Pastor Steve 5/16/2010

Powerpoint Notes 5/16/2010

When my children were small, we played a game.  I’d take some coins in my fist, They’s sit on my lap and work to get my fingers open.  According to the international rules of finger opening, once the finger was open, it couldn’t be closed again.  They would work at it until they got the pennies in my hand.  They would jump down and run away filled with glee and delight. Just kids, just a game. Sometimes when we come to God, we come for the pennies in His hand.  ”Lord I need a passing grade. Help me to study.”  ”Lord, I need a job.”  ”Lord, my mother is ill.”

We reach for the pennies.  When God grants the request, we push the hand away.  More important than the pennies in God’s hand is the hand of God Himself. That’s what prayer is about.

My father was a military man –go Navy!!– who regularly changed duty stations. Every two years or so with new orders, the family would pack up and move to some pretty cool location. As an only child who was very painfully shy, the excitement of these moves was tempered by the fact that I was leaving behind friends, school, and a routine that I had just gotten used to. The thought of being the new kid yet again tied my stomach in knots every time.

Such was the case when Dad got orders to the D.C. area. We were living in Guantanamo Bay (before the war on terror moved in!) and I spent my days like all the other 7 year old’s in Gitmo…fishing, climbing thorn trees, and avoiding mine fields–literally. My life had reached a comfortable rhythm: I had a couple of friends, my parents took me snorkeling regularly, and I even was pretty good at selling girl scout cookies! School wasn’t so scary any more, and the boy that pulled my braids on the school bus finally left me alone (which is a story in itself for another time!). Life was pretty good, so you can figure out what happened next…ORDERS. Gaaaaah!

Coming from laid back sun and warm 24/7 to frenetic traffic and smog truly took the air out of my little sail. The three of us moved into a town house in Alexandria, Virginia, within walking distance of the scariest thing I had ever seen… Mount Vernon Woods Elementary!!! Yikes! This school was massive and even had TWO STORIES. The night before my first day as the new kid (again) I was a total wreck. I dreaded being picked on, or worse yet, ignored. I felt like I was this insignificant, quiet little mouse with a raging sea churning inside me; this continued regularly throughout the fall and winter, easing only slightly with the friendship of a girl next door.

That winter seemed like an eternity! One day I was killing time outside our house, looking at the snow.  It was beginning to melt and I got a kick out of rediscovering what had been hidden underneath there all winter. As I went around the corner, I saw something purple sticking out of the snow. A crocus had managed to grow out of the snow layer and actually bloom! I still remember the thrill I felt in seeing that little flower. All of a sudden (honestly!) I started feeling a lot better about my situation. After all, winter wasn’t lasting forever, my school wasn’t that horrible, I had two good friends, and my parents were still the coolest folks around. I realize now that God sent that flower to help me begin to wake up from my own personal winter. Truly a new beginning was starting to take shape in my life.

Our Lord is so gracious in reminding us now and then of the lessons He has taught us. Every Spring I’m energized by the sight of a purple crocus! And this Spring, particularly at ALFC, new beginnings have taken root. Our ministry to children is beginning a journey that I couldn’t even have imagined this time last year. We are immensely blessed to incorporate a new electronic check in system, enhancing the security of our most precious little ones. We’re also reinventing our ministry to elementary kids. Kidzone is undergoing a technology, curricular, and environmental overhaul! I’m excited to say that we are coming into the 21st century with flair, riding a new surf theme all the way.  Our 4-6th graders will be bowled over by our new J12 program, a ministry devoted specifically to the precocious tween audience. They will learn to experience life from the perspective of Jesus when he was age 12 (what a tough age, right?) and be able to integrate His message into every aspect of their daily lives. Exciting!!!

Our children’s ministry team really appreciates all the support and encouragement you, our ALFC family, continually gives. And during this season, we are especially thankful for a Savior who specializes in new beginnings…right on time!

Pastor Christina Marvin

Jesus said, “I have come to seek and to save the lost.” I was one of the lost 34 years ago, I am so thankful that someone shared the good news with me. I shudder to think of the person I would have turned out to be without the loving influence of the Holy Spirit in my life.

Tomorrow is Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified for my bad decisions, the day He took the punishment for my greed, my lust, my anger, my coveting, my lying, my worship of material goods, wealth, and pride. This is personal to me, because others said I was a good man, a good person; if I had died at 15 I would have spent eternity in torment and suffering. That was unacceptable to Jesus and He sacrificed Himself for me. I will forever be grateful of His love and forgiveness, I stand in awe of His great love.

Sunday is coming, with His resurrection He took the keys of death and hell away from the enemy. His resurrection is the power in which my life was transformed and I moved from death to life. By the power of His resurrection I have hope, I have joy, I have peace, I have become more patient, gentle and kind; by His resurrection I am a better human being. I am who I am today, because He is who He is everyday. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever.

Please look around you today, who do you know who needs to meet Jesus, who do you know who is lost, discouraged, disillusioned, disappointed in life, who do you know who is lonely… Who do you know that if they died today would be lost forever? Please do what Jesus did, care enough to talk to them, to interact with them, to see their value in the bigger picture. Let’s be about our Savior’s work.

God bless you all, have a wonderful Resurrection weekend!

Pastor Ken

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Approaching Easter, I cannot come to this time without reflecting on the heart of loving compassion and sacrifice of Jesus.  Jesus lived with us, He understood our need for a “Savior a Redeemer.”  Jesus took action on our behalf, He “cared enough.”

Simply I want to ask you to “care enough” to invite people to services on Easter.  Consider “caring enough” to reach out to others around you, inviting them to visit your group, showing them your heart of compassion, care and concern.  Let them see the love of Jesus reflected in you.

Together we can “Saturate our community with God’s love!”

Pastor Steve 2/7/10

Sermon Notes 2/7/10

Pastor Steve 1/31/10

Sermon Notes 1/31/10

Pastor Steve 1/24/2010

Sermon Notes 1/24/10