Sunday, August 30, 2009

 

Announcements -- Ron Drabot 
Missions Contribution is 9/27/09   Goal of $120,000 to send to Nairobi, Kenya
2 Cor 9:12    
Nick Dechene & Felicia Philemon married Saturday in Myrtle Beach
Middle Schoolers need to sit with their parents during the service now
Kablaam coming up for Middle Schoolers - 10th Anniversary - 90-95% have signed up.   There is a meeting next Sunday after church in their classroom for students and parents.
Joe & Beth Hunsaker have served as coordinators in Kids Kingdom for many years.   They are stepping down.   We have all benefited.
Keep Lavonia and her stepmom, Chris, in your prayers.  Chris had cancer surgery this weekend, they removed a tumor and they believe it has spread.  She is starting chemo and radiation.   Lavonia is in Florida with her.
Jade Simpson will be baptized today in the teen ministry.
Madelyn -- There will be a Latino Ministry 2009 Women's Conference  "Women:  Don't Give Up:   Sunday 10/19/09 at 3:30 pm at the church office
Mike Dames -- HOPE Charlotte Rep. 
Schools for Tools campaign -- thanks to Ben Morris & Linda Brisco - they collected a half ton of school supplies
Blood Drive yesterday - 77 people gave 74 pints of blood.  
They are still in need of volunteers for our 9/7 Charlotte Rescue Mission date.  

 

Communion
2 Cor 4:16-18
Kaitlyn France
She is a teacher at Central Cabarrus High School.   She gets summers off from work.   In 2007 she went to the Dominican Republic, in 2008 and 2009 she went to Nairobi, Kenya during the summer.   She wants to give back.  
Growing up in America, we are so focused on material possessions.   They lack material possessions there, but she sees hope, joy, love and laughter. 
How can they be happy in the slums?
They have accepted their lot.  They care that she loves them. They can tell by the way she looks at them and touches them.  She works with orphans in Kissumoo.   There was one boy, Isaac,  who lost his last parent at 10, he was raising his siblings.  He is the first in his community to go to university.  He got a sponsor.  
Jesus didn't value material things, he valued healing people, touching people.   We need to reflect on what is really important.  
John 12:23 - 25    23Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Brandon -- gratitude is so important.   There is no motivation without gratitude.  

 

Offering Deuteronomy 8:17-18

 

Frank Radcliff -- Steve & Carol Mukenya are here from Nairobi.   Steve's been here 4 times.   Beth & Frank have been to Nairobi three times.    There has been a civil war in the last year in Africa, Steve and Carol are from different tribes.   Steve couldn't go home and bring Carol and the children with him.   There are different tribes within the church.   That causes conflict.   It was a time of stress for them. 
Frank & Beth's slide show -- the second half
Number 11:16-17  

I Saw What I Saw” (song played during video)
by Sara Groves | from the album Tell Me What You Know

Carol Mukenya -- 1 John 3:16
we have taught them love
giving financially, extending relationships
Greater value - the visits, the bond, the love
They feel our interest in them & experience our love
Being here the last few days, they have been overwhelmed with our love and relationships
Over 750 women in the Nairobi church.   They felt a need to grow in their walk with God, especially prayer.   Many women meet at 6:30 am to pray every Sunday.  To pray for the needs in the church.    They have done this for 1 1/2 years.   Many of them have children.   Women are getting married, getting jobs, 200 new women.   Four hundred women had 800 women come to Women's Day.

 

Steve Mukenya --  "Opening The Secret Chambers of Your Heart"
thank you for supporting 2000 disciples in East Africa
He recognizes a number of people here -- Jarrod Facchino set up their financial systems for them.   One hundred sixty four people were baptized January to June.   God has been glorifying himself. 

 

Utensils - some things used every day; some for special visitors only
tin cups, plastic cups used every day
some parts of the kitchen are cleaned every day -- under the fridge and under the stove, they are not cleaned as often
The heart has many compartments.  Some are used every day, some brought out only for visitors.   In hard times, you have to clean out under the fridge and stove.   Have to deal with things that are difficult.   Living for success vs. living for destiny.

