Wednesday, November 29, 2017

A Journey of Hope This Christmas


Sunday we celebrated the first Sunday of Advent. The word advent is a version of a Latin term which means “coming.” We use these weeks leading up to Christmas as a chance to look forward to our celebration of the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, the light of the world, our Savior. Our first week focused specifically on the gift of hope that we find in Jesus, especially during dark seasons of life. 

Hebrews 6:19 says, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” I love the imagery of an anchor. An anchor does not remove us from the storm or moving water; it secures us in the midst of it.

Everyone relates to the need for hope. Sometimes life overwhelms us. Financial stresses, relational dysfunctions, memories of loss, broken hearts, sickness, etc. We’ve all been there at some time or another. If you find yourself in a season of hopelessness, let me encourage you with three thoughts: acknowledging the darkness around us, embracing the wait, and committing to the journey.

Acknowledge the Darkness

It does no good to say there is no darkness. We have to acknowledge where we are. 

Before Easter of this year, I knew something was wrong with my body, so I went to the doctor, who told me I was simply getting older and should expect some of the symptoms I was describing. Two weeks later I went back and insisted something was not right. After some persistence, he ordered an x-ray and an ultrasound, and found I had a tumor in my bladder and it needed to be removed. I could have said, “There’s nothing wrong…” “I am not sick…” “I am a child of God…” and denied the symptoms. I could have done that all the way up to stage four cancer.

We have to acknowledge we in a dark place before we can completely turn to God. Sick people seek out doctors because they admit they are sick. Weak people seek assistance because they recognize their weakness. Sinners repent because they come to the conclusion that they are sinners and are separated from God. Facing the darkness and calling it what it is allows us to see true light. It’s when we acknowledge the darkness that we can see the star that leads us on the journey.

Embrace the Wait

No one likes waiting. We live in a culture that does everything possible to reduce the amount of time we spend waiting! Waiting is uncomfortable. Waiting is lonely. Waiting takes longer than you think or desire, but waiting is also a time of self-discovery – your weaknesses and your strengths and your need for God. Waiting is also a time of God-discovery - we discover we can trust him, and we can hear his voice.

Furthermore, waiting shapes our character and teaches us more than we will every learn from getting what we want instantly. Do you know how you learn the meaning of endurance? You have to endure. Endurance changes you.

Advent is a time of waiting. While it feels unnatural, there is great benefit in embracing this season. The waiting reminds us of where our hope is set. It allows us the time and focus to hear the voice of God, the promise that our hope will be fulfilled. Waiting deepens our faith in God and creates a deeper hunger for Him.

Commit to the Journey

My natural images of waiting involves sitting around; one involves moving. But the concept of waiting throughout the Bible is one of active waiting. We wait with expectant hearts, but we are constantly moving forward on our journey.

Priest, professor, writer, and theologian, Henri J. M. Nouwen described the waiting we see in Scripture as very active. In Waiting for God, he wrote, “Active waiting means to be present fully to the moment, in the conviction that something is happening where you are and that you want to be present to it.” As the psalmist encouraged: “Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord” (Psalm 31:24).

When I am waiting for light to shine through my darkness, I have a few key passages of scripture I run to.

Psalms 121:1–4, “I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

Lamentations 3:19–26, “I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.”

Isaiah 40:28–31 "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

These passages are filled with hope and life. They remind us that we are not alone in our darkness.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit!” (Romans 15:13)


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To watch Sunday's message online, click: MESSAGE

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

#GivingTuesday



It’s “Giving Tuesday,” a day when families, companies, and organizations come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give to others in need.

“Coincidentally”, my scripture reading this morning was from Exodus 35:4-29, where God asked Moses to receive an offering from the people for the tabernacle. The emphasis in the passage are the words, “everyone who is willing.” This was not a forced offering, but an offering that expressed gratitude and generosity.

This year, please consider making Centerpointe Church one of the recipients of your generosity, so that we can move forward with our mission of passionately following Jesus, inviting everyone we know to join us. Through Centerpointe Church you are supporting community benevolence, homeless outreach, and extensive international giving.

Every gift makes a difference in the furtherance of the Kingdom of God around the world. Whatever you decide to give, I know that God will honor and multiply it.

Giving is simple: Just click on the link below:

Thank you for being one of the "willing."

Richest Blessings,
Pastor Keith

Be the Husband You Want Your Daughter to Marry

"Be the husband you want your daughter to marry." It's the best piece of advice I could give in the moment. In a recent meeting with a father of one son and about to be the father of a daughter, I was asked to give one piece of advice, since I have had the privilege to raise four girls.

In light of the recent sexual harassment cases, I am convinced my advice was right on target.

We have to model what it means to be a man and woman of God. When it comes to our kids, we overestimate what we say and underestimate how we live. We need to give our kids a picture of what it looks like to express love to their future spouse.

Included in this, but not limited to it, are public displays of affection. Our children need to know what it means to touch appropriately. They also need to know what is safe and what is off-bounds.

Almost every day, since the news of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassments, someone else is being revealed as a sexual offender. What is as much as concern to me is the girls who are allowing themselves to be in a situation and not knowing how to get out of it or talk about it. They were put in situations where someone in authority abused their power and manipulated the situation for their own sick pleasure.

As a father of four daughters, it breaks my heart every time I hear these things happening, and it is becoming more and more common for abusive situations to happen earlier and earlier in life.

We need to teach our kids that, no matter what the promotion or job security, it is wrong to be harassed in the workplace and it takes courage to get out of the situation and speak up.






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Friday, November 03, 2017

Confession vs Appeasement

Do not confuse confession with appeasement—confession does not mean we’re off the hook. Confession does not make things easier for us. Confession does not make God look the other way about our sin. Confession does not absolve us of our responsibility. Confession prepares us for conversation with God and acceptance of his forgiveness, his terms, his sovereignty.

- Liberating the Leader's Prayer Life, Terry C Muck