Question #6 is about - Social injustices. The question is…with social injustices rampant; what should a Christ-follower do?
Well…I have said several times that I would post an answer to this question on this blog…some technical problems, several out of town trips, and a borage of emails later…I still haven’t posted the answer.
NO Worries…I am going to answer it this weekend! Come and join us.
For many churches, the word sex is a four letter word. But this last Sunday, we tackled question about sex because, well… You asked for it!
I mentioned that singles are feed many lies when it comes to the sensitive subject of sex.
The challenge was…Don’t buy into the lies! So, what are the lies?
There are five myths…lies that are easy to buy into.
Remember…Sexual freedom only comes from honoring God. With freedom there is…No Worries!
Monday morning I leave on an 11 day trip to Asia with my good friend and Fairhaven member, Jim Kohls. We will be going to Thailand and Malaysia visiting some of our global staff.
Do you want to go with us? Well, you can!
All you need to do is to clik on this U-Tube site and follow along with our video blog. You will get to see where we are going, what we are doing, the places, the sights…you will, however, have to use your imagination on the smells!
The food is hot, the weather is hot but the people are warm!
Here is how you can pray:
Thanks for traveling with us!
No Worries…Jim and David
A Tuk Tuk…3 wheel taxi in Bangkok
Dear Ms. King,
The church of tomorrow will be filled with kids that come to Christ today! At Fairhaven we are passionate about making church a place that excites kids to come and learn about God. There are so many things that are competing for the attention of our kids today, and the church needs to be attractive to them. If all we did was get them to come and to amuse them, you would be right…there are many more useful things to do with our money.
The reality is that hundreds and hundreds of kids have invited Jesus into their lives and because church is exciting for them, they are bringing their unchristian friends who are being introduced to Jesus Christ.
I wish you could see…the group of 4th and 5th graders that come every Saturday morning for prayer as they pray for their friends and missionaries.
I wish you could see…that same group of kids lead their peers in worship every Sunday morning.
I wish you could see…our children that visit nursing homes every month.
I wish you could see…our elementary children that go on missions trips every summer and minister to the homeless and less fortunate.
I wish you could see…80 kids who are in kids choir who sing worship songs with such joy and passion in our worship service, and in the community - the Greene, Dayton Dragons game, Dayton Bombers games.
I wish you could see…the Christmas party that the kids planned for over 100 single moms and children.
I wish you could see…the hundreds of children every Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday evening, Saturday night and Sunday morning learning about God and who He is through His word.
I wish you could see…the number of moms and dads that have been brought to church because their kids don’t want to miss church.
The truth is that our investment in making church fun and exciting for children is something that Christ would be pleased with as He himself invited kids into His lap.
Our investment is not limited to children as we have given millions of dollars to missionaries and national pastors from around the world. Hundreds of adults every year travel at their own expense on mission teams. In fact .26 cents of every dollar goes to a ministry beyond the walls of our church family. This year alone we have given assistance to many families who have become unemployed.
It is our passion to see people introduced to and transformed by Jesus Christ.
I guess what I am trying to say is…come and visit! Come see our hearts, our ministry, and what God is doing.
We would love to have you! If not…no worries!
Humbly.
Letter to the Editor: (Dayton Daily News)
“Fairhaven Church addition creates ‘exciting environments’ for kids,” March 19: “Where can you go to church, enter a submarine and slide down an enclosed swirling tube into an aquatic-themed room with 3-D coral and fish on the walls?”
This sounds more like an amusement park than a church. I can think of so many more useful and important things to do with the money.
A church is not supposed to be exciting and amusing. Its purpose is for the worship of God and to aid in the spiritual maturity of Christians. There are children in this country who are homeless and have no idea when or where they will get their next meal. There are families in this very state who are losing their homes and who are unemployed.
This article was a classic example of hypocrisy in the Christian religion. Churches are becoming businesses, with Starbucks cafes, fancy lobbies and services not unlike what I would expect at a rock concert.
What would Christ say to them in response to these foolish actions?
Andrea King
Centerville
His name is Bruce Barry! He learned everything he knows from his father, Dick Barry, a cartoonist for Walt Disney. Bruce began drawing and designing as soon as he was old enough to pick up a pencil. As a young boy he honed his skills by painting window murals for small businesses in his neighborhood.
Illustrations, sculptures, video animation… it didn’t matter which medium. He used whatever artistic means necessary to create the most intriguing, exciting environments possible. Bruce has been using his amazing gift of design artistry to create themed attractions and environments to inspire the nation.
Then one day Bruce got a call from a children’s pastor. He had NEVER stepped foot into a church. The pastor asked Bruce to hone his powerful skill on the church. “Use that “Disney-like skill and excellence for the church,” the pastor asked.
So, Bruce did! The pastor was so thrilled and affirmed Bruce so much that he began to trust this pastor. Long story short…the pastor told Bruce about Jesus. Bruce knew that he needed something, he was empty. His design wowed people everywhere he went, but that didn’t seem enough. The pastor asked Bruce if he was interested in the ONE thing that could give him meaning and significance.
“Yes!” Bruce said.
