This Weekend's Message: What Does God Pray for You?

I once had a professor who brought me great joy whenever he would pray. The joy I had was not because he was praying for me; it was because his prayers seemed so different from the prayers to which I was accustomed. For me, prayer often seemed boring and routine. There was the maintenance of thanking God for some stuff (most often food), asking for safety and health, and then maybe sometimes apologizing for sins that I was aware that I had committed. For this professor, though, it was very different. It was as if he was deeply in tune with God. It was reverent, and yet conversational. It was deep and moving, yet very personal. His prayers reflected a life that was deeply connected to God and deeply committed to aligning with what mattered most to God.
           
For all of us, our prayers say something about who we are and what we value. When we pray only in times of crisis, this reveals what we think of God’s role in our lives. When we pray only for safety and health, this reveals what we think is most important. When we have great gaps with no prayer at all, this reveals the importance we place on being connected to God. This is why I am so impacted anytime I am in the presence of someone whose prayers reflect a powerful connection with God.
           
But what about being in the presence of Jesus while He prayed? What would that be like? What would we learn about Him, about God, about what is important, and about ourselves? This Sunday we will get to walk through the longest recorded prayer of Jesus, as He prepared to fulfill His ultimate purpose. Come prepared to learn how Jesus declassifies God through His prayer, and also to learn how His prayer reveals what He values most for all of us.

Dan

This Weekend's Message: Be Known, Making Jesus Known (Back to Church Sunday)

Summer is a time when many of us take the opportunity to change up our routines – to spend time going places, slow down, see new sights, and find refreshment during times of vacations. But with the fall comes a time when routines are re-established – our children go back to school, college students go back to their dorms, vacations are over, and we go back to work. And while church has not stopped this summer, the fall does feel like a time of new beginnings – of starting something new and focusing on something that will make a difference. This Sunday will be an exciting time as we look ahead to what we believe God has for us. You won’t want to miss because we have a special surprise just for you.

Gary

This Weekend's Message: The Wrong Side of History

“The wrong side of history” has become a common phrase in recent cultural and political conversations. It is used to describe people who cling to a way of life, a system of beliefs, or a moral code that is fading out of existence (or at least out of favor). The threat of being on the wrong side of history can seem daunting. It can feel like being an aging, broken-down boxer, while the young up-and-comers begin to take over. All of us want to be the kind of people who, when our grandchildren look back on us, will be viewed as being on the right side of controversial and divisive issues.
           
It can often feel like Christians are on the wrong side of history. In our culture, many Christian beliefs are viewed as unenlightened. Many Christian moral beliefs are viewed as outdated. Many Christian movements can feel like they are fading. At a global level, and at an individual level, it can be intimidating to feel like many Christians are viewed as the aging boxer who refuses to hang up his gloves.
           
If you are a Christian, do you ever struggle to feel that you are on the wrong side of history? If you are not a Christian, do you tend to view Christians as people on the wrong side of history? This Sunday, in some of his last words to His disciples, Jesus gives a different perspective—and a different grid—for understanding what it looks like to be on the right side of history.

Dan

This Weekend's Message: Stay Connected

When was the last time you were about to embark on some task that felt utterly overwhelming? Whether it was a work project, a school assignment, a family problem, or some physical challenge, you probably – at some point – started to wonder if you had what it took. This is what we all wonder when we face something daunting. Do we have what it takes? Is what is inside of us – our intelligence, our skills, our experiences – enough to make us sufficient for what is before us?
           
Many of us feel overwhelmed when we think of what it means to follow Jesus fully. We need the strength to fight against sin, the courage to speak boldly to others, the compassion to sacrifice for those in need, and the love to pour out to those around us. Do we really have what it takes? The answer, according to what Jesus says in John 15, is "No." We don’t have what it takes. But we have access to the one who does.
           
This Sunday we will explore Jesus as the one and only source and we will explore how we stay connected to Him.

Dan

This Weekend's Message: The One That Got Away

If you watch enough baseball, you will occasionally see a pitcher dramatically lose control of one of his pitches. Everything will seem to be normal and then suddenly the pitch will get away from him and sail over the catcher’s head, or past him toward the backstop, or—even worse—directly at the batter. It is dramatic to watch him as he—at one moment—seems to have complete control over where the ball will go, and then as he—the next moment—seems to have no say in the matter.

Have you ever had a situation get away from you? Have you ever—at work or at home or in your personal life—had something that you thought was under control, spin dramatically out of your reach? Have you ever had that helpless feeling that a significant situation had gotten away from you and that you have no power to fix it?

What do we do when a situation gets away from us? And how does the dramatic story of Jesus’ betrayal by Judas help answer this question?

Dan

This Weekend's Message: Washing Up

Some people are uncomfortable receiving gifts from others. Let me just say...I’m not. If someone offers to pay for lunch, if someone opens a door for me, if someone gives me tickets to see the Dodgers, I don’t say, “I couldn’t possibly accept these.” Instead, I say a genuine, “Thank you,” and I accept. I have friends, though, who have a lot of trouble receiving gifts. They feel uncomfortable and feel like they “owe” the gift-giver or that they need to make themselves worthy of the gift. This is not a struggle that I have.

I can brag that I am not too proud to receive gifts from others, but, on the other hand, I am not always as cognizant of ways that I can meet the needs of others. I am a pretty good receiver, but not a great giver. Some people are poor receivers, but they are active givers, constantly seeing the meeting the needs of others.
           
Most of us are good at giving or good at receiving, but very few of us are good at both. We probably, unconsciously, feel like we need to choose. Givers get frustrated with the mooching receivers, and receivers get frustrated with the uptight givers.
           
Does God call us to choose? Does He call us to get up out of our seats and make sure we are giving? Does He call us to rest and relax and simply receive? The answer is that it is not either-or. On Sunday, as we observe Jesus perform one of His most beautiful acts of servanthood, we will see the relationship between giving and receiving.

Dan

This Weekend's Message: Everything to Lose

How much are you willing to lose?

How much are you willing to lose for your career? Your leisure time, your energy, your freedom, your integrity? How much are you willing to lose for your family? Your tastes and preferences, your pride, your anger, your discretionary income? How much are you willing to lose for your health? Your time, your energy, your favorite foods, your mental focus?

How much are you willing to lose for your relationship with Jesus? A little bit of time? A little bit of money? A little Bible reading, a little Christian music, a little volunteer work, a little prayer before meals? If you’re not willing to lose very much for your relationship with Jesus, is it possible that you’re missing out on some amazing gains?

