Thought of the Week for March 30th thru April 5th...

This week I would like for us to focus on our ability to go directly to the Lord with our needs and our desires through the powerful privilege of prayer. This is a privilege that many of us take for granted and very few of us realize the true blessing that it contained within this act. The bible tells us in Matthew 27:50-51, "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent."

You see, as God's plan for the reclamation and the redemption of man was completed, there was no need for the priest to enter in and make intercession for the people anymore, that was accomplished by Jesus Christ. He now sits and makes intercession for us. You see in Romans 8:34 the bible says, "Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us."

Therefore Christ, through His death, burial, and resurrection, has not only given us the miraculous and powerful gift of the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost), but He also allowed us to experience the powerful privilege that only a select few in the Old Testament, such as Moses, Abraham, and Elijah, to name a few, were able to experience. Not even the great and wonderful David was able to communicate with God directly. Think about that for just a second! You are able to do something and enjoy a privilege that one of the most influential men in the Bible was not!

Prayer is a privilege and it is one that we should take full advantage of in our daily lives. You don't communicate with your spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend once or twice a week and so why should you talk to the lover of your soul and the God of all creation on such a limited basis? Why should we be so eager to spend hours on the phone talking about somewhat insignificant or inconsequential things when we have a God who wants to give us all of the desires of our heart if we will only seek Him first. Please, spend time with the one who did so much for you and I. I don't think that is too much to ask, do you?...

Your Minority Report...

I don't know how many of you saw "Minority Report" staring Tom Cruise, but I did many years ago, and for some reason I started thinking about it this morning on my way to work, and there were a few concepts that stood out in my mind other than the basic premise or plot of the movie.

The first concept is that everyone, no matter what their background, can make a difference if they choose to use their God given talents and abilities for the betterment of society as a whole. Don't use the fact that you come from the wrong side of the tracks or that you have made mistakes in your past as an excuse to allow you to squander the opportunities that God gives you to be used. You and I may not have the gift of premonition like the precogs in the movie but we do have gifts that are just waiting to be used, so use them! (the story of the talents Matthew 25:14-30)

Secondly, everyone has faults and has made poor judgements in their past, of that we can be certain. Maybe we have done horrible things in our past or maybe we are still letting the events of the past affect and shape our present. Please, "Stop the Insanity!" What makes real life so great is that we have the ability to choose to turn from that lifestyle and to go forward into a brighter and more positive future. Allowing the circumstances and situations of our past to dictate to us our future is a lie straight out of hell and we must stand strong and believe that we have the power and the strength to overcome our past and to become the creature that Christ wants us to be. (Romans 8)

Finally, we all have a "Minority Report!", and it lies with the one who is brighter than all the others, Jesus! It is the life and the path that God would have you and I to live and pursue. While the devil would have us to believe that this is simply the hand that we were dealt and this is all that we will ever be, God wants us to know and to understand that there is more for us to achieve and to become if we will simply choose to follow His path and strive to have His will for our lives. Our future is not already written, unlike this movie would suggest, and it is up to us to do with it what we will. Hopefully we will make the right choice and start by making today a new day, seeing it as an opportunity to make it and our lives better than the day before...

Thought of the Week for March 23rd thru 29th...

Obviously, this week we will focus on the celebration of Easter as it is because of this event in the past that we are able to have the future that we do. It is amazing to think about it really! God manifest in the flesh bore the sins of all humanity for the chance that you and I would choose to follow Him. He loves you and I that much that He was willing to go through all of the humiliation, the suffering, and the shame of that fateful day for the mere possibility that you would choose to love Him. There was and is no guarantee that any of us would pick up our cross and follow Him, but that did not stop Him from making the ultimate sacrifice to reclaim and to renew the relationship that we willingly relinquished. Think about this...If He knew that you were going to be the only person who would chose to give their life to Him, if He knew that your one soul was the only reward for all that He went through, if He knew that you were going to the one person to escape the torture and torment of an eternity spent in hell, He would have still had a reason to go to endure the beatings, to go to the cross, and die for your sins...Now that's an amazing love!

