Security!

Melody Merritt
Women's Ministry Director

On April 24th our church hosted a live simiulcast, "So Long Insecurity", with Bible teacher Beth Moore.  There were about 220 women present, including many high school girls, from 27 different churches.  If you were one of these women I know that you were blessed, but I also pray tht your life was changed.

Over the next few weeks I will be sharing the key points that Beth Moore taught that day on our Women's Ministry Blog Site.  Check it out each week as we review the acronym, Security.  We are meant to live secure and satisfied lives in Christ Jesus!

In Ephesians 4:1 we are told that each of us is called  "to lead a life worthy of your calling for you have been called by God."  The enemy wants to hold us in bondage and insecurity that keeps us from fulfilling our calling as a new creation in Christ Jesus.  Victory or defeat resides in the mind. So "throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.  Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God - truly righteous and holy."  Ephesians 4:22-24

A Secure Woman is:
1. Saved from herself. 
2. Entitled to truth. 
3. Clothed with intention. 
4. Upended by grace. 
5. Rebounded by love. 
6. Exceptional in life.

Take God at His Word.  Spend time with Him in prayer, not just talking, but listening.  Saturate yourself in Scripture.  Don't be satisfied with the same old defeat.  Take a leap of faith.  You can live as a Secure Woman in Christ Jesus today!

New Wine and Old Stories?

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I have a few friends who don't like or who won't read fiction. They think it's a waste of time. They spend their time reading real life current events/theology/biographies/etc. I don't get it. I'd rather read a good story than non-fiction any day of the week. Give me Frodo or Theseus or Henry York!

I think it's cool that Jesus taught using stories. In fact, He used the short story to great effect! So they must be useful, right, if Jesus used them? They're called parables and we've been looking at some of them in Living By The Book these past few weeks. John Mark records the purpose of parables in his gospel: "The secret of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you, but to those outside, everything comes in parables so that they may look and look, yet not perceive; they may listen and listen, yet not understand; otherwise, they might turn back--and be forgiven."

Stories are memorable, bold and rich in meaning.

There's one parable that's always been curious to me. It's found in Mark 2:19-22 where Jesus is addressing John's disciples and the Pharisees:

Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. But the time will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins."

It's appropriate that we're reading through Hebrews in Going Deeper because it has a lot of relevance to this particular story. The basic point is that Christianity has replaced Judaism. The New Wine is Grace or the New Covenant and the Old Wineskin is the Old Covenant, or the Law. The Old Covenant has been replaced. It's shadows and types have been fully realized in Jesus--the New Covenant.

The author of Hebrews puts it like this: But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree He is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been legally enacted on better promises...By saying, a new covenant, He has declared that the first is old. And what is old and aging is about to disappear. 


So, keep your new wine in those fresh wineskins and keep the stories coming! I need something good to read this summer!

Thoughts from 2 Timothy 2

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

Check out this three-fold picture of the Christian life Paul gives us in 2 Timothy 2:

1. Don't Get Distracted: Paul says that no soldier gets entangled by the concerns of everyday life. They stay focused. Let's keep the Main Thing the Main Thing and not get tripped up by the peripherals. What's the Main Thing, you say? The Gospel. The Love of Jesus.

2. Live In Holiness: Next, Paul writes that no athlete is going to be crowned unless they compete according to the rules. As a follower of Jesus, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the Gospel. This is sobering for me to think that everything I do, say, or think reflects on the Gospel. There's no such thing as cheap grace.

3. Give It All You Got!: The third picture Paul gives Timothy is of a hard-working farmer. He insists that it's the hard-working farmer who ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.  Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of Jesus. Give it everything that is in you!

I love those three pictures; of the soldier, athlete and farmer! All three principles are challenging and yet worth keeping in mind as we follow hard after Jesus. But that's not all. 

Paul begins this passage and the illustration of the soldier by instructing that we should share in suffering as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Share in suffering. That's not the first time Paul has mentioned this or taught it. In Philippians he writes that it has been granted to us as a favor to suffer for Jesus. It is a gift. Can I embrace this gift? This sharing of the sufferings of Christ? Let this be our prayer today:

Jesus, teach me to keep my eyes focused on you and not to get distracted by things that don't matter.
Help me to live a life of holiness and purity. To be faithful and honest.
Teach me to work hard and to do everything like I was doing it for you (because I am!).
Teach me how to suffer with the grace of Christ. Help me not to be comfortable, but to follow hard after You no matter the cost. Amen.

