Pastortomvabeach's Weblog

Calendar of Events

pastortomvabeach — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:16:41 +0000

Active Duty and Retired Military Update
The meeting with Chaplain Shinn has been rescheduled for
this Sunday, January 29, immediately following the morning service.
If you are active duty military, retired, or a veteran who remembers
what deployment was like or a family member, please plan to be
with us to share your ideas about how the local church and chaplains
can serve military families throughout the deployment cycle. Your
ideas and input are desperately needed.

Super Sunday Family Night!!!
Sunday, February 5, 6:00 p.m.
Family friendly atmosphere to watch the big game!
Food, games, prizes! Did I mention food?
Bring the whole family and see live pro football on two
giant screens. Everyone will have fun!

Sunday Morning Schedule
Life Groups (adults/teens) at 9 AM
Really Cool Sunday School (kidz 3-11) at 9 AM
Worship at 10:30 AM

Really Cool Sunday School
Children age 3 through 5th grade, learn Bible lessons and application in
five learning environments (cooking, cinema, drama, arts & crafts, and computer). Everyone is invited. For further information or to register your child call 757-427-9371. Don’t miss this great opportunity for kids!

Life Groups
Small groups designed to learn Bible truth and application in a
setting that is non-threatening, friendly, and suited to every taste.
We currently have three adult and one teen group enjoying the
following studies:
Teens: “True U – Does God Exist?”
Adult Men: “Uprising” by Erwin McManus
Adult Women: “Bait of Satan” by John Bevere
Adult Mixed: “The Power to Change” by Daniel Henderson
Newcomers: Christianity 101/Foundations
Note: Beginning Sunday, February 5: “The Life You’ve Always Wanted”
by John Ortberg. If you are not in a life group, now is a great time to start.

Annual Business Meeting
Sunday, February 12, 6:00 p.m.
Everyone in invited to this important meeting. We will share reports
of ministry, finances, and outreach from 2011, choose deacons to serve
the church in 2012, and present the 2012 budget. Remember that to
vote on any item at the meeting you must be a member.
Applications will be considered at the January 28, deacon’s meeting.
Submit applications to any staff member prior to that date.

Free Zumba For Ladies!
Zumba is back on Tuesday, January 3rd!
Every Tuesday, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Professional Zumba instructor.
Come and get in shape in a fun and furious way.
Everyone is invited! Did we mention it’s FREE?!!

Mark the Date – Sunday, March 18, 6:00 p.m.
Multi-church, community worship and fellowship gathering.
More information will be forthcoming!

Website.
Check out our new and growing website at www.ccagvb.com. Sermons are available on the site.

Twitter.
You can now follow Christian Chapel on Twitter at “ccagvb”.

Bible Reading for January 30-February 5

pastortomvabeach — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:11:52 +0000

1/30 Genesis 31, 32 Matthew 20:1-16
1/31 Genesis 33, 34, 35 Matthew 20:17-34
2/1 Genesis 36, 37, 38 Matthew 21:1-22
2/2 Genesis 39, 40 Matthew 21:23-46
2/3 Genesis 41, 42 Matthew 22:1-22
2/4 Genesis 43, 44, 45 Matthew 22:23-46
2/5 Genesis 46, 47, 48 Matthew 23:1-22

Thought for the Week January 29, 2012

pastortomvabeach — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:10:34 +0000

We have spent several installments now discussing two important activities that, when practiced regularly, can help me to become more Christ-like. We have discussed the importance of listening to God’s voice in the Bible and of spending time in worship and conversation with Him through prayer.

Traditionally these activities are called “spiritual disciplines”. As I mentioned in one of the earlier segments, I prefer to call them training exercises. The reason is that there is a huge difference between trying to do something and training to do the same thing. We can try really hard to do something we are not capable of and never be able to do it, just by trying. On the other hand if we arrange our lives around practices that develop the skills and expertise needed to do that thing, eventually we will be able to do it.

As we go forward I want to share a few more “spiritual disciplines” or “training exercises” that are valuable to becoming more Christ-like but, first, I want to be sure we understand what a “spiritual discipline” is and what it is not. John Ortberg in The Life You’ve Always Wanted does a superb job of defining this for us.

Briefly, it’s important to know that “spiritual disciplines” are not a score card to measure how “spiritual” a person is or is not. One can check off Bible reading, prayer, witnessing, journaling, etc. every day religiously but if that person is not growing in their love for God and for people, they’re missing it. The disciplines are not the goal; Christ-likeness is. Neither is a “spiritual discipline” a way to earn favor with God. We don’t get extra credit for reading completely through the Bible, nor does that prove how committed we are. “Spiritual disciplines” are the means by which we grow toward the abundant life that God graciously offers in Jesus Christ.