At Life Bible Fellowship Church on Sunday we will talk about what Jesus has to say about what we need to be willing to lose in order to experience the full benefits that He came to bring.

Dan

This Weekend's Message: What Did You Expect?

When I was a kid, I used to hate it when my ears needed to pop. I would try just about anything to get the discomfort to go away, but my options seemed limited. I would yawn. I would try to get any excess wax out of them. I would drink some water. Sometimes, though, none of these tried-and-true methods worked. Then, one day, someone told me to plug my nose and fill my cheeks with air.
           
Imagine hearing that as a kid. It sounded so silly that I thought that the person who said it to me was making fun of me. Eventually, though, I gave it a try. Immediately my ears popped and I said, “I can’t believe that worked!” My problem ended up being solved by a method that I would never have tried, never have conceived, and never would have imagined would be effective.
           
Jesus was an expert in surprising people with His own actions and with the actions He called them to take. This Sunday we will explore a story in which Jesus shatters others’ expectations of Him, and surprises everyone with how He presents Himself. And, in doing this, He also invites us to follow Him into a very surprising solution to the problems that we deeply long for God to resolve.

Dan

This Weekend's Message: Extravagant Worship

Have you ever been given an extravagant gift from someone, but had a difficult time receiving it? Maybe you’ve said to the gift giver, “This is too much, I just can’t accept it.” And then the giver insists and then the two of you argue back and forth for a while, but after some time you relent and finally accept it. 

How does that make you feel and what do you do next?

If you’re like many people, maybe you feel like you must out-give the giver of the gift and do something bigger and better. And so you figure out a way to give back. Or maybe you just try and show your appreciation over and over again to the giver. Or maybe you say nice things or do nice things in an effort to feel worthy of the gift or somehow make up for the extravagant gift you've received. How should we respond when we’ve been given an extravagant gift? 

This week as we worship through music and message, we will look at what it means to bring our extravagant worship to Jesus. We will see Mary bring a very extravagant gift to Jesus and as she brings her gift, we’ll see how others respond and we’ll see how Jesus responds. And in the process we will explore how we can respond as we learn from Mary about the worship we bring to Jesus.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. It’s going to be a great morning!

Gary

This Weekend's Message: When God is Too Late

There is a dramatic scene near the beginning of the movie Braveheart. William Wallace’s wife is captured by British soldiers and is about to be executed. As she awaits her own death, she looks beyond herself to the hills. Clearly she is hoping to see her husband come riding in to save her. As her execution grows closer, she looks all the more urgently, hoping to be rescued. Without him intervening, she is sure to die. And William Wallace does arrive, but not until long after her death. He arrives far too late to do anything.

Have you ever been in desperate situation and prayed—I mean really prayed—for God to intervene and keep something terrible from happening? You probably have. And, sadly, sometimes you have probably experienced the disappointment of God not intervening before the tragedy struck. Your faith may have suffered because it seemed that, if God arrived at all, he arrived too late.

On Sunday we will look at a time, a long ago, when Jesus seemed to arrive too late. Many people thought that the story had already ended. But Jesus was only beginning.

Dan

What’s Happening in Student Ministry?

By Gary Keith, Lead Pastor

Since the end of April, we have been experiencing a transitional time in our Student Ministry as we have been praying and searching for the person God has to be our new Pastor of Student Ministries. I have been the pastoral presence during the midweek and Sunday youth group times and have had the privilege of working alongside our youth ministry adult volunteers who are wonderfully committed to our students. 

With this change and time of transition, I know that many of you have been in prayer for what’s next. We know that a new pastor to students is essential for the health and vitality of a student ministry, and our prayer has been to find the right person as soon as possible.

In recent weeks during my own personal prayer time, I heard God whisper a name to me of someone who could meet this need to our students and become our new Pastor of Student Ministries. I didn’t act on that whisper right away but gave it some time, and each time I would go to God on this subject the same name would come to me.

After many confirmations in my heart, I went to this person and asked if they would pray about becoming our Pastor of Student Ministries. This was not something I was going to mandate or try and make happen, but something I wanted this person to pray about and see if God would either confirm this whisper or if maybe I had heard something wrong.

After a period of praying with his wife and close family, seeking God’s direction and will for this time in his life and ministry, believing that the role of youth pastor is what God has for him here at LBF, I am excited to let you know that Jeff Taylor, our current Pastor of Worship, will be stepping into the role of Pastor of Student Ministries, effective June 1.

Jeff was first hired in 2003 as our Pastor of Student Ministries. He was in that position until 2007, when he took on 50% of the teaching team role in the main services in addition to his youth position. In 2009 Jeff left youth ministry when he took on the Pastor of Worship role – a role that he has functioned in since. As a youth pastor, Jeff demonstrated over and over again that he has the ability to connect with and reach junior high and high school students. Jeff is excited to follow God’s lead back into student ministry and be used by Him to minister to the lives of our young people. 

This is not a band-aid or quick fix. This is where we believe God has us and are  excited to see how He will move.

Understandably, this change may seem abrupt and quick, but it is with great confidence that God is leading this way and Jeff is stepping into this role. Summer camp and other youth activities are right around the corner, and Jeff and the volunteer staff are hard at work, assuring a safe and spiritually meaningful time for our students.

This change means we will also experience a transition in our worship ministry and the main services as we look for a new Pastor of Worship. During this transition we will have some familiar faces leading our adults in worship through music. And I hope you will join me in praying for our next worship pastor – pray that God would be smack-dab in the middle of this process and that we would see His Spirit lead us to the right person quickly, just as I believe He has for our Student Ministry.

It is with great anticipation that I look to the rest of this year and beyond. As I told our staff recently…

Healthy things grow – growing things change – changing things challenge us – challenge forces us to trust God – trust leads to obedience – obedience makes us healthy – healthy things grow.

I believe this speaks to where we are right now. Things are changing and this will challenge us, but I would ask you to join me in looking to God as we trust Him and walk in obedience to Him and as we do, grow in our health.

If I can answer any further questions about all of this, please feel free to send me an email.

This Weekend's Message: The Good Shepherd

On March 23, 1997, 39 members of a religious group called “Heaven’s Gate” participated in a mass suicide. They had been taught that by taking their own lives and exiting their earthly bodies, they would end up on a space ship that was following the Hale-Bopp Comet. They trusted the teachings enough to take their own lives, believing that in the end their devotion would lead them to a better life.

