Twilight

April 12, 2012 at 1:21 am (Uncategorized)

What happens when you mingle light and darkness?  I’ll tell you what happens, you get twilight.  It is the combination of one taking over the other.

Everyday this happens twice in our world, once when light takes over darkness there is a brief twilight called dawn.  It happens a second time when darkness overtakes light, and that is called dusk.  It one sense, we are seeing each day the epic struggle of light and darkness, good and evil played out before us.

It is no wonder to me that one of the most popular series today is called “Twilight”.  It is all about vampires with good intentions, the mingling of light and darkness.  Go figure.

God’s Word, the Bible has a different take on mixing light and darkness.  We can’t do it.  We either walk in the light, or we walk in darkness.  There is no twilight.  Read this.

 ⁵This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. ⁶If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. ⁷But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  I John 1:5-7

As you can see from the scripture above, we have two choices: Walk in darkness or walk in the light.

The following is a conversation is with one of Creekside Church’s elders, Don Andrews.  Read this for more insight.

“Often, before we move into full darkness (sin), we dwell or linger in the twilight. That’s where the enemy tricks us.  Twilight is a time when the sun has gone down for us but we’re unaware because darkness has not yet fully fallen.

When the darkness falls we won’t be able to see our hand in front of our face but when we’re still in the twilight things be seen, but not clearly. If we try to walk in the darkness we run the risk of falling into a ditch, but we’re unaware of our situation because where lingering in the twilight.

This happens spiritually because we’ve stopped praying, feeding on God’s Word, stopped fellowshipping with others, etc.  Things seem great spiritually so we put those things off and it doesn’t register that we’re walking in the twilight.

There are many walking twilight unaware that a ditch has been dug for them to fall into. Jesus is calling us to maturity, to walk in the light as He is in the light.  That is the walk that leads to strength, maturity and a foundation for great growth.”

So let’s walk in the light.  Less stumbling.  Way less collateral damage.  Lots more peace. A better life all around.

PS.  If you have an idea for a blog post you would like to co-author with me.  Send it to my email at: dross@thecreeksidechurch.org and I’ll consider it.

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Hungry Children & Gloria’s Story

April 4, 2012 at 7:23 am (Uncategorized)

Hi, I’m Gloria Elizabeth Sherer and I’m part of Creekside Church where I serve in the café.  I also work at Rudy’s Barbershop in Bellevue. My daily earnings fluctuate based on clientele.

 

At a March Sunday Service Pastor Don introduced One Day to Feed the World said pick a day to work to feed the world I thought, “How perfect to do it on my birthday! Working for free to help those who have little.”

 

I talked about One Day to my clients leading up to April 2nd, my birthday, so they donated ahead of time to participate.  

 

When April 2 came, it was a really beautiful day, 65 and sunny, our bay doors to the shop were all open with the sun shinning through and the clients were in amazing moods too!

 

So I opened the conversation by explaining to them… “Today I am participating in One Day to Feed the World, an organization that feeds starving children. 100% of my commission and tips will be donated! So thank you, for helping me reach my goal and getting your hair cut today!!”

 

I explained about how each Manna Pack of food has six meals, and every dollar I raise is matched in impact at a ratio of 1:7 through the Convoy of Hope foundation.  That means if I raise $200 on my birthday, it has an impact of $1400, which means 8,400 meals.  Wow!

 

Hearing such a large number of those in need really enlightened my clients, and many of them handed me a 10 or 20 dollar bill and said, “this is for your foundation, I really appreciate you doing this an letting me help!”

 

It really made my clients and me feel wonderful. Unlike an hourly job, my money comes directly to me from individuals.  Each of my clients made a contribution to the cause and it really felt great!

 

Also, I have trouble with my birthday, I always felt down. So this year I was really lifted! I found myself thanking the Lord each time a client got excited about it and donated! It was really moving!

 

This is the first time I have ever done something like this, and to do it on my birthday, working for free really made me feel like I was making a slight difference.

 

I am so blessed in this Amazing life the Lord has provided, it’s the least I can do to help others!! I am looking forward to more opportunities to participate in! Thank you, Pastor Don for offering this to us!