On the other side, Ortberg tells us a “spiritual discipline” is “any activity I can do by direct effort that will help me do what I cannot now do by direct effort.” This is why we call it training. We arrange our lives around practices we can do that help us do what we can’t do by will power alone. What makes something a “spiritual” discipline is that the activity helps me “gain power to live life as Jesus taught and modeled.” There are many such practices, such as prayer, servanthood, meditation on Scripture, etc. that are proper “exercises” for spiritual life. The ones we choose for our lives at any given moment will be those that help us overcome barriers that are keeping us from living the life Jesus modeled.

Dallas Willard suggests two categories of “training exercises” – exercises of engagement and exercises of abstinence. Engaging suggests exercises I intentionally do; like worship, study, giving. Abstinence means exercises that I intentionally refrain from doing; like fasting, solitude, and silence. Willard says the exercises that are most helpful to us are those which are the opposite of a barrier or problem we are facing. For example, if I struggle with doing what I should not do, like boasting, the exercise that would help would be silence or secrecy (not telling people when I do acts of charity). If the problem is not doing what I should, like being joyful, the exercise that would help is celebration (praising God regularly).

I know that I’ve given you a lot to think about today, but I want to make sure that we are not pursuing these spiritual growth topics with the wrong idea in mind. These are not notches to check off in our “spiritual checklist”. We pursue these practices with the ultimate goal of seeing the fruit of the Spirit, the Christ kind of life of loving God and loving people, grow and really show up consistently in our lives so that we can truly be transformed.

We have arranged to help you get an even better understanding of “spiritual training” and find those exercises that will work best for you right now. Beginning on February 5, at 9 a.m., a new Life Group is forming at Christian Chapel to do a study of the book to which I’ve referred in this segment and several others, The Life You’ve Always Wanted. This group will give you a more in-depth view of Ortberg’s teaching and help you to recognize some very simple yet practical exercises that you can add to your training repertoire. There will be plenty of time to discuss the why’s, wherefore’s, and how’s of the exercises and for you to practice.

I encourage anyone who wants to continue to be “transformed into a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ,” to take advantage of this opportunity. That type of transformation is not a matter of trying harder, but of training wisely. Paul told Timothy to train yourself in godliness (I Timothy 4:7) and advised the Corinthians that everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training (I Cor. 9:25). If Paul understood and put himself into a life of training so he could be Christ-like, why wouldn’t we? Just a thought.

Calendar of Events

pastortomvabeach — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:24:31 +0000

Sunday Morning Schedule
Life Groups (adults/teens) at 9 AM
Really Cool Sunday School (kidz 3-11) at 9 AM
Worship at 10:30 AM

Really Cool Sunday School
Children age 3 through 5th grade, learn Bible lessons and application in
five learning environments (cooking, cinema, drama, arts & crafts, and computer). Everyone is invited. For further information or to register your child call 757-427-9371. Don’t miss this great opportunity for kids!

Super Sunday Family Night
Sunday, February 5, 6:00 p.m.
Family friendly atmosphere to watch the big game!
Food, games, prizes! Did I mention food?
Bring the whole family and see live pro football on two
giant screens. Everyone will have fun!

Active Duty and Retired Military Update
The meeting with Chaplain Shinn has been rescheduled for
Sunday, January 29, immediately following the morning service.
If you are active duty military, retired, or a veteran who remembers
what deployment was like or a family member, please plan to be
with us to share your ideas about how the local church and chaplains
can serve military families throughout the deployment cycle. Your
ideas and input are desperately needed.

Annual Business Meeting
Sunday, February 12, 6:00 p.m.
Everyone in invited to this important meeting. We will share reports
of ministry, finances, and outreach from 2011, choose deacons to serve
the church in 2012, and present the 2012 budget. Remember that to
vote on any item at the meeting you must be a member.
Applications will be considered at the January 28, deacon’s meeting.
Submit applications to any staff member prior to that date.

Free Zumba For Ladies!
Every Tuesday, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Professional Zumba instructor.
Come and get in shape in a fun and furious way.
Everyone is invited! Did we mention it’s FREE?!!

Ladies Bible Life Group
Every Wednesday, 9-11 p.m. at Christian Chapel.
Come and learn practical concepts taught by nationally
known Christian leaders (via DVD) in an atmosphere that
is welcoming and warm. Mothers with children are always
welcome and we lift each other up in prayer.
Call Kathy Elliott, 721-7740, for details.

Mark the Date – Sunday, March 18, 6:00 p.m.
Multi-church, community worship and fellowship gathering.
More information will be forthcoming!

Website.
Check out our new and growing website at www.ccagvb.com. Sermons are available on the site.