This sad story illustrates two powerful truths. The first is that we long so deeply for a better life that we are willing to go to great lengths and take great risks to try to get it. The second is that we are all looking for someone to follow. We all want to hitch our wagon to the right person, the right teaching, the right path, the right guide, so that we will be led to a better life. The problem with the members of Heaven’s Gate was not that they trusted someone else too much. It was that they trusted the wrong guide. Because of this, their noble attempt to trust ended in disaster and tragedy.

Who do you trust to guide you? To whom are you looking to lead you to a better life? This Sunday we will walk through a passage in which Jesus offers Himself as the only one who can guide us to life. Though this passage we will see why we should trust Him, and we will also see what it looks like to trust Him.

Dan

Let’s Give Ourselves to the Lord And Then Act on What He Leads Us to Do

By Gary Keith, Lead Pastor 

It’s time to give you – our church family – a quick financial update. Our fiscal year ends on June 30 and that is the time we take a good look at how we did in comparing our giving and our budget. Included in this Scroll (below) is a quick rundown of how our giving has been in relation to our budget. As you can see, we are behind as we enter our last month for this fiscal year.

I believe LBF is making a difference in our community and around the world as your giving reaches a great many people. This year we have sent out four adult missions teams to international projects. We support other international missionaries who are helping to bring the gospel to people throughout the world. We support a variety of local ministries such as the GAP, Assure Pregnancy Center, and Pacific Lifeline. We fund our core ministries such as Life Kids Children’s Ministry, Exit 83 Student Ministry, adult ministry, LIFE Groups, worship, teaching, and administration. We help people who are in financial need. We keep our property and facility well maintained and cared for. And most importantly, all of the funds you give are at work in advancing the Good News of Jesus.

Financial giving is one of those areas that I think we can all use a reminder about throughout the year. So as we begin June, I wanted to once again challenge each of you – as the LBF family – to seek in the Lord in prayer about your financial giving. Our belief about giving is based on 1 Corinthians 8. In that passage we learn that we are to first give ourselves to the Lord and then act on what He leads us to do. So I’m asking you to go to prayer and then simply act on what God reveals to you. If each of us will do this, I believe we can erase the deficit we now face.

May God bless you as you pray and give.

VBS Kicks Off July 14

By Laurie Baiz, Director of Life Kids Children’s Ministry

Summer vacations are about to begin and there is excitement in the air over the fun activities planned for the warm weather! So as you make your plans, I hope that your kids will be available July 14-18, from 5:30-8 p.m. for Vacation Bible School (VBS). This year the kids will put on their detective hats and become secret agents. Their mission is to discover, decide, and defend the truth about who Jesus really is! These secret agents will get to search for evidence, play games, make crafts, share a meal together, and worship God through music. Don’t miss out and register today (and sign up to volunteer!) at lbfchurch.com > VBS. Can’t wait to see you at Agency D3 Headquarters!

This Weekend's Message: Blind Spots

If we find out that our vision is going bad, we take extreme action. We get eye exams. We get glasses or contacts. We have laser eye surgery. We know how important it is to be able to see clearly, and so we act swiftly if we find out that we are having vision problems.

            

The question is this: Are we that passionate and committed to identifying and dealing with our more significant areas of blindness and ignorance? All of us have certain truths that we don’t want to see about ourselves or about the world. When someone brings up our blind spots, most of us shut our eyes, preferring not to know.

            

On Sunday we’ll see Jesus’ power to free us from our blindness. If you are serious about seeing clearly, come and see how the Light of the World opens our eyes.

Dan

Quick Summer Missions Update

By Carol Hawkins, Missions Coordinator

Thank you for your faithful prayers for our summer mission teams. Three of our teams have served
during the month of May. 

Team Honduras was blessed to be able to help in many ways at the Orphanage Emmanuel, sharing the love of Christ with precious children and staff members.

Team Nicaragua served by drilling a well to provide fresh, clean water for a village. They also did some community education in hygiene practices to improve health. 

Team Mexico was able to build a house for a family in great need in a poor community. 

Karly McCroskey served for three weeks in Kipkaren, Kenya, helping out in the children’s home in meeting many needs of those children. 

All of these teams were able to be Christ’s hands as they served in practical ways and were able to share God’s love. Thank you for your partnership. 

Megan Robinson will head to south Asia with her team from Cal Baptist from June 4-24. She will serve in the slums in that region. Please keep her in prayer.

This Weekend's Message: Have You Found What You're Looking For?

Bono from the British band U2 sang a song with the following lyrics: "I have climbed the highest mountains - I have run through fields - I have run I have crawled - I have scaled these city walls - But I still haven’t found what I’m looking for." Some believe this song is about a search for the meaning of life. Others believe that this song speaks to man’s inability to find lasting contentment. But whatever the meaning, it is clear that many people in our world have not found what they are searching for and live with a constant state of discontentment.

Is it possible to find lasting contentment? And if it is possible, how and where do we find it?

This week as we complete our two week series called "The Gamble,” we will look at what God says about how to find true contentment.

I hope to see you this Sunday!

Gary

Family Events are Coming at You, LBF

By Phil Shahbaz, Pastor of Community Life

If you have been to LBF on a Sunday morning, it’s likely that you’ve noticed an abundance of kids. From the little ones in diapers to the older ones with iPhones, they are exceedingly present at our church. On a typical Sunday, we see them darting through the Worship Center hallways, digging through the doughnut boxes, playing on the play-set, and during the summer, occasionally coming back to mom or dad soaked with water – but with a smile on their face. Our kids energize our church campus and bring a joyful presence to our Sunday mornings. They also bring their parents. 

Families with young children have been growing at LBF, more so than any other constituency we have. In the past year, many of these families have come together to express a desire for more connecting events here at the church. This desire comes from the realization that in many ways our families live life apart from one another. Many of our families are in the same stage of life, dealing with many of the same issues, and hoping to raise our children to love Jesus.

Yet we only see each other briefly on Sundays or at Life Groups. There are families at the church who recognize this issue and are taking steps to bring us together for fun and creative events. 

The first of these events was back in December. A few volunteer families came together and programmed a movie night in the Worship Center. Kids watched a fun movie while they munched on cookies and popcorn and sat in cardboard race cars they made and decorated a few minutes earlier. Parents sat in the background and smiled. This event was not advertised, yet it was very well
attended and an example of the creativity of our LBF parents and their willingness to bring us together. 