Walking For Life

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

For the past few years Kristi and I have been involved with Hand of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center in Fuquay Varina. Hand of Hope is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing Hope and Help to women facing unplanned pregnancies. We've been able to see a lot of amazing things happen including 26 babies born this past year and several clients come to know Jesus as their Savior.

On Sunday, May 2 Hand of Hope will be holding its 5th Annual Walk for Life at South Park in Fuquay Varina and I'd love for ABC to really get involved! It's a lot of fun and includes BBQ, a Silent Auction, Fun Run for the kids, and much, much more!

If you have any questions you can contact me or visit the Walk for Life website. We'd love to see you out there walking for life!

Come My Way

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

What would it take for You to walk towards me?

I remember a few years back there was this Skillet song that I always was moved by. It was called "Come My Way" and was about the woman who was healed by touching Jesus in Mark 5.

Here are some of the lyrics:

Hundreds come from everywhere
Just to see your face and touch the healer's hand
Desperate, I push through the crowd
If I could touch your clothes
I could feel your power

Here's the passage in full if you'd like to read it, but I love what Jesus tells this woman: "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be free..."

Go in peace and be free. Can you put yourself in this woman's story for a moment this Friday afternoon? She had suffered bleeding for 12 years. No one could help her, not even doctors. She had spent everything trying to find healing, but in vain. There was nothing any man could do. Not only could no one help her, but the bleeding was getting worse. Desperation. But she hears about this man, this Rabbi. He is known for teaching with authority and for his miracles and she has heard about him in her story and so she joins the crowd by the sea.

And there he is. Her eyes see him and she can tell something is different. What would it take for You to walk towards me? She hasn't known peace and freedom in her story for many long years. She's been unclean for over a decade. She makes her way behind Jesus and dares, she dares to touch the Rabbi's robe. Out of faith. From a heart of desperation.

Instantly, her flow of blood ceases and she senses in her body that she has been made whole. Her story has changed. From just one touch. Go in peace and be free, Jesus says. And she does.

How about your story? How is your faith? Are you desperate for God? Do you know peace and are you free? Or are you waste deep in the trappings of comfort and ease, unable to escape? Bogged down in a swamp of worry and responsibility? Could you follow Jesus if He asked you to go to the hard places? To love the hard-to-love people? To do the hard things?

Go in peace and be free.

Love Ain't Easy!

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I thought I'd add a few thoughts to the earlier post on love. Lately, I've been re-reading Leif Enger's Peace Like A River. I really can't recommend it enough. It's one of those rare books that as the pages turn and you approach the end you can't help but feel a little bittersweet; you don't want the end to come!

Well, here's the passage that struck me when I was thinking about this call we've been given by Jesus to love. It's from the point of view of Reuben Land, the narrator and a young boy. He says:

"I hadn't any comment to this, but felt myself opposite to the Lord in some way, which was worrisome."

Dad asked, "You remember what the Lord said about enemies?"

In fact I did remember some passages about enemies. Once, sick of whiners, the Lord caused the earth to crack open like an old bun and a crowd of them fell right in. And how about the prophet Elijah, slaughtering four hundred priests of Baal in one afternoon? Then there were the twisted fellows of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the time before that when God killed pretty much everyone in the world except Noah's family. The Old Testament, boy, it suited me.

"Love your enemies," Dad said. "Pray for those who persecute you."

He would pick those verses.

Alright, let me be honest here for a minute. I really can't think of any enemies in my life. I did take a pencil once and stand it up under my friend as he sat down in his chair with great velocity. Blood flowed, war was declared, but we're still friends. I did have several "scuffles" with another friend growing up, but we still care about each other. Oh, and there was that one instance when I fired a spudzooka over the dunes and knocked my Mother clear across the deck. But I wasn't disowned even then.

There are those who, however, occasionally might get on my nerves (as I'm sure I get on theirs). You know the kind of person; you're never on the same page, you just don't click, and generally you have an opposite personality type. There are also those who cut in front of you on the highway, cut in front of you in the line at Bojangles, and cut in front of you at the Doctor's office. Uh-oh, I'm sensing a theme here. In college there were those who would ask incredibly in depth questions of the professor right before the clock would measure the ending of the class. I would sit and stew and think evil thoughts.

They're not even my enemies and I'm called to love those people? Take it a step further, if they're followers of Jesus, they're called to love an egotistical miscreant like me?

No wonder the disciples told Jesus some of his teachings were hard for them to accept.

