Calvary family,

My pastor for thirty three years went home to heaven today.

At 4:52am I received a text from my good friend Don Stewart that read, “Pastor Chuck went home last night …” “Last night” meant at 3:20am this morning. Pastor Chuck was 86.

His youngest daughter Cheryl wrote, “My dad is now everything he wanted to be and where he always wanted to be!”

A few years ago Pastor Chuck brought our eldest son Greg on staff at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa. Greg called today and said that “Pastor Chuck never complained but trusted in the Sovereign hand of God on his life!” So true. As many of you know Pastor Chuck had been battling lung cancer. But he kept walking, trusting, teaching, serving and loving the Lord and others; and amidst it all, always exemplifying a cheerful expectation!

It has been a very emotional day for our family …

Going back to when I was 16 years of age, I would often fall asleep listening to Pastor Chuck’s Bible study tapes. When I was in High School, it was my dream to be on Pastor Chuck’s staff. Graciously he brought me on staff at the age of 20. I met Stephanie at Calvary Costa Mesa (Stephanie was Pastor Chuck’s secretary). He officiated our wedding and prayerfully dedicated our firstborn son Greg, our daughter Sarah, and more recently our firstborn grandson Greg Denham III.

Over the years he has graciously provided counsel and help.

Pastor Chuck is my spiritual father. He opened the door for me to grow in my calling. When I was twenty-two years old he took me to Israel. I’ll never forget walking Masada with him. It was just he and I. It was so great! He had a shepherd’s sling in hand and we were throwing stones off the cliffs of Masada to the Judaean sands below.

“Rarely does a man come along that impacts a generation” Greg Laurie writes, “but Chuck Smith was that man!”

What began in 1965, with a church of 25 people, grew into a church of thousands, and ultimately a movement that planted over 1,600 churches worldwide as part of the Calvary Chapel fellowship.

What Pastor Chuck Smith embodied and inspired is so much:

#1 A deep passion for evangelism where churches focused on reaching the lost, not just shuffling sheep.

#2 A spirit-filled movement that believed in all the spiritual gifts, and that they should be manifested in accordance to Biblical definition and balance.

#3 Culturally engaged communities that wanted to reach (at first) hippies and then just about everyone else, bringing them into a community that embodied the priorities and values of Acts 2:42-47.

#4 Church planting that was birthed out of a desire to spread the gospel and reach a lost world through new churches.

#5 Commitment to the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation. Commitment to the explanation of the Scriptures, application of the scriptures and invitation to receive Christ!

Pastor Chuck has seen the face of the King! He is now with his beloved mother and father and little brother and the great saints who have gone before us. And I can imagine that heaven lit up today because there are so many who had come to know the Lord through Pastor Chuck’s ministry.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord – for our most dearest Pastor!”

I love you pastor Chuck!

ON THE TABLE

I can imagine that on the “tabletop of your life”’ there are preoccupations with the past, anxieties over the future, and not to mention today’s realities.  Am I right? If so, that’s a lot to deal with. How does the Lord want us to handle all of that?  In short, to focus on today.

GET TODAY ON THE TABLE

But in order for this to happen, it requires that we identify what our past preoccupations and future anxieties are, and then remove them off the tabletop of our lives, how? By learning not to expend energy of thought or concern about our past, or future anxieties, but rather to develop the habit of maximizing today! It has been said, “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. So let’s begin!”. This means that even if you need to make changes in yourself and your environment, don’t worry about your past, or expend energy on projecting future concerns, focus on today!

TODAY

So, what does God’s Word tell us about today?

Today… be teachable: listen, learn and grow! (Heb. 3:12-13, 15).

Today…be diligent: “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.” (Pr. 12:24).

Today… be assured that the Lord’s promises are true! (Luke 23:43).

Today… be a worshipper: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).

Today…be a lover of God and your neighbor (Luke 10:27).

Today…“Go forth” in Jesus name! (Matt. 28:18-20).

Today is when everything that’s going to happen from now on begins!

“Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, and despise our persons; but they are helpless against our prayers.” (J. Sidlow Baxter)

FALL “FAST” FORWARD (AUGUST 14-SEPT 3)

Often in the Bible, God’s people fasted immediately before a major victory, miracle, or answer to prayer. It prepared them for a blessing! Jesus fasted. In fact, Jesus expected His followers to fast, and He said that God rewards fasting.

However, fasting is not commanded by God, it is totally voluntary!

What is fasting?

Fasting, according to the Bible, means to voluntarily reduce or eliminate your intake of food for a specific time and purpose accompanied with prayer. As we begin set our face toward the Fall, we’re inviting you to join us in what we’re calling the “Fall Fast Forward” (August 14-Sept 3).