Next on the calendar is the LBF Summer Picnic on Sunday, June 22. This is being put together by a community of our families and will be open to everyone at the church. 

This picnic, however, will resemble the kind of old-style church picnic that many of us remember as children. The focus of the picnic will be on fun games that we can all participate in. Remember the potato-sack race as a kid? We will be bringing it back! 

There will be a pie-eating contest, a dessert competition, and a dunk tank
(yes, you will have an opportunity to dunk Pastor Gary Keith, and we may or may not put ice in the water). This picnic will be a fun community day for the entire church family and hopefully an opportunity for a new generation to create memories in a way that we fondly remember. 

As summer continues into fall, we will continue to have events for families such as beach days, movie nights, and game nights. Most importantly, our families at LBF will be brainstorming, hosting, and leading these events as a team. If you are a mom or dad, and would like to help with these events, we 

would love to have you on the team. Please contact me at (909) 981-4848.

This Weekend's Message: Who Are You Betting On?

Imagine that a group of people go to place bets on who will be next year’s Super Bowl MVP. The first gambler picks Peyton Manning. The next picks Marshawn Lynch. The next picks Aaron Rodgers. Then the final gambler chooses...himself. Although he is not an NFL player, he decides that he would rather bet on himself than on anyone else.

You would think someone like this was crazy, right? It simply is not smart to bet on yourself to accomplish something that is way beyond your reach. It is much better to put your money on someone who has shown that he is capable of getting the job done.

This Sunday we will be presented with a choice. When it comes to our money and our happiness, on whom will we gamble? Will we bet on ourselves, believing that we have the capability of using and managing our money and resources in a way that will bring us our greatest good? Or will we conclude that we are not qualified to accomplish this? Will we instead opt to bet on someone who has shown Himself to be more than able to work all things together for the good of those who trust Him? It is a gamble either way. Who will we bet on?

Dan

The Gamble

By Dan Franklin, Pastor of Teaching

In 2007, the Boise State Broncos played the Oklahoma Sooners in the Fiesta Bowl. The game was surrounded by intrigue because Boise State, a small school from a small conference, had gone undefeated. But they were matched up against Oklahoma, a perennial powerhouse in college football. It was a classic David vs. Goliath match-up. The game went back and forth and eventually it came down to one final play. 

Boise State had scored a touchdown and they were down by one point with no time on the clock. They could kick an extra point (a pretty sure bet) and send the game into double overtime. Or they could go for a two-point conversion and end the game then and there. If they were successful, they would win by one. If they failed, they would lose by one. As all the viewers watched in anticipation, the Boise State coach decided to take the gamble and go for the two-point conversion.

You may or may not remember this game or remember the result of this gamble. Regardless of this, however, you probably understand the choice the Boise State coach had. He could play it safe and hope that things eventually worked out, or he could take a big risk. If the risk worked out, he would be at the center of something amazing and memorable. If the risk didn’t work out, he would be ridiculed for being reckless.

Most of us are not coaches, but we are still consistently faced with the choice either to play it safe or to take a gamble. Will I stay in this comfortable job or will I branch out and start my own business? Will I try to remain friends or will I ask her out? Will I go for low-risk-low-interest or will I invest in something more aggressive?

Now think about what it is like to walk with Jesus. Is it safe or risky? While Jesus surrounds us with promises of provision and security, even a passing glance at His life and His commands makes it clear that following Him does not lead to a calm or risk-free life. He calls us to take the gamble and tell our neighbors and friends about Him. He calls us to speak up and gently confront other believers when they are off-track. He calls us to trust Him financially and to give generously to those in need.

Focus in on that last one. Jesus calls us to gamble with our money. No, He doesn’t call us to do this by going to casinos or buying lottery tickets. Instead He calls us to bet on Him. He calls us to take the gamble that giving generously will reap more benefits that playing it safe and keeping what is “ours” to ourselves. This feels incredibly risky (and sometimes reckless), but there is no doubt that Jesus calls us to be sacrificial and generous with our money.

Despite this, many of us play it safe. We tell ourselves that instead of gambling on God, we will play it
safe and avoid the risks involved with generosity. 

But the fact is, when we do this we are fooling ourselves. Our choice is not between playing it safe and taking a gamble. Our choice is between betting on God or betting on ourselves. Will we trust that God will come through, or will we trust ourselves to make a better life out of what we have? Either way, we are making a gamble. Either way, we are betting on someone. Do you want to bet on yourself or on God?

For two weeks in June, we will pause from our series through the Gospel of John to address the issue of financial generosity. The goal of this series will be to challenge each of us to take the gamble and trust that God will come through when we follow where He leads us financially. And the good news is that any risk we take for God is a risk that will absolutely pay off!

This Weekend's Message: Night Vision

When I was used to go to summer camp as a kid, we would have teams compete in a relay race that involved a blindfold and a baseball bat. In the race, we would take turns being blindfolded, and then we would walk up to the baseball bat, stand it up, put our forehead down on the tip of it, and spin around ten times. After spinning, we would then have to run in a straight line to tag-in the next runner so that the relay could continue. As you can imagine, there was a lot of confusion. A lot of people went the wrong way, tripped over obstacles, and took a long time to get where they were going. Being blindfolded would have been enough to make it difficult, but to dizziness made it even more confusing and challenging. It hard to get where you want to go in that condition.

Most of us like to believe that we see the world pretty clearly, and that we are able to get ourselves where we want to go. According to Jesus, however, without him we are walking in darkness. We are blinded and confused, just like a kid who has put on a blindfold and spun around a baseball bat. We are making mistakes about the things around us because we cannot see them. We are injuring ourselves because we are tripping over obstacles. We are wandering around, looking for the right path. We are lost in the darkness, and on our own we cannot find our way.

But Jesus presents himself as the light of the world. He invites us to follow him out of darkness. This Sunday we will experience Jesus’ invitation to follow him, and we will be presented with all the challenges and benefits that go along with this invitation.

Dan

This Weekend's Message: Human Shield

Are you the good cop or the bad cop? Do you interact with people as if what they need most is structure and rules and consequences, or do you interact with people as if what they need most is understanding and sympathy and second chances?           

Typically, we feel like we have to choose one or the other of these modes. We must either be sympathetic to the plight of others and overlook their shortcomings or we must crack the whip and make them take responsibility. This impacts the way we parent, the way we interact in friendships, and even the way we treat ourselves. Do we need to be harder on ourselves or give ourselves more permission and space to figure things out?
           
