Psalm 1

(photo courtesy of mbaldwinfineart.blogspot.com)

Beginning the lengthy, poetic, majestic, practical, and theologically rich Old Testament book of Psalms, Psalm 1 opens with a powerful comparison of the righteous and the wicked. And wedged right between this comparison, we find one of the most beautiful and natural illustrations recorded in Scripture.

Let me ask you a simple question...Which one are you? 

Would you consider yourself righteous or wicked? What gives you the confidence that you know which one you are? What characterizes the heart of the righteous and what lies at the core of the wicked person's heart? Let's find out.

In verses 1 and 2, we find characteristics of the righteous person. We see where not to walk, stand nor sit--among the sinful, scoffing wicked. We see what must be our delight and meditation--the Law of the Lord.

1. The Righteous person is blessed because they...

a. Do not walk in the counsel of the wicked;

b. Do not stand in the way of sinners;

c. Do not sit in the seat of scoffers;

d. Delight in the law of the Lord;

e. Meditate on His law day and night.

In verses 3 and 4, we find the portrait of the lively, flourishing, nourished righteous person and we find the dead, useless, insignificant wicked person.

2. The Righteous person is like a tree which...

a. Is planted by streams of water;

b. Yields its fruit in its season;

c. Its leaf does not wither;

d. Prospers in all that he does.

3. The Wicked person is like chaff which...

a. Is not like the tree, meaning...

i. [not planted by streams of water]

ii. [not yielding fruit in its season]

iii. [all the leaves wither]

iv. [does not prosper in what it does]

b. The wind blows away.

In verses 5 and 6, we find the characteristics of the wicked person. A dead, useless, and perishing tree cannot stand and will not stand. This is the condition of the wicked.

4. The wicked will...

a. Not stand in the judgment;

  b. Not stand in the congregation of the righteous;

c. Not be known by the Lord;

d. Perish.

Also see Jeremiah 17:7–8 for a remarkably similar illustration including a tree planted by streams of water. We draw our life from God. We must delight in His Word. We must meditate on it day and night, as the streams of water never fail providing the tree with life-giving nutrients.

So let me ask you again, what is your life characterized by? Where are your thoughts? Where are your desires? What is your attitude and behavior like? What is your delight? What fills your mind?

ROCK Group Summer Calendar

(Ancient calendar found at Gezar, a biblically and historically significant location in the Land of Israel)

May

29^th      ROCK Group (Cody)

30^th      Softball and BBQ @ Moes @ 9am (Sat)

Welcome all College Freshmen!

June

5^th        CORE Group @ 3pm

             ROCK Group (Kyle)

9^th        Intro Teaching Class @ 7pm (Tues)

12^th      CORE Group @ 3pm

             ROCK Group (Kyle)

13^th      Beach Day @ 8am (Sat)

16^th      Intro Teaching Class @ 7pm (Tues)

17^th      Wakeboard Trip (Thurs)

19^th      Coffee Connection / Guys Nite @ 7pm

21^st      Soccer Camp Mtg @ VBC @ 7am (Sun)

26^th      ROCK Group (Kyle)

30^th–3^rd Soccer Camp

July

3^rd        ROCK Group (Bobby)

4^th        Fourth of July Beach Party @ 9am (Sat)

10^th      ROCK Group (Nate)

11^th      CORE Group Breakfast @ 8am

14^th      Intro Teaching Class @ 7pm

15^th–18^th ROCK SUMMER RETREAT

21^st      Intro Teaching Class @ 7pm (Tues)

23^rd      Wakeboard Trip (Thurs)

24^th      CORE Group @ 3pm

            ROCK Group (Rick)

28^th      Intro Teaching Class @ 7pm (Tues)

31^st      ROCK Group (Kyle)

August

1^st        Beach Day / Hollywood Bowl (Sat)

7^th–9^th  Man Camp

7^th        ROCK Group

11^th      Intro Teaching Class @ 7pm (Tues)

14^th      CORE Group @ 12pm

            Ignite Worship Night @ VBC @ 7pm

15^th      Activity Day (Sat)

21^st      ROCK Group (Nate)

28^th     CORE Group @ 3pm

           ROCK Group (Kyle)

-“ROCK Group” is our weekly Bible study Friday nights @ 7pm @ the Moes’ house (722-1844).

-Softball games are Sunday evenings followed by “The Pool” @ the Baloghs’ house (947-9748).

