Coming Together (over 20 churches represented!!!)

This past Sunday night was an incredible night of Jesus-centered worship and gospel-centered missions.  Vision for the future was cast and the Lord was honored!  God revealed His Word and will

through Romans 10 where the Apostle Paul expresses his desire for people to cry out to the Lord for their salvation in response to hearing the good news of Jesus.

An offering was received for the purpose of missions.  100% of the funds given will go to advance the gospel (one family and community at a time).  We met a widow during this past trip.  Her young husband died this past summer.  They have little income and their home needs to be finished.  We are planning to complete her home during our next trip.  Over $4,000 was given to finish her home and spread the gospel!

If you would like to make a donation toward mission work in the D.R., go to http://www.advancecommunitychurch.org/#/give.  There is a place for making a "note".  100% of your gift will go to the cause of Christ.

It was amazing experience to worship with people from over 20 congregations (including 6 pastors)!  There were also people who came out on Sunday night who don't have a relationship with Jesus.  They heard the truth of Jesus and were challenged to repent and follow Him.  After the service, over 75 people enjoyed fellowship and food from our local Max n Erma's.

We now pray more churches will come together in unity for the sake of the Kingdom in the weeks, months, and years to come!  If you would like to see some pictures from the night, go to http://www.advancecommunitychurch.org/#/media/pictures.

On Mission in the Carribean

A few weeks ago, I arrived back in the states after another amazing trip to the Dominican Republic.

It was my 10th mission trip to this nation I have come to love.  The country, weather, culture, and food aren't the draw, it's the people - the people from the states who make the journey with me and the people who call the DR their home.  We serve in some of the poorest regions of the country.  Yet, I don't really notice their economic status anymore.  I notice their joy and affection for family and Jesus.  There is nothing like a Dominican greeting after being away for several months!  One of our sponsor children ran across the courtyard and jumped into my arms when she saw me.  It was a special moment.

I am beyond excited to lead another team to the Dominican Republic in June.  There will be a total of 34 people on the next trip.  Of whom, about twenty-five of them will be brand new to international missions.  We have witnessed God do amazing things on previous trips in many souls!  We are now praying for Him to reveal His faithfulness and power as we prepare to go.

To see some pictures from the past trip, go to http://www.advancecommunitychurch.org/#/media/pictures.

Friendship & Marriage

I spent considerable time reading articles located at www.theresurgence.com website over the
weekend.  If you are unfamiliar with its content, it is a site dedicated to providing insight for those looking for straightforward answers regarding faith and practice from a biblical perspective.

One particular article stressed the importance of friendship in marriage.  The title of the article is: "The #1 Thing We'd Have Changed in Our Marriage".  I am grateful Heather and I have grown in our friendship over our 12+ years of marriage.  I think it's a good thing to consistently hunger to know each other more as time goes by.  We committed our lives to each other saying before friends and family, "until death do we part".  I long to know her more and more as the years pass by!

Here's a sample from the article mentioned above...

The importance of friendship in marriage relates in some way to everyone, whether married or not:

Single person who is dating: Are you building a genuine, godly friendship, or are you allowing something like sex get in the way of establishing a firm foundation in your relationship?

Engaged couple: Are you truly committed to always seeking to be better friends to one another, and helping one another to do this in encouraging and not criticizing ways?

Married couples: Is your friendship growing, or have you allowed bitterness, distractions, duties, chores, tasks, kids, work, responsibilities, and/or extended family to contribute weeds that have led to the withering of your friendship?"

15 Truths Every Christian Should Know

I started reading a new book this week called, "Christian Living Beyond Belief: Biblical Principles for the Life of Faith".  It gives a fantastic overview of discipleship.  One section described 15 key truths all Christians should know (and even memorize).

Check this out (straight from the book):

     The following are standard verses that will help you all the days of your Christian life, so it is worth the hard work and sweat to commit them to memory:

1. There is only one God
     c Deuteronomy 6:4

2. Jesus is Deity and equal to God the Father
     c John 1:1–3
     c John 1:14
     c John 8:58
     c John 17:5

3. God is three distinct Persons
     c Ephesians 4:4–6
     c John 14:26
     c John 16:13

4. The Holy Spirit lives in every Christian
     c John 14:17
     c Romans 8:9

5. Jesus is the only way to heaven
     c John 14:6
     c 1 Timothy 2:5

6. Salvation is God’s gift, not from human works
     c John 3:16
     c Ephesians 2:8–9
     c Titus 3:4–7
     c 2 Peter 3:9

7. Salvation comes from believing the good news of the Gospel
     c Acts 16:31
     c 1 Corinthians 15:1–5
     c Romans 1:16
     c Romans 6:23
     c Romans 10:9–10

8. The Bible is God’s Word
     c 2 Timothy 3:16
     c Hebrews 4:12
     c Revelation 22:18–19

9. Christians are expected to be obedient
     c Ephesians 5:18
     c Galatians 5:22–23
     c 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18

10. Every Christian should be a disciple
     c Luke 9:23–24
     c John 15:8
     c 2 Timothy 2:2

11. Every Christian should pray
     c Philippians 4:6

12. Every Christian will experience suffering
      c Philippians 1:29

13. The Devil is real
     c 2 Corinthians 4:4
     c 1 Peter 5:8

14. Hell is a real place
     c Matthew 10:28

15. Jesus is coming again
     c Philippians 3:20–21
     c 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

What would it look like if all Christians committed this list to memory?  I'd like to think the church (believers) would be much stronger in their witness and more effective in their disciple-making efforts.

Exciting Workday @ church!

Yesterday was a fantastic day of service.  Eleven people devoted much of their day to paint 4 restrooms, a hallway, and a classroom of the church we are sharing with another congregation.  There were also 4 brand-new, commercial toilets installed.  What an honor to serve with such wonderful, servant-minded people!

Here are a few pictures... (more to come soon!)

That's Music to My Ears (with Franklin Graham)

Last Thursday, several hundred church leaders from Pittsburgh and the surrounding area met for lunch, prayer, and a message from Franklin Graham.  It was incredible to see so many come together for the sake of the Kingdom!  Franklin, the son of Billy Graham, presented a message from the gospel of Luke in a way that breathed life into the room, gave hope, and pointed people to Jesus.

I was especially touched by the sweet spirit of the luncheon's singer, Lacey Sturm.  She sang a powerful song which stirred passion and gratitude within my soul.  The song is called, "Mercy Tree" by Krissy Nordhoff.  Here's a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk4m5FS1F6U 

Franklin Graham is coming back to Pittsburgh this summer for a 3-day festival at the Consol Energy Center.  Advance Community Church will be praying for this great opportunity and will look to serve as best we can.  For information about the event, follow this link: http://threerivershope.org

Have Mercy

Over the past few weeks, I have been doing word studies trying to better understand (and apply) the

Credit: Graceway Media

truths of words we often take for granted.  I have been blessed to have the Portfolio edition of Logos Bible software on my computer and iPad.  This gives me instant, itemized, and fully integrated access to a library of about 3,000 books to read and study.  It's a great resource which I would totally recommend to anyone who is serious about studying theology and the Bible.

Last week's word: MERCY.  What a fantastic word with such powerful dimension!  Mercy is a complex concept involving the compassionate disposition to forgive an offender AND to help him in his sorry plight.  It's an attribute of God and a virtue of humanity.  In His mercy, God has chosen to reach down and grant mercy to those who cry out in repentance.  He forgives and helps us in spite of ourselves.  How awesome is that?!  I want to live a life that points people to Jesus by how I show mercy.  What would our society be like if we all instinctively exercised mercy?