And that began a complete change from the inside out. Part of that change was that Bruce wanted to take his skill, his creativity, his vision and make a difference in the Kingdom of God.
He turned his creative energy on the church and the rest is history!
Wacky world is coming to Fairhaven Church to create such an excitement for kids that church is fun, creative, exciting and full of imagery that draws us right to the creator of all fun and creativity - God himself.
I asked Bruce if he would help Fairhaven reach more kids, and he said…No Worries!
The one meal that you should never skip is…The Passover Dinner!
You know we miss so much being Gentiles! The Passover Dinner is a chance to get connected with the history and symbolism of what we celebrate every month in Communion.
When we celebrate Communion, it is the third cup in what is a four cup celebration. The Passover Dinner is centered around relationships…the relationship of God to his people, the relationship of the family both church family and blood family and the relationship of the ancient forefathers with us.
If you like history, the Passover Dinner is for you! If you like symbolism, the Passover Dinner is for you! If you like to be connected to generations of God’s people, the Passover Dinner is for you!
If you like to be inspired during the Easter season, the Passover Dinner is for YOU!
When Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me,” he said this in the context of a Passover meal.
What we remember is that God has had a plan to redeem His people from the beginning of time, which culminates in Jesus.
In Jesus we have….well, No Worries!
If you have more questions about what the Passover Dinner check out: http://www.fairhavenchurch.org/easter/downloads/Passover-FAQ.pdf
If you would like NOT to skip this meal and join us, register here: https://secure.fairhavenchurch.org/events.html
Ever found yourself in a place that you never expected? Didn’t want to be? Wondered how you got there?
Scary! There is just no other word.
We’ve all been there…and wondered, what is the secret in getting through?
You know, when you thumb through the pages of Scripture, you find many people…real people…who find them themselves in places that seem….well, just scary!
What were their secrets? How did they see God in those scary places?
Come, let’s find out together in our next three week series!
No Worries…
Ron Julian is here! Straight from Congo, Africa. A place that New York Times says is in the top ten worst places to live in the world. Why would you go to Congo?
Two reasons….One-because God calls you to go! Two - Lost People matter to God!
Ron & Ruth are training church leaders to lead the church in Africa. Training them to share the “Story” that brings hope.
So often we have missions events with missionary speakers. This year we want a missions experience with stories from a missionary (Ron Julian).
So, the Sanctuary has been transformed to look like a church would look in the Congo! Tin roof, wood benched, makeshift pulpit, African drums, a keyboard and that is all.
Come experience Congo! Come worship like people in Congo!
Want to know more….No Worries - http://www.fairhavenchurch.org/ministries.php?id=Global%20%20Local%20Outreach&sub=MissionsFest
I am sitting on the corner of the bed with my son Wednesday night. I asked him, “So, what did you learn at church tonight?”
He said, “Dad, we learned about the importance of telling the truth!”
“Great, do you think telling the truth is important,” I asked.
“Ya, lying hurts you,” he said, “and it hurts everyone around you.”
Then he said, “you know, I am hurt because we have been lied too about the package.”
“Package, what package?” I confusingly responded.
“You know the one that is worth two trillion dollars,” he confidently said in return.
This is my ten year old saying this. He has really no idea what he is talking about except what he has heard at school, the neighborhood, news or other places….he hasn’t heard this at home! He didn’t even vote…can’t vote. And yet is mad that he was lied too!
My point is not to cast a shadow over our president. It is too, rather, say two things:
1. Our kids, grandkids, kids all around are listening to us adults. They hear more than they should or we want them to hear. The truth is I think many times we don’t think they understand.
2. Lying is devastating! NOW, you decide if you think we have been “lied to about the package.” Its true, lying hurts us and everyone around us…that I know!
In fact is, a ten year old knows that! The moral of the story is….Just be honest.
When you are you have….No Worries!
One of the greatest challenges of The Church is to be “part” of a community not just “in” the community. I always ask myself…What happened if Fairhaven Church were to close its doors? Would the community know, care or be affected? Maybe there is another question that we should ask…How can we be a “Good Samaritan” in the community? If we help people on the side of the road when they have been beaten up, we can be a Samaritan!
Well, YOU (the church) have done it again! When the chapel was full of people today…people who are on the side of the road…beaten up…jobless that is, we were there.
We started a ministry with volunteers from the church family. We are calling it – Job Seekers Support! They came in looking for hope, encouragement, skills on resume writing. They got it! More than that, they got “The Church” being the Good Samaritan.
Do you see anyone on the “side of the road?” Go for it. I dare you. The truth is, you will get more out of it then they will.
Many worries plus good Samaritans equal… NO Worries.
http://www.fairhavenchurch.org/community.php?id=Job%20Seekers%20Group
I am the senior pastor at Fairhaven Church in Dayton, Ohio. These pages are my own thoughts, not necessarily the opinion of Fairhaven. God's taken me down some interesting roads: raised as an MK in Indonesia, a brief tour as a professional soccer player, pastor of an international church in Malaysia, and now this… God's blessed us with a great team and a great ministry at Fairhaven, so take a minute and check us out.
