CM Update 12/26/10

Hebrews 10:22 -- Let us draw near (to God) with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

This is what Jesus has done for us.  He has made it possible to draw near to God with a clean conscience, in full assurance of faith that we will not be rejected by Him, but instead lovingly accepted because we have been washed with the pure water of the Holy Spirit by Jesus' blood.  Take advantage of this incredible privilege and let nothing stop you from drawing near to God.

In the Grace of Christ,
Pastor Alan 

Weekly Updates:

• Teachers and assistants, make sure you are on time to your classes.  This is very important to ensure the ministry runs smooth!
• Also make sure to clean your class room afterward.  We want those coming in next to start the day with a clean room.
• Remember to help the parents understand what you have taught the children in their classes. This is very important.

Upcoming Events:


1.  New Year's Eve Family Service, Friday, December 31st 6:00pm - 12:00am
2.  CM Orientation, Thursday, January 27th, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
3.  CM Sledding, Saturday, January 29th 9:30am - 4:30pm

CM Update 12/12/10

Matthew 5:8 -- Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Jesus, we know, has purified us through his own blood and for that we will one day see God.  However, Jesus' statement here has another meaning as well.  As we pursue purity in our lives on this earth, we will see more and more and know more and more of God.  As we remove the world from our lives we will enter into a more intimate relationship with God and see Him at work in incredible ways.

In the Grace of Christ,
Pastor Alan 

Discussion Point 

What is one way you keep yourself unstained from the wolrd? 

Weekly Updates:

• Teachers and assistants, make sure you are on time to your classes.  This is very important to ensure the ministry runs smooth!
• Also make sure to clean your class room afterward.  We want those coming in next to start the day with a clean room.
• Remember to help the parents understand what you have taught the children in their classes. This is very important.

Upcoming Events:

1. CM Christmas Choir Practice - Sunday, December 12th 9:00 - 10:30am
2. CM Gingerbread House Night - Wednesday, December 15th 7:00 - 8:30pm
3. CM Christmas Choir Practice - Sunday, December 12th 1:30 - 3:00pm
4. Christmas Reflections, Saturday, December 18th 6:00 - 8:00pm
5. Christmas Eve Family Service, Friday, December 24th 6:00 - 7:30pm

CM Update 12/05/10

1 Chronicles 12:18 -- Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the captains, and he said: “We are yours, O David; We are on your side, O son of Jesse! Peace, peace to you, And peace to your helpers! For your God helps you.”

The story from which the above verse is cited is an interesting one.  David is hiding out from King Saul when he is approached by some men of Benjamin and Judah whose intent is to dessert Saul and join David.  Upon seeing them David asks why they have come…as friends or as foes.  It is then that our verse takes place.  The Holy Spirit came upon, or clothed, the chief of the men and he answers David with a magnificent exhortation about a deep spiritual truth concerning God…not really.  He simply answers David’s question according to his intent to join David.  God, no doubt, laid this intent on the heart of all these men and their answer to David’s question was a result of following God wholeheartedly.  

Speaking through the Spirit is not always something that will produce an incredible display of dynamic power.  It will not always be full of deep mystery or wisdom.  So often we can speak through the Spirit in such a simple way.  If our intent in life is to follow Jesus in all we do, we will often find ourselves speaking powerfully through the Spirit in simple answers as to why we live the way we do.  God has put it in each of our hearts to live our lives to glorify Him as a result of the great deliverance He has provided for us through His Son.  Speak through the Spirit…let people know why you live the way you live.

In the Grace of Christ,
Pastor Alan 

Discussion Point 

How has God spoken to you through the Spirit in a simple way? 

Weekly Updates:

• Teachers and assistants, make sure you are on time to your classes.  This is very important to ensure the ministry runs smooth!
• Also make sure to clean your class room afterward.  We want those coming in next to start the day with a clean room.
• Remember to help the parents understand what you have taught the children in their classes. This is very important.