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Rick Warren and Chrislam

March 6, 2012 at 6:55 am (Uncategorized)

Rick Warren on Muslims, Evangelism, and Missions

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Jesus and Homosexuality

February 11, 2012 at 8:36 am (Uncategorized)

The following information was written by the Village Church and Pastor Matt Chandler.  I found it very helpful and I’m reposting it for your consideration as a part of our series on Romans.  It is compassionate, truthful and scholarly. I hope you find it helpful too.                                             Don

 

A booklet on homosexuality asks the question, “What did 

Jesus teach about homosexuality?” When you open it, you 

discover nothing but a blank page. The intended point of the 

pamphlet is clear—Jesus said nothing about homosexuality 

and therefore neither should those who profess to follow 

Him since we walk as He walked (1 John 2:6). 

Was Jesus truly silent on the subject? If He was does this 

mean that we as His followers should be silent as well? 

What then are we to do with the passages which teach on 

the issue? Are the sounds of other Scriptures muffled by the 

Savior’s silence? 

My contention in this paper is two-fold. First, that a proper 

understanding of both the Son of God and of Scripture should 

lead us to conclude that it ultimately would not matter if 

Jesus ever explicitly taught on homosexuality. Second, that 

though we have no record of Him using the specific words 

“homosexual” or “homosexuality,” it is dishonest at best to 

say that He did not teach on the subject itself. 

It Would Not Matter 

Context: 

Jesus Christ was born into a particular time and place. He 

lived His earthly life within the context of 1st century Israel 

and never traveled much further. His audience consisted 

almost entirely of Israelites, though He did pass through 

and teach in Samaritan and Gentile regions. By and large, 

His message was to a Jewish audience well-versed in the 

Hebrew Scriptures of His day. 

The Mosaic Law was not neutral on the issue of homosexuality. 

Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 were clearly expressive of the 

moral will of God’s law within the context of proper sexual 

expression. Unlike the ritual purity laws (not mixing cloths, 

prohibition against having sex during menstruation, etc.), 

laws against homosexuality were relegated to the first-tier 

of trespass.1 Though the larger world of the Roman and 

Greek cultures would have had more ambiguity in regards 

to the impropriety of homosexuality, Judaism was staunchly 

united. Any Jew would have known the prohibitions. There 

1. Theologians have pointed to a number of significant 

differences making Mosaic purity laws poor analogies for 

laws dealing with sexual impurity. Among these are the 

severity of the penalty, the absoluteness of the prohibitions, 

the distinctions between moral and ritual purity, and use in 

the New Testament. 

was no vagueness, no uncertainty, no subtle hints in the text 

of the propriety of homosexuality. 

What is the point of knowing the context in which Jesus 

taught? Simply put, we should not expect Him to spend 

much time teaching on that which was never questioned 

within that culture and was already clearly articulated 

within the authoritative Word of God. How many times have 

you heard a preacher in our contemporary culture give an 

impassioned discourse discouraging incest? Does the fact 

that such speeches rarely happen therefore communicate that 

incest is acceptable to that particular pastor? Jesus Himself 

never spoke about incest, or rape, or bestiality that we know 

of. Should we therefore conclude that He was ambivalent 

toward or even approving of these sexual expressions as 

well? 

The Nature of Scripture: 

Thinking about a pamphlet such as the one mentioned 

above, we should quickly consider what it implies about the 

nature of Scripture. As believers, we are to be committed to 

the authority of the entirety of Scripture, not just those texts 

which are printed in red ink. “All Scripture is inspired by 

God and profitable” (2 Timothy 3:16). Although we certainly 

elevate the person and work of Christ over the person and 

work of Paul, we must not elevate the gospels over the 

epistles as truer, more inspired, or more authoritative. Such 

appeals to Christ’s teaching at the expense of Paul’s, while 

disguised as respect for Jesus, are actually rejections of 

the word which He constantly referenced, affirmed, and 

fulfilled. 