The most important question of all is not whether you are a good cop or a bad cop. The most important question is whether God is a good cop or a bad cop. Is God’s main strategy to give us rules and direct consequences in order to help us grow and change, or is His strategy to continue to give us more and more chances, being as understanding as He can be?
           
Which one is He? Which one do you want Him to be? This Sunday, we will see Jesus forced to choose between being a good cop or a bad cop. The way He responds reveals a powerful and much-needed truth about how God conducts Himself toward us.

Dan

Thank You to Our Life Kids Children’s Ministry Volunteers!

By Laurie Baiz, Director of Life Kids Children’s Ministry

The school year is quickly coming to an end and with that, our dedicated fall volunteers in Life Kids Children’s Ministry are also coming to the end of their serving session. For this last month of their service I would love for the parents to take a moment and thank their teachers for giving their love, energy, and knowledge to the kids each week. They have truly been a blessing to our kids and LBF families. So if you are a parent, take a moment this month and let them know how much you have appreciated what they have done this school year!

When You Close Your Eyes, What Jesus Do You See?

By Dan Franklin, Pastor of Teaching

Walking through the Gospel of John at LBF, I have been surprised at which passages stand out to me most. One unexpected highlight is the familiar story of Jesus walking on the water. Here is the reason why: It is hard for me to imagine a better visual to bring to mind in order to inspire confidence in the Jesus to whom we have entrusted ourselves.

Most of us like to think that we are ruled by our reason and our will when we come to crisis points in our lives. While this may sound good on paper, it is important for us to know that this is not reality. In our crisis points, detached knowledge and morality go out the window. All we care about is who or what will bring relief and help and guidance in our peril. Unless we have supreme confidence in Jesus, we will turn Him aside and look elsewhere for guidance in our trials.

Here is an important question: When your circumstances overwhelm you, when temptation is at its boiling point, what image of Jesus comes to your mind? 

Does He come to your mind at all? I am not asking what rules or principles come to mind. I am asking what image of Jesus comes to mind. Do you see Him disapprovingly shaking His head? Do you see Him neutrally gazing off in a different direction? Do you see Him angrily getting ready to abandon you? I ask this question because whatever image of Jesus comes to our mind in those default moments will rule what relevance we believe He has to our lives.

John 6:15-21 tells the story of the stormy trip the disciples took as they sailed across the Sea of Galilee. The disciples probably felt like they were at the mercy of the created order. At any moment a wave could knock them over, the wind could tip them, lightning could strike them. They probably felt fairly powerless.

And then there was Jesus, walking out to them on top of the water, utterly unfazed not only by the storm, but by the limitations of humanity. The storm posed no threat to Him. The deep posed no threat to Him. He was absolutely in control. And His only statement in the story is when He says to His disciples, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” Or, more literally, “Don’t be afraid; I am.” Jesus calms our fears not by telling us something good or comforting about ourselves, not by giving us ironclad principles that will make our lives work – He calms our fears by telling us something wonderful about Himself.

The other day I was at the beach, looking out at the ocean. I was reflecting on different challenges that often feel overwhelming to me. My challenges often feel like intimidating waves, crashing dangerously close to me. At times, reflecting on our problems can make us feel like we are completely at their mercy. There were moments at the beach when I felt entirely overwhelmed.

But then I would smile. I would imagine Jesus out there, walking on top of the water. What a visual! It is as if He is saying to all of us, “You can trust Me; I can handle this.” Great comfort and peace come from this reality.

Next time you feel overwhelmed and tossed back and forth by life, consider calling that image to mind. Allow yourself to be calmed and led by the One who rules over all creation.

This Weekend's Message: Choose a Side

“You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

C.S. Lewis wrote those words in his book Mere Christianity in order drive home the point that it is foolish for anyone to have a casual response to Jesus. We can be horrified. We can be amazed. But we can’t shrug our shoulders. Yet many of us, both Christians and non-Christians, respond to Jesus and His call for our lives with casual indifference. This is a problem!

This Sunday we will look at a passage in John’s gospel, and we will see a group of people struggling to decide what they think of Jesus. As we walk through this passage, we will each be compelled to come face to face with Jesus and respond to Him with appropriate gravity.

Dan

Serving is Hard!

By Gary Keith, Lead Pastor

Recently a person posed a question to all of his friends on Facebook. He asked “What makes it hard for you to serve other people?”

They gave some great answers, including:

“Serving is hard when it doesn’t fit into my schedule or plan. Like when I want to go for a walk or take a long bath, but my aging parent needs me to sort their meds, run an errand, or simply be with them.” 

“It’s hard when their need seems endless. I don’t want to risk helping
because I may get sucked in. Being swallowed up in the serving and
not getting to be the me I think I am or should be.” 

“There is such limited energy left after a demanding workday, meeting our basic responsibilities (whether with young kids or in the corporate world). How do you balance the need for rest and self-care with serving others?”

But my favorite answer was this one: “What makes it hard to serve others? Others.” How true! Serving is not something that comes naturally, but that’s okay because as Christians we have someone to follow and lead the way – Jesus. Most of us are familiar with Jesus’ words in Mark where He says, “I did not come to be served but to serve and give my life as a ransom for many.” There it is. As we follow Jesus, serving others becomes a supernatural practice He calls us to join Him in.

“What makes it hard to serve others? Others.”

Recently we held training for the 12 people who have taken a bold step of faith to serve. The training was for our new Open Table ministry. They each gave up six hours one Saturday to learn all they could about serving someone else. And what was so encouraging when the training was over was their
response. “Let’s get moving,” they said. “I’m ready to serve,” they said. Truly they are modeling the heart of Jesus.

In the very near future these 12 people will lead the way as they meet with a person in poverty weekly for a year. The goal is to build a lifelong relationship. And when this relationship unfolds they will be involved in helping this person achieve their own personal life plan.

In some ways I think these 12 are pioneers. They have a heart that beats for the things God’s heart beats for, and I couldn’t be more proud or excited for them and for our church.

LBF is not a place to come and consume the things you need. No, it is a place where together we serve one another in a multitude of ways to help us all see Jesus and grow in Jesus. If you’re not serving you’re missing out. And LBF is not all it could be without you serving. We have many places to start – just send me an email and we’ll help you start serving just like Jesus. Remember our value – every member a minister (one who serves)!

