Here’s a great way to make a tangible donation to the crisis in Haiti: “Buckets of Hope” through the Southern Baptist’s Disaster Relief ministry. Here is the web site to learn more about it.

http://www.namb.net/bucketsofhope

Watch a step-by-step video on how to fill the bucket properly with specific items. Click here

Immanuel is purchasing 50 white buckets from Wal-Mart plus sugar cylinder containers. For $8 you can purchase a bucket and a sugar cylinder from Immanuel. Then you will purchase the other necessary items to fill the Bucket of Hope from the store of your choice! Immanuel Christian School, through their “Pennies for Haiti,” is hoping to fill 25 of these buckets! You can pick up a bucket and the sugar at Immanuel’s Church Office by Wednesday, February 24. Deadline for returning the filled bucket is Thursday, March 4. Please deliver the bucket to the Church Office.

Millions of people in Haiti are suffering. Let’s do our part to assist with the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief work in Haiti.

Pastor Bill

Pat Robertson made a controversial statement concerning the earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday, saying in essence that the earthquake was God’s judgment on the country of Haiti for having made a pact with the Devil. Could that be true? Was the earthquake truly God’s judgment on one of the poorest nations of the world?

What is to be our Theological frame of reference when something of this nature happens?

One thing we must understand, God is sovereign. Nothing is beyond His control and all things pass through His filtered hands. Certainly this earthquake was not beyond God’s control and He allowed it for a reason.

Was this God’s hand of judgment on the Haitians? Jesus warned against this kind of presumption (Luke 13) and so should we. No one can comprehend God’s sovereignty. God’s ways are not our ways the prophet Isaiah declares. We can only begin to trust God more fully by looking at this enormous tragedy through the lens of the cross. Does God love the Haitians? Absolutely! He proved His love for them at the cross! There’s nothing more God can do to declare His love for them or anyone else for that matter than through the greatest display of love fulfilled for all at Calvary’s cross.

God’s love is far deeper and mysterious than you or I will ever know this side of heaven. Even the horror of the cross however raises a question: Did God the Father stop loving His Son as Jesus was dying on that cross? When God the Father poured out His wrath on His Son for the propitiation of my sin, was God the Father’s behavior motivated by hatred towards the Son, or a love for Him we can’t truly comprehend? God hates sin and it had to be punished. God’s wrath was poured out on Jesus as Jesus took our sin upon Himself. Jesus received the punishment that we all deserved.

In that horrific event however, God continued to love the Son. God is love. God’s love is eternal. It’s impossible for God not to love, because love is God’s nature. We see at the cross the most horrific event one could ever experience, the crucifixion, so that sin would be defeated. It was in that event that the wrath of God was appeased through the perfect sacrifice of Himself.

God loves the Haitians! Why did God allow this earthquake? Only God can answer that question, but the earthquake is another reminder of how all creation groans for our Redeemer Jesus Christ. Are we ready? California may be next!

When bad things occur, don’t ever believe God hates or has stopped loving you! God will rebuke, judge and allow all types of events in our lives for reasons only He knows ! In it all don't ever forget the cross and the ultimate price paid for our forgiveness and because of God’s love. You are loved that much. Remember too, Jesus lives and is there with the Haitians today who cry out to Him in their time of need. God is also telling us to give and go to the Haitians because He loves them just as much as He love us!

Here’s some more Gospel Good News

Colossians 1: 9-14 (ESV)

… we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

There’s a lot underlined there, but this is a great example of how important it is that we understand more each day God’s love for us. Joy is not found in our circumstances or possessions or people. Our joy is to be bound in what Jesus has already done for us on the cross. Paul knows this and prays that we will allow this profound truth to work itself out big time in our life.

I’ve been encouraging people to pray for a young pastor Matt Chandler who has brain cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. If you want to be encouraged and know that no matter what you are facing God loves you and is for you, than listen to this powerful sermon he delivered on Jan 2, 2010 titled "Divine Tensions."

http://northway.thevillagechurch.net/sermons

I’m pausing from my sermon preparation to share my enthusiasm about the ESV Study Bible. This Bible has a remarkable amount of commentary related to nearly every verse. It is doctrinally sound and faithful to the clarion call of the Gospel from Genesis – Revelation!

