March Madness in the Kingdom

March Is a Peculiar Month

March is an interesting month. It has an air of mystery about it. Shakespeare used it in his classic “Julius Caesar.” It was the soothsayer’s warning, “Beware of the ides of March.” It was on that day that the mighty Caesar was betrayed and murdered at the hands of his closest friends. March is meteorologically strange. It comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. In the world of College sports, March is the season for basketball mania. Hence the term “March Madness.” Tournaments and play-offs will dominate campus, coliseums, conversations, and T. V. cameras. In some college towns church services will become almost empty, while coaches, team-mates, faculty, alumni and family gather in other places to “...root, root, root, for the home team.”

We have Something Better

The rules in basketball are still the same in March. There is more excitement. The players are the same as they were in February. They are just more motivated. The whoops are the same height. Even the adversaries are the same. Just more determined to win. God has spoken to my spirit that there ought to be some “March Madness” in His kingdom. The gospel will be the same. Just more

exciting. The singers will be the same. Just more anointed.  Sinners will be the same. Just more sought after.

The good news about the kingdom is; we already know who shall emerge victorious. Still we will root for Him. He is the best. He has never lost a battle, court case, nor patient.  March is a good month for us to show the college crowd what team loyalty is all about. We will gather expecting victory. We will travel to where ever the contest is being waged over lost sinners. We will return shouting the victory as if it jus happened yesterday.

We Have a Winning Strategy

Our Strategy was developed by our champion Himself. He left it on record for succeeding generations. Through His strategy we honor Him and encourage each other. Are you ready for March Madness? Here is the strategy.

Ps 100

1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Peace,

Pastor Smith

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A Month’s Sacrifice

Proverbs 11:25

The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

The Future is Now

V The time has come to possess the land. Praise the Lord! God has given us a great vision to expand our ministries. The S.M. Lockridge Family Life Center is both in focus and within reach. During the month of October the bakery next door will go out of business. Now is the time to possess and remodel it to meet the present and future needs of our church and community. This door of opportunity will only be open for a short time. Now is the time to either “put up or shut up.”

Give As The Spirit Leads

I have been led of the Spirit to sacrifice at least one month’s income to fund the “Possess The Land” Campaign. The leadership team, which consists of Deacons, Trustees and Ministry heads, has been asked to join me. I am asking every Calvary disciple to join them as they seek you out and explain the vision. Ask the Lord to lead you in this even before anyone asks you. God has promised blessings of “fatness” for the “liberal soul.”

There Are  Benefits

V The building is already built (no new and time consuming permits process)
 

V It is right next door (no busy street for children and the elderly to cross)

V It has enough square footage for a kitchen and fellowship hall to accommodate our present and future needs.

V It has space for more modern classrooms

V It has possibilities for a Child Care Facility.

V It will never cost less than it does today

V It has space for offices (church and professional), computer labs, soundstages, Food pantry etc.

V It comes with a paved and fenced parking lot.

V These are just a few. I am sure you can think of many others. Be assured I welcome your suggestions.

Why the Change In Strategy?

In our previous efforts to convert the “old gas station” we learned some valuable lessons. Among which were the enormous costs to “clean up” the sight from possible leaks. Cesar E. Chavez Parkway, an already busy street, is in the planning stages to be widened. It will become even busier. Because of proximity to the freeway the gas station lot has air quality problems for any proposed new buildings.

When God Closes A Window He Opens A Door

This is an open door to fulfill a vision shared with us under the leadership of our late Pastor Dr. S. M. Lockridge. It is a golden opportunity to honor his legacy as our shepherd for 40 years. It is a challenge to this generation to pave the road for the generation of saints following us.

Won’t You please join me and others in making this vision a reality?

Praise The Lord! Possess The Land!

Peace,

Pastor Smith

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Striving For Excellence In

Achieving

God’s Purpose

Gen 2:7-8

 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.   And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Welcome to 2007 A.D. I’m glad we made it! This year is to be a year of achievements. We have endured. Now we must achieve. Someone has said it rightly, “when God sets you back, He’s setting you up for a comeback.” God always has  a purpose for what He does.

^{Purpose Defined}

Purpose means something set up as an object or end to be attained  It is an intention. It is a resolution. Purpose is a determination. God’s purpose is expressed in what He does and how He brings His ultimate will to pass.

