What Cancer Cannot Do

I wanted to share with you a great exerpt from a book entitled, "What Cancer Cannot Do", that I shared with a cancer support group the other day:
"Nothing, - not the probing of fingers, the painful needle stabs, the interminable waiting for results, the surgery, the pathology reports, the naming of the dreaded word cancer - can separate us from the love of God. For God made us, forming us in our mother's womb, knowing every part of us down to the very DNA of our cells. Yes, he knew that some of those cells would go astray, fleeing the intent for which they were created and following after their own way. He know those aberrant cells were multiplying in us long before we sensed them. But just as, in love, God brought us to salvation through the cleansing blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, so He will, in love, save us from the truly crippling effects of cancer. For when we are most afraid, His love calms us; when we feel abandoned, He surrounds us with His presence; when we feel we have lost our way, He lights up the darkness; when we are restless with pain, He soothes us with His touch; when we lose heart, thinking we will never be well again, He restores our soul. He does this through songs in the night and Scriptures by day; through the private prayers of friends and the corporate intercession of the church; through the expert care of doctors and the compassionate hands of nurses; through the testimony of cancer survivors and the shining leadership of saints who die in the Lord. But most of all, He does this through His ever-viligant, wholly sufficient, eternally satisfying love. Cancer cannot cripple God's love. He loved us from the beginning, He loves us through the disease, He loves us in and out of treatment, and He loves us to the end, where, someday, we will know no more tears, no more sorrow, and no more death - only the incredible wonder of His love.
You know, though this was written about cancer, this can apply to any situation you find yourself in today: divorce, pain, disease, hurt, anger, disbelief, etc. No matter what your situation, He still loves you, His compassionate heart still longing for you. At times, through situations we place ourselves in, we feel so distant from the Lord, and we ask the question, "Where are you?". Let me encourage you today, He has never moved. "I'll never leave you nor forsake you" are still His words of encouragement and comfort. "Come to me" is still His passionate giving of care. Nothing, absolutely nothing, will ever separate you from His love. Now that, folks, gives us something to live for!

Keep Pressing On,
Bro. Brad

Character

Proverbs 22:1 states, "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold". How's your reputation? When people see you or hear your name, what comes to their mind? Are those at the office going to think something totally different than those at church? How about the people that only see you from a distance, what do they see? Part of growing each day as a Christian is to grow more and more like Christ: to strive to walk and talk like He did, to point others to the cross, and to live as an example of what a Christian should be. As I read Proverbs 22 this morning, the first verse really stuck out in my mind. My two favorite words in the first verse are desirable and esteemed. One speaks of your character, the other of your reputation. We should desire a good name. What does this mean? The word desire is defined as "the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state". It is a level of unrest, of discontentment. It is that daily realization that we still have a long way to go. In other words, every day should leave us longing for yet a closer relationship with the Lord, a more intimate walk with Him. You see, we can not build a good name for ourselves. Oh, we can live good moral lives, help our neighbors, etc., but it is only when we are striving to promote His Name that we begin to grow Spiritually. So for us a Christians, it should be our desire that others see Christ in us, and that His Name is honored in all that we do. That is where the word esteemed comes into the picture. The words means "to have an illustrious, respected reputation". When others see us, they should not desire to be like us, but to be like Christ. In other words, our lives should point people directly to the cross. When we live for Jesus, others notice and more importantly, others desire that relationship. And thus, a good name, character, integrity: They should draw us to Christ, and shine for Him to others. Make sure your name and reputation is worthy of the price Jesus paid to redeem it.

Spiritual Growth Question for Us To Think About

Vance Havner, an incredible preacher and expositor of Scripture once said, "the world is not our home, and we lament its sin-wrecked condition, riddled with disease and death and distress. But for the growing of Christian character, it is a proper training ground". To help each of us, add some of your own personal comments on the following questions: 1) How can the trials that we face in life serve as a good training ground for Spiritual growth?, and 2) What are some personal ways you have learned to grow through your own personal trials?

Spiritual Leadership: Authority or Servanthood?

I'm reading an awesome book right now entitled "The Making of a Leader" by Frank Damazio. The book lays out the Biblical leadership principles that are needed within the church of today. In it, he makes this statement: "Some people in the church live all thier lives waiting for an angelic visitation that will put them in some profound globe-trotting apostolic minsitry" (pg. 40). As we begin this journey together, I think it is important to understand what a Spiritual Leader actually is. For many, the journey to leadership is a power trip, a means and hopes to gain authority. The "leaders" within many local churches, including many of the pastors, find themselves thriving off of a need and desire for power and control. "As a leader, I can make the changes and do the things that I want", many think and say. For others, the rise to leadership is more of a "famed" approach. Many long to be famous and well-known for what they do, for their accomplishments and leadership. Within the church, each leadership role is used as a stepping stone to a higher, more prestegious position. I've heard a number of associate ministers and youth pastors make the following statement: "I don't want to do this forever. One day, I want to be a pastor". Now let me add, being a pastor is great, and for many ministers, this is their calling. But is Spiritual leadership defined by authority, power, or prestige? I believe the best Spiritual leader is one, not marked by authority, but by a heart and passion to love the Lord, and to love others: "If you want to be great in God's Kingdom, learn to be a servant of all". After all, what should be desired more, to be a leader in the church or to be a servant of Christ. Therefore, the underlining ministry of a Spiritual Leader within the church, is that of a humble servant. A pastor is called to humbly serve those the Lord has entrusted him to shepherd. A Sunday School teacher should be there to serve his/her class, and help meet their spiritual needs. A deacon, to help as a servant for the pastor and church members. You see, all spiritual leaders are to be servants, with a servant's heart, a servant's desire, and a servant's humility. That's why we roll up our sleeves and clean up messes in the church, or volunteer to help in the nursery. That's why we call or visit members when they are sick, lonely or hurting. That's why we pray for our pastors, teachers, and members. It's because the Lord has called us to be servants, His servants to His people.

