Friday, May 25, 2007

Pastor's Perspective - Come & See!

Dear FCC Family & Friends,

A zealous, soul-winning, young preacher recently came upon a farmer working in his field. Concerned about the farmer's soul the preacher asked the man, "Are you laboring in the vineyard of the Lord my good man?"

Not even looking at the preacher and continuing his work the farmer replied, "Naw, these are soybeans."

"You don't understand," said the preacher. "Are you a Christian?"

With the same amount of interest as his previous answer the farmer said, "Nope my name is Jones. You must be looking for Jim Christian. He lives about a mile down the road."

The young determined preacher tried again asking the farmer, "Are you lost?"

"Nah! I've lived here all my life," answered the farmer.

"Are you prepared for the resurrection?" the frustrated preacher asked.

This caught the farmer's attention and he asked, "When's it gonna be?"

Thinking he had accomplished something the young preacher replied, "It could be today, tomorrow, or the next day."

Taking a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiping his brow, the farmer remarked, "Well, don't mention it to my wife. She don't get out much and she'll wanna go all three days."

Having trouble reaching others for Christ? Here are some helpful hints for sharing Jesus with your family and friends – free of charge!

Pray for them daily.

Speak less and listen more.

Love and serve them condition-free. (In our ‘me-first’ age, it’ll freak em out!)

Live the life in front of them (Reminder: You’re not perfect and they know it and aren’t expecting it).

Stop speaking “Christian-ese” (see above joke)

Memorize and repeat this deep and profound theological and scholarly phrase – “Come and see!”

Don’t give up on them (Christ and others didn’t give up on you).

This Sunday I’ll be sharing the 9th installment of our Core Vales series – ‘Spirit of Excellence’. Let’s fill our building with white-hot worshipers ready to make a difference for His glory. Now that’s excellent!

In the Fight,

Steve

Friday, May 18, 2007

Pastor's Perspective - A Whale of a Problem

Dear FCC Family & Friends.

“Okay, three of you.”

For those of you who have never heard me preach, that is one of my signature lines – or ‘Steve-isms’. I usually say it when I ask the audience a question and the response is a bit lethargic. It also applies to the number of people in our area and across the nation currently unaware that two whales are lost in the Sacramento River nearby.

For the three of you who’ve been hunkered-down in a Himalayan snow cave this week, two humpbacks whales swam into San Francisco Bay and eventually wound up over 70 miles away in the Port of Sacramento, far from their Pacific home. Despite aggressive efforts by marine biologists, the tiring whales are not currently responding.

Although I love whales and all of God’s marvelous creatures; and am saddened that a mother humpback and calf are lost; I’m equally sad that people are more concerned about two whales in need of a GPS than the bigger more important picture.

Did you know that while live TV programming was interrupted, as live cameras looked for flukes and blowholes, live babies were aborted in Fairfield – just over by the mall? Did you know that as CNN positioned a chopper over Sacramento waterways for a ‘breaking news’ exclusive, down the road in Solano County new police bookings of juveniles are up 44%? While people trek down to the river with binoculars in hand hoping to see a dorsal fin, the country is dividing over a war, gas prices are skyrocketing, terrorists already within our borders are plotting, and most people can’t afford base-level healthcare for their families. Instead of talking about really important things, our watercooler discussions revolve around earth-moving topics like whether or not Paris Hilton’s jail sentence is too harsh.

Friends, what’s more important?
Confused whales, or confused values?
Tired whales, or tired awareness and alertness?
Lost whales, or lost souls?

Okay, three of you.

This Sunday I will be sharing Part 8 of our current Core Vales Series – ‘Family’. Hope you’ll bring your family for an inspiring morning at FCC!

In the Fight,

Steve

Friday, May 11, 2007

Pastor's Perspective - It's Never Too Late

Dear FCC Family & Treasured Friends,

Tomorrow in Hays, Kansas, Nola Ochs will be receiving her bachelor’s degree in history from Fort Hays State University. She began her college studies through correspondence to keep herself busy. Later she moved into student housing on campus. Joyfully she will complete her degree with a 3.7 GPA. That’s not too shabby for a woman who began her formal education when Herbert Hoover was president! Nola Orchs raised 4 sons, has 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. By the way, tomorrow she will officially become the oldest person ever to receive a bachelor’s degree – at the young age of 95!