Rather than restricting ourselves to the question of what 

Jesus explicitly said regarding homosexuality during His 

three years of recorded public ministry, let us expand our 

understanding of the nature of revelation and ask what the 

triune God has said about it. If Scripture is the Word of God 

and if Jesus is fully God, then what the Scriptures say, Jesus 

says, even if not verbally during His earthly ministry. 

We find the greatest explicit New Testament evidence 

within the writings of the apostle Paul. Three passages are 

particularly helpful in this discussion: 

Romans 1:26-27: For this reason God gave them up to 

dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged 

natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 

27 

and the men likewise gave up natural relations 

with women and were consumed with passion for 

Jesus and Homosexuality 

© 2010 The Village Church

one another, men committing shameless acts with 

men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for 

their error. 

1 Corinthians 6:9-11: Or do you not know that the 

unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?  Do 

not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, 

nor adulterers, nor effeminate,2 nor homosexuals,3 

nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor 

revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of 

God.  Such were some of you; but you were washed, 

but you were sanctified, but you were justified in 

the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit 

of our God. 

1 Timothy 1:8-11: But we know that the Law is 

good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that 

law is not made for a righteous person, but for those 

who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and 

sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who 

kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, and 

immoral men and homosexuals4 and kidnappers and 

liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to 

sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of 

the blessed God, with which I have been trusted. 

There is little doubt that Paul rejected homosexuality as 

an appropriate expression of sexuality. Therefore, in order 

to justify homosexual behavior, attempt is often made to 

qualify the type of homosexuality which is condemned in 

the Scriptures. In particular, two qualifications are made to 

justify current homosexual behavior as being compatible 

with Christian faith and practice. 

Qualification 1: The homosexuality of Paul’s day was 

exploitive5 and thus Paul is not addressing the mutually 

reciprocated care6 of modern homosexual practice. 

Response: This objection has recently been 

almost completely dismissed in light of the weight 

2. malakos – derived from a word meaning soft, it is used 

as an indication of being passive in a same-sex relation- 

ship. 

3. arsenokoites – derived from arsen “male” and koites 

“lay” (from which we get the English word “coitus”), it 

is used broadly to indicate one who engages in same sex 

activity and specifically to the one who takes the active role 

in such a relationship. 

4. Malakos – see note 2 above 

5. Certain forms of sexuality rely upon one person’s ex- 

ploitation of another. Two of the more common forms in 

the sphere of homosexuality are the rape of a boy by an 

older male (pederasty) or that of a slave by his master. Both 

forms were common within the first century. 

6. Consensual caring relationship 

of evidence for mutually caring homosexual 

relationships in antiquity. There is no evidence to 

suggest that Paul was ignorant to the prevalence 

of such relationships within his own context. In 

addition, it is important to note that Romans 1 says 

that “the men likewise gave up natural relations 

with women and were consumed with passion 

for one another.” The desire was reciprocated 

and not merely exploitive. Though many forms 

of homosexuality in antiquity were oppressive, it 

is simply historically inaccurate to claim that the 

first century was ignorant of mutually reciprocated 

relationships similar to those observed in modernity. 

Qualification 2: The homosexuality that Paul rejected was 

homosexuality which was not based upon orientation. In 

other words, Paul did not reject homosexuality for those with 

a homosexual orientation, but rather rejected homosexuality 

for those who are heterosexual in nature. 

Response: Many have noted the degree of 

correspondence between Genesis 1 and Romans 

1 in regards to the corruption of God’s intended 

order. For example, notice the relationship between 

Genesis 1:26 and Romans 1:23 which both speak of 

birds, livestock, and creeping things. Both Moses 

and Paul then immediately enter into a discussion 

of sexuality. The point that Paul is making is that as 

idolatry is a reversal and perversion of the proper 

order of God’s creative order, so homosexuality 

is a corruption of God’s intended order for human 

sexuality. Humans were made to have dominion 

over animals, not worship them. Men were made to 

be united to women, not other men. 

