The Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung talked about the morning, afternoon and evening of a person’s life. He said: “ we cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life’s morning - for what was great in the morning will be little at evening and what in the morning was true will at evening have become a lie.”

Maybe this is a time for you to do some house cleaning. Maybe it’s time for you to take a hard look at what you are carrying and why. Maybe you need to unpack and repack your bags as well. If you do this, you can go through 2011 seeing life from the lighter side.

I love the invitation Jesus gives to each of us in Matthew 11:28-30:

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." The Message.

In other words: Lighten up!

A New Year's Blessing

2011-01-01T13:24:00.000-08:00

by Andrew Cromwell

The New Year is here. Today alternately marks the end of the holiday season and the beginning of a new calendar. Today we turn from reflecting on the past year and we look forward to what the new year brings. Traditionally, this is the day that our new year’s resolutions begin too—to lose that extra poundage we gained during the Christmas season, to make those phone calls and stay connected better, to get out of debt and to spend more time with family.

This year, rather then give you another strategy on how to keep your resolutions; I decided to simply write a blessing for you and yours for the new year. Scripture says that giving a blessing to others is part of what we are supposed to do as followers of Christ (1 Peter 3:9). Speaking a blessing over others is powerful because you are bringing your words into agreement with the One who is the Father of all blessing and life.

So here goes:

In this new year, may the Spirit of the Living God sustain and strengthen you. May His wisdom guide you with clarity in moments of confusion. May His hope encourage you in moments of despair. May His power gird you up when you are weak. May His light shine in every dark place and bring life to that which has long been dead.

I pray that the eyes of your heart, your spiritual eyes, would be opened to see His goodness and that as you reach out to Him, you would find Him. May the riches of His glory fill your heart and home. May you find His favor extended to you daily as you encounter the challenges of life.

May your children be blessed. I pray that they would excel among their peers and have favor with their teachers and administrators. I declare a new sensitivity in their hearts and minds to the words and ways of the Living God. I speak protection over them wherever they are—on the playground, in the classroom, on the school bus and at home.

I pray that you would have a new resolve to do that which is right and good; that your speech to others would be seasoned with grace and love; that your actions would flow from an open and giving heart; and that your steps would be ordered by the Lord.

May this year be a year of great blessing and great increase. I pray that in Him you would find the resource for all that is lacking and that it would not only fill you but that it would also supply the needs of those around you to the glory of our God and Father. Amen.

The pastors of Kings County would love to have the opportunity to teach you how to walk continually in the blessing of God. One of the greatest blessings you can give to your family this year is to start them off right and help them get under the umbrella of God’s blessing.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T09:49:00.000-08:00

by Tim Howard

Some folks like to use the phrase Happy Holidays rather than Merry Christmas. This suggests that many people love to celebrate the season, yet do so for a variety of reasons. I personally like the phrase Merry Christmas because it keeps the name of Christ prominent and helps me remember that He is the central reason for all our festivities. After all, it is His birthday we are celebrating.

How did you do with regards to your Christmas shopping? Did you purchase something for your children? Did you frantically look for that perfect gift for that perfect someone in your life and finally find it? What about your friends and co-workers? Did you run from store to store or check out the online prices to find a great gift for a great price? In all your activities, have you come to Christmas day ready to Celebrate or ready to Collapse?

This year I personally decided to make a change and joined the ‘Advent Conspiracy.’ I conspired with others to find a way to celebrate the Advent of Christ without yielding to the spirit of consumerism that is very much alive in our culture. Allow me to quickly add that I’m not implying we should spend nothing! It’s not about being stingy, miserly or acting like a scrooge. Share nothing, have nothing or give nothing. NO! It’s all about giving gifts BUT giving gifts that mean something and make a real difference. Spend less and give more! Sounds impossible unless you realize that the greatest gifts we can give people cost nothing at all in a monetary sense.

Three of the greatest gifts came to us through the birth of Jesus Christ and you can give these three gifts to others. He came to reveal the Father’s love. He came to give you joy and He came to bring hope by extending forgiveness and freedom from your past.

A Doctor by the name of Luke makes mention of these three gifts by recording the announcement of Christ’s birth in the Bible. He says in Luke 2:10 -11, “the angel of the Lord said to them, ‘…behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” His presence among us brings hope and joy and is good news to the ears of those who will believe.’” Did you notice that Jesus came for everyone and not just a few? The very fact that God decided to live among us reveals His great love toward us. That’s not only good news, that’s great news!

Unfortunately, many who were caught up into the spirit of consumerism this season enter Christmas day ready to collapse rather than celebrate. Christmas day can too often becomes a burden to endure rather than a blessing to be experienced.

I invite you to make three decisions today. 1. Decide to celebrate God’s presence rather than focusing on the presents you receive. 2. Decide to love each other by serving those with whom you gather. 3. Forgive those who have hurt you and they will experience great joy - So will you! Many gifts can be given to people on this day we call Christmas but Love, Joy and Forgiveness are among the best.

If you make these three decisions and act upon them, you will honor God by exalting His son Jesus Christ and that’s extremely important since it’s His Birthday. He is the reason we say: Merry Christmas!

The Gift that No One Wants

2010-12-18T09:39:00.000-08:00

by Andrew Cromwell

As we enter the Christmas season much of our attention is focused on the gifts we will be giving to friends and family. Whether you are the type of person that wakes at an ungodly hour to crash the stores on the day after Thanksgiving or the person that waits until the last minute to fight for parking spaces and wait in line, all of us want to match up the right gift to the right person.

And each year we both give and receive a myriad of novelty gifts — the tie that blinks and sings, the chachki that was oh so carefully selected in the dollar aisle, the dreaded and much lampooned fruitcake. No one wants these gifts. And yet we continue to give them because we feel obligated to go through the ritual even if the gifts have long ago ceased to be significant.

Do something different this year! Break the mold, save money, and instead write a card or a note. Take that five or ten dollars and give it to charity in the name of that person who would normally get a junk gift. Our church has helped people do this for the last couple of years and we have discovered that people LOVE to receive these types of gifts. You can find out more info on what we are doing this year at our website at kcfchurch.org.

There is one gift that no one wants, but we all need. This is a gift that communicates true love and concern but is one of the most difficult to give. It costs no money. It involves no trips to the mall. You don’t even have to wrestle with the scotch tape and wrapping paper.

It is the gift of honest conversation.

For a close friend or loved family member, an honest conversation can be the most difficult and yet the most rewarding gift that you can give. The truth is, honest conversations are uncomfortable. They usually involve talking about things that we would rather not bring up. It might involve talking about the person’s bad behavior or their inability to see the way their actions are damaging to others. It might mean telling a spouse the way you really feel and revealing a part of your heart that hasn’t been shared in a long time. For all of these reasons and more, honest conversations are usually avoided at all costs.

And yet, when we avoid having honest conversations with the people we love, we actually keep our relationships from growing deeper and more significant. We avoid talking straight with people because we are afraid of hurting their feelings and damaging our relationship with them. But when we do that we actually refuse to believe that a deeper relationship is possible.

What we forget is that honest conversations are the key to growth. We need each other to speak truth so that we can get better. The question is, do we love someone enough to tell them the truth? I believe if we all took time to have some serious conversations this Christmas, we might actually learn something and grow deeper.

The pastors in Kings County would love to get a chance to help you have an honest conversation with Father God. When is the last time you two talked? Grab your family and get in church this weekend, there’s no better time than the present.