Crooner Tony Bennett did a surprise show at a retirement home back in the 80’s. After finishing his first song, his audience still looked quite bewildered. Bennett asked, “Don’t you all know who I am?” An old lady in the front responded, “No, but if you go up to the front desk they can tell you.”

Sadly, our society connects our “golden years” with that story and not so much with Nola Ochs! Yet, we find from Scripture that God has used, and desires to use each of us mightily for His glory in our latter years.

Let me remind you that Noah was 600 when he took his first cruise. Abram (Abraham) was a punk kid of 75 when he obeyed God to follow a promise. Moses was a spry 80 when the Lord gave him a divine assignment. And Caleb entered the promised land when he was a pimply-faced 80-year-old!

Our Creative Arts Director, Jeramy Sossaman, recently released a must-purchase CD entitled ‘It’s Never Too Late’. The Holy Spirit challenged him, inspired him and reminded him that with God it’s not over till it’s over! It’s never too late to chase your dreams and to take those first steps toward your unique place in God’s will and story.

Senior saints, hear my heart. We love you and need you. Sometimes, sadly, we fail to remind you of how important you really are – in our families and in our churches. Your life stories, life lessons, wisdom and encouragement are absolutely vital to younger generations. You still count. You still matter. Your lives are priceless and irreplaceable to us. Although you may have retired years ago, I challenge you to show us that Christian service is something you never get a gold watch from. Please let us learn from you. Though it seems like we’re not watching and listening, we are. Despite your aches and pains, take your rightful place in the family of God. Serve the Lord, and remind us with your lives that it’s never ever too late!

Thanks for the reminder Nola.

This Sunday I will be sharing a Mother’s Day message entitled ‘Endangered & Essential’. Bring your Mom to FCC for an inspiring encounter with the living Lord!

In the Fight,

Steve

Friday, May 4, 2007

Pastor's Perspective - Emergency Water

Dear FCC Family & Friends,

This week on FOXNews.com I read about the needless tragic death of Dave Buschow, 29, of New Jersey. Buschow died of thirst on a wilderness-survival exercise in the Utah desert. After hiking 10 hours in 100-degree heat without a drink, he began hallucinating so severely that he mistook a tree for a person. He finally dropped dead less than 100 yards from his goal – a cave with a cool pool of water. To add proverbial insult to injury, his guides observed the whole ordeal, yet refused to intervene and offer Buschow emergency water they were carrying! The hiker wasn’t told that there was life-saving water available, and his guides didn’t offer – not wanting him to fail the course he bought for $3,175.

Believers, before we wag our heads too vigorously at this news story, let’s really think about it. This is more than a current events blurb, it’s a parable if we’ll listen.

Thousands of people around us every day are stumbling through life’s desert – a harsh and unforgiving place. Each believes that if by their goodness and natural abilities they persevere, they will find ultimate satisfaction in the end. They know just enough to keep going, but not enough to acquire true hope. So, they push on, day after day - toiling. They hallucinate as they seek to survive, seeing good as bad and bas as good. Fatigued and falling, they eventually succumb – as their guides, the ones holding life’s remedy and hope, stand nearby and rationalize – “They asked for it.”

Jesus said, “If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within” (John 7:38, NLT). Friends, Jesus Christ is the exclusive answer to a stumbling, lost and dying world! He alone is the “emergency water” the world is parched for! And guess who He left in charge to be His desert rescuers and guides?

If you can say three short words, “Come and see” – you qualify!

This Sunday I’ll be sharing an abbreviated message preceding INVOLVE 5:6 – ‘We’re Saved to Serve’ (Core Value #7). Hope to see you there!

In the Fight,

Steve Kiefer
www.1stchristianchurch.org