Authentic natural desires do not excuse a sinful 

action. All actions flow from desires. Each of us is 

born with genuine innate impulses which infringe 

upon God’s will. If the reality of a desire is the 

basis of right and wrong, then sin has no meaning 

whatsoever. The gospel calls us continually not to 

look to and act upon our nature in Adam (that is 

the nature with which we are each born, one tainted 

with sin), but rather to be clothed with a new nature 

which is being renewed in the image of Christ 

(Ephesians 4:17-24; Colossians 3:1-11). Even if one 

were born with an orientation toward homosexual 

desire, such a proclivity would not evidence the 

legitimacy of that desire. Sin has radically affected 

every aspect of our lives and permeates all of our 

desires and affections and we are daily called to 

repent and trust Christ for strength.

He Actually Did 

As far as we know, Jesus never used any of the Hebrew, 

Aramaic or Greek words which are typically translated 

as homosexuality.7 Why not? Does such silence indicate 

acceptance or even approval? 

Arguments from silence are dangerous. One may not speak 

about something and might condone, condemn, or feel 

ambivalent about that thing. Silence itself certainly does 

not prove anything, and often does not even imply anything 

terribly convincing. Therefore, rather than building 

arguments upon silence, we would do well to consider what 

He actually said. 

Porneia: 

In order to perceive Jesus’ views on homosexuality in 

particular, we must understand the larger framework of His 

words on sexuality in general. Jesus was not silent on the 

issue of sexuality. He explicitly rejected all forms of sexual 

immorality by using the categorical term porneia. We see 

this specifically in Matthew 5:19 “For out of the heart come 

evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, 

false witness, slander. 20These are what defile a person. But 

to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone” (cross 

reference Mark 7:21). 

The phrase “sexual immorality” is the rendering of the 

English Standard Version (ESV) for the Greek porneia. 

What does the term mean? 

Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament: 

πορνεία, ας, ἡ (1) generally, of every kind 

of extramarital, unlawful, or unnatural 

sexual intercourse fornication, sexual 

immorality, prostitution (1C 5.1); (2) when 

distinguished from adultery (μοιχεία) in 

the same context extramarital intercourse, 

sexual immorality, fornication (MT 15.19); 

(3) as a synonym for μοιχεία (marital) 

unfaithfulness, adultery (MT 5.32); (4) 

metaphorically, as apostasy from God 

through idolatry (spiritual) immorality, 

unfaithfulness (RV 19.2) 

The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the New 

Testament: 

to commit fornication or any sexual sin. 

Fornication, lewdness, or any sexual sin. 

7. Jesus said and did much more than is recorded in the 

Scriptures (John 21:25) so it is possible that He did actually 

explicitly address the issue of homosexuality, but such a 

possibility is purely speculative. 

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic 

Domains: 

fornication, sexual immorality, sexual sin of 

a general kind, that includes many different 

behaviors (Mt 5:32; 15:19; 19:9; Mk 7:21; 

Jn 8:41; Ac 15:20; 1Co 6:18; 7:2; 2Co 

12:21; Gal 5:19; Eph 5:3; 1Th 4:3) 

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament 

Based on Semantic Domains 

 Fornication 

Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon 

translates as “fornication” 26 times. 1 

illicit sexual intercourse. 1a adultery, 

fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, 

intercourse with animals etc. 1b sexual 

intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18. 

1c sexual intercourse with a divorced man 

or woman; Mk. 10:11,12. 2 metaph. the 

worship of idols. 2a of the defilement of 

idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices 

offered to idols. 

Every major Greek lexicon includes “fornication”8 as at 

least an aspect of the meaning of “porneia.”9 This definition 

would certainly include such things as homosexuality, 

bestiality, adultery, et al. The first definition given above 

sums it up well as “every kind of extramarital, unlawful, 

unnatural sexual intercourse.”  

Therefore, for sexual activity to be acceptable and good 

from a biblical perspective, it must meet the following 

requirements (with overlap between categories): 

1. Be practiced within the context of marriage – 

excludes pre-marital sex and adultery 

2. Be practiced according to the law (overarching 

moral law) – excludes adultery, close kinship, 

etc.10 

8. This too should be defined.  According to Webster’s 11th 

Edition Collegiate Dictionary, “fornication” is “consensual 

sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each 

other.” 