Twitter.
You can now follow Christian Chapel on Twitter at “ccagvb”.

Bible Reading for January 23-29

pastortomvabeach — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:14:49 +0000

1/23 Job 36, 37 Matthew 15:1-20
1/24 Job 38, 39, 40 Matthew 15:21-39
1/25 Job 41, 42 Matthew 16
1/26 Genesis 23, 24 Matthew 17
1/27 Genesis 25, 26 Matthew 18:1-20
1/28 Genesis 27, 28 Matthew 18:21-35
1/29 Genesis 29, 30 Matthew 19

Thought for the Week January 22, 2012

pastortomvabeach — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:13:37 +0000

In the last few segments I have been sharing Rev. Daniel Henderson’s teaching on the “movements of prayer” which is the way that he outlines the pattern that Jesus gave us in what we call “The Lord’s Prayer”, found in the gospels. If you recall there are four movements: upward in reverence, downward in response, inward with requests, and outward with readiness. Another way to describe it is worship (God), submit (to God’s will), ask (for needs), engage (the world). Whenever we pray we can follow this simple pattern to motivate us and keep us on track.

Now that we’ve discussed two of the “training exercises” that are important for spiritual health, I want to just remind us all of the purpose for sharing these things. Continued transformation as a follower of Jesus Christ depends on regularly doing the spiritual training exercises that bring that transformation. This works much the same way that physical exercise works. If I want to build muscle, I must do regular exercise with weights or other types of resistance which little by little make my muscles stronger. If I want to run 10 miles, I start by running around the block but I do it enough that soon I’m running a mile, then five and eventually reach the goal.

The same thing applies to spiritual growth. The Christian “disciplines” or “exercises” of Bible reading and prayer, when done in regular segments over long periods of time work together with other “exercises” to cause us to love God and love others more, which is the definition of spiritual growth! We don’t have to join a monastery or quit working or neglect our families in order to set up a regular training schedule. To start off, ten minutes a day of reading the Bible and then praying, if we do it consistently will have an enormous impact on our lives.

This is the kind of thinking I believe that Jesus was trying to promote when the disciples asked Him to teach them to pray. Notice that Jesus’ response to their request in Luke 11:2 said, “When you pray…” not, “If you pray.” It seemed to be a forgone conclusion that Jesus’ followers would pray and He was giving them instructions for those times. Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica, Pray without ceasing. I don’t believe that Paul meant they should stop everything else in life and pray during all their waking hours. What I believe he had in mind was a regular, consistent reliance on our intimate conversation with God.

In much the same way Peter tells us, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby (I Peter 2:5). If you think about it, neither babies nor adults, for that matter eat food constantly while awake. They do, however, take meals on a regular basis. Failing to eat regular meals causes strength to wane and, if prolonged, is dangerous to our lives. The comparison works. If we want to learn to recognize God’s voice, to know His ways, and to apply His directions, we must be consistent in taking in His Word.

I don’t mean to be beating a drum on these things, but I think it is vital that we, as individuals, determine to make these things consistent in our lives. If you and I and everyone else in Christian Chapel, are regularly listening to the Lord in His Word then interacting with Him in prayer so that we apply the things we are hearing and seeing, we will all grow together. That, in turn will increase the presence of Jesus in everything we are doing in life and cause us to have a greater impact on those we know and relate to every day. When that happens more people will see that Jesus loves them and wants to really make a difference for them!

Wow! Just think what can happen in our church, our community, and ultimately in our world if we get serious about this thing of being transformed into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, of actually being more Christ-like in our attitudes, behavior, thoughts, etc., so Jesus is in the world in us. We can change the world! Isn’t that why we are here? Just a thought.

Calendar of Events

pastortomvabeach — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Sunday Morning Schedule
Life Groups (adults/teens) at 9 AM
Really Cool Sunday School (kidz 3-11) at 9 AM
Worship at 10:30 AM

Active Duty and Retired Military Update
Due to a series of mis-communications, Chaplain Shinn was
not able to make it January 8. We are still working on the
deployment cycle planning. Please keep watch as we will
reschedule the meeting very soon and still need your input
as a valuable part of the planning and development. Thanks
to all who were in attendance on Sunday. You are great!

Website.
Check out our new and growing website at www.ccagvb.com. Sermons are available on the site.

Twitter.
You can now follow Christian Chapel on Twitter at “ccagvb”.