 

1)   Listen -- deal with fear
each of us have fears
some are open, some are hidden -- the future, failure, success
God has something planned for us
1 Kings 19: 11-14, 15   NLT version
we can read further in the chapter so we can understand more
Elijah had a great success but had been run out by the challenges of life, hiding in a cave.   A gentle whisper came, Elijah started talking to God.   Elijah was talking about life and death, God told him to go back. 

 

Living the Christian life -- it's difficult when called to live for significance, not success.   To live for destiny.   Elijah had to go back.   That was when you start to experience God in your life.   Steve has been in the ministry for 16 years.   Trying to keep the church together.   Why did I have to deal with this? 
Why do I have to live through a recession in America?   We ask these questions. 

 

Middle-life (middle aged)-- we are 20 years behind schedule.   That makes us grumpy.   God is bringing you to test you.   We live success day to day.   Destiny has a sense of integrity.   We let go of what we think of as success and become better and more Godly.  
God said you must go back to Steve and deal with these issues. 
Steve says to God, like Elijah, you know they've killed everyone and you still want to send me.   And God said he was still working on his character.  
It's taken him about 3 years.   He doesn't speak to us as an ambassador but as one struggling with his life.  
He questioned staying as a preacher at 38 and 39 years old.   He could make more money, that would be nice.   But success is not destiny.   We need to ask ourselves these questions again and again.   Difficult people at your office that make you want to quit every day.   There are difficult people everywhere.   They are in America and Africa.   Some of them are you.

 

Elijah - these people want to kill me, you need to understand my point of view.   God does - he sees all points of view.

 

2)  Examine your motive

as his days as a debater in high school, he argued any side of a case.  He thought he might become a president of a country, but God had other plans for him.   He still argues, now it is about God and faith. 
Ecc 3:1, 6   for everything there is a season
The Bible says there is a time for everything
Even his 5 year old has good and bad days
He has good and bad days -- happy and not so happy days.
we must not lose ourselves in success
when he gets very busy, he gets distance from his family

 

We second guess ourselves
yes, we make mistakes
Need to be humble enough to admit it
Driving in Nairobi - a lady honks at him, their windows are open -- the argument escalates
He says things he shouldn't say.   His youngest said "Daddy, that's a no, no"
She had every reason to honk at him, but God wanted his children to see his flaws, the man who preaches every Sunday.
 He apologized to his children.   The following week he took time to examine what was bothering him.  
When you're maturing, you have to battle with yourself.   We need to evaluate.   We need to repent and be Godly.  
He has a temper, it takes the better of him sometimes.  
When passion goes wrong, it takes you in the wrong direction.  
When you repeat yourself, the same mistakes over and over, it's time to evaluate. 
What are your difficult things you are going through? 
Can you take a second position and be happy (plan B)?
You want something, you can't have it.   Will you be happy?
Some of the things you will get, some you will never get.   If you use things to define success, you will call yourself a failure.  

 

3)  Listening is key

1 Samuel 3:1-11   God called Samuel  "speak, your servant is listening"   go read the story further to see what he is talking about.   Next time you hear the call, sit down and say "yes Lord, I am listening"
We think as Christians that God only talks to us in the morning.   God speaks to people throughout the day.   
We sometimes don't listen when we read the Bible, we can't remember what we read.  
God is correcting us every day, using other people.   He reveals what's in our heart.
Do we listen to God when he speaks to us in that way? 
Do we focus on the people or on the message in discipling time?
It's possible to be a Christian and not believe.
We must learn to listen every day, just look at the trees, the stars.   Your body speaks to you.   
He doesn't mind losing his hair anymore because he understands significance and not success.
God was helping him to understand himself, not blame others when he was on the road.
He tries to show us how he has forgiven us.
He has had to learn to forgive and let go.
He can't collect insurance and remind them later.   Need to let go so you can learn what you need to be. 
To be like Jesus Christ, we must let go of our comfort right now.