Introduction

Statistics claim that some 85% of Americans, when asked about their “religious” background, state that they are Christians. If that statement was correct, then we would be a nation of just over 224,457,000 Christians. However, when asked about regular church attendance, an astonishing 69% of those, who claim to be Christians, only attend church once or twice a month. Of that 69%, 42% of them attend church less than 3 times a year, and 14% of that never attend church at all. Let’s put that into some numbers. Of the 224,457,000 who claim to be Christians in America, 154,875,330 attend less than 3 times a year, maybe on Christmas and Easter, and 21,682,536 never attend church at all. 92% of households in America have at least one Bible, yet in less than 36% of these is the Bible read more than once a week. Statistics show that for every 20 people who enter into vocational ministry, only 1 of them will retire still in the ministry. Nearly 48% of marriages with Christian couples ends in divorce, 90% of which occurs after both partners claim to have been saved. Do I need to go any further? Truth is, I’m becoming more and more convinced that we are less of a “Christian” nation than we claim to be, or at best, the vast majority of Christians are too immature in their faith to know how to live out their call as a Christian. And with that, I believe it vital for Christians, men and women of God, to grow in their faith each and every day; to move from infancy to maturity. Let’s take a quick look at an Old Testament passage of Scripture that lays this out for us.
First, let’s look at THE PROBLEM:

Ezekiel 22:23-29
23 Again the word of the LORD came to me: 24 "Son of man, say to the land, 'You are a land that has had no rain or showers [a] in the day of wrath.' 25 There is a conspiracy of her princes [b] within her like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they devour people, take treasures and precious things and make many widows within her. 26 Her priests do violence to my law and profane my holy things; they do not distinguish between the holy and the common; they teach that there is no difference between the unclean and the clean; and they shut their eyes to the keeping of my Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. 27 Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey; they shed blood and kill people to make unjust gain. 28 Her prophets whitewash these deeds for them by false visions and lying divinations. They say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says'-when the LORD has not spoken. 29 The people of the land practice extortion and commit robbery; they oppress the poor and needy and mistreat the alien, denying them justice.
Sound familiar? Much of what we see in America can be defined by this very passage: profaning holiness, unjust gain, lying, extortion, robbery, oppression, mistreatment… and on and on. In America today, we are much the same. Lovers of money, stretchers of the truth, extorters of the innocent, and praising of the wicked.
Now, let’s look at THE PLEA:
30 "I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none.
Can you imagine? The Lord of all creation, looking down on His precious creation, in search of one, just one, who would “stand in the gap”, to be the man he was called to be, to live a life of holiness, yet none was found. Why was this? Were there some who just flat out would not serve the Lord, probably so! Yet there were far too many of them who were not ready to serve, not prepared to serve, infants in their faith, and unable to stand on the truth. Now, let’s go back to our statistics from above. Sounds to me like we have a ton of professing Christians who are not prepared, infants, at best, in their faith. Truth is, none of us are where we need to be in our walks with the Lord. We all have areas we need to improve on, areas that need to be fine tuned and sharpened. We all need to strive for daily maturing in our walks with Christ. Can you hear Him calling out: “I need just one, is anyone ready”? Will you be that one? Will you be a catalyst for the cross? God has called each of you unto salvation, yet God has also called each of you to be leaders for His Kingdom and His church: Spiritual Leaders. Let me encourage you, you can’t get to that point on your own. It takes work, it takes effort, it takes perseverance, and most of all, it takes the Lord. And that is the invite of this websites journey: a life long journey of Spiritual Growth. Will you step of to the plate? I promise you, you’ll never regret it. Will you be a CATALYST FOR THE CROSS?

Become a Catalyst

Catalyst

Something that initiates or accelerates an occurrence; an igniter and sustainer.

It's a spark that sets forth a fire, a fuse that sets off an explosion.

It's a Christian, sold out to Jesus Christ, and determined to make a difference for Him.

Our goal:
TO ALLOW THE LORD TO STRENGTHEN YOU, SHARPEN YOU, AND DEVELOP YOU INTO THE SPIRITUAL LEADER, FOR HIS KINGDOM AND HIS CHURCH, THAT HE HAS CALLED YOU TO BE

Our Prayer:
THAT A GENERATION OF MEN AND WOMEN, SOLD OUT TO THE CROSS AND WILLING TO SERVE THE LORD AT ALL COST, WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND BE THE SPIRITUAL LEADERS THAT GOD HAS CALLED THEM TO BE, AND WILL LIVE AND SERVE AS EXAMPLES WITHIN HIS CHURCH

ooked for a man among them who wo build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it…kiel 22

Will You Be The One?