Men of Valor: Thoughts on the Men’s Retreat

By Rich Shores 

Why is it that military movies like “Band of Brothers,” “Saving Private Ryan,” or “Glory” are so popular with men? I would suggest it is because each of those movies portrays men depending on each other with their lives. Their common denominator is a “brotherly love.” Without it, they would all likely perish in battle. The Marine Corps tells its recruits during boot camp that they will “Find the willpower you never knew you had, the strength you never knew you needed, bonds that will never break, and a lifelong desire to serve a purpose far greater than self.”

Well men, if you did not know it, our spiritual journeys present a battle that is no different than those battles that have been waged on the beaches and deserts of foreign nations. However, the battles we face are uniquely different. Paul says, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, NLT).

Take note, Paul tells us, our enemy is not other men; our enemies are those of an unseen world. I ask you, how will you defeat an enemy whom you cannot see? Well, there is hope for all of us at LBF. Men’s Ministry is a band of brothers who are ready to stand up for one another. It not only equips us individually for the battles we are going to face, but we find a brother on our left and a brother on our right to connect with, confide in, and share from the heart when the going gets really, really tough.
Men, believe it or not, we are designed for relationship. We need relationships in order to continue to fight.

Case in point: The recent men’s retreat at Forest Home sent 53 men from LBF for a weekend of building faith and fellowship. I am new to LBF and knew that this was my opportunity to “get to know the guys.” Let me tell you, there were moments of hilarity, late nights of talking about movies, and eating some amazing ribs for lunch (am I right, men?). However, if I had not gone, I would have missed out on the opportunity to forge relationships through those shared experiences. We were also challenged in our faith through some amazing sessions and testimonies. As men from LBF, we learned how to strengthen our ability to serve, not only within ourselves, but as a community of men. For some of us, we shared some very deep seeded hurts and hardships that turned into opportunities to pray for one another. Relationships are not only built on the fun we have, but the trials we face together in the trenches.

In Matthew, we read how Jesus walked along and called His disciples. Imagine the courage it took for each of those men to stop what they were doing and follow Him. Imagine the courage it took to face the challenges Jesus was proposing those men would face for His sake. But do not forget, Jesus did not call just one or two guys… 

He called 12. Those 12 became a band of brothers, standing up to the enemies of the unseen world. Don’t you want to have your own band of brothers? As you read this, other men of valor are waiting to link shields with you and fight our common enemy. All it takes is that little bit of willpower – that you never knew you had – to join.

This Weekend's Message: Hunger

If you’ve ever dealt with a baby, then you know that babies have only one proven method to communicate:  cry and scream. They do this if they are scared or if they are hurt or if they are lonely. And they also cry and scream when they are hungry. Even when we are as young as a few days old, we feel the need to fill our hunger. Hunger tells us that there is something wrong, something lacking. So we act with urgency and (sometimes) panic in order to fill up, so that we are no longer hungry.

Think of how you feel when you are hungry. Now take a moment to think of when you feel hungry for something other than food. Think of when you are hungry for affection, or hungry for adventure, or hungry for affirmation, or hungry for comfort. Many of us would be willing to deal with some physical hunger as long as these deeper longings were being fulfilled.

We are all hungry, and not just for food. We all know that there is something wrong. Something lacking. Even if we think we know the right way to fill ourselves, we often find our hunger persisting. This Sunday at Life Bible Fellowship Church we will see Jesus address this idea. He affirms that we are all hungry, and then He points us to the one and only way for us to satisfy that hunger and be filled.

Dan

Summer is the Perfect Time to Check Out Life Kids Children’s Ministry

By Laurie Baiz, Director of Life Kids Children’s Ministry

Have you ever thought about getting involved in Children’s Ministry, but the commitment just seemed too long? Or maybe the thought has crossed your mind, but the responsibility of teaching the kids made you second guess yourself. Well, I am here to tell you that the summer session is the perfect time to get your feet wet and try it out. 

We have positions for all three services, for infants through 6^th grade. This ministry offers an array of different positions that can utilize many different skills. These positions include Classroom Leaders that teach the lessons, Floaters that handle the attendance and administrative side of things, Junior Helpers (7^th grade and up), Storytellers that share the Bible story with the kids in an interactive way, and Media Techs that run the slides for worship and story time. These positions also offer different types of serving schedules. Leaders, Floaters, and Junior Helpers can serve every week or 2-weeks-on/2-weeks-off. And the Storytellers and Media Techs serve once a month, but for both the 9:15 & 10:45 services. 

The session is only 16 weeks and we provide all of the training, supplies, curriculum, and encouragement. You just need to provide the energy, love for the kids, love for Jesus, and the fun. So come on by our table on the patio between Sunday services and see what great opportunities are
waiting for you! I can’t wait to see you there and share all of the exciting ways to serve in Life Kids Children’s Ministry. You can also email me.

God Sends LBF Across the World This Summer

Overview of Our Summer Missionaries and Short-term Mission Teams

By Carol Hawkins, Missions Coordinator

This is an exciting time as our summer mission teams and individuals will soon be heading to their areas of service. Thank you all for your prayers and financial support for these teams and individuals. Thank you for being part of the team!

Team Honduras [May 3-10] They will be partnering with Orphanage Emmanuel. There are about 550 children currently in this facility who are learning about the love of God each day. Our team will be helping in many ways: VBS, arts and crafts, carpentry, farm work, school, music, and more. They will be serving to help meet the greatest needs.

Team Nicaragua [May 11-17] Our team will be partnering with Living Water International and they will be drilling a clean water well and installing a hand pump. They will also be educating the community in hygiene practices to help encourage sanitation and health. This is a wonderful opportunity to help meet the basic need for water in the community as well as sharing the gospel message through relationships that are made.

Team Mexico [May 23-25] Our team will be partnering with Baja Christian Ministries, building a safe home for a family in need. Our team will spend the weekend sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and building a solid weather-proof home for a family in this poor community. 

We also have some individuals who are going and serving:

Audrey Dukes [July 1-6] Serving in Florida with Actors, Models and Talent for Christ

Karly McCroskey [3 weeks in May] Serving in Kipkaren, Kenya in a Children’s Home with Empowering Lives International through Azusa Pacific University.

Megan Robinson [June 4-24] Serving in South Asia, meeting the needs in the slums with a team from Cal Baptist University.

Christina Vargas [July 11-August 7] Serving in Kipkaren, Kenya with Hope Matters International. She will be assisting Michelle Kiprop with community health and education outreaches.

All of our teams appreciate your encouragement and they will greatly benefit from your prayer support. Thank you for your partnership. You are touching many lives for eternity!

