Dear FCC Family & Friends,
Today while perusing current events, I noticed an intriguing headline – ‘Buddha Boy Plans Live Burial’. I read on, as I hope you’ll do even now!
The report was about Ram Bahadur Bomjan, Nepal’s famed ‘Buddha Boy’. This teenager gained local, then international media attention when he suddenly surfaced under a tree in the Charkoshi forest in 2005. For nine months he meditated, sitting cross-legged allegedly without food and water in the same posture as the legendary Buddha. In short order, pilgrimages paying homage to the praying youth became the national rage. However, after many months he seemingly disappeared as quickly as he appeared.
Recently he resurfaced to the joy of his many followers, announcing his plan to embark on an even more challenging form of meditation – underground! Holy Mole Batman! His disciples have apparently dug a deep trench in which ‘Buddha Boy’ plans to descend. He will then be covered, voluntarily subjecting himself to extreme heat and cold. The objective of the burial is to master the senses and attain salvation, according to the report.
Friends, I’m not questioning the sincerity of this teenager or his disciples. Clearly they are trying to fill that spiritual void that every human being possesses and longs to fill – some way or another. However, as a Christian, I found this story to be exceedingly sad.
What Ram Bomjan, his faithful, and millions around the planet don’t seem to know or get is that Jesus Christ already subjected Himself to extreme discomfort to attain salvation for all of us! 1 Peter 2 tells us that “He Himself (Christ) bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.”
So friends, just a reminder that true salvation doesn’t come from putting your faith in the one under the tree – but instead the one on the tree!
See you at INVISION 3:31 this Saturday! Check out our church website (www.1stchristianchurch.org) for details. Also, it’s not too late to sign-up for the 24-Hour Prayer event this weekend.
This (Palm) Sunday I’ll will be sharing with you our third ‘Core Value’. Come early for Sunday School (9:00A.M.), great 4th Watch coffee and good seats!
I Love You!
In the Fight,
Steve
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Pastor's Perspective - "Little" Things
Dear FCC Family and Friends,
Funny how the Lord uses the little things to touch us in a big way.
Yesterday Michelle called me at the church to tell me that Lily was sick with a bug. Naturally I was saddened to know that the baby of our family was feeling puny. Fearing dehydration, my wife told me that because of the unpleasant manifestations of the illness that she was unable to load up the kids and go to the store. Seeing an opportunity to step into a phone booth and wear the big Daddy super-hero “D” on my chest, I broke away to buy our 5-year-old “Little” her favorite color of Gator-aid (yes, color). When I got home I saw that my dear bride was ill also with a fever and body aches. Sickness – the game the whole family can play!
Upon arriving home my heart broke when I saw Lily curled up on the couch – her sweet little head on a pillow and a bowl at her side. Clearly she felt terrible. Very lethargic, she let Daddy pray for her and then in a weak voice asked for a drink “with a straw.” Throughout the day she quietly dozed in and out of sleep.
After dark I noticed that our two family vehicles were still parked in the street in front of our home and needed to be pulled into the garage and driveway. Grabbing the keys I told Chelle that I was going to move the vehicles and that I’d be right back. As I was walking out the front door, surprisingly, Lily said, “Daddy, I want to go with you.” I replied, “Lily, you’re sick. Plus, I’ll be right back. I’m just moving the cars.” She insisted.
As we walked together down the walkway toward the street on a beautiful starry Fairfield night, Lily’s little hand grabbed mine. I looked down and saw nothing but blonde hair and a little swaying nightgown in the moonlight. In that unanticipated mundane moment, the Lord reminded me of the miracle of little things. For just a few fleeting minutes, my sick child wanted to spend time with her Daddy – no hidden agenda or motivation – just us – together.
Friends, are you waiting for the “big things” to come your way before lavishing your gratitude on God? If you are, you’re missing the miracles of the mundane – the supernatural in the obscure. I challenge you to look today for the fingerprints of the Lord in the “every day”. I encourage you to look for the Divine in the daily.
Funny how the Lord uses the little things to touch us in a big way.
In the Fight,
Steve Kiefer
www.1stchristianchurch.org
INVISION 3:31
Funny how the Lord uses the little things to touch us in a big way.
Yesterday Michelle called me at the church to tell me that Lily was sick with a bug. Naturally I was saddened to know that the baby of our family was feeling puny. Fearing dehydration, my wife told me that because of the unpleasant manifestations of the illness that she was unable to load up the kids and go to the store. Seeing an opportunity to step into a phone booth and wear the big Daddy super-hero “D” on my chest, I broke away to buy our 5-year-old “Little” her favorite color of Gator-aid (yes, color). When I got home I saw that my dear bride was ill also with a fever and body aches. Sickness – the game the whole family can play!
Upon arriving home my heart broke when I saw Lily curled up on the couch – her sweet little head on a pillow and a bowl at her side. Clearly she felt terrible. Very lethargic, she let Daddy pray for her and then in a weak voice asked for a drink “with a straw.” Throughout the day she quietly dozed in and out of sleep.
After dark I noticed that our two family vehicles were still parked in the street in front of our home and needed to be pulled into the garage and driveway. Grabbing the keys I told Chelle that I was going to move the vehicles and that I’d be right back. As I was walking out the front door, surprisingly, Lily said, “Daddy, I want to go with you.” I replied, “Lily, you’re sick. Plus, I’ll be right back. I’m just moving the cars.” She insisted.
As we walked together down the walkway toward the street on a beautiful starry Fairfield night, Lily’s little hand grabbed mine. I looked down and saw nothing but blonde hair and a little swaying nightgown in the moonlight. In that unanticipated mundane moment, the Lord reminded me of the miracle of little things. For just a few fleeting minutes, my sick child wanted to spend time with her Daddy – no hidden agenda or motivation – just us – together.