9. While some would like to claim that porneia only 

includes non-consensual or non-committed acts of sexual 

deviance, such a restriction ignores 2000 years of Greek 

scholarship and thus is completely untenable.  In other 

words, even consensual sex within a committed (yet 

non-marital) relationship is explicitly condemned by the 

Scriptures. 

10. Care must here be applied as to what elements of the 

Mosaic Law should be seen as binding. It is helpful to be 

cautious particularly where there is no explicit New Testa- 

ment mention of a particular facet of a Mosaic restriction. 

3. Be practiced according to nature11 – excludes 

homosexuality, bestiality 

If porneia indeed includes homosexuality as nearly every 

major Greek reference work would require, then here is 

a sharp response to the claims of Christ’s silence on the 

matter. If He explicitly prohibited porneia, and if porneia 

includes homosexuality, then we have a strong statement 

by Jesus on the issue. Any sexual expression outside of the 

one flesh marital relationship between one man and one 

woman is prohibited by the Scriptures in general and Jesus 

in particular. 

Overall Sexual Ethic Commanded by Christ: 

In addition to Jesus’ prohibition of porneia, it is also 

imperative to look at what He taught about sexuality in 

general. What was the basis for the sexual ethic which Jesus 

prescribes? 

In Matthew 19, the Pharisees approach Jesus to test Him 

with a first-century dispute over the application of the law of 

divorce developed from Deuteronomy 24. How does Jesus 

answer this test? He does so by going back to and arguing 

from Genesis. 

Matthew 19:4-6: Have you not read that he who 

created them from the beginning made them male 

and female, 5and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave 

his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, 

and the two shall become one flesh’? 6So they are 

no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has 

joined together, let not man separate.” 

 

Jesus appeals to the text of Genesis 2 to articulate His 

teaching on the proper sexual ethic. In other words, Jesus 

explicitly declares the validity of one type of sexual 

relationship, one which is grounded in the one flesh 

relationship found in monogamous, heterosexual marriage. 

Therefore, we see yet again that although Jesus did not use 

For instance, interracial marriage, though forbidden in 

the Old, has movements in the text to suggest that such 

a prohibition is not binding. There is no New Testament 

movement toward acceptance of homosexuality. Rather, 

there is universal and unambiguous rejection throughout 

the epistles. 

11. The word “nature” must be interpreted within its 

context. In passages such as Ephesians 2:3, the term refers 

to the nature which we possess through association with 

Adam’s sin. The use of nature in the definition above car- 

ries the nuance of God’s created order. Anything contrary 

to the one man and one woman union expressed in the 

creation account would be considered “unnatural.” This use 

explains how Paul uses the term “unnatural” in Romans 

1:26-27. 

the words “homosexual” or “homosexuality” He certainly 

taught on the issue. 

For those who think that this is a weak argument, read 

through the gospels and notice the number of times that 

Jesus uses the words idol, idols, idolatry, or idolatrous. You 

will find zero references. Does this indicate that first-century 

Jews had somehow outgrown the fundamental fallen human 

condition and were no longer engaged in idolatry? Are we 

to deduce that Christ was unconcerned with idolatry or that 

it was somehow peripheral to His ministry? On the contrary, 

His entire ministry was predicated upon the idolatry of 

mankind. Though the gospels do not record Him using the 

word, they drip with the concept of idolatry. Failure to use a 

term does not indicate failure to teach on a topic. 

Conclusion 

To walk as Jesus walked does not mean that we only say what 

He explicitly said or do what He actually did, but rather that 

we follow Him in love for God and others. To claim a love 

for God while hating those whom He has created, betrays 

itself as an empty lie (1 John 4:20-21). Those who claim 

to honor God by their oppression or ridicule of those who 

struggle with homosexuality are called to repent and pursue 

love. At the same time, to claim to love God while neglecting 

His Word and condoning what He has condemned is just as 

sinful and calls for repentance as well. As John writes in 1 

John 2:5-6, walking as Jesus did is equated with keeping 

the Word of God. We must not love God in a manner that 

denies the call to love our fellow man, just as we must not 

love others in a way that excludes or restricts a love for God. 