Spirit West Coast Concert...

I wanted to put this out there for anyone who wanted to go to this event. It is a contemporary Christian concert Series in Del Mar and we would be going on May 24th. If you are interested or just want to find out more information about this event you can go to www.spiritwestcoast.org/delmar for more information. There is a cost associated with this event of approximately $50.00 for your ticket to get in and then whatever you need for food, souvenirs, etc. Please let me know if you intend to go by March 31st so that we can get your tickets before the prices go up. Thank you...

Thank You...

I just wanted to say a special thank you to everyone who did such a great job with the Easter Drama! You guys were awesome and I just wanted to say thank you for all of your time, effort, and dedication. I really think that we were able to touch a lot of the people who were there for the performance and hopefully we will be able to minister to thousands more through the miracle of the Internet. Thanks again...

Youth Convention...

Don't forget that the caravan will be leaving for the Youth Convention in Bakersfield on Wednesday and Thursday, March 19th and 20th, at 5:00 pm sharp. Don't be late! This will be a great time of worship and praise with youth from across the entire state of California. It is both powerful and impacting to see a group of 1 to 2 thousand, or more, young people, praising and magnifying God together. I would strongly encourage you, regardless of your age, to come and to be a part of this exciting event. This is a great opportunity for you to share God with loved ones so please, bring your friends and family members and watch as God transforms your life and theirs...

Thought for the Week of March 16th thru 22nd...

The 16th is Palm Sunday, or the day in which Jesus arrived triumphantly into Jerusalem, and the 21st is Good Friday. Yet I think that too often we become so preoccupied with the wonder and splendor that was and is Easter Morning, we loose sight of the turmoil and trepidation that Christ was going through during this week. He arrived and was greeted with a king's welcome into Jerusalem, riding a donkey through the city gates and having people lay palm leaves in His path. The same people that He knew were only days later going to shout and demand His crucifixion on the cross. These same people who were shouting, "Hallelujah" and "Hosanna" this day would be shouting, "Give us Barabbas" and "Crucify Him" just days later. What a feeling Jesus must have felt to see these people giving Him the honor and glory that He rightfully deserved knowing how swiftly their hearts would change and how easily their minds would be corrupted. How sad to think that the only true and honest praise that He was receiving was that of the birds that were chirping overhead. What a pity...And then Good Friday! It's good only because of what we gained from His sacrifice! If you have yet to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, then it's just Friday to you. But this happens to be a National Holiday, celebrated by millions of people all across the U.S. His death, burial, and resurrection, gave us the ability to receive unconditional mercy and love, and to have an opportunity to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. The same unconditional mercy and love that you and I have the privilege of knowing and enjoying is available to everyone, but unfortunately, many have yet to take advantage of the full benefits that a deep and meaningful relationship with God provides. Jesus, the one who loved you and I so much that He took our place, the one who died so that you and I might live, the one who gave up everything to be our spotless sacrifice, without sin and without blemish. That same Jesus, will only see some people 1 or 2 times a year around His house, for His birthday and for a celebration of His death, if that...Now that's what is really a shame...

Excuses...

I have often had people who do not currently attend church tell me that they don't go to church because it is "unnecessary" or that "all of the people there are just hypocrites anyway" and therefore they don't want to associate with a bunch of hypocrites. They pull out the excuse that they "don't have any nice clothes to wear" or that they haven't been to a church in a while so they would "feel uncomfortable or out of place". But the best excuse that I have ever heard is, "I don't trust in or commit to things that I don't understand", and therefore they can't trust in God because they don't understand God. Now to this I would like to reply (I don't but I wish that I would) "Do you understand the manner in which electricity works and if you don't do you not have lights, televisions, or any other gadget that requires the use of this thing that you don't understand? Do you understand the law of gravity and if not does that mean that it does not exist? Do you understand the workings of an internal combustion engine and if not do you refuse to drive or ride in any vehicle?" Hopefully the fallibility in this excuse is clearly evident and the ridiculous nature this sort of reasoning is brought to light. God, through His word talks about this very subject and the problem that He knew man would have accepting the truth where it says in 1 Timothy 3:16

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory."