We encourage you to pray in accordance with our Core Values (see below), paying special attention to Core Value #3 which is that “We Draw From The Source of Resurrection Power (There is no “individual growth,” nor ultimately “church growth,” without being in-dwelt and receptive to God’s Spirit (Eph. 5:18; Acts 1:8; John 16:17; I Cor 12:7; Zec 4:6; Romans 8:11). In short, we believe in “The Spirit of God, Working Through the Word of God, Growing the People of God, To be the hands and feet of, The Son of God!”

You can fast and pray in a variety of ways (before beginning any fast, be sure to consult your physician).

#1 There is the “Full Fast” – which is drink only.

#2 There is the “Daniel Fast” – which is: no meat, no sweets, no bread (only water, juice and vegetables).

#3 There is the “Partial Fast” – from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm (or from sunrise to sundown) – which can be a “Full Fast”, “Daniel Fast” or where you give up at least one type of food.

The type of fast that you choose, the length of the fast, and whether or not you choose to fast at all, is entirely up to you.

Onward in 2013 confident in God’s unfailing love and provision!

The Lord is AWE-SOME!

CALVARY AUBURN’S CORE VALUES

Our Core Values at Calvary Auburn are beliefs that will guide (or inspire) our actions, focus our energies and act as an anchor point for all our plans. These values should be understood and shared by every member of the church so that we might fulfill the vision the Lord has for our church.

(1) We Are Christ-Centered.
We exist to know Jesus and make Him known! (John 14:6, Philippians 3:8; 10; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 2 Peter 3:18; Acts 26:18; Matthew 9:35-38)

(2) We Stand On Biblical Authority.
God has spoken to us through the Bible and we recognize it as the final authority for our lives. We are committed to the explanation of Scripture, the application of Scripture and giving invitation to Christ! (2 Tim 3:16-17; John 17:17; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 4:12-13; Ephesians 4:12-16; John 8:31-32)

(3) We Draw From The Source of Resurrection Power.
There is no “individual growth,” nor ultimately “church growth,” without being in-dwelt and receptive to God’s Spirit! (Eph. 5:18; Acts 1:8; John 16:17; I Cor 12:7; Zec 4:6; Romans 8:11)

(4) We Are Committed To The Church.
Jesus is the hope of the world and while He is not on earth in bodily form, He does have a body that He works through, it is the church which begins at the local level in a local church the heartbeat of God. The church family will accomplish infinitely more together than apart. (Matt. 16:18 ; Matt 5:13-16; I Cor 12:12; 21; Eph 4:16; Acts 1:8; 2 Cor. 5:18-21)

(5) We Are A Community.
Accountability, belonging, care, and spiritual growth happen best with relationally-connected believers. The church is like coals in a hot barbecue pit. If a coal is isolated, it grows cold, but when together with other coals, it burns hotter! (Acts 2:42-26; Hebrews 10:25; John 13:34-35; I Thess 5:11; Phil 2:4)

(6) We Are Vibrant In Faith.
We are intentional in our thinking with an accurate view of the “bigness of God” and will not insult Him with small thinking and parked lives. (2 Timothy 1:7; Hebrews 11:6; Matt 8:8; Matt 17:20; Matt 14:31; I Cor 16:13)

(7) We Are Contributors Not Consumers.
It is an honor to sacrifice for Christ and His church. We give up things we love for things we love even more. Every Christian is essential to the success of the ministry in impacting this generation. (1 Cor. 12:12; Luke 9:23; Phil 2:29-30; Eph. 4:16)

(8) We Are Genuine In Worship.
Genuine worship is a response to the grace and greatness of God. We abhor “song leading” in public worship gatherings and instead choose to give our heart and voice while joining with others in expressing love, thankfulness and faith in God. (Eph 5:19-20; Mark 14:26; Hebrews 13:15; John 4:23-24; Psalm 59:16)

(9) We Will Be Legacy Makers.
Your life is a part of something bigger than yourself and will impact generations to come directly or indirectly. Whether your life started well or not, the good news is God’s grace is sufficient for you to finish well and be a Legacy Maker. (2 Timothy 1:7; 2 Tim 4:7; Galatians 6:9-10; 2 Corinthians 4:1; Acts 20:24; Phil 3:13-14; Heb 12:15)

(10) We Love Each Other.
The church is the most diverse family on planet earth. There will be differences among Christians. However, we will not tear each other apart! We commit to “unity in our diversity.” We will be responsible “local Christians” and “global Christians.” In the essentials, unity. In the non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love! (Jn 13:35; 1Cor 1:10-13; Rom 16:17; 1 Jn 4:7-8; I Peter 4:8; I Thess. 3:12)

(11) We Oversee What Is Not Ours.
We are stewards over the time, talents and treasure that God has given us. We believe that God can multiply what we give Him. (Eph 5:16; Mark 6:41; Mal 3:10; 1 Cor 4:1-2)

(12) We Are Men Of “The Vision!” (Isaiah 6:1-6)
Male leadership is essential and requires a vision of who God is. This results in being humbled and touched by God’s incredible grace that transforms lives and leads to the cry,  “Here I am Lord send me!” (Isaiah 6:1; 5; Rev 1:17-18; Rev 5:11-13; John 20:28; Acts 1:9-11)

 CALVARY CHAPEL AUBURN

The Spirit of God

Working Through the Word of God

Growing the People of God

To be the hands and feet of the Son of God

 To this Generation!