Upcoming Events:

1. Baptism & Potluck - Sunday, December 5th 2:30 - 4:30pm 
2. CM Christmas Choir Practice - Sunday, December 5th 9:00 - 10:30am
3. CM Christmas Choir Practice - Sunday, December 12th 9:00 - 10:30am
4. CM Gingerbread House Night - Wednesday, December 15th 7:00 - 8:30pm
5. CM Christmas Choir Practice - Sunday, December 12th 1:30 - 3:00pm
6. Christmas Reflections, Saturday, December 18th 6:00 - 8:00pm
7. Christmas Eve Family Service, Friday, December 24th 6:00 - 7:30pm

CM Update 11/28/10

Galatians 1:4 -- (Jesus) who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father

I love that Jesus has delivered us from this present evil age.  Not only do we escape eternal judgment, but we also get to escape the evil hold sin has on us in this life.  Thank you Jesus for giving yourself to set us apart from the rest of the world freeing us from the power of sin that lies over it.

In the Grace of Christ,
Pastor Alan 

Discussion Point 

What is your favorite scripture verse on the topic of being saved from sin? 

Weekly Updates:

• Teachers and assistants, make sure you are on time to your classes.  This is very important to ensure the ministry runs smooth!
• Also make sure to clean your class room afterward.  We want those coming in next to start the day with a clean room.
• Remember to help the parents understand what you have taught the children in their classes. This is very important.

Upcoming Events:

1. Baptism & Potluck - Sunday, December 5th 2:30 - 4:30pm
2. CM Gingerbread House Night - Wednesday, December 15th 7:00 - 8:30pm
3. Christmas Reflections, Saturday, December 18th 6:00 - 8:00pm
4. Christmas Eve Family Service, Friday, December 24th 6:00 - 7:30pm

CM Update 11/21/10

Acts 7:4 -- "Then he (Abraham) went out from the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran.  And after his father died, God removed him from there into this land in which you are now living.

Abraham answered the call of God to leave his homeland of Chaldea.  However, his obedience was only partial.  Abraham took his father Terah with him.  It was only after his father had died that God could fully use Abraham to fulfill the call on his life...to bless all the nations through his seed.

When we live in partial obedience to the Lord, He has to put His plans for us on hold until we fully comply with what He has called us to do.  Pray for full obedience to the Lord in your life and then just watch how He will use you for His purposes and consequently bless you more than you could ever imagine.

In the Grace of Christ,
Pastor Alan 

Discussion Point 

How have you found obedience to the Lord to be beneficial to you? 

Weekly Updates:

• Teachers and assistants, make sure you are on time to your classes.  This is very important to ensure the ministry runs smooth!
• Remember to help the parents understand what you have taught the children in their classes. This is very important.

Upcoming Events:

1. Evening of Thanks - Sunday, November 21st 4:00 - 7:00pm
2. CM "Grateful Kids" Night - Wednesday, November 24th 7:00 - 8:30pm

CM Update 11/14/10

Matthew 2:2 -- "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?  For we saw his star when it rose in the east and have come to worship him."

As we studied Matthew chapter 2 this morning in our men's bible study one thing stood out to us.  It was the response that people had toward Jesus.  When Jesus came into the world Herod wanted to attack him, the chief priests and scribes seemed indifferent, but the wise men wanted to worship him.  Oh how important it is that we too are wise men and women and seek to worship Jesus as He deserves to be worshiped.

In the Grace of Christ,
Pastor Alan 

Discussion Point 

What reason do you have to worship Jesus today? 

Weekly Updates:

• Teachers and assistants, make sure you are on time to your classes.  This is very important to ensure the ministry runs smooth!
• Remember to help the parents understand what you have taught the children in their classes. This is very important.

Upcoming Events:

1. Evening of Thanks - Sunday, November 21st 4:00 - 7:00pm
2. CM "Grateful Kids" Night - Wednesday, November 24th 7:00 - 8:30pm

CM Update 11/07/10

Matthew 5:48 -- You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

I absolutely love being a follower of Jesus!  Of all the religions and so-called "gods" in the world, there is no other like Jesus.  All other religions have their rules to follow (as do we), but no other religion's god changes a person from the inside to give them the ability to follow those rules like our God does.  Praise God for His sanctification in the Spirit that conforms us to His standards and gives us the ability to act like His Son Jesus! 