Remember, just because you choose not to believe or accept something, does not make it any less true or necessary...

A Lesson From History...

In July 1776, a man named John Hancock made one of the boldest and most symbolic gestures of any man when he not only was the first to sign the Declaration of Independence, but he signed it so largely and profoundly that, in his words, "King George will be able to read that all the way from his seat in Parliament!" You see, there was no doubt that he was committed to the cause of freedom, and he was willing to let everyone know it. The other men present followed suit and signed the document, but none of them had the vision, confidence, or determination to follow Hancock's example and take a bold step of faith.

How daring! How committed! How inspiring! How passionate about the cause!

Now think about this...How often do you and I proclaim to be a Christian to our church friends but then try desperately to blend in with everyone else when we go to school, to work, or to socialize with non-Christians? Are we willing to boldly and passionately display Christ's name on our lives, day in and day out, for all the world to see or do we do like all of the other people who signed the Declaration and just sort of haphazardly place our name with all the others never trying or desiring to boldly go where others don't? Remember we are to be a beacon of hope and light to this dying and decaying world. This is better explained to us in Matthew 5:13-16, where it says...

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

The Lord's Calf...

There was once a farmer and in the springtime he had a cow who happened to birth two calves. The man came rushing into the house and told his wife that they had been blessed and for her to come and see what God had done for them. The woman went out to the barn with her husband and saw the two calves there and asked what he intended to do with the other calf? The man replied emphatically, "This is a blessing from God, the blessing that you and I have been praying for. We did not have any money to give back to God as our tithe and so he provided us with this calf for us to raise, sell, and give the money to Him." The woman thought that was a wonderful idea and so she asked her husband, "So which calf is the Lord's and which calf is ours?" Her husband responded, "It doesn't matter, they are both gifts!" Latter that summer the man went out to feed the livestock and was shocked and dismayed at what he found. He ran quickly back into the house to tell his wife the terrible news. "Hunny", he said, "The Lord's calf died..."

How many times do we start out with the best intentions, but somewhere along the way we loose focus and end up slipping into a place we never intended to go? You see, the farmer started out with good intentions, and it was easy for him to be content with his decision while both of the calves were living and doing well, but as soon as one died, he completely forgot about the promise he had made to God at their birth and the fact that they were both gifts and blessings from God to begin with. The next time you find yourself facing hard times or the road of your life becomes a bit rocky and there are bumps in the road, remember the promises that you made to Him, but more importantly remember the promises that He has made to you...

This is the Day...

While getting ready for church this morning, I heard a familiar passage being read and this thought popped into my head. In the Bible where it says "This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it", there is no mention of the day in question being Sunday or the Sabbath. Why then do we seem to focus and concentrate our thought of celebration and gladness on Sunday? Wouldn't it be more appropriate to rejoice and be glad everyday and not just once a week? I don't know about you, but I personally would consider a person weird if they were down and depressed for six days straight and then once a week they decided that they were going to be happy. We call those people schizophrenic, not to poke fun at this serious medical condition, (disclaimer). Rather than dwelling on the misery and pain that we see all around us on a daily basis, wouldn't it be better to rejoice that you have been given the chance to live another 24 hours? Isn't that reason enough to rejoice? Rather than turning on the news and being overwhelmed by the horrors that you see in your community, wouldn't it be a more admirable and worthy way to spend your time ministering to the needs of a neighbor? Shouldn't we be able to be glad that our condition is not as bad as that of another? Now I'm not saying to rejoice in another person's misery, but it does help to put our petty squabbles and minor discomforts into better perspective when we see the anguish of another who has things far worse than you or I. So tomorrow before you wallow in your own self pity, take a moment, reflect on all that God has done for you, and rejoice and be glad in the day and the time that you have been so graciously given...

