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Church family,

The other day, I received my copy of Alliance Life magazine. For those who might be unfamiliar with this publication, it is the magazine of the Christian & Missionary Alliance. (By the way, it is available for FREE to anyone who requests it.)  I want to encourage to sign up for it – to receive it in your home!

The current edition features an article by Terri Althaus. Terri and her husband Todd, serve as International Workers for the C&MA in France. Terri is also the daughter of PAC’s own, Ferrall and Gail Frazier! Terri has written an article about how God has and is working in and through the ministry there in Bordeaux. 

This year we have decided to participate in the C&MA’s Great Commission Day offering. During the month of June, I will be preaching messages on the call of the great commission. On Sunday, June 10 we will receive that special GCF offering

What I want each of us to consider is joining the mission of the C&MA and support the Great Commission Fund! Many of you do participate, so this really doesn’t affect you. What I would ask is that if you are not currently contributing to the GCF, that you would consider giving in the June 10th special offering. There will be special offering envelopes at the church for you to use to participate. They will be available beginning May 20. Prayerfully consider joining the effort to support the mission of the C&MA!

There is also an excellent article by Sunder Krishnan entitled The Spirit-Empowered Life or How to Live a Life Pleasing to God. After preaching on the Person and ministry of the Holy Spirit earlier this year, it is a great reminder of what our walk with Jesus should and can look like. I personally found it a timely reminder. Sunder is also one of the keynote speakers at the Seek Conference that will be held June 8, 9 at Westgate Chapel. To attend, you can register at the Seek website.

Walking with you,

Pastor Brian

Church family,

What a beautiful week! I trust you have had the chance to enjoy these amazing spring days!

I was outside with a friend the other day and I remarked, “What a day to worship God!”

I must admit, we were on a golf course. I can assure you we were not worshiping our golf game, but the God who created the beauty of the earth! The flowering trees, the deep green grass, and the warm air. The birds flying and singing, the leaves on the trees getting ready to burst! What an amazingly creative God we have! Psalm 19 came to mind as we worshiped our Creator God:

Psalm 19:1-6 (ESV) The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

In recent years, the music of the church has been often referred to as simply, ‘worship’. You know, we’ve often heard, “The worship was great. I loved the worship.” or “The worship wasn’t my favorite this morning.” These expressions often ‘hint’ of a person who worships their preference or is worshiping the music.

Let me remind each of us that worship is an everyday, every moment posture. We are always worshiping something. As a child of God, our life should grow in the worship of God. That growth comes from our deepening understanding of who He is.

As we go through each day, may our worship of God grow and deepen as we learn and become more aware of His greatness! May your yard work, grocery shopping, interaction with others, and ALL that you do be with an attitude and awareness of the awesome God we serve!

Walking with you,

Pastor Brian

Proverbs 1:7 (ESV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 Daniel Akin in his book, Exalting Jesus in Proverbs, offers this definition of true wisdom:

• Wisdom is being corrected and disciplined.
• Wisdom understands and reads situations.
• Wisdom is godly morality.
• Wisdom is justice.
• Wisdom is discretion and discernment of right and wrong, stupid and smart, what path to take and which one to avoid.
• Wisdom is listening to instruction and receiving guidance.

At the foundation of true wisdom is the fear or respect of God. This tells us that true wisdom is not found in man or oneself. As we go from day to day and face a variety of decisions, one who truly ‘fears the Lord’ considers the Lord in all they do.

In the times in which we live, we see culture ‘okaying’ many values that differ from what God values. The obvious ones include the sanctity of life, sacredness of marriage, character, and a clear moral standard given by God in His Word. If we desire to make wise decisions, then what God says about the way we live should be valued more than what the world says.

Example: when the world is ‘ok’ with a couple living together before they are married, it is ignoring the greater wisdom of God. When the world says it is ‘ok’ to define our identity by how we feel or by our preference, we are ignoring the wonderful purpose and identity we can have in Christ!

As children of God, we are often faced with decisions that are potentially divisive. What is sad though is too many times we chose what the world says in fear of the response or rejection. In those times we are valuing the ways of the world more than the wisdom of God and His Word.

God’s Word (source of truth and wisdom) expresses how He feels about money, values, morals, life, identity, etc.

Let me encourage you to seek the Lord. Spend time in His Word. Learn who He is and the wisdom and life He offers. Walk in the truth, because He is the truth. You will find your life will be much better off lived in His sure wise counsel than in the ever-changing, uncertain ways of the world.

Walking with you,

Pastor Brian

Church family,

I was reading through Psalm 23 yesterday and thought I’d pass on some insights I received.