This Weekend's Message: Caught in a Storm

I once had to play music on a cruise ship. It was just a little 3-day Royal Caribbean cruise down to Ensenada, Mexico and back. About 24 minutes into the cruise, the boat began to sway from side to side, which I was told tends to happen on a boat. One hour and 54 minutes into the cruise, the boat was not only swaying, it was pitching up and down like one of those carnival rides that little kids love, but adults tend to be smart enough to avoid. As it turns out, we had “encountered some less than ideal seas.” About 3 hours and 44 minutes into the cruise, I was a shade of green that can only be described as Grinch-like. Every person that passed me in the halls asked if I was okay. My fellow band mates invited me to lay down on the floor backstage, but as they say, the show must go on. So, I spent the next 3 days playing 3 times a day on a stage that was rocking back and forth the way a set of high school bleachers does during a pep rally. My number one goal was not to play well, hit right notes, or even look like I was having a good time; it was to NOT throw up in my saxophone. As a bonus, once we docked, I discovered that just because the cruise was over and I disembarked, does not mean the swaying stops, and I proceeded to be nauseous for an additional day or so.

Needless to say, my career of choice was not going to have anything to do with cruises, or boats...or water for that matter (with the exception of baptisms). Storms are scary things, and storms in life can take a huge toll, especially when we believe we are out there alone. But why do the storms have to happen? Why doesn’t God just take care of things to protect us from having to feel bad? This Sunday we will be looking at the ever-popular, but possibly under-considered, event of Jesus walking on water (John 6:16-21). Was that event just for thrills? Just so Jesus could show off? Or was He Declassifying some things about the nature of God and His interaction with those willing to follow Him?

See ya Sunday! (No barf bags required!)
Jeff

This Weekend's Message: Flashback

One of my college friends did a wonderful and creative thing when he proposed to his girlfriend. When he took her out for the evening, he took her from location to location for several hours. Each location they visited – a restaurant, a park, an outdoor mall – had some significance to their relationship. He took her to the location of their first date, to the location that they officially began their relationship, to the location where he first told her that he loved her, and so on. The familiarity of these places must have made his girlfriend increasingly suspicious that something significant was happening. Each connection with the past suggested that history would repeat itself and something big would happen. And, of course, it did.

This Sunday, we will look at Jesus feeding the five thousand. But this passage is about much more than Jesus simply providing a meal for a multitude. It is about Jesus systematically doing things that were familiar and nostalgic for the people of Israel. Throughout the passage He brings to their minds significant moments in their national history. And He behaves in a way that would have reminded them of one of their most beloved heroes, Moses. Just as big things happened before, something big was happening again.

Dan

One Voice, United in Prayer

By Gary Keith, Lead Pastor

On May 1, 2014, LBF will once again gather to observe the National Day of Prayer. My hope is to gather several Upland Churches together in one location and pray together for the needs of our nation and our cities and us.

Why gather? Why pray? It was our first President, George Washington, who said, “The twin pillars of morality and religion are essential to support a successful society.” And it was John Adams, our second president, who said, “The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were…the general principles of Christianity.” 

But it is not hard to see that today our nation has drifted far away from the statements of our first two presidents. Are we a Christian nation? I would say “no.” We are a nation of tolerance towards all religions with a growing hostility towards Christianity and a removal of our religious freedoms.

So what should we do? I think we should gather to pray. And when our nation marks out a specific day to gather and pray – I think it would be good to take advantage of this time and participate with millions of people around our nation and pray.

God says He saw the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). God is omnipresent and there are no accidents because all things are according to the guidance of His will (Ephesians 1:11). Do we believe that? Do we believe it when tragedy strikes or we see a nation falling far from God? Do we believe that God is sovereign like David believed? Check out David’s words in 1 Chronicles 29:10-12.

With all of this in mind I want to encourage us to not let our prayers diminish. Instead, let us come together with a strong belief in God and His love and provision for our nation, our city, and our personal lives. Let’s come together to pray and send God our requests as a gathered church and maybe a gathered community.

Let me end with the words of Paul: “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because  you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Hope to see you on Thursday, May 1 for a time of prayer at 7 p.m.!

Hope Matters Takes Off, Needs Computers

Update on William & Michelle Kiprop and Hope Matters

By Carol Hawkins, Missions Coordinator

Last fall I wrote about a new ministry that LBF missionaries, William and Michelle Kiprop, are developing in Kenya. The Lord has been opening many doors for this ministry, and I wanted to update you on what’s happening.

The purpose of Hope Matters is to promote community development through sustainable health, agricultural, and educational programs among communities in Kenya. This will provide holistic care for physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. It’s all about helping these precious people meet some basic yet critical needs in their lives to bring them hope and enable them to raise their families. We are so thankful for the vision William and Michelle have in reaching out and bringing help to many.

We praise God for His provision of a ministry vehicle that will be used as a community health vehicle and an ambulance. This is so exciting as many, many lives will be blessed as Hope Matters reaches out to remote villages with training and health care programs. And lives will be saved as they are transported to hospitals in  this vehicle. 

Hope Matters is also currently in negotiations to purchase between three and five acres of property for a small hospital as well as their headquarters. Much has been accomplished these past months, and we thank God. In the midst of all the planning, negotiating, looking for the right vehicle, etc., Michelle has continued going to different villages to care for the needs of the people. 

Partnering with Hope Matters through prayer: We can be an important part of Hope Matters through prayer. Please pray for William and Michelle as they move forward with this amazing ministry. Pray for wisdom in the decisions that need to be made, and for strength in accomplishing what is before them. Pray for the many financial needs that are required in starting up a new ministry, and in purchasing property, and in building a hospital. It seems like a huge mountain and yet God is able to provide for every need. Pray also for the funds needed to transport a container filled with donated medical equipment that will equip the hospital and provide much needed care for many lives. Be praying for the ongoing community health care that Michelle does in surrounding areas. 

Also, there is a need for two or three desktop computers. They can be purchased here and transported in the container with the medical equipment that will be shipped to Kenya. These computers are just as important in running the ministry as the medical equipment. If you would be interested in learning how you can specifically help with the purchase of a computer, email michelle@hopemattersintl.org. This is a tangible way we can help. Also, be sure to check out Hope Matters’ website: hopemattersintl.org. This will give you a better understanding of their vision and what’s ahead.

Thank you for partnering with LBF and Hope Matters. You are impacting many lives – around the world – for eternity.

