December 23, 2013

We say often that Jesus is the reason for the season. Tomorrow night is Christmas Eve and we have a great opportunity as a church to gather and worship God for His incredible gift. This is actually the main reason for our Christmas Eve service this year. The only gift that we can give that Jesus wants from us is our worship. We have plenty of reason to give Jesus our worship and we will be sharing about three of those reasons.

At 6:00pm our Christmas Eve service will begin. We will worship together through songs, communion, scripture readings, offering and prayer. We are including an offering because we have some families who have been preparing this year to give a Christmas Eve offering. Many of them will be in this service with their families and desire to do it together.

Finally, Christmas Eve is one of the easiest services to invite someone to. If you have a family member, co-worker, neighbor or friend who needs Christmas Hope, make sure you invite them. Why? Because, Luke 19:10 says, "For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost." Once the lost are found, the found find the lost. Finally, Christmas is a good reminder that nothing is impossible, Jesus is with us and He is worthy of our worship.

Check out this video!

Merry Christmas!

Blessings!
Pastor Tom
BELONG - GROW - SERVE

December 13, 2013

I’ve come to believe that Christmas is special to so many because of traditions. There seems to be a normalcy for me around Christmas time. It is one of the few times in the year that I can anticipate a routine, reconnect with the familiar and enjoy traditions.

What are your Christmastime traditions and routines?

For me it is eggnog, Charlie Brown’s Christmas Movie, Christmas Vacation, Christmas music and carols, hot chocolate and apple cider. It is the home baked goods, the smells of trees, wreaths and poinsettias. It is the lights dimmed so the tree lights radiate in our home. It is the candles that are lit in our home. My wife always puts out Christmas scented hand soaps, I like this. It is the attitude of generosity that people seem to have around Christmastime. It is the peppermint everything and everywhere time of year.

As a countdown for Christmas, my wife wraps all the Christmas books we have and our son is allowed to open on every day. I don’t know if this is more exciting for him or for me. Some of the books haven’t changed and I remember having many of them read to me as a kid. In high school choir I actually learned the baritone parts to six different Christmas carols, so when I hear them sung I actually think I can help make them sound good too.

Christmas is familiar, there are routines and a sense of normalcy…until something doesn’t go as planned.

As I’m reflecting on Luke 2 this week in preparation for the weekend message, I’m almost shocked at what seems to be such an unplanned event Jesus’ birth seemed to be. If God ever had an opportunity to “show off” it was at the birth of Jesus. In the birth of John the Baptist in Luke 1, John’s birth is proclaimed and announced in the capital city of Jerusalem, at the temple and in the center of the city hubbub. Jesus, His birth is humblest as He is born in a rural country town. John’s father is a priest and his mother is from the line of Aaron. Jesus’ earthly parents are average, middle class and have an average social status.

What was God doing? Why does the birth seem so unplanned and so chaotic? The first Christmas was not the picture we see in an amazing depiction of a nativity scene. Join us this Sunday as we look at the birth of Jesus, our Savior. Invite someone because I believe they’ll walk out with more HOPE than they walked in with.

Blessings!
Pastor Tom
BELONG - GROW - SERVE

December 6, 2013

I recently read about a man named Father Damien. Father Damien became a Catholic Priest in Hawaii where he served at several parishes on the island of Oahu. Father Damien became aware of the public health crisis in Hawaii and decided he could help. Hawaiians were afflicted with diseases that settlers had brought to the islands such as influenza, syphilis and leprosy.

King Kamehameha IV separated the lepers and moved them to a settlement on the island of Molokai. They were given food and some supplies but nothing to help them with proper healthcare. Father Damien thought they should at least have a priest to assist with the spiritual needs.

In May 1873, Damien went to the settlement where 600 lepers lived. He built a church and established a Parish for lepers. Damien was more than their priest; he was a doctor and dressed their ulcers. He was a builder and helped the lepers build homes, beds and a school. Damien built over 200 coffins and dug their graves so they could be buried with dignity and respect.

Damien made a difference in the colony of lepers. He went to a place where people were deprived, forced to fight to survive and left with little resources and medical supplies. The colony of lepers became a place of civilization with painted houses, farms, construction, renewed faith and value. Damien showed the lepers that they were worth more than the world told them.

Father Damien got too close. He touched the lepers, he embraced them and he loved them. While serving the lepers and striving to make their life better, he contracted leprosy. As he spoke to the lepers one day, it is recorded that he didn't say, "You lepers." He actually said, "We lepers." Damien had become one of them. Damien was not living among them, he was one of them.