Relying primarily upon shock value, arguments based upon 

a presumed silence of Christ on the matter of homosexuality 

are deceptive and misleading. Not only does such reasoning 

subjectively divide the Word of God into authoritative and 

non-authoritative sections, but it also rejects the rather 

precise portrait of sexuality which Jesus Himself paints 

within the red letters. 

As believers, we must wrestle deeply with what legitimizes 

sexual expressions, the reality of our wants or the revelation 

of God’s will. If our desire is ultimately authoritative, then 

sin no longer has any meaning whatsoever and each man 

becomes his own standard and judge. Though our eyes may 

burn as they are adjusted to the light of God’s Word, the 

result is that we might better see our fallen selves and the 

radiance of our exalted Savior. Scripture must be the lens 

through which we view all things and it must be the standard 

by which we measure them. 

There is always a danger of twisting the Scripture (2 

Peter 3:16), particularly where we fail to perceive our 

presuppositions and prejudices. The peril of bending 

the Word to fit ourselves and justify our behaviors and 

biases looms for us all, whether we do so by singling out 

homosexuality to the neglect of other sins or by disregarding 

the words which we have been given by God on this subject. 

Faithful biblical interpretation avoids both extremes. It 

preaches a holistic gospel from the entirety of the Scriptures 

with the horror of sin and the necessity of holiness neither 

minimizing nor minimized by the power of the cross and the 

grace and mercy of our loving God. In this message we see 

a Son sent to rescue and redeem us from ourselves and all of 

our lawless deeds and to awaken us to the satisfaction and 

joy that is found only in Him. 

Recommended Resources on Homosexuality in 

Particular: 

• For a biblically-informed and pastorally-sensitive 

response to homosexuality, see the various resources 

available from Desiring God: http://www.desiringgod. 

org/ResourceLibrary/TopicIndex/80/ 

• For a more thorough academic discussion of the biblical 

material, consider the work of Dr. Robert Gagnon, a 

leading scholar on New Testament sexual ethics. In 

particular, check out his book, “The Bible and Homosexual 

Practice” which is considered to be a definitive work on 

the subject, and his DVD lecture entitled, “Love, the 

Bible, and Homosexual Practice.” 

Recommended Resources on Sexuality in General: 

• “Sex and the Supremacy of Christ” – John Piper and 

Justin Taylor (editors 

• “At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry” – Steve Gallagher 

Relevant Ministries for Those Struggling with 

Homosexuality: 

• Living Hope Ministries –www.livehope.org 

• Exodus International –  

http://www.exodusinternational.org 

 

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The First Thanksgiving

November 24, 2011 at 7:18 am (Uncategorized)

During the fall of 1620 a desperate little band of English Pilgrims huddled together in an attempt to survive the coming winter.  They were in a strange land, in peril of natives and prepared with very little food.  Months before their little ship, called the Mayflower, had carried 102 souls across the Atlantic in hopes of a better life.  It was not to be had easily or quickly.

They had named their new home, Plymouth after the last town they visited in their native England.  The Christians there had been kind to the Pilgrims and they wanted to remember it fondly.

The winter of 1620 came hard and in December, six of their party died from the cold and malnutrition.  In January, eight more died.  The second Sunday in January, the nearly completed common house caught fire and the sick had to be moved outside into the weather.

In February they died sometimes at the rate of two a day, and three on some days.  Seventeen died that month in all and there were only five men well enough to care for the sick.  By the first of March forty-seven of the originals 102 were dead.  Thirteen of the 18 wives had died and only three families remained unbroken.  Somehow, through it all their hearts remained soft towards God.

Slowly the weather began to warm, and in March a strange event occurred.  A single native walked into their midst and asked for food and drink.  The Pilgrims complied and gave him a biscuit, butter, roast duck and drink.  His name was Samoset and he had learned English from a sea captain, who dropped him off near the settlement.

He told them that no tribe claimed the land they had landed on, and they were relieved to hear it.  The other English settlement of Jamestown had troublesome times with the Indians due to land disputes.  Samoset told them this land had belonged to the Patuxets, but they had all perished in a terrible plague that had wiped out the whole tribe.  So fearsome was the sickness that no tribe wanted to claim the land.  Samoset also introduced them to another native named Squanto, who had been captured by Captain George Weymouth, an English explorer.