Seeing the Difference that HD Can Make...

I know that a lot of you out there have a HD TV. I myself have 2 of them. But as I was running around town today, back and forth from the printers due to poor image resolution, this thought hit me. Why do we as Christians have such a hard time seeing the world as it really is? Why do we often find ourselves faced with situations and circumstances that we just didn't see coming? Why didn't I notice when a friend was going through a tough situation? Why do some our lives see the same ups and downs as those people that are living their lives depressed, destitute, and desperate for something to come into their lives and fill the void that only a true and personal relationship with Jesus can fill? I think the answer lies in how we see the world. We are so used to seeing the world in as it has always been that we are blind to the subtleties and simple details that are found there. We need to see our world in HD, Holy Definition! I know you may think that that is a corny analogy but it couldn't be more true. When we see the world through the eyes of Christ then those in need seem to stand out, those that are hurting become visible, and those that need a miracle come into focus. Holy Definition is not available from your local cable provider. It is only attained through the infilling of the Holy Ghost and a belief and relationship with the Lord. The best part is, there is no equipment to buy! All you have to do is allow Jesus to be your personal Lord and Savior and live a life that is pleasing to Him as detailed in the Bible. The Service is FREE, the quote is FREE, there is no shipping and handling, and the benefits can be enjoyed almost instantaneously. So what are you waiting for? Start to pray and start the process today...

The Powerful Problem of Perpetual Pride...

I would like to start out by saying that I was prompted to write this entry following the Mpact Break Out Session class last night in which we discussed pride. That being said, pride can and is often a hindrance in our spiritual walk. Now, before you misunderstand what I'm trying to say, let me clarify this by saying that not all pride is bad! If pride leads you to want to go deeper and do more for God then that is not wrong. What I am trying to say, is pride can cause us to stumble when we let it separate us from God as evidenced in the Bible in Proverbs 16:18 where is says "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." I will give you an example to help you to understand the difference between good pride and devastating pride.

Johnny sees his friend Jarrod reading his Bible and praying. Jarrod then goes to Johnny and asks if he needs prayer for anything in his life. Johnny responds by saying no even though he knows he is about to loose his job, his wife and he are having marital problems, and his kids are out running the streets doing drugs, drinking, etc. Johnny's PRIDE kept him from seeking help for his situation. Now we will take the same situation and twist it slightly where pride becomes a good thing. Johnny see Jarrod reading his Bible and praying. Johnny takes pride in being a good Christian and his PRIDE leads him to follow in Jarrod's example and pick up the Bible and pray to God. Later when Jarrod asks Johnny if he needs prayer, Johnny says yes and they begin to pray over his needs and ask God to help him. You see in this scenario Johnny's PRIDE leads him to seek God and to more importantly seek God's will for his life.

Remember 2 Chronicles 7:14 "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." You must humble yourself AND pray AND seek God AND turn from your wicked ways (repent). It is really an all or nothing proposition...

You see, some people have a problem asking people for directions, and they will often spend hours driving around in circles rather than stopping and seeking help. We will tear apart objects and try to assemble products without ever looking at the manufacturer's instructions because we think we know how to put it together better than the person who made it. Likewise, people will spend their entire lives seeking answers in books, on the television, through friends, with the end result being they spin their wheels and often end up right back where they started with little or no change and still seeking resolution to their dilemma. Why not put aside your pride and ask the Maker of the heavens and the earth for your answer? After all, who better to ask for help then the person who made it all to start with?

Y factor Break Out Session is tonight...

This is a reminder for all Youth that we are having our Y factor Break Out session tonight at the church. So of the topics that we will be discussing will be likes and dislikes as they pertain to church and our lives outside of the walls of our building, hobbies, activities, future drama / film ideas, musical interest, and a brief message about elephants (???). We'll see you there and remember, bring your friends so that our Youth Program can become what you want it to be and what they need it to be...see ya at 7:00 pm.

Should It Surprise Us...