Psalm 23:1-6 (NLT)
¹ The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
² He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
³ He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
⁴ Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
⁵ You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
⁶ Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

We perhaps have read or heard this Psalm a hundred or more times. It is a comforting Psalm to many of us. What the Lord showed me yesterday was not just how David’s writing conveys a personal relationship with God, but also recognition that God is the source of all his provision. (I highlighted the words “he”, “you”, and “your” through the Psalm to show that more clearly.)

All through the Psalm David is conveying complete dependence on the Lord. He is conveying that the Lord is the reason for His needs being met, His protection, His comfort, and His guidance. David is saying, ‘My faith is in the Lord. In and of myself I cannot, nor can anything else, sustain me.’

Reflect: am I living in the same light? Do I live each day in dependence upon the Lord? Have I come to recognize He alone is my source of provision for all I need?

In HIS hands,

Pastor Brian

Church family,

A.W. Tozer begins his classic book, The Pursuit of God…

Before a sinful man can think a right thought of God, there must have been a work of enlightenment done within him; it may be imperfect, but it is a true work nonetheless, and is the secret cause of all desiring and seeking and praying which may follow. 

We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit. No one can come to me, said our Lord, unless the Father who has sent me draws him, and it is by this very prevenient drawing that God takes from us every vestige of credit for the act of coming. The impulse to pursue God originates with God, but the outworking of that impulse is our following hard after Him; and all the time we are pursuing Him we are already in His hand: Thy right hand has upheld me.

The psalmist in Psalm 91 writes…

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. Psalm 91:1-2 (NLT) 

In Tozer’s writing we are reminded that only those who have been enlightened by God can truly know Him. In Psalm 91, we see a picture of someone who knows God. Not just information about Him but has relationship with Him.

Where are you in your knowledge of God? Is your relationship with Him information driven or more than that? Do you pursue and trust Him? Do you have a relationship with Him that gives you a calm, confidence – assurance? If you have trusted Christ as your Savior, you can know God because His Spirit lives within you.

Take some time this week to read Psalm 91. Note the psalmist’s calm, confident assurance in God.

Over the next few weeks, we are going to look at the person of God in our worship services. In the times in which we live, I feel it’s important to talk about who He is and how we can trust and rest in Him. After all, our belief about God is foundational to our relationship with Him.

Pastor Brian

Church family,

We are days away from the day that has been set aside to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. People all around the world will find their way to a church this Sunday. Each will have a reason for being there. 

          “It’s Easter!”  

          “The family is getting together after church for lunch.”

          “Mom really wants us there.”

          “It’s that time of year to go to church!”

For many of us who know Christ as Savior, we will come to celebrate the central event in human history – the resurrection of Jesus! After all, Jesus conquered death!

Teacher and author Jared C. Wilson writes these comments about celebrating Easter, the resurrection of Jesus:

“Who wouldn’t want to celebrate that? This is why I find it odd every year to see many Christian churches making a huge deal at Easter  time about everything but the resurrection. Many churches give away door prizes, gifts of cash, and electronic consumer goods. Some  mega-churches even give away cars! They know that Easter has great potential for church visitation, so any extra incentive they can think of to get people in the door seems worth it. But all I can ever think about this “cash and prizes” religious bait game is how unamazing it makes the resurrection seem. I mean, our leader came back from the dead.”

You’d think celebrating a resurrection would be enough to get folks to church.

How central is the resurrection to Christianity? Consider Paul’s words to the church in Corinth:

1 Corinthians 15:13-14 (NLT) For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 

What is Paul saying? There is no Christianity without the resurrection! Let that sink in…  People that go to church for other reasons are missing the point. People that do not believe in the resurrection, yet call themselves Christians, are not Christian. Christianity hinges on the resurrection of Jesus!

My longing for each of you is this: that you will live in the reality of the resurrection.

That you will grasp the depths of what it means. That your life will be lived in the love and hope found in a risen Savior!

Walking with you,

Pastor Brian

Church family,

Welcome to Spring! I was hoping for a warmer start to the new season! Oh well. I will say that we are blessed to live here in NWO. Carmela and I enjoy the pace of life and the setting here – and the change of seasons (whenever they come!)

Last week we had the chance to spend a few days in Florida. Yes, we lived there for almost 6 years, but after being there last week we are grateful for being here – now – at this stage of life. We spent time with family, which was nice since we live a ways from most of them.

During our years of ministry, there have only been a short few years that we even lived within a couple hours of family. Most of our time has been spent away. At times it can be difficult to be away. But we know that our lives are in God’s hands. We know that we can be in no better place than where He has called us to be.

I am reminded that as children of God, our lives are not our own. We have been bought with a price. We are His. We were meant to live as He intended. I am thankful that no matter where He has us, He is faithful. We don’t have to worry. We can trust and rest in Him.

1 Thessalonians 5:24a (ESV) He who calls you is faithful… 

Praise God for who He is!