I like this story because it reminds me of the message of Christmas. God isn't positioned far off in another land. He isn't asking us to travel far and long to find Him. Instead, God came to us! He lived in our skin. Jesus walked, talked, ate, slept, cried, got angry, was sad, happy and laughed.

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then, with confidence, draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  Hebrews 4:15-16

This is what Christmas is all about. God, through His Son, came to earth to rub shoulders with us. God wrapped himself in skin and came near to us. Christmas is about Immanuel, God with us!

Our Christmas series is Surprised by Hope. I want you to be here as we celebrate the Christmas season together as a church. I want you to invite people who need this Hope! I believe people will walk out with more Hope than they walked in with; they just need you to ask them to come.

Blessings!
Pastor Tom
BELONG - GROW - SERVE

November 13, 2013

I was so pleased with you this past Sunday. Thank you for checking out the information on our missionaries in the hallways before, between and after our worship services. Thank you for making Chris, our guest speaker feel so welcome and thank you for receiving his message to you. Chris is someone who God used to create a passion in my heart, mind and life for missions. I hope you were able to see why. Thank you again for being so receptive to our mission's emphasis weekend.

This past summer we walked through The Story of the Bible. We left this series with the reminder that we are all a part of the story still being written. For three months, I have had the honor and privilege to serve you as your Lead Pastor. I have felt led and compelled to take a few weeks before the Christmas season and talk about Our Storyand specifically for this Sunday, The State of Our Church.
In preparation for Our Story: The State of Our Church I would ask, beg and plead with you to prepare yourself for the message this weekend by reading Acts 13-16, yes, four whole chapters. It is nearly impossible to cover this scripture in the message time. It would do you and me a great service to take some time the next few days and read through Acts 13-16, which is Paul’s missionary journey.

I believe we’re in for a surprise in how much Mountainview’s Story looks like Paul’sStory. There are some lessons to learn and a future to look toward as we look at all Paul dealt with.

This weekend will be a great time to hear my heart and see where we are headed.

If you haven’t already, please consider the way you will participate in our 4 Ways of Practicing Generosity this season as a church. Operation Christmas Child boxes are due this week, Thanksgiving Box food is due next week and missionary cards are available one more week. Coming soon will be our Christmas drive through the Giving Tree. Watch for those to be available in a couple weeks.

Blessings!
Pastor Tom

Addiction

I’m so thankful to be a part of a church that cares about the restoration of people. In reality, if you can breathe and you’re human then you probably have issues, struggles, disappointments and let downs. All these things can set us up to addictive behavior. Often our addictions are addictions because we have unresolved underlying issues. Mountainview Christian Church has a restoration ministry because we believe God can change people, save lives and marriages, encourage and support the lonely, broken and lost. I was pleased to hear Pastor Dave share with our church about addictions and give us practical steps to break free from our addictions.

As I thought through the message on Sunday as verse kept coming back to mind:

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will alsoprovide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)

God is aware of our addictions. What is your addiction? What are you willing to overcome your addiction? Pastor Dave reminded us to not deceive yourselves, to understand and resolve your underlying issues, to remember your addiction is a life-long battle and to think about what God is calling you to do with the rest of your life. I hope you know that Mountainview is committed to partnering with the Holy Spirit and producing life change.

Our Restoration Ministry is for real people with real issues to find real answers. If you’d like more information about this ministry please contact Pastor Dave at the church. This ministry is making a difference in many lives. Currently we have four counselors and one life coach available seeing between 35-40 clients each week. We have a partnership with 12 Step programs where nearly 150 people come into our church building for support each week. In addition to the 12 Step programs we offer classes such as Divorce Care, The Genesis Process, Grief Share, Hungry for Hope, Changes that Heal and How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk.

We finish our HOSTAGE series this week with LIES. Lies we tell and lies we believe can hold us HOSTAGE. We will provide you with a practical strategy to break free from LIES. I hope you’ll plan on being here as we wrap this series up.

Don’t forget to swing by on October 31st for Trunk or Treat, 6:30-8:30pm. Bring your whole family to our parking lot for a night of decked out vehicles, family fun, foods and treats as we strive to bring light into our community.

Mountainview, I am proud of you, I believe in you and I love you!
Pastor Tom

Bitterness

What a great weekend we had at Mountainview! I'm incredibly pleased to see the positive response many of you had on Sunday. We are committed to praying for those of you who indicated your struggle with bitterness. In fact, many of you with week have been challenged to face your bitterness with courage and boldness. We are thinking of you and praying for you.
Bitterness ruins and forgiveness restores. Who are you bitter toward? Why are you bitter? How can you begin to forgive? What one step will you take this week to begin forgiving someone who hurt you?