-“CORE Group” is at Kyle and Kathy Jenisons’.

-“Introductory Teaching Class” is at VBC on Tuesday nights.

-For more information call Kyle (886-9735).

Keeping Our Eye On Why VBC Plays Softball

Well, softball season at Valley Bible is once again "stepping up to bat!" And the ROCK group is looking at 4 TEAMS this year! That's right...4. We have had 2 teams a while back, and then we had 3 teams for a little while, and now another team has emerged out of necessity. This is exciting growth to see because it is a testimony and reflection of God's faithfulness to the college ministry at VBC.

[why we play "soft"ball]

The first game this season will be held on May 31st at Lancaster City Park. There might actually be 20 teams in the church as a whole, so there will be a lot of games and injuries and fun every Sunday afternoon this summer. Not to mention the abundant opportunities to cultivate Christ-like relationships amongst one another and to establish contact with unbelievers in our community. Let us all remain biblically-aligned in our will, our focus, and our desires with the Diving design God has established for His church in this world.

Please be in prayer for the three objectives of the softball season: 1) service and the edification of the believers (see Scriptures below), 2) outreach and the salvation of the lost (see Scriptures below), and 3) golden softball and the glorification of the ROCK group (no biblical basis whatsoever!).

These TWO biblical objectives (service and outreach) are the "bat and ball," the "hand and glove", the "right and left cleat," the "home and away teams" to the softball season for the church; both are absolutely necessary! Let us not show up without one or the other.

Service and the Edification of Believers

First Corinthians 12:4–6 says, "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone."

Romans 14:18, 19 say, "Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding."

Ephesians 4:15, 16 says, "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."

Hebrews 10:25 says, "Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

First Peter 3:8 says, "Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind."

Outreach and the Salvation of the Lost

Romans 10:17 says, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ."

Matthew 5:16 says, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

Mark 16:15 says, "And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'"

Second Timothy 4:2, 5 say, "Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

Colossians 4:3–5 says, "At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account for which I am in prison--4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. 5 Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time."

Ok, Now Go Out and Play Ball!

The CORE of Servant Leadership

The "CORE Group", in the College Ministry at Valley Bible, refers to our student leadership team. Currently, we have 5 students who have been faithfully attending since last year. We also have three adult leaders sit in on the meetings, including myself, Kathy, and Aliza. We meet about every other week at my house at 4pm before ROCK group Bible study. 

Our meetings are generally two-fold in their purpose. First we will attempt to address the topic of leadership from a biblical perspective and develop and discuss what it takes to be a servant leader. For the other half of our time, we will focus on the many different faucets of the work in ministry.

Some of the specific areas in which we focus our time, attention, and efforts on in the ministry are as follows...

1. Caring for Believers, which may entail discipling and counseling other believers, praying for the group, meeting up with fellow students, contacting students who are away for the semesters, and cultivating loving relationships with others.

2. Teaching the Word, which may entail Bible studies on Friday nights, ROCK Sunday school classes, Coffee Connections for the ladies, guy/girl split teaching times, retreats, and more.

3. Evangelizing the Lost, which may entail supporting the Go Ministry, planning our own days to share the gospel in the community, organizing summer evangelism for VBC activities/events, being actively involved in cross-cultural missions, and more.

4. Arranging Activities and Events, which may entail planning, organizing, and implementing various activities, events, outings, retreats, and service opportunities throughout the year to stimulate group unity and rich fellowship.

5. Ministering through Music, which may entail practicing, playing, and leading the ROCK group in worship on Friday nights, for retreats, for special events or activities, for Ignite, and more.

Over the years that I have been a leader in the ROCK group, there has been a challenging trend that we have been faced with in the ROCK group: The fewer the opportunities for the students to serve and to take on responsibilities, the fewer students will be faithfully committed to serving in the college ministry from semester to semester. Now, I take this on myself. I have only until recently realized the joy, the blessing, and the fulfillment the students share in as they serve among their peers. 

Now we are all called to serve like Christ, and we are all progressively maturing in our faith because the indwelling Holy Spirit, but having opportunities laid out right before us helps immensely with direction and a plan for serving others. These responsibilities give the student a sense of ownership, accountability, and involvement in the group. 