To love those who annoy you, mistreat you, irritate you, hate you and persecute you. To be loved by those whom I annoy, mistreat, and irritate. This is our call. To forgive those who do you wrong. To let it go. It ain't easy, but it is the Way of Jesus! And if I'm going to follow hard after the heart of God it's something I had best get used to!

Love Washes Over a Multitude of Things

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

Have you ever wondered what your purpose was? Or what your calling was as a follower of Jesus? I've been there. I remember my college nights filled with existential angst and soul-searching anguish as I tried to discern the will of God for my life. Long walks under a North Carolina moon brimming with questions. Where did God want me to go? To do? To be?

Paul says something interesting in Romans 13. He writes that love is the fulfillment of the law. He tells us that all of the commandments are summed up by this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Why? Because love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore it is the fulfillment of the law. Jesus said the same thing to the disciples: "Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I love you, you love one another."

I think I would go as far as to say that Love is the theme of the Bible. The love of God is its thesis and its point. That might be simplifying it a little, but I don't think it's too inaccurate. Paul writes to the Colossians that they should "put on love--the perfect bond of unity" and Peter said that love washes over a multitude of wrongs.

How does this work practically? It means that, as a husband, if I go through the motions of taking care of my wife and providing for my family, but do it without love, I'm just like a clanging cymbal. It means that if I do good things and give lots of money away, but do not love, I haven't gained anything. It means that if I serve in my church, but do it out of duty and begrudgingly with my heart filled with the bitterness of complaint, my service is like a cacophony of meaningless noise.

So, the question remains: where do we find this love? It sounds a little far-fetched. A pipe dream. Maybe a tad unrealistic. Honestly, it sounds downright difficult. Where does this kind of love come from? Paul answers by writing a beautiful and freeing truth: "God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." This love comes through the Holy Spirit into our hearts. Or, as one of my all-time favorite bands once sang, "They say that it [love] runs in His Blood."

What is my calling? Love. What is my purpose? Love. What does God want me to do? Love others. What am I to be? Love poured out. Poured out like water. Love demonstrated. Love given freely. This kind of love affects everything. It's my calling and it's our purpose--our reason for being.

Frogs and Egyptians

Frog Fest is this Saturday at Crowder Park. It also happens to coincide with Gavin's birthday and for a brief second we considered heading over there for the frog festivities. But then we came to our senses and remembered the following equation: A beautiful Saturday + frogs + thousands of little boys = chaos. 

Kristi and I recently saw a movie that had frogs in it. Towards the end of this particular film frogs began raining down from the sky. It was a shower of frogs. Actually, it was more like a hailstorm of frogs. As they were falling and splattering everywhere I kept thinking, "How in the world are they going to explain this?" The filmmakers never did, but it did make me think about the Egyptians.

In Exodus the second plague that God sent upon the land was one of frogs. I don't think they fell from the sky, but they swarmed everywhere. They were in beds and bedrooms, ovens and other various cutlery. I can't help but think though that there were many a Hebrew and Egyptian boy who were excited about this plague. The adults, I'm sure, were incredibly annoyed, and understandably ready for the frogs to be gone from their lives. But boys love frogs. Ole Beans from Cheaper by the Dozen is proof.

I like frogs alright. I could deal with a plague of frogs, I think. But I don't like snakes. I couldn't begin to handle a plague of snakes. Can you imagine snakes falling from the sky out of a thunderstorm? It gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking about it. I have a lot of bad dreams that involve snakes. I'm with Dr. Jones here. I can't imagine being in the wilderness when God sent the snakes to the people of Israel. I would not have done well with "fiery serpents" slithering through my sleeping bag.

There was once an encounter with a snake in my sister's barn, but that's another story for another time.

I went frog-gigging a few times when I was younger. Looking back now, I really think those late night expeditions were a rite of passage for me. I admit, I did freeze up my first time, that flashlight reflecting in those innocent eyes hypnotized me as well, and a few tears leaked out when I finally managed to gig me a frog. Those legs were tasty though. I wonder if the Egyptians did any frog-gigging? Or if they were just ready for the gnats to arrive.

Now that I've thought about it; maybe we'll take the boys to Frog Fest after all.

Riding the Eruption of Easter

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

Easter. A new beginning. With the coming of Spring we're reminded that death doesn't have the last word; it doesn't have the last laugh. There is something Greater, something bubbling up, and ultimately neither height nor depth can stop the Sun from warming the earth. Does it make you want to bang on something loud or take the kids outside and have a parade? To ride the eruption of new life in celebration?