Squanto had been taken to England where he learned English, so he could inform this captain about his land.  It was in England that he met Captain John Smith of Virginia, who returned him to his native land.

When Squanto arrived home six months before the pilgrims landed, he found his whole tribe wiped out.  There was nothing but skulls, bones and ruined dwellings.  He wandered in the woods until, after a long time, he met Samoset who took him in and told him about a small band of peaceful English families living where the Patuxet had.

Squanto had nothing to live for, but now seemed determined to help these English.  They were like little children in the forest.  He showed them how to fish and catch eels in the tideflats.  He taught them how to hunt and plant corn in the spring, using fish for fertilizer.

The summer of 1621 was beautiful.  New buildings were being built at Plymouth and trade with the natives increased, so Governor William Bradford declared a day of public Thanksgiving to be held in October.  They invited Massasoit, Samoset’s chief, and he came and brought 90 natives with him.

Such a crowd almost caused the Pilgrims to despair, since it would take most of their winter supplies to feed them.  The natives didn’t come empty handed, though.  They brought five deer, over a dozen wild turkeys and even showed the Pilgrims how to prepare corn in such a way that it popped fluffy and white.

When their spiritual leader, William Brewster, stood to pray a prayer of Thanksgiving over the celebration, it was a memorable moment.  They were not angry with God for their losses and despairing of their future.  They all knew this adventure would involve risk and loss.  Instead they thanked God for providing for all their needs, for taking their departed home to him, for friendship with the natives and for bringing them to such a place.  It was truly a time of genuine thanksgiving as they rejoiced together.  The declaration, written in the language of the Pilgrims, from their leader, William Bradford, Governor, is given below.

Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as He has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience; now I your magistrate do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and little ones, do gather at ye meeting house on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November 29th of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty-three, and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim rock, there to listen ye pastor, and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.

William Bradford                                                                                                                                                                                  Governor of Plymouth Colony 1623

And that’s how the first Thanksgiving celebration happened three hundred eighty eight years ago.  What are you thankful for today?

This brief article is based on the book The Light and the Glory, a history of America by Peter Marshall, p. 117 and following.

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Creekside’s Lent Dent

March 9, 2011 at 7:50 am (Uncategorized)

Hey Creekside,

This has been an awesome month since we started our new series, “The Wise Path” from the book of Proverbs.  As a part of this series, we’ve asked each of you to read through a chapter in Proverbs daily and also consider fasting something during Lent (March 9-April 23).

The goal of fasting is to draw you closer to Jesus during Lent, to step up to the next level spiritually and continue to grow.  As we do this together as a church, we increase out impact on the world for good.  We’re reading together, praying together and fasting together, which means we’re growing together as a church.

You can expect some spiritual resistance as you move into this new arena of spiritual growth, because you are taking a poke at the devil, you’re making a dent in his world.  Jesus will give you the strength to overcome.  Stand strong and make a solid dent.

As you begin your fast today, it should be something you feel like the Spirit is telling you to give up.  Don’t fast to loose weight or because someone else is doing it.  Fast as an act of obedience to Jesus and it will make a huge difference in your life.

Some of the things people at Creekside Church are fasting during Lent:

Fast Food, TV, smoking, coffee, TV & Internet News, Doing a “Daniel Fast” (eating fruits and vegetables only), Sudoku, Soda, Candy, Spending, Processed Sugars, Movies, Web Browsing, Dinner’s Out, Beer, Facebook, Video games, Meat, Dairy and a lot more.

What is Jesus asking you to give up to draw closer to him?  Join us starting today and be a part of Creekside’s Lent Dent.  This is going to be big!

 

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Why is Creekside Adding a 6:00 pm Service?

January 30, 2011 at 8:36 am (Uncategorized)

Creekside Church is launching a new Sunday service schedule February 20.  We will offer services at 9:00 am, 11:00 am and 6:00 pm.  I had a few questions on why we’re moving this direction, so let me give you some of our discussion from the leadership team.