Here at home, we recently heard news of a local medical provider making an agreement with a local abortion provider. Currently, there is a petition against this move and if you are interested in signing the petition, see the link provided below.

www.petition.life

Walking with you,

Pastor Brian

Church family,

I would imagine that as Christians, we believe in prayer. We believe that it is something “good Christians do”. I am not sure of your background in this area, but I can say that in my upbringing, prayer was a part of my life. We prayed before meals, before bed, at the beginning of the day.

When I was a young child, most of my times in prayer involved my parents. They didn’t just assume I would learn. They taught me to pray by, well, praying. Even in their flawed humanity, they made the effort to pray with me and in my presence.

Why? My dad and mom believed that prayer was communing with God. It was not just an expression of needs, but it seemed to always include recognition of the greatness of God.

In his book, Transforming Prayer, Daniel Henderson reminds us of what should be our motivation to pray:

“In heaven, we will not confess, intercede, or engage in spiritual warfare. We will declare forever, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12). It is good to get in practice for this forever expression while we are still here on earth. So we pray because God is worthy. But there is a second side to the motivational coin: I am needy. As I said earlier, prayerlessness is our declaration of independence from God. The heart of real prayer is, “Lord, I need you. I cannot do it on my own. I must seek you today.” These two motivational elements are seen in Psalm 40:16–17: “Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; let such as love Your salvation say continually, ‘The Lord be magnified!’ But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinks upon me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.” ”

 So why do you pray? Do you pray? Do you just come with your list of troubles and wants? Or do you approach God in prayer as the Almighty God, who is worthy of your praise?

Remember these two elements, God is worthy, and I am needy as you commune with God in prayer. Your Heavenly Father wants to hear more from you than just a “list of troubles and wants”. He wants your worship as well.

Walking with you,

Pastor Brian

Church family,

Matthew 21:13 (ESV) He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” 

This verse in Matthew came to my mind this morning. The focus is the part, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’. In the context, Jesus came into the temple and was angered by what He found. The place that was supposed to be for the worship and praise of Israel’s God, had become a ‘den of robbers.’ The place intended to be about the glory of God, had become a place about the glory of man.

As I am reflecting, I am also thinking of our modern places of worship where the body of Christ gathers. What is the focus? Is it clear that God is the one we are worshiping? Is what we are doing more about His glory and fame, or more about our preference and comfort?

I realize that the ‘house of God’ is no longer a building. Since Pentecost, those who have trusted Christ as Savior have become the house of God (1 Corinthians 6:19). But the focus of the body of Christ should reflect the same things. What should be the ‘main things’ in the House of God? Let me suggest prayer, helping/ministering to others, dependence of the Holy Spirit, and praise as a starting point for the focus in God’s house. Notice that this list is about His praise and glory, not ours.

May our lives as God’s children and our gatherings be a reflection of His praise & glory!

Walking with you,

Pastor Brian

Church family,

Better Together was the title of my first sermon series in 2018. During the year, I want us to approach our times together with that in mind. Whether we are having coffee or lunch with another member of the body of Christ, worshiping on Sunday morning, or learning in a discipleship group – we need each other!

In the next weeks and months, we will continue to have ministry opportunities for you to “be together”. Besides our weekly worship service and discipleship hour, we are starting March with a special simulcast with Paul Tripp on marriage, What Did You Expect? Don’t miss this! We will meet Friday evening, March 2 from 6:00 – 8:30 pm. Then the second part will be Saturday morning, March 3 from 9:00 – 12 noon. There will be free childcare (sign up here or contact the office ASAP) refreshments, and giveaways throughout the time together. This is a perfect time to invite a friend! Maybe you cannot come to all of the simulcast. Join us for what you can!

In mid-March, the ladies will be starting another 6-week Bible Study. It will begin Wednesday, March 21 and run through April 25. A sign-up sheet will be on the bulletin board by March 4.

March 30 is Good Friday. We will have a Good Friday service here at PAC that evening at 7:00 pm. Join us around the communion table as we remember the sacrifice of Jesus for our salvation.

April 1 is Easter – really! That morning we will have brunch at 9:15 in the gym. A great time to fellowship with the body of Christ!

Sunday, April 22 at 6:00 pm we will have a Great Date Night with Mark Cable. Remember Mark was with us in concert in January 2017. We enjoyed a great time with Mark in his ministry to us. This time he will be with us as part of an evening together – music, ministry, food, and fun! Don’t miss this great time to be together! Cost will be $12.50 per person; $25 per couple.

Finally, I would like to incorporate some time into the worship service for people to share something God has been doing in their life. Feel free to connect with me as those time happen in your life. I want it to be a piece of building community and giving praise to God!

I trust you will make these times a priority. Times to build connection with each other and to encourage each other in the faith.

Walking with you,

Pastor Brian