Should it surprise us when people undermine our efforts or insult our actions? Should it shock us when we face scrutiny and ridicule daily for our beliefs? Should we really think that it is beyond comprehension for we as Christians to experience hate and prejudice from the outside world? What makes us feel this way? The Bible declared to us that we would go through these things and therefore why should we be astonished when we do? In 1 Peter 4:12-14 the Bible tells us

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." (NIV)

So you see we should not be caught off guard by these transgressions but rather we should stand fast in the knowledge that if the world cursed, beat, spit on, and battered our Lord, then why shouldn't they do the same to us. We should take solice and comfort in the fact that we are going through these tribulations, and we should thank God that we have the strength and resilience to make it to the other side of the trial. Just know this, no matter what you go through for His Name's Sake, He went through worse and endured more for your's...

The Two Sided Elevator...

I heard this story on the radio and the correlation between it and the way we strive to make it on our own rather than turning to God struck me as nothing less than incredible and so I would like to share it with you.

"There was a man who was visiting a city with which he was unfamiliar. He was staying at a nice hotel and after checking in he went to the elevator to proceed to go to his room on the 7th floor. He entered the elevator, pushed the number 7, and waited for the doors to close. Once they
did, he noticed that he was alone on the elevator. As it began to rise he began to day dream and to think about all of the excitement that he was going to find in the world around him. The
elevator passed the 2nd floor...3rd floor...4th floor and the man's anticipation grew and grew. Then the 5th floor...6th floor, and when it reached the 7th it stopped but the door in front of him failed to open. The man frantically began to beat on the door. He felt a sense of claustrophobia start to overtake him and the walls began to close in around him. He pushed the Emergency Button and dialed the front desk on the in elevator emergency phone and began to explain his situation, but the person on the other end dismissed his plea for help swiftly and hung up on him. Finally in a feat of desperation the man fell to his knees and cried out "God help me!!!" At that moment a man walked onto the elevator and tapped the man on the shoulder. The man was shocked and startled by this, since he knew he had entered the elevator alone and no one
had got on in the floors that passed on the way up. He turned around to see an elderly man standing there holding the door open. The man regained his composure and stood to his feet, thanked the man, and went to his room. The elevator experience faded into the distance and was quickly forgotten..."

How many times have we been searching for a way where there appeared to be no way? How many times did we seek pleasure in the world even while we were proclaiming to be striving towards the "high calling". How many times have we tried everything that we think should work and failed? How many times have we asked other people to help us, only to have them turn their backs on us or avoid us altogether? But we still call on them the next time we have a problem or a crisis arises in our lives knowing that they weren't there for us the last time! How many times do we have to bang on the door, call for help, push the Emergency Button, before we get desperate? Why not just talk to God in the first place?...

Just a thought...

I was sitting here thinking about what it means to be a Christian? What is it that really makes us who we are? Is it our beliefs? I should think not, since we as a Christian community can't seem to agree on most doctrinal issues and therefore we practice things differently. Is it our dress or the way we look? Again, I would think not since there again we fail to be in agreement as to how we should dress and why we should dress that way from one congregation to another. Face it, there are even differences among different congregations within the same religious community. All these things, and many others like them, are simply characteristics of who we are and do not define us and Christians. What is truly definitive and groundbreaking is how we live our lives. Do we help those in need? Do we care for those who have been forsaken and abandoned? Do we take time to lend a sympathetic ear to someone who is hurting? The list goes on and on...I pray that you would look past the painted facade and see what is true in the people who you minister to everyday of your life, because make no mistake about it, you are ministering every second of every day. See through the fog of confusion and truly engage the person within, through a kind word or a caring smile. You never know how many people one person can reach until you try...

Welcome to the New Youth Blog...

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the new blog of the Connect Point Youth. We hope that you are able to gain insight and understanding into the direct correlation between the truths expressed in the Bible and circumstances and situations that arise in your own daily life. Again, let me express our sincere thanks to you for your interest and I would like to let you know that if we are able to assist you in any way please feel free to drop us a line anytime. Thank you and God bless...