Here are four reasons we launching a new service schedule.

1.  Choices.  Everyone likes choices and this service schedule increases out choices.  About 18 months ago we added a service and we all wondered if it would work.  It did.  Splendidly.  This allows someone who works Sunday morning, to still be a part of a service in the evening, and since it will be the same message content, they don’t miss out.

2. Capacity.  One of the best ways for a church to increase it’s capacity is to add another service.  We’re using the same chairs, roof, floor, etc and we increase our capacity with minimal expense.  Also, it is important to note that anytime a room is 70% full, we need to look for more options.  Creekside’s first service has been at 70% capacity about half the time and our second service has been over 70% capacity most of the time.  We’re ready to move forward.

3. Obedience.  This is the most important reason, obedience.  Everyone in the leadership community believes that Jesus is leading us this direction.  The bottom line is this boils down to simple obedience.  It is not without risk, but these kinds of decisions always have risk.

Getting out of the boat was risky for Peter.  Facing the giant was risky for David.  Moving to a new campus was risky for Creekside, but faith is the great equalizer.  There is a sense that God is leading and we will continue to move forward, regardless of the risk.  I think if you were to interview David and Peter, they would tell you it was worth the risk.

4. Mission.  The final reason to make this move is mission.  We have a mission from God to “Help people discover, trust and love Jesus” and if this new service schedule helps us accomplish our mission even a little better, then let’s do it!  If God love’s lost people so much he sent Jesus, then we can adjust our schedule a little to help reach them too.

So pray with us.  Join with us.  Let’s have a great launch Sunday, February 20 at all three services.

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Creekside Church Meet Nellie

December 8, 2010 at 12:04 pm (Uncategorized)

I leave Roatan in 24 hours for home, but yesterday may have been the most impacting day so far.  As you know, Creekside Church is doing a build here in Roatan in March of 2011.

We were originally scheduled to do a build for another woman, Edith, but since she doesn’t own the property, that will not be possible.  Fortunately, nothing was promised to her, so her disappointment is less than it would have been.

Yesterday, as I was riding with the missionary and local pastor that our church will partner with, I simply asked God to show us who He wanted us to build a new home for.  And He did.  Meet Nellie.

In the picture above is Nellie, aged 33, and her mother and daughter, three generations of garbage workers who sift through heaps of garbage everyday looking for two liter bottles which they sell for 10 cents a pound.  They make about $150 a month total.

The Pastor verified that Nellie does indeed own land.  It’s a lot that she started buying on a contract six years ago for $1300, now worth $5000.  Nellie’s last payment is due this month.  She then has to pay the title transfer fees of $300 and the land is hers.

Out of a monthly income, she paid 12% of her take home pay each month for this land, asking God to somehow continue to provide for her three children, mother and grandchild.  Her land is on a steep hill, but the lot is fairly level.

The plan this March is for Pastor Tim Norman to have his church remove the two old shacks Nellie and her family live in now and the build the structure on posts up to the decking.  Then a team from Creekside will come in a frame and roof the 20′ x20′ house for Nellie and her family.

So much goes into the planning of these house builds, and this one has been particularly challenging. Pastor Tim shared how Nellie, a member of his church, is a faithful servant of the Lord, always wiling to help.  As Nellie welcomed me into her house, and I met her other children, I saw how God was using us to help this family.

When we step out and build a home like this, it is like giving someone a 50% increase in income for the rest of their life.  50% is about what an average family in Roatan use for housing.  If they own their own home,  they can concentrate on other luxuries like food, clothing and education because basic shelter has been taken care of.  I am so grateful to be part of a church that is willing to step out and give back from the abundant resources God has given us.

We will be receiving both pledges and an offering to help Nellie, her family and the team going to build Roatan in March.  I hope you are praying about what God wants you to do.  This is the mission we are being asked to step up to.  The potential of helping the working poor in Roatan will have eternal benefits for sure.  I hope you’ll be a part of it with us.

 

 

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Complications in Roatan

December 7, 2010 at 6:28 am (Uncategorized)

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