Friends, are you waiting for the “big things” to come your way before lavishing your gratitude on God? If you are, you’re missing the miracles of the mundane – the supernatural in the obscure. I challenge you to look today for the fingerprints of the Lord in the “every day”. I encourage you to look for the Divine in the daily.
Funny how the Lord uses the little things to touch us in a big way.
In the Fight,
Steve Kiefer
www.1stchristianchurch.org
INVISION 3:31
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Pastor's Perspective - JACKPOT!
Dear First Christian Church Family & Friends,
What could you do with 116 million dollars?
Today Ed Nabors, a Georgia truck driver stepped out of his cab of obscurity and into the limelight to claim half of the largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history - $390 million. Though I’m not promoting gambling, cussin, tobacco chewin or dating girls that do, let’s admit it – 116 million could help keep a lot of meat in the back freezer! According to the country’s newest millionaire, “I’m still numb.”
Winning the jackpot goes back to Bible days. One great rags-to-riches story is found in 2 Kings 7. Four men with leprosy were between a rock and a hard place. During a time of siege and famine, they found themselves in a true quandary. If they went inside their city, famine was devastating everybody and everything. If they did nothing they’d die right where they stood. Knowing that no good options were available, they chose a third avenue – surrender to the enemy and pray their lives would somehow be spared.
Been there? Done that? No good options available? Like the 2008 Election so far?!
Anywhoo, with death an almost certainty, our four leprous friends drag their feet into the enemy camp (no pun intended). However, when they arrive, the Arameans are gone! God had already emptied out the camp. So instead of finding a fatal sword’s edge, the four found a JACKPOT! As the enemy fled their camp they left behind a lottery of gold, silver, clothes, and food. The lepers were expecting death and instead found life!
Isn’t that how it is for us Christians? We deserved nothing from God. In fact, we deserved death! But by His amazing grace we got Jesus! We got forgiveness. We got life eternal. We got everything we didn’t deserve.
Immediately and predictably, the four begin hoarding and hiding. Finally they said to each other, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we’re keeping it to ourselves” – 7:9.
Reader, this is a day not of good news - but GREAT NEWS! I’ve read the end of the Book and we win! Salvation is available and free to every person today. Hope is ours for eternity today. Our Savior is alive today! What are we doing today?
This is not the time to hoard the gospel to ourselves. If we do, “we’re not doing right” by “keeping it to ourselves.” Christian, YOU’VE WON THE JACKPOT! Today is a day of good news!
This Sunday I’m sharing a message entitled “What Happens When You Die?” Mildly curious? What does the Bible say about death and your eternity? Does your soul just sleep? Will you play a harp forever? The answers from the book of Revelation will change your life! See you Sunday morning at 9:00 or 11:00 A.M.
Check-out the new church website for all current church news at www.1stchristianchurch.org.
Have you RSVPd for INVISION 3:31?
IMPORTANT! This weekend is DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME. Remember to SPRING AHEAD ONE HOUR.
In the Fight,
Steve Kiefer
Lead Pastor
What could you do with 116 million dollars?
Today Ed Nabors, a Georgia truck driver stepped out of his cab of obscurity and into the limelight to claim half of the largest jackpot in U.S. lottery history - $390 million. Though I’m not promoting gambling, cussin, tobacco chewin or dating girls that do, let’s admit it – 116 million could help keep a lot of meat in the back freezer! According to the country’s newest millionaire, “I’m still numb.”
Winning the jackpot goes back to Bible days. One great rags-to-riches story is found in 2 Kings 7. Four men with leprosy were between a rock and a hard place. During a time of siege and famine, they found themselves in a true quandary. If they went inside their city, famine was devastating everybody and everything. If they did nothing they’d die right where they stood. Knowing that no good options were available, they chose a third avenue – surrender to the enemy and pray their lives would somehow be spared.
Been there? Done that? No good options available? Like the 2008 Election so far?!
Anywhoo, with death an almost certainty, our four leprous friends drag their feet into the enemy camp (no pun intended). However, when they arrive, the Arameans are gone! God had already emptied out the camp. So instead of finding a fatal sword’s edge, the four found a JACKPOT! As the enemy fled their camp they left behind a lottery of gold, silver, clothes, and food. The lepers were expecting death and instead found life!
Isn’t that how it is for us Christians? We deserved nothing from God. In fact, we deserved death! But by His amazing grace we got Jesus! We got forgiveness. We got life eternal. We got everything we didn’t deserve.
Immediately and predictably, the four begin hoarding and hiding. Finally they said to each other, “We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we’re keeping it to ourselves” – 7:9.
Reader, this is a day not of good news - but GREAT NEWS! I’ve read the end of the Book and we win! Salvation is available and free to every person today. Hope is ours for eternity today. Our Savior is alive today! What are we doing today?
This is not the time to hoard the gospel to ourselves. If we do, “we’re not doing right” by “keeping it to ourselves.” Christian, YOU’VE WON THE JACKPOT! Today is a day of good news!
This Sunday I’m sharing a message entitled “What Happens When You Die?” Mildly curious? What does the Bible say about death and your eternity? Does your soul just sleep? Will you play a harp forever? The answers from the book of Revelation will change your life! See you Sunday morning at 9:00 or 11:00 A.M.
Check-out the new church website for all current church news at www.1stchristianchurch.org.
Have you RSVPd for INVISION 3:31?
IMPORTANT! This weekend is DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME. Remember to SPRING AHEAD ONE HOUR.
In the Fight,
Steve Kiefer
Lead Pastor
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