This Weekend's Message: Overhaul

Sometimes a tune-up is not enough. There are times when a problem is deep enough that surface improvements just don’t cut it. Sometimes a complete overhaul is the only solution.           

When we face problems—with our cars or with our personal lives—we seldom rush to take extreme measures. If possible, we try first to address our problems at minimal cost to ourselves. We always prefer a tune-up to an overhaul. We always prefer minor improvements to dramatic measures. The problem, however, is that we often opt for tune-ups when an overhaul is needed. And when we do this, we only delay the inevitable. The problem will persist until we finally take the plunge and opt for the overhaul.
           
We all have problems. We typically think we just need a new job, a little more money, a new relationship, or more will power. In other words, we just think that we need a tune-up. The fact is, though, that our problems go much deeper. Tune-ups will only help us so much. If we are looking for a real solution, we need an overhaul.
           
During His time on earth, Jesus did not simply offer people tune-ups. He didn’t give advice on minor improvements in order to smooth out our already-decent lives. He came to offer a complete overhaul—new life—to people who are broken, guilty, and in pain. This Easter at Life Bible Fellowship Church we will talk about the message of Jesus, which, rather than being about quick-fixes and simple solutions, offers us new life from the dead.

Dan

Guilty Victims

By Dan Franklin, Pastor of Teaching

Who Gets Compassion?

Several months ago I was listening to talk radio. The subject was an athlete who had reached the top of his sport, and then began to make a series of self-destructive decisions. One of the people on the program said that they felt sorry for him. The other quickly retorted that he felt no compassion for the athlete. After all, he had made his own decisions and now he was living with the consequences.

This interchange struck me. How do we decide who gets our compassion? 

Many of us follow the trajectory of the second person in the above conversation. If we consider someone to be a victim, then we feel that they deserve our compassion. Victims of domestic abuse deserve our compassion. Victims of financial scams deserve our compassion. Victims of unfaithful spouses deserve our compassion. 

On the other hand, though, those who we consider to be guilty (as opposed to victims) do not often get our compassion. We seldom give compassion to those who go to prison for theft or violence. We seldom give compassion to those who lose their families because they are abusive or unfaithful. We seldom give compassion to those who suffer physically because they made choices to drink, smoke, or use drugs.

Victims get our compassion. Guilty people don’t.

One or the Other?

Here is the problem with this approach: Our guilt and our victimization tend to blend together. No one is completely free from guilt and no one has completely avoided victimization. We all have sin and we all have pain. In fact, often our sin is driven by pain that has been caused by others.

Scripture reflects this reality. It teaches that God sent His Son to be our savior. If we need a savior, then this means that we have a problem from which we need to be saved. Far from teaching a simple view of humanity, it teaches that our problems are complicated. We are saved from our pain and we are saved from our guilt. 

Many of us look in the mirror and see a victim. Scripture affirms that there is truth in this. Jesus saw this in the people He came to save, as Matthew 9:26 says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” The writer of Hebrews affirms our need to be saved from how Satan victimized us in Hebrews 2:14-15: “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”

When we look at ourselves, it is accurate to see that we have been victimized by Satan, by the world, and by other people. But the truth is that we are not simply victims. We cannot hide behind the sins of others. We have brought about our own debt of guilt. As the Apostle Paul says in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The angel Gabriel prophesied about Jesus in Matthew 1:21, “He will save his people from their sins.” We aren’t simply good people who have fallen on hard times. We are sinners who have rebelled against God and hurt others. We don’t simply need relief. We need forgiveness.

Here is the good news: God does not require us to be guilt-free in order to gain His compassion. He chases us with His mercy even when we are filled with guilt and rebellion. As Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Compassion Received, Compassion Given

Once we embrace the fact that God gives His compassion to guilty victims, we are set free in powerful ways. We don’t have to hide our sin or pretend that it doesn’t exist. We are free to approach God, even in the midst of our guilt and shame. He still has compassion on us. And we also don’t have to be ashamed of the fact that we have pain from the world, from Satan, and from other people. God does not shrug His shoulders at this pain. He sent His Son to save us from both our pain and our guilt. He never withholds His compassion, even if we brought our troubles on ourselves.

On top of this, God’s compassion toward us gives us the freedom to give our compassion to others, regardless of whether or not they brought their troubles on themselves. We don’t have to make the choice between acknowledging someone’s guilt and feeling bad for the consequences of their destructive choices. Those of us who are believers in Jesus have experienced God’s profound
compassion, even when we brought much of our pain upon ourselves. This liberates us to pass along to others who are in need.

This Weekend's Message: Overhaul Prep

We all prepare for things in our own ways. Mark exercises 5 days a week for about 90 minutes. His routine starts with a set of stretching exercises. He says sometimes it feels like it takes longer to prepare for exercise than to actually exercise. When Doug prepares to fly his plane he preforms a series of different checks and rechecks. Before he actually takes off, he makes sure the plane is prepared to fly. And then there’s Liz. Let’s just say you better not talk to her in the morning until sometime after her second cup of coffee – that helps her prepare for the day.

 

We all have different ways we prepare for the day. This Sunday we are going to look at how Jesus prepared for Easter. And in looking at that, we will learn how we need to be prepared as well when it comes to following Jesus. Hope to see you Sunday, when our children's ministry have prepared some special music for you!

 

Also, will you do two things with me? Will you pray and ask God who you should invite to Easter services? And then will you follow through and invite someone to church this Easter? I have my invitation cards and have several different people I want to invite to church on Easter. Join in praying for people come to personal faith in Jesus this Easter!

Gary

Life Kids Need a Few More Hands

By Laurie Baiz, Director of Life Kids Children’s Ministry

This past school year has been wonderful with our new Life Kids curriculum. Our volunteers have found this change positive for the kids and the volunteers.

Over these past seven months, the children’s ministry has grown in numbers and we have had some volunteers that have needed to take a break due to life circumstances. So we currently have a few positions open that need to be filled through May. 

• An every-other-week position available at 8 a.m.
• An every-week position at the 10:45 service
• Storytellers who serve once a month during both 9:15 and 10:45 services
• And we could use some more substitutes. 

With the new curriculum, there is less prep time (only about 30 minutes) and when you arrive, everything that you need to share your lesson is prepped and ready for you. This is the perfect opportunity to experience children’s ministry for a short period of time and see how you can make a difference in our children’s spiritual lives. For more information, please contact Laurie Baiz @ (909) 841-4848 or laurie@lbfchurch.com.