Bible Reading for January 16-22

pastortomvabeach — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:50:57 +0000

1/16 Job 20, 21 Matthew 11
1/17 Job 22, 23, 24 Matthew 12:1-23
1/18 Job 25, 26, 27 Matthew 12:24-50
1/19 Job 28, 29 Matthew 13:1-30
1/20 Job 30, 31 Matthew 13:31-58
1/21 Job 32, 33 Matthew 14:1-21
1/22 Job 34, 35 Matthew 14:22-36

Thought for the Week January 15, 2012

pastortomvabeach — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:49:45 +0000

In the last segment we discussed the first two movements or patterns that Jesus gave us in “The Lord’s Prayer.” They are the upward move of reverence which is demonstrated by “Our Father, in heaven, hallowed by your Name.” This puts us in the proper frame of reference when we pray, recognizing God’s unquestioned greatness and giving Him the worship He is due. The second movement is downward, a move of response, where we reply to God’s greatness out of our humanity. The only proper reply is, “You are the King, we are ready to obey,” which is what Jesus was indicating by, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Again, remember the prayer He gave was more a pattern for how we should pray than a rote memorized prayer that we should copy. Thus the pattern is reverence (worship) and response (obedience) before asking for anything. Have you tried to practice these movements this week? If so, did it make any difference in the way your prayer time worked?

So the next movement is the inward movement of requests, or quite simply, bringing our needs and the needs of others to the Lord for His help. There are two distinct types of needs that Jesus recommended we pray for. First, our basic human needs, “Give us this day our daily bread.” If you recall, the Lord mentioned in another place that God cares about everything we need. Jesus said that He clothes the flowers and feeds the birds and that if He does that, He certainly cares about this aspect of our needs. Jesus also sent His disciples to pray for very real physical needs like healing of sickness and said we could do the same. I don’t think we should hold back from telling the Lord what we need. This reminds us how much we depend on Him.

The other need Jesus indicates here is our spiritual need, “Forgive us our trespasses (sins) as we forgive those who trespass against us.” This is much more vital than our physical need. We need to keep short accounts with the Lord. It is reasonable, every time we pray to let the Holy Spirit examine us and if we’ve missed the mark somewhere, to tell the Lord and receive His forgiveness and cleansing.

The other side of that coin is as important. We really need to keep short accounts with those who hurt or offend us. I think this might be an area we overlook more than is good for us. Unforgiveness is harmful to our relationship with the Lord and our relationship with others. We think holding on to hurt in some way affects the one who hurt us, but in reality it only hurts us more. What would happen if every follower of Christ, emptied their hearts of hurts every time they prayed? Shouldn’t we give to others what we want the Lord to give to us – forgiveness?

The next movement, Rev. Henderson calls outward or readiness. This comes when we have spent time in the Lord’s presence and are ready to go back out and face the world. Jesus said it this way, “Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil.” It’s the idea that we know what the world, flesh, and devil want to do with us and we recognize our best defense is to have the Lord on our side on the offensive. It may involve looking at my schedule for the day, trying to recognize opportunities to slip, and getting the Lord’s power working in advance. It may involve asking for help with areas of my life where I know I’m weak. Whatever, it surely helps to put this request before the Lord in advance of actual battle. He may give me a battle plan!

Well, that is the 4 by 4 movement of prayer (Rev. Dan Henderson’s description) which is modeled by “The Lord’s Prayer.” It’s something easy to understand and even easier to follow as a pattern when I get ready to talk with the Lord. The last step is to go back upward and end our prayer time the way we began, “For yours in the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen” I don’t know about you but I can get stuck in the reverence and worship part and never leave it. I really don’t think there is anything wrong with that.

Now that we’ve covered this pattern, let me remind you the whole reason behind this is to find ways to help each of us to be more consistent in the “training exercise” of prayer. I think this pattern will work. It helps me. Will you try this pattern for a while and see if it helps you to spend time in prayer and even to look forward to those times? If this doesn’t appeal to you, do you have another pattern or plan that works? The idea is that in spending more time with the Lord, conversing with Him, we will become more Christ-like. You do want that, right? Just a thought.

Calendar of Events

pastortomvabeach — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:20:09 +0000

Regular Schedule Returns
Sunday, January 8, we return to our normal schedule of Sunday morning
Groups and worship activities. Plan to join us!

Sunday Morning Schedule
Life Groups (adults/teens) at 9 AM
Really Cool Sunday School (kidz 3-11) at 9 AM
Worship at 10:30 AM

Calling All Active Duty and Retired Military!
This Sunday, January 8, immediately following worship,
Chaplain Cary Shinn, US Navy, will facilitate a brief
discussion on how our church and others can best help
military families through the various phases of deployment
cycles. We need YOUR input. Please plan to stay after
service for around 45 minutes to help us with this valuable
project in support of our military.

Website.
Check out our new and growing website at www.ccagvb.com. Sermons are available on the site.

Twitter.
You can now follow Christian Chapel on Twitter at “ccagvb”.