God Has A Purpose For Your Life

In our text it is clear that God does not create man until after the garden was thoroughly furnished. God had it planned. God had it planted. It had in it everything God intended. Then He made the man. Likewise, God has set things up for you and me.  We are not where we are by accident. We are not built the way we are by happenstance. We have been put here on purpose.  Further, we have been put here for a purpose. Adam was not completely aware of his purpose the day he was created, but God knew.

“...And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man …”

God didn’t need a garden, the man needed a place to live while he achieved God’s purpose for his life. God has provided handsomely for our needs  in order for us to find and achieve His purpose for our lives. As with Adam, our gardens were planted before we got here. Likewise, as with Adam, God gives us responsibilities for preserving our environment while we discover and achieve His purposes for our lives.

What’s Your Purpose?

Too many saints live beneath their blessings because they are either unaware of or failing to achieve their purpose. God created you and placed you where you are for a specific purpose. He had it in mind from the beginning. “...God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth” (Gen 1:28). Life is meant to be fun, fruitful and fulfilling. Therein lies your purpose. You are to be in charge; the head; on top; the boss of your garden. Yours is intended to be a life which bears God-sized fruit, and best of all, you are to have fun achieving it. God has provided everything you will need to get it done. With each new level of achievement, He promises the needed blessings. In short,  as long as you are pursuing God’s purposes God’s way, the blessings will keep coming.

2007 Is Your Year

That’s right! God has declared it. He has brought you into it. He has purposed your future. He has provided for your every need. He now waits to aid you in your efforts. His only requirement is that you do it His way. His instruction can be found in the Bible. It is our owners manual and blueprint for blessings. Read it prayerfully and carefully and God will guide you to His purpose for your life.

Peace,

Pastor Smith

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

One of the great tests of the Christian experience is the challenge to rise above mediocrity. It has been the goal of the church since its birth. It is our theme for this year. It is the call of God to our community of faith. Calvary, strive for the “…more excellent way!”

In both the Old and New Testaments excellence is ascribed to God himself as well as to all things which peculiarly belonging to Him.

In 1 Corinthians 12 it is the lifestyle to which we, His people, should aspire. The word huperbole, literally means “a throwing beyond”. It denotes “excellence, exceeding greatness.” When it is used with the Greek preposition kata , the phrase signifies “exceeding” and/or “still more excellent.”

Our God, therefore expects, yea, even demands that we throw ourselves beyond the average and mundane striving for excellence.

Mediocrity denies the power of God. One can be average without supernatural help. Excellence requires us to seek to imitate the majesty and splendor of God. To throw oneself beyond oneself requires power from beyond oneself. The difference between being a church member and being a true disciple of Christ is the pursuit of excellence. Calvary, This is our year to strive for excellence! [back to top]

“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” God wants us to move toward excellence in worship. A majestic Lord desires and deserves excellent worship. He requests that we throw ourselves beyond quiet quibbles. He is to be exalted! He is to be magnified! The word translated exalt represents either the “state of being on a higher plane” or “movement in an upward direction.” God is already at that higher plane. Our worship must move upward in His direction to be worthy of Him.

In order to excel in works we must first move up to excellence in worship. Too long have we been satisfied with:

When we really desire the power of the Lord to come down we must throw ourselves into a worship mode that lifts Him up. This year, God is looking for a church striving for excellence in worship. [back to top]

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God…” Calvary has a long tradition of excellence in teaching. One must now ask, “But am I doing all I can in learning?” To be sure we would readily assert that we love the Lord. But a better question might be “Am I approved of by God?”

The Greek word translated study is spoudazo. It signifies “to hasten to do a thing, to exert oneself, endeavor, give diligence.” Having a good Bible teaching Pastor and good Bible teaching ministries will never substitute for study. The text does not say “attend to shew…” Nor does it say “…listen to shew…” Education is a teaching/learning experience. There must be hastening on the part of the student. There must be due diligence given by the learner. In order for us to achieve excellence in Education each and every member of the body must engage in systematic, life-changing Bible study. Calvary, God expects all of us to strive for excellence. [back to top]

Jesus said “Go ye therefore and teach all nations…” This statement however was made to disciples who had first been summoned to excellent worship and education. We are not ready to evangelize until we have first worshipped and sat at His feet. Please be clear, Excellence in winning souls is a natural outgrowth of edifying worship.