Consider the following Scriptures and questions:

· Matthew 5:43-48

o How did Jesus say we ought to treat our enemies? (vs. 44)
o What did Jesus say we ought to do for those who persecute us? (vs. 44)
o Why type of people did Jesus cite as loving those who love them? (vs. 46)
o What exceptional standard did Jesus give us? (vs. 48)
o If our God is able to exhibit grace and mercy to everyone, why is it difficult for us to be like Him?
o What would have to happen in your heart in order for you to be able to pray for an enemy?
o In what ways does a loving spirit demonstrate that we are God’s people?
o For which of your “enemies” will you pray every day this week?

· Matthew 18:21-35

o What makes forgiveness difficult?
o What question did Peter ask Jesus? (vs. 21)
o What surprising answer did Jesus give Peter? (vs. 22)
o How did Jesus illustrate His answer to Peter’s question? (vs. 23)
o What did the servant go do after his debt was cancelled? (vs. 28)
o How did the onlookers respond when they saw the first servant throw the second in jail? (vs. 31)
o If God is so willing to forgive us, why are we sometimes unwilling to forgive others?
o How do we sometimes forgive with strings attached?
o What should we do if we don’t feel like forgiving others?
o What individual(s) do you need to “release from their debts” this week?

This coming Sunday we will continue our HOSTAGE series and look at worrying. The word worry comes from an old German word that means to choke or to strangle. This is what worry does sometimes. Worry strangles the life out of us, even though there are so many things to worry about. How many of us are held HOSTAGE by WORRY?

I pray you have a great week! Don’t forget to invite someone to church with you on Sunday, because no matter who they are or what they are going through, I believe they will walk out with much more HOPE than when they walked in! Mountainview, I am proud of you, I believe in you and I love you!

Pastor Tom

Missions Update: Gitathuru Hello and Farewell - January 24, 2013

Gitathuru Hello and Farewell

Last night Ray and I found out that our sponsored child (“little” Elizabeth) has been moved to the Joska boarding school. If you have been following our entries each day you may remember that we were at Joska on Saturday and shared chapel with them. When I found out I had missed her I was crushed so MOHI arranged for her and the social worker at Joska to travel the 1.5 hours back to Nairobi so we could see her…more about that later.

Hello…today we were matched with our Gitathuru sponsor children. Most of us had picked out our “kids” the first day but were asked to wait until today to spend any individual time with them. We took tons of pictures, presented gifts, prayed and said goodbye. The Gitathuru children are quite young and they were pretty overwhelmed when they were brought from their classrooms to meet us. They are very limited English speakers so we used the social workers as translators. I’m attaching pictures of several of us with our kids.
In addition to meeting our kids we also gave out gifts that were sent by other sponsors from MVCC. We took pictures of the kids to bring back to each sponsor.

Our team also put together over 90 small gift bags for the kids who didn’t receive a gift from their sponsor. The “Common Threads” sewing group from MVCC made dresses and shorts that we put into each child’s gift bag along with a small toy or book.

Our “little” Elizabeth arrived around lunchtime from Joska. She is now 12 and Ray and I started sponsoring her in 2006. We met her for the first time in 2007 when she was 7 years old. She was very tiny and shy. Ray saw her again two years ago and her family had just lost their home to a fire. I had sent some socks and underwear and she was so grateful because she had lost all her clothes in the fire. Today when she walked in she was so much taller and grown up…such a big difference from the timid 7 year old I met five years ago. She immediately recognized us and came and hugged us and we had a wonderful visit. She is growing into such a fine young lady. I told her that we had been to Joska but didn’t know she was there. She had seen us at the chapel service but didn’t get to come find us later. What a joy to know that we have had a part in her education and that she will have a brighter future because of Missions of Hope. I can’t think of a more worthwhile investment.

Farewell… this afternoon we said goodbye to the Gitathuru school today but not until we had a celebration…singing, dancing, gifts, cake and prayers. The children recited their Bible verses, sang “Only a Boy Named David” then danced and thanked us for our time with them. The teachers sang and danced and presented us with shirts and wraps and of course we had to join in the dancing. Then pastor Tom was invited to speak, Merlin presented Buddy to the school and Tom and Ray helped cut a cake and everyone, including all the children, got a small bite. After cake we presented the school with a dozen soccer balls and gave gifts to all the teachers and staff. What a joyous ending to a wonderful week. After hugs and tears we loaded into the van for the last time and said our final farewell until (God willing) we return again.

Tomorrow we leave early for safari. Please continue to pray for our health and safety. We wish you could all join us for the next two days but we will take lots of pictures to share.

God’s blessings to you all…
Elizabeth