A few days in OC with family(Pete, Lily, Stephanie and Sarah) and a pic with Greg and Cathe Laurie at Thursday night study!

p.s. Greg #2 and Jennel (and “Baby Greg”) were at an outreach in Santa Ana this evening 🙂

We all need a working knowledge of the Bible. Why? Because the Bible is, “THE-guide-book-for-life”. 2 Tim 3:16-17 tells us that, “All scripture” has been inspired by God. The Bible not only identifies what is right but also what is wrong; as well as how to get right, stay right, and do what is right!

C.S. Lewis offered this warning years ago, “If you do not listen to theology, that will not mean that you have no ideas about God. It will mean that you have a lot of wrong ones.” And wrong ideas lead to wrong thinking, feeling and believing. What we need is more “The Bible says,” because then we will learn to think, feel, and believe the right things.

Paul wrote, “…for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.” (Acts 20:27)

So, what does God wants us to know?

He wants us to know His written Word. He wants us to know Genesis to Revelation. The “written Word” leads us to know the “Living Word”, the Lord Jesus.

This Sunday we will begin a new series entitled, “The Greatest Stories Ever Told” and I am fired up about it. This series could not come at a more important time. A longtime student of America’s religious beliefs and behavior, George Barna, described America as being in a “crisis of biblical illiteracy.” Barna wrote, “How else can you describe matters when most churchgoing adults today reject the accuracy of the Bible, reject the existence of Satan, claim that Jesus sinned, see no need to evangelize, believe that good works are one of the keys to persuading God to forgive their sins, and describe their commitment to Christianity as moderate or even less firm?”

What we need today is, “theology without apology” and that’s what we’ll get in this new series that will take us through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Because, remember, 2 Tim 3:16-17 tells us that, “All scripture” has been inspired by God. The Bible not only identifies what is right but also what is wrong; as well as how to get right, stay right, and do what is right! We will begin in Genesis 3 with the Garden of Eden, and in the weeks ahead learn more about the biblical stories of Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samson, David, Elijah, Job, Naaman, Gehazi, Belshazzar, Esther, Paul, and more.

I encourage you, come with your Bible’s, a friend, and an open heart.

The Lord will not only use His Word to inform your life, but transform it as well.

And remember – “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Tell a friend, invite a friend!

Let’s pray together that the Holy Spirit rocks our world with the greatness of Who the Lord is and that we will all be “Gripped By His Greatness!”

Will you join me in a heart-felt prayer …

“Lord, I want to know You. I want to know You for who You really are. I’m not satisfied to follow a code of conduct, or a diluted version of you. I want to know and follow the real You. So here I am. I give you my attention. Teach me; guide me in Your truth. Grip my heart with Your greatness so I am never the same. “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your Law”. (Ps. 119:18). Amen!”

Below are snapshots from recent readings. Enjoy:)

We’re so prone to rush things, aren’t we? In our culture of instant gratification it’s hard for us to “be still, and know that He is God.” But if God says no—or even slow down—it’s for your own good. If the timing is wrong, God says, “Slow.” If you  are wrong, God says, “Grow.” But if the request is right, the timing is right, and you are right, God says, “Go!” (Greg Laurie)

Inventor Charles F. Kettering, who was the head of research at General Motors, said, “You will never stub your toe standing still. The faster you go, the more chance there is of stubbing your toe, but the more chance you have of getting somewhere.”

William Penn, English philosopher and founder of the Pennsylvania province, will encourage you: “No pain, no palm; no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown.”

You know what it’s like driving down the road and the sign reads, “Detour Ahead!” It’s always a bummer and a waste of time.

The good news is that Lord promises that HE will make our paths “straight”. Sounds good to me! So, what do we need to do? Well, we don’t need more information or inspiration. What we need is more, submission! “In ALL your ways acknowledge HIM (the Lord) and He shall make your paths straight!” (Prov. 3:15-16)

So what does it mean to acknowledge the Lord in “all” your ways?

It means that we need to put “first things, first” — which begins with the Lord Himself. If you want God to help you, to direct your paths, to overcome the odds in any area of your life, you have to turn to him first. So next time you are at a cross-road and you need the Lord’s help, pray!

See prayer as a first thought, not a last resort. The Lord will make your paths straight.

“When you get to the end of yourself, you get to the beginning of God.”

Alan Redpath