May we all realize more fully and remember more frequently that living the Christian life is not about getting or being served by others, but about giving of ourselves and serving till we are absolutely spent for the sake of others. Only then may we be living the abundant Christian life and living as Christlike examples of servant leadership.

Mark 10:45 says, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

2 Corinthians 12:15 says, "I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls."

Philippians 2:3–5 says, "Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus."

Serving Christ in Internet Services?

Good question: "do you have a facebook?" It doesn't stand alone. How about Twitter, AIM, Blogging, Myspace, iChat, or Youtube? Heard of these? There is a pretty good chance that the number of people who haven't heard of any of these internet services has almost diminished entirely. These "services" simply exist to connect people to other people. Sounds like a good thing, right? Sounds pretty fun to me. Anyways, wouldn't you like to stay better in touch with your friends?

The Age we are in has undeniably taken technology to the next level. Possibly better stated, technology has taken us to the next level; swaying generations into the technologically advanced niceties at the touch of a finger. But amid the "technological sway", brother, sister in Christ, let me ask you another more important question, "Is it being used to take us to the next level in our sanctification?" Isn't this the most important question for the believer to ask pertaining to the rapid growth of internet community?

In Scripture, we find no other method to carry out the one anothers (to "forgive," "submit to," "prefer," "love," "show hospitality to," "humble yourselves toward," "confront," etc) than in community with one another. We clearly were made for community. Even from the creation account we find that it was not good for man to be alone. As the Church, we are described as a body working together with each part working together properly (Eph 4:16) as Christ, our Head. In John 17, Christ prays to His heavenly Father that "they (believers) may be one even as we (God the Son and the Father) are one" (v. 22). It is here, in the presence of God through Christ, that we may be one seeking to glorify the Father and point the world to God's glory.

But being a part of a mega "online community" brings its own unique set of challenges to the redeemed. Below are some warnings, borrowed from the blog of Al Mohler, which he calls "suggestions for safeguarding social networking."

1. Never allow social networking to replace or rival personal contact and communication. We cannot permit ourselves to substitute social networking for the harder work of building and maintaining personal relationships that are face-to-face.

2. Set clear parameters for the time devoted to social networking. These services can be seductive and time consuming. Social networking (and the Internet in general) can become obsessive and destructive of other relationships and higher priorities for the Christian.

3. Never write or post anything on a social networking site that you would not want the world to see, or anything that would compromise your Christian witness. Certain words and comments are said online that utterly ruin the testimony we want to be to the lost world.

4. Never allow children and teenagers to have independent social networking access (or Internet access, for that matter). Parents should monitor, manage, supervise, and control the Internet access of their children and teens. Watch what your child posts and what their friends post.

5. Do not allow children and teens to accept any "friend" unknown to you. The social networking world can be a dangerous place and parental protection here is vital.

6. Encourage older friends and relatives too sign up and use the technology. Grandparents can enjoy keeping up with their grandchildren and with friends and loved ones separated by distance or mobility.

7. Use the social networking technology to bear witness to the Gospel, but never think that this can replace the centrality of face-to-face evangelism and discipleship.

8. Do all things to the glory of God, and do not allow social networking to become an idol or a display of narcissism (which is "excessive or erotic interest in oneself and one's physical appearance"; self-centeredness, self-absorption, pride, or any other form of selfishness).

So ask yourself, am I really serving Christ with the internet services I am involved in? You may benefit yourself, and your "friends," to step back and think about how you are growing closer to God in all that you do.

Valley of Dry Bones

One day Yahweh was speaking with Ezekiel, His faithful prophet to Israel. He brought him out and set him down in the middle of a valley. This valley was full of dry bones. There was no sinew, no flesh, no skin on them. They were very dry.

Yahweh said, "Can these bones live?" Ezekiel replied, "Yahweh, God, you know."

Then He asked Ezekiel to prophesy (be His mouthpiece) over the bones saying, "Hear the word of Yahweh, 'Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live,' and you shall know that I am Yahweh."

So Ezekiel prophesied as he was commanded. And as he prophesied, there was a sound, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone into bone. Then he prophesied that the breath of God would enter the slain and give them life. Then they lived, and stood on their feet, and there was an exceedingly great army.

Then Yahweh said, "These bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.' "

This amazing scene is found in Ezekiel 37:1–14. The Lord "Yahweh" loves His people with 

a covenant faithfulness and a loyal love and He will not abandon them. Though the context is speaking directly to the restoration of the house of Israel, we can observe powerful and practical insight into the reviving and renewing nature of the Word of God.

