THE INSUFFICIENCY OF SELF-SUFFICIENCY

During the Final Bible Study of 2014 at the Church I'm privileged to Pastor @CCFC_1, I taught from the Subject: "The Insufficiency of Self-Sufficiency". I've come across several people who do a lot of boasting and bragging. They boast about their personal accomplishments and achievements as well as their future plans and goals! While there's nothing wrong with acknowledging these things, they should not be the defining factor behind who you are and they should be acknowledged with and in Humility! The truth is, based on the frailty of our Humanity we really can't take credit for the personal success we've achieved in life. My imperfections alone is a reason for me not to Boast and brag in my personal accomplishments. I believe God often times allow failure and set-backs to teach us Humility and keep us from looking to SELF only when doing and going after certain things. 

Here's what I'm getting at, never allow personal achievements to get in the way of Personal dependency on God! The Apostle Paul says this over in 1 Corinthians 1:31 "Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” God is the MAIN SOURCE of our ABILITY, not us! He gives us what we need for what we need to do and how well we need to do it! 

Finally the bible says that our strength comes from God, we need His strength we fail and falter without His strength, that's why Paul admonishes us over in Ephesians 6:10 to "Be Strong in the Lord and in the Power of His Might". My personal success whether it's spiritual, financial, educational, relational or professional is tied to my having a wholehearted dependence upon the Power of God working in me, for me and through me! Jesus Himself says over in John 15:5  ... "Apart from Him, we can do nothing". Listen, Stay Humble and stay with God! 

- PV

HUMAN FAITH + GOD'S TESTIMONY

HUMAN FAITH + GOD'S TESTIMONY = A Personal Relationship with Jesus Christ

1 John 5:9-11(NLT) says this... 9 "Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. 10 All who believe in the Son of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son. 11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son"

YOU CANNOT USE HUMAN WISDOM TO EXPLAIN SPIRITUAL TRUTHS

1 Corinthians 2:13 (NLT) says... "When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit's words to explain spiritual truths" 

The Holy Spirit is a True Companion AND Teacher to the yielded and submitted Preaching Vessel and Communicator of the Gospel.

- PV

GOD'S NOT IMPRESSED WITH THE BEST DRESSED

Some wonder why some Churches have incorporated a come as you are policy, including the church that I serve/Pastor! Well, for years we've been so focused on clothes rather than the hearts of people that we've lost them to other things, as fashion has become greater than coming into a forgiving relationship with Jesus Christ. Some who don't agree with this call coming as you are "Worldly" but I respectfully disagree, because "Church clothes" are Cultural, not biblical!


I don't have a problem with folks dressing up coming to church, we in fact encourage both dressing down and dressing up, but at the same we let all who come through the doors of our ministry know that they all matter  to God and to us regardless of what clothes they have on. It's time we start focusing on SOULS and not Clothes! The "Best Dressed" doesn't get God's attention! A High-end dresser isn't necessarily Heaven-bound!  

If we only give people preferential treatment based on the clothes on their backs then we are misrepresenting what Christ stood for and how He views people, especially the least, the lost and the left out! God looks at the heart of man not the outward Appearance!


1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT) "But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”



James 2:1-4  (CEV) "My friends, if you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, you won’t treat some people better than others. 2 Suppose a rich person wearing fancy clothes and a gold ring comes to one of your meetings. And suppose a poor person dressed in worn-out clothes also comes. 3 You must not give the best seat to the one in fancy clothes and tell the one who is poor to stand at the side or sit on the floor. 4 That is the same as saying that some people are better than others, and you would be acting like a crooked judge"

SUICIDE

During our Mid-week ReFuel Bible study, the Lord led me to lead Part one of a discussion on the very sensitive, but real topic of "Suicide". I believe the church should not be silent on the issue, we have a voice and should be one of the leading voices concerning this Issue! During our Mid-week ReFuel bible study we and gave 7 documented Accounts of Suicide in the bible and discussed the reasoning behind them. We also took a look through the lens of scripture to gain insight on God's heart concerning "Life"!

In addition to biblical teaching, we thought it would be helpful to provide practical, insightful and helpful resources. 

Below are a few resources we hope that you (or someone you know) will find helpful. We want you to know that God values LIFE and values YOU! You are NOT Alone!

(1) National Suicide Prevention Hotline
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. By dialing 1-800-273-TALK (8255), the call is routed to the nearest crisis center in their national network of more than 150 crisis centers. The Lifeline’s national network of local crisis centers provide crisis counseling and mental health referrals day and night.

(2) Kristin Brooks Hope Center
http://www.hopeline.com/

People in crisis generally don't have the energy or ability to take on a long search for help. Thanks to KBHC's pioneering efforts a decade ago, now when those looking for support dial 1.800.SUICIDE they are seamlessly connected to an available certified crisis center nearest to their calling location. While it’s seemingly a simple concept, behind the scenes there are significant computer and telephony infrastructures working in concert to provide help within 20 to 30 seconds of a call being placed.

(3) Hopeline
http://www.hopeline-nc.org/about-2/suicide/

Do not be afraid to seek professional help by calling Hope Line 919-231-4525 and talking to a trained crisis counselor. Hope Line operates a free and confidential crisis line and teen talk line to the local community. They specialize in providing suicide and crisis intervention, supportive and non-judgmental active listening, gentle and understanding discussion of crisis resolution, and referrals to appropriate community resources. Hope Line will work with you if you personally are considering suicide, or if you are worried about someone hurting themselves.