In the Grace of Christ,
Pastor Alan

Discussion Point

Thank the Lord that you are a follower of Christ!

Weekly Updates:

• The Harvest Festival was great fun!
• Be praying for the Harvest Crusade that is this weekend!
• Remember to help the parents understand what you have taught the children in their classes. This is very important.

Upcoming Events:

1. Evening of Thanks - Sunday, November 21st 4:00 - 7:00pm
2. CM "Grateful Kids" Night - Wednesday, November 24th 7:00 - 8:30pm

CM Update 10/31/10

Romans 16:26 -- (the purpose of the gospel)...to bring about the obedience of faith

I can tend to get blown away with how simple the obedience of faith is, yet how incredibly powerful it is as well.  The obedience of faith is simply believing that all God says is true and living our lives accordingly.  When God says He wills and works in us for His good pleasure, we need only to believe it and press on in life seizing opportunities for Him to do just that.  It truly is an amazing, simple, powerful, wonderful truth about the gospel!  Praise God for bringing us to the obedience of faith through Jesus!

In the Grace of Christ,
Pastor Alan

Discussion Point

How have you seen God strengthen your faith lately?

Weekly Updates:

• We had a great Parenting Seminar last week.  Thanks to all those who helped make it a success and praise to God for bringing the parents!
• Remember to help the parents understand what you have taught the children in their classes. This is very important.

Upcoming Events:

1. Harvest Festival - Sunday, October 31st  6:00 - 8:00pm
2. Evening of Thanks - Sunday, November 21st 4:00 - 7:00pm
3. CM "Grateful Kids" Night - Wednesday, November 24th 7:00 - 8:30pm

CM Update 10/24/10

Romans 15:5 -- May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,

Living in harmony with one another is not an easy thing to do...in fact it is extremely hard.  I think Paul recognized this when he wrote this verse referencing the God of endurance and encouragement.  Paul knew we would need endurance and encouragement to be successful at achieving harmony.  After all, harmony is defined as a unity of different sounds that is pleasing to the ear.  Harmony is so difficult because we tend to think other people should be like us, thus making our lives much easier.  When this doesn't happen, we can tend to get frustrated and not harmonize our lives to the pleasure of our Father. 


Verse 4 of the same chapter tells us that through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.  The Scriptures tell us of the promises of God.  Which always remind me of how much it is not about me or this life on earth.  When I am reminded of this, I am encouraged to seek harmony with my brothers and sisters in Christ and thus live a life pleasing to the Father.

In the Grace of Christ,
Pastor Alan

Discussion Point

Got any tips for living in harmony?

Weekly Updates:

• Remember to help the parents understand what you have taught the children in their classes. This is very important.

Upcoming Events:

1. CM "Faith at Home" Seminar - Saturday, October 23rd 9:00-4:30pm
2. CM Open House - Sunday, October 24th 1:30 - 3:00pm
   
3. CM Orientation - Thursday, October 28th 6:30 - 8:00pm
4. Harvest Festival - Sunday, October 31st  6:00 - 8:00pm

CM Update 10/17/10

Luke 6:35 -- But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.

As I read this last week, though many times before, it resonated with me just how difficult this is to do and how merciful our God is who doesn't just do this, but IS this.  We serve a God who continually sends good things to those who hate Him and those who are ungrateful for all He does.  Truly we serve a loving and kind God.  

If our God gives good things to those who are His enemies and want nothing to do with Him, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (Luke 11:13)  Ask the Father for an outpouring of His Spirit in your life, who will give us the ability to love our enemies as the Lord does.

In the Grace of Christ,
Pastor Alan

Discussion Point

What good things has the Father given you?

Weekly Updates:

• Remember to help the parents understand what you have taught the children in their classes. This is very important.
• Encourage parents to attend the "Faith at Home" seminar.

Upcoming Events:

1. CM "Faith at Home" Seminar - Saturday, October 23rd 9:00-4:30pm
2. CM Open House - Sunday, October 24th 1:30 - 3:00pm
   
3. CM Orientation - Thursday, October 28th 6:30 - 8:00pm
4. Harvest Festival - Sunday, October 31st  6:00 - 8:00pm