Since Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work," what do we learn about the Word of God? How do we prioritize the proclamation of the Truth? When the Word of God is preached, what effect does it have on our souls?

In chapter 4:2 Paul charges Timothy to "Preach the Word!" Essentially, be the mouthpiece of God and proclaim the gospel of the grace of God! Preach the powerful message that delivers us from the dominion of darkness and transfers us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Col 1:13, 14)!

Psalm 19:7–9 says, 

"The law of the Lord is perfect,

reviving the soul;

the testimony of the Lord is sure,

making wise the simple;

8 the precepts of the Lord are right,

rejoicing the heart;

the commandment of the Lord is pure,

enlightening the eyes;

9 the fear of the Lord is clean, 

enduring forever;

the rules of the Lord are true,

and righteous altogether."

John 8:31, 32 say, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Christ is speaking of Truth and its freeing power over sin. Committing sin is bondage to sin (v. 34) but abiding in Truth is freedom from that bondage.

May the Word of God have its reviving, renewing, freeing, restoring, rejoicing, enlightening, enduring and righteous effect in us each day! May we preach the Word of God to ourselves and to others that our dry bones may receive life!

Ministry Moments at VBC

There is something spectacular that happens at VBC, behind closed doors, that I would like to let you in on...

It is the Valley Bible Church Staff Meeting. Every Monday we meet at 9am in Gerry's office to have our meetings. Dale leads the meeting by asking each staff member how things have been going in their respective ministry. Since I sit directly on his left, I go first.

This is a time for me to highlight some of the happenings in the ROCK group, college ministry. If an event or activity has happened we spend a while discussing what went good, what didn't, what things we could improve on, what was learned, even names of new people and conversations that were had. If an event or activity is coming up, then we will talk about everything that needs to happen in order for it to run smoothly and effectively for the church and the kingdom of God. I keep them updated on how each Friday night is going, what college group Sunday school is like, and what the overall tone of the group is. We also talk about leaders meetings, CORE group meetings (student leadership), and other faucets of the ministry.

This is also a time for me to ask a discussion question to gather wisdom and feedback from others about the ministry. There is a wealth of knowledge and understanding in that room because of what they know of the Word and because of how experienced they are in caring for others. I would be the biggest fool to not seek their counsel.

[Though these may seem like familiar faces (ie. Becky Williams, Joel Kirkendall, the guy who played Bruce Wayne in Dark Knight, etc), none of them currently attend our church...that I know of.]

Back to the meetings...since Rocky Osborne is on my left, he then updates everyone on how the AWANA ministry is going and what children and families are new to the program, and to the church. He will always excitedly inform us about who was new that he met on Sunday morning. That is always a joy for me to hear. We have so many visitors every week and Rocky is faithful to welcome them all.

Then Kim Taylor goes and she keeps us up to date on children's ministry. The children have a great Sunday school curriculum now and all the teachers are such servants week in and week out. She always has stuff coming up, especially the Neighborhood Bible Clubs and Vacation Bible School. Her heart for the young ones at Valley is clearly evident, tried, and true.

Gerry Andersen shares about anything and everything, which goes to show how much he actually is involved in at Valley. He is teaching almost regularly, leading meetings, overseeing missions, managing the church office, maintaining the website (tons of people hear about VBC via the web each year), coordinating softball (and keeping accurate, annual stats), studying theology, managing Valley's budget and moneys, and so much more. Praise God for his service to our church! Every healthy church needs a "Gerry".

David Johnston follows Gerry. This is when we all get to hear about how the junior high, high school, and youth leaders are all doing. This is an enormous ministry containing up to almost 200 people total! Please pray for him, his wife, and children as they serve in this capacity. He always shares his heart about where the group is studying (currently in Hebrews), and he genuinely, honestly cares for each of the students, their families, and those serving with him in leadership.

Dale Whitehead concludes by updating men and women's ministries, sharing the latest with growth group ministries, mentioning people in hurt and in need, and other odds and ins. This is truly where the shepherd's heart is seen. Thank God for a pastor who emulates the Good Shepherd in the way he lays his life down for others.

We pray together at the end knowing that nothing can be done for the kingdom apart from the Lord's strength and that we must lean entirely on Him to see these things through. 

May God give us the grace... :)