There’s an added bonus with the purchase of this Study Bible that excites me the most! Crossway has made this Bible accessible online! This online resource is AMAZING!!! Everything found in the Study Bible is available, PLUS cross-referencing has been made so simple. Just click the cross-reference and all those verses will show up on same screen with the verse you are studying! Want to listen to the Bible? No problem, just click “Listen” and you can have the Bible read to you. I’m only scratching the surface with my excitement. You need to experience it for yourself.

 

Every believer needs to have a copy of this Bible for their own personal growth and understanding of the Word of God. Bread of Life has copies of this Bible!

Three weeks ago at the California Southern Baptist Convention in Riverside, our state President Dr Walter Price preached a sobering message on the future of the Southern Baptist Convention if things do not change soon. Baptist21, a web site dedicated to the 20-30 something generation that's serious about the Great Commission and contending for the faith posted Dr Price's message. I encourage you to peruse Baptist21 occasionally. It has wonderful articles and keeps you in the loop on what younger leaders of the SBC are talking about today. Dr Price's message is a "reality check" about our conventions future and the reason for Great Commission Resurgence committees' work.
 
Baptist21 Web Site http://www.baptisttwentyone.com/
Dr Price's message Pt 1 http://www.baptisttwentyone.com/?p=3434 Pt 2 http://www.baptisttwentyone.com/?p=3452

PS Go see the movie "The Blind Side" It's a heartwarming true story that the Christian community needs to support. Hollywood got this one right and our going will encourage more films of this nature. Pray too that God will give Immanuel Christian School a Michael Ohre for their football team next year ;)

 

On Monday I mentioned having read and signed the Manhattan Declaration. It’s a well-written document that helps resource believers in the critical conversation going on in our nation today. However, there’s one thing we must never forget, our message is not about Moralism. Our message is to forever be the Gospel. Jesus took the place of punishment I deserved on that cross. He took my evil self-centered nature of sin upon Himself and underwent the most excruciating death so God could forgive my sin. In that great exchange I was given the righteousness of Christ (Colossians 2:13-14; 2 Cor 5:21). Halleluiah! It’s an amazing story that should evoke humility and gratitude in the heart of everyone who believes. This is Christianity’s Declaration.

I truly appreciate all that has been written in the Manhattan Declaration and that it is written with respect, humility, conviction and resolve. It’s sad the MD had to be written for this country at this time but I’m grateful for the opportunity to have signed such a document.

Not all Christians believe they should sign this document. Below are the thoughts of others who disagree. I have posted their thoughts to help you form your own opinion.

John MacArthur http://www.gty.org/Resources/Articles/A390

James White http://www.aomin.org/aoblog/index.php?itemid=3643

On November 20, 2009 a prominent group clergy, ministry leaders and scholars released the Manhattan Declaration. This 4,700 word declaration issues a clarion call to Christians to adhere to their convictions and informs civil authorities that the signers will not - under any circumstance - abandon their Christian consciences concerning three critical issues; sanctity of life, the protection of marriage, and religious liberty. It's well written document and an excellent resource to help inform you challenge you to join in on the ongoing critical conversation taking place in our nation today. Please read it and sign it. Encourage your teenager to read this. Sit down and discuss it with them. It's a valuable tool in their Christian development and discipleship. A tool that will also give them courage to join the debate in the the classroom of their school.
http://manhattandeclaration.org/

Here is a good article that points to the critical issues surrounding the Great Commission Resurgence. If the SB Convention is going to capture the hearts of young pastors now being trained, our priorities must change with our mission dollars. http://betweenthetimes.com/2009/11/19/aspect-7b-a-mission-based-on-local-church-initiative-and-supplemented-by-entities-and-associations-namb-state-conventions-erlc-local-associations/

As the GCR committee deliberates, it's creating quite a stir within the convention. http://baptistmessenger.com/editors-journal-our-ominous-future/