The book of Hebrews describes Jesus as the pioneer of our faith. It also describes Him as the destroyer of death. Why? To free those who for all of their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. Jesus led the way into death, but did He stay there in the Shadows? In the cold and barren wasteland? No, he entered it, but death couldn't hold Him. The power of the grave was no match for the Lifegiver. He burst through and erupted out of the grave into New Life. The way through was forever made for us by our Rescuer.

Is there any reason for us to now fear death? Listen to how N.D. Wilson describes Easter:

"Tragedy isn’t an easy thing to kill. Tragedy must be destroyed by someone willing to be swallowed by it, willing to be broken, torn out of the flesh, but able to return to it. Someone must be able to shatter the tragic from within and exit into comedy, able to rip a hole so wide that a train of souls, a parade, could follow after, banging drums and throwing candy as they strolled into the sun."

We have this promise in letters to the Church of Corinth that just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. Made alive. How? By the power of God. Paul goes on to say in those letters, "Knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus." The hole has been ripped wide open. The promise given.

I've taken Easter for granted for a lot of my life. For far too many years it's been a cultural celebration instead of a promise cherished. That simple statement, "Christ is risen," encompasses so much more than I've lived out in my walk with Jesus. Not anymore. Death has been beaten down. It has no sting. The Lifegiver reigns. The Waymaker has made the way for us out of the wilderness. I'm ready to ride. Let the eruption begin.

Christ Is Risen - Jeremy Riddl...

Little Children and the Kingdom of God

Nathan Stam
Children's/Communications Pastor

It's that time of year again! Flowers are blooming. The temperature is warming. Pollen is gathering. Windows are opening. Little boys are outside adventuring. The crack of baseballs on bats is resounding. And the hunt for teachers in our Children's Ministry is beginning!

A few years back I said something in one of our worship services that I really believe. It went something like this: If you want to become more like Christ and grow deeper in your relationship with God don't go to seminary. Teach in one of our children's classes at church. Teach children the Bible. There were some shocked looks on some faces in the congregation.

I really believe that's true. If you want to experience a little sanctification in your life I've got just the place for you: A classroom filled with grinning 3 year olds; a crowd of 2nd graders eagerly hanging on your every word as you tell them the story of Jonah swallowed by a big fish; A herd of 5th/6th grade girls looking to you for a little love, patience and investment in their lives.

A lot of times we think of teaching children in a church as a burden. If we've got a little gray in our beards we say, "I've already done my time and paid my dues." If we're younger we think, "I have no clue how to go about teaching a classroom of children." If we're in those child-bearing years we despairingly cry out when the call comes around, "Please, I need a break from kids when I come to church!" And if we're busy we simply say, "I have neither the time nor the energy nor the desire."

Listen to how Jesus viewed children:

In Mark 10 people were bringing children to Jesus and the disciples started rebuking them. How dare they bother Jesus with kids? But Jesus got a little down right indignant with the disciples. He told them, listen, don't stop them from coming because the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Jesus went on to make an even stronger statement concerning children: "Whoever does not welcome the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Wow. Never enter it?

Earlier, in Mark 9, the disciples were arguing about who was the greatest among them. You would think they would have had better topics to discuss. But Jesus (probably a little indignant again) told them, look, if you want to be first, you've got to be a servant, you've got to put others interests before your own. And then he takes a little child in his arms (I love that picture!). He says, "Whoever welcomes one little child such as this in my name welcomes me. And whoever welcomes me does not welcome me, but Him who sent me."

I don't know about you, but I want to know what Jesus meant when he said the Kingdom of God belongs to little children. I want to know what it is about children that caused Jesus to say, if you don't welcome the Kingdom of God like a little child you'll never enter it. I'd like to be part of the Kingdom of God, thank you very much!

I can't think of a better place to answer those questions, to welcome Jesus, than to serve in one of our children's classrooms. We have lots of opportunities for you this year. You can click here to see just a few.

It's that time of year again. It comes around every cycle of the seasons. A time to step out and take some risks. Maybe step out of your comfort zone a little bit. Do something you've never done before. Freely give of yourself just like you've been freely given to by Christ.

So, here's my invitation: Come wipe the snot from a toddler's nose. Build a towering lego fortress with an incredibly active 3 year old boy and then laugh with him as he knocks it down. Dance and sing silly songs about Father Abraham with a preschooler. Show an incredulous 1st Grader that yes, Balaam really did talk to a donkey. March your 4th graders around the church as you teach them about the Israelites circling around Jericho and let them give a shout that shakes the church's foundations after the 7th time around. All those adult Life Groups will thank you for a little energy infusion and excitement.

An adventure awaits...are you up for it?