On a practical level I believe all of our students need prayer. They all face pressure and temptations, and I believe it is our spiritual obligation to take each of them to the throne of grace. On more than one occasion Blake told Barb that he knew people were praying for him during exam week.

However, I think the train has derailed a little and, therefore, next year we will have a major overhaul to this ministry. I sense that we have focused more on gifts than prayer. This practice is destructive to the kids for two reasons: first, it makes them more selfish because they get used to looking for a gift when they see their adoptive family on Sunday; second, it takes away from the main focus of prayer. I daresay that some have even hesitated in adopting a student to pray for because it means more buying.

I'll lay the burden of derailing the train on myself, but from here on let's keep the focus on praying. To encourage you to remember here are some tips that may help:

Grace & Peace,

Scott

First, an earthquake is one of those reminders from God that the earth is under a curse because of sin. When sin came it didn't just affect humanity, the effects of sin are universal. Our entire planet feels the result of man's disobedience and desperately wants to get out from underneath its curse. Paul wrote,

For the creation itself was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now (Romans 8:20-22).

Tuesday afternoon we felt "mother earth" push!

Second, an earthquake reminds me that life happens quickly! Certain events, good and bad, come into our life unexpectedly. No matter how much we plan, something could come at us out of the blue and knock us out of our argyle socks. People don't plan to have a catastrophe touch their life. None of us wake up in the morning saying, "I think I'd like something really bad to happen to me today." That would be crazy, but these things happen every day, and when they touch close to home it hits an emotional chord we didn't realize existed.

The plain fact is that we just don't know what's going to happen tomorrow; in fact, we don't even have a promise that tomorrow will ever get here (and for some it won't). Listen to what James had to say on that matter,

You do not know what tomorrow will bring (James 4:14).

It is moment like these we need to be reminded that God has reversed the effects of sin through the cross. It is in the gospel we find our hope in catastrophes, not in our emergency preparedness (as important as that is). It is only through Jesus and what He did at Calvary that we find hope at times like these.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

God spiritually created us to be new through Christ. Paul called us God's "new creation" and then he describes God's creative activity in our lives with the statement "the old has passed away; behold, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). God is not satisfied with leaving us the way we were; He wants and expects change. This change is radical in the sense that it affects every single, solitary area of our life. It's a different direction for our lives, a different desire for our passions, a new set of habits, and a different way of looking at life.

Another point I want to make is that this change never ends. The newness is always new again. We will never get to a point in our lives when change is no longer necessary. We must always be growing. This constant, spiritual growth is by God's sovereign design according to Romans 8:29,

Just think about it, God's plan from before time began was to make us more and more like His Son. This plan is rooted in the gospel, continues in the gospel and finishes in the gospel. I say this because our spiritual growth is about being conformed to the image of Jesus. He didn't say conformed to a set of rules or traditions, but His Son. Central to being remade int he image of Jesus is the cross, and so central to our spiritual growth is the cross.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

One of my fondest memories of Abby is a family vacation we took to Florida. We were staying in a resort in Orlando and decided to take the clan to FAO Schwarz. We had to park about a mile away. On the long walk Abby held my hand and talked to me the entire way. That was probably 12 years ago, but to me it happened yesterday. What I love about memories is that nobody can take them away from you and that one will always stay in my heart.

A Proud & Sad Daddy,

Scott

In thinking about what I wanted to write to you this week I thought of at least one caution for us all: Don't get so caught up in the future of moving into a new building that we forget about ministering in the present! There is a serious danger is focusing so much attention on the move of tomorrow that we neglect what God has called us to do today. I really believe that we will lose our focus of honoring the great majesty of our God and helping the body of Christ at Calvary if all of our attention is given over to a new building. One area we must focus on is reaching new people who belong at Calvary no matter where we are meeting. We cannot afford to wait; we cannot allow the providential appointments God puts in our paths to slip past.

God has providentially and strategically placed us in our families, schools, neighborhoods, workplaces and hangouts to plant the seed of the gospel or to water that seed. And remember, it is not up to us to harvest...that is God's business.

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth (1 Corinthians 3:6).

The reason God orchestrates His work this way is to maximize the glory He receives when a life is radically changed through His gospel.

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7).

We need to know our place in God's "soul gardening" plan. So, let's put on the gloves, get out the seed and watering can and get into the garden!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

I thought it was time I posted the artist's rendering of the new building we will hopefully occupy in November 2011. Right now all we can say is, "Welcome to our pad!" Literally, all we have is a concrete pad, but they will start putting up the steel on Wednesday (7-3-11). We are all excited and are praying daily that this new location would honor our Lord and benefit His children!

First, it is the right question because this is not the first time we've asked it. Over the last three years I have repeatedly asked this question. With every step we've taken to relocate Calvary Church I've personally asked this question in one form or another. When I stop and ask this specific question it causes me to ask another important one: "Why are we doing this?" If the first response from me is anything other an to display God's glory in a greater way to a community searching for a God-honoring church then our motivation is completely wrong. As we move forward we must always keep God's glory as the preeminent goal is relocating.

Second, it is the right question because of the danger of getting caught up in building a building and neglecting the church! I never dreamed how much it would take to build a new building. The largest building I've ever built is a 47 sq. ft. tree house, and that didn't turn out too great. So now, faced with a building project of almost 17,000 sq. ft. is quite daunting. Almost every day we are faced with emails, phone calls, engineer reports on concrete, invoices, sales people, and the list goes on. But what about the people who come week-after-week seeking direction, conviction and comfort from God's Word? What about the shut-ins who are looking for a friendly face to knock on their door? What about the saints who find themselves facing surgery at the hospital? Remember, these things haven't magically stopped just because we are building a building. So this question reminds me that if we get caught up in the sticks and bricks while neglecting the people then we are not truly building the church!

My prayer for Calvary is that as we build this building we will never neglect the truly important...the glory of God and good of His people.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

"As a young boy, I decided to skip school for the day as I was sure I would not pass a test to be given. A day of hooky sounded like a better plan. I was not alone in this though and soon a friend joined me in a day of adventure. It was midday when we wandered to the steps of Calvary Baptist Church and went inside to look around. Honestly there were no preconceived plans for what happened next, but I was there so I am guilty. As I looked around, I saw my friend taking a microphone from a stand and placing it under his shirt. I asked him what he was doing and before I knew it we were both running out the door.

"That was forty-three years ago and it is still on my mind. I am a Christian and have been for over twenty-five years. I know Christ has forgiven me, but want to give back what was taken. Please accept my deepest apologies and the enclosed check."

Oh, how this letter touched my heart (as I hope it does yours)! Immediately I was reminded of what Paul said it Acts 24:16,

Biblically this man did the right thing. He sought forgiveness from God first and then began building his life for Christ. Along the way God changed him and that changed involved a radical obedience to the Spirit's moving. Eventually his conscience was convicted of the wrong he committed forty-three years ago against a congregation who for the most part didn't know the theft took place or had forgotten and moved on. However, God would not let this man move on until he radically obeyed and proved his repentance through a changed life. I am sure his check more than covers the microphone, and besides, the microphone is not the real issue anyway...his radical obedience is.

I praise our Father in heaven for letters and repentant faith like this. I reminds me that my spiritual walk is not moving in the right direction until I am ready to obey my Sovereign Lord at any cost to me personally. I hope this reminder helps your walk too.

Grace & Peace,

Scott