(4) Suicide Prevention
http://www.suicideprevention.commongroundhelps.org/

Recognize the warning signs and at-risk behavior, reduce the stigma, build coping skills….Suicide can be preventable!

(5) American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
https://www.afsp.org/preventing-suicide/treatment

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research, education and advocacy, and to reaching out to people with mental disorders and those impacted by suicide.

BAGGAGE CLAIM

What's up everybody! There was a movie that came out a little while ago called "Baggage Claim" starring Paula Patton, Taye Diggs, Derrick Luke, Boris Kodjoe and a few other notable names. Fox Searchlight in an abbreviated summary of the Movie says...

Determined to get engaged before her youngest sister's wedding, flight attendant Montana Moore (Paula Patton) finds herself with only 30 days to find Mr. Right. Using her airline connections to "accidentally" meet up with eligible ex-boyfriends and scour for potential candidates, she racks up more than 30,000 miles and countless comedic encounters, all the while searching for the perfect guy.


Well, when I look this movie I see a lot of this going on in life, not just relationships. We all go through life looking for that special something, unfortunately our searching often comes to a screeching halt when life doesn't offer the specialty we're searching for.  I believe the problem comes when we in our efforts become a victim to desperation. Desperation, when done out of impulse often leads to bad decision making and bad decision making lead to missed opportunities. Instead of searching for things, people and opportunities because we've become a victim of desperation, do it out of determination.


My Determination must always lead me to where Jesus is because that's where my blessings are. Just ask a blind man by the name of Bartimaeus over in Mark 10:46-52 where we find him as the text says shouting for Jesus to have mercy on him. Those around him urged him to stop the shouting, but he shouted all the more, because he knew Jesus had what he needed. In vs. 50 the bible says that what was on him he threw off, because when you're determined everything and everybody can't be a part of the next level that God is taking you to. You have to trow off some people, throw off some excess baggage, throw off some relationships, throw off some habits and addictions. Be determined that you're not going to settle and that things are going to be different this time around!

Determination will reach for the eternal Truth, while desperation looks for a temporary fix! Be strong y'all and be Determined! 


- PV
@JamesVeney

LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE

This has been the Focus for our Church for the past month as we prepare to Launch several new Life Groups. Life Groups are a new ministry format for our church as we are moving from the more larger traditional ministry format to smaller, intimate Group gatherings, doing ministry and life together. I've been in a Sermon Series all month using this same title "Love God, Love People" to prepare us for this God-ordained shift in our ministry.

I believe that the most effective and genuine ministry carried out is Ministry that's carried out in Love! If we don't Love genuinely, we don't Serve genuinely. Here are a few points from the Sermon series that has brought about Life-Change for many of those who were a part of our Worship Experiences:




From the Message: "The Power of Doing Life Together" Part II

Mark 3:13-15 (NLT)
Luke 6:12-16 (NLT)
Acts 4:13

1. Your assignment can not be independent of an intentional prayer life. 

2. It's through prayer that God gives us wisdom and instruction.

3. When Jesus chose to do life with 12 ordinary Men (His Apostles), He was Intentional in His choice.

4. Jesus was strategic in His choice.

5.  His choice was done with a Purpose.

6.  Jesus chose twelve disciples not by their own ability but by His sovereign will and grace.

7.  Their doing life with Jesus should be evident as a reflection of Him in them.

8.  Before you bring someone alongside you, you need to assess what you see.

These are just a few things we discussed as it pertains to us doing life together in our upcoming Life Groups. I've also attached our Main Idea for this series to this post via a snapshot from our Morning Service. Hope it blesses you! Be Strong! 

- PV
@JamesVeney

PRAYER

Hey everyone! Wow, it's been several months since my last Blog! Life for me has become extremely busy, but God through it all has remained consistently Faithful as only He can. Well I just wanted to take a moment and share a few thoughts concerning PRAYER! The Lord has been speaking to me recently on the Subject of Prayer. The Church I have the humble and awesome privilege to Pastor is going through somewhat of a Transitional Season (a Good one of course) and God is bringing about change in the life of our Church. We see different needs arising (both in our Church and Community) and it's time to begin making changes to effectively meet those needs. One of the things we see a need for is to move into more permanent ministry space. Not just to Worship, but to serve in a more impacting and influential way. With that said, the Lord is calling for me to call our Ministry in to a Season of Prayer, although we should "always be Praying and not giving up", according to Luke 18:1. With a pending physical move for our church, it must be accompanied with vibrant and fervent Prayer. Jeremiah 29:12 shares with us, "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you", this we can hang our hats on. God will hear our prayer. As the Lord's Church, in this season we must continue to submit to His Will for all that He has in store for us. Furthermore, the Lord led me to a book Authored by Pastor Mark Batterson called "The Circle Maker". I can't wait to dive in to it. I plan on sharing the Curriculum with the Leaders of our Church and then our Church-at-Large. I'm excited for our journey, God continues to unveil his purpose for our lives individually and our Church Corporately. Can't wait to see what's Next!
STAY STRONG -PV