What did Jesus mean when he sent us out to “teach all nations?” The Greek word, which is translated teach, is Mathēteúō. It means:

More distinctly it means to become attached to one’s teacher and to become his follower in doctrine and conduct of life. It is really not sufficient to translate this verb as “learn” but as “making a disciple.”

When was the last time you made a disciple? It will begin to happen this year as never before if you will but answer God’s call. No, You do not have to be called to preach. You have already been called to discipleship. Calvary, God wants you to throw yourself into high gear regarding soul winning and disciple making. This year we must strive for Excellence in Evangelism. [back to top]

Another great challenge to this company called Christians is the tendency toward “shooting our own wounded.” All too often we have hurt and discouraged our brothers and sisters and dismissed our guilt by saying “I’m just telling the truth.” A wise person has said “the Christian army is the only army in the world that does most of its fighting inside the barracks.”

Our real challenge must become how to tell the truth in ways which build up each other. We must become busybodies of encouragement. Paul saw it and addressed it in his letter to the church at Ephesus. “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up…” Love for God and each other must become our operating principle. Truth spoken in love will always bring growth. Truth spoken in love will build up rather than tear down. Some truth ought to be spoken to God alone. Put another way, you don’t have to tell everything you know!

Grand mama was not a rocket scientist. But she used to teach us discretion and Christian values through pithy sayings such as:

The preacher of proverbs simply says “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”

Calvary, God expects us to do a better job encouraging one another. In this arena we must strive for excellence! [back to top]

There are but two instances in scripture where Jesus got mad. Both had to do with people’s misuse of the house God. Jesus became so angry that he ran those people out of His Father’s house. He declared, “It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer but ye have made it…”

We treat the sanctuary so callously. It is the place where we come to meet with God. We must strive to enter into that holy place according to God’s holy prescription. We must strive to “…enter His courts with praise.” I find it impossible to hold a good conversation with two different people on two different subjects at the same time. God deserves and demands our undivided attention.

His house ought to be kept in a state of cleanliness and purity. Our children must be taught to respect His room above all others. We adults must seek to provide them with powerful precepts and positive examples. Our conversation ought be appropriate for His environment. He is listening, you know.

Calvary, God expects us to strive for excellence! He will be angered by anything less. [back to top]

Peace,

Jesus, the Atoning Sacrifice

Do you know that if you died today, you would go to heaven? If you could know for sure, would you do what the Bible says?

Who Is Good?
Romans 3:10 - "As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one".

Who Has Sinned?
Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God".

Where Sin Came From
Romans 5:12 - "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned".

God's Price on Sin
Romans 6:23 - "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord".

Our Way Out
Romans 5:8 - "But God commanded his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us".
Romans 10:13- "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved".

What Must I Do?
Take God at his word and claim his promise for your salvation.

Romans 10:9-11- "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the
heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed".

Now pray; confess that you are a sinner, ask God to save you and receive Christ as your Saviour.

Join a local fellowship of believers and continue studying the word of God.

How We Know
1 John 5:13- "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that you have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the
Son of God". [back to top]

We encourage you to prayerfully read the Bible on a daily basis. Daily Bible study provides a strong foundation for spiritual growth and righteous living. It also wets the spiritual appetite for a more specialized study of the Word of God. We would recommend the King James, New King James, New International or New American Standard Versions be used for your Bible study. [back to top]

When In Sorrow
Read John 14

When Men Fail You
Read Psalm 27

When You Have Sinned
Read Psalm 51 & 1 John 1:9

When You Worry
Read Matthew 6:19-34

When You Are In Danger
Read Psalm 91

If You Have The Blessing
Read Psalm 34

When God Seems Far Away
Read Psalm 139

If You Are Discouraged
Read Isaiah 40

If You Are Lonely or Fearful
Read Psalm 23

If You Feel Down And Out
Read Romans 8:39

When You Want Courage For Your Task
Read Joshua 1

When The World Seems Bigger Than God
Read Psalm 90

When You Want Rest & Peace
Read Matthew 11:25-30

When Leaving Home For Labor or Travel
Read Psalm 121; 107:23-31

If You Get Bitter or Critical
Read 1 Corinthians 13

If Thinking of Investments & Returns
Read Mark 10:17-31

For a Great Invitation - A Great Opportunity
Read Isaiah 55

When Others Seek To Do You Harm
Read Psalm 27

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