This Weekend's Message: Who are we and where are we going?

A mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company or organization; its reason for existing. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making. It provides "the framework or context within which the company's strategies are formulated." 

Every organization has a mission statement. Here are a few from some well-known companies:

Apple Inc.: Apple Inc. is committed to protecting the environment, health and safety of our employees, customers and the global communities where we operate. We recognize that by integrating sound environmental, health and safety management practices into all aspects of our business, we can offer technologically innovative products and services while conserving and enhancing resources for future generations. Apple strives for continuous improvement in our environmental, health and safety management systems and in the environmental quality of our products, processes and services.

Chevron: At the heart of The Chevron Way is our vision to be the global energy company most admired for its people, partnership and performance.

Ford Motor Company: We are a global family with a proud heritage passionately committed to providing personal mobility for people around the world.

Harley Davidson Inc.: We fulfill dreams through the experience of motorcycling, by providing to motorcyclists and to the general public an expanding line of motorcycles and branded products and services in selected market segments.

Hershey Company: Undisputed Marketplace Leadership

Microsoft: At Microsoft, we work to help people and businesses throughout the world realize their full potential.

Nike Inc.: To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.

Walt Disney Company: The mission of The Walt Disney Company is to be one of the world's leading producers and providers of entertainment and information. Using our portfolio of brands to differentiate our content, services and consumer products, we seek to develop the most creative, innovative and profitable entertainment experiences and related products in the world.

As I read through these mission statements, and understand their motivation to get me to buy their product, the thing that strikes me is how temporary - and limited in scope for who they are trying to reach - it all is.

At Life Bible Fellowship Church we want to be about the eternal, not just the temporary. On Sunday we will be unveiling the new Mission Statement for Life Bible Fellowship Church. That means a mission for you, me, and anyone who walks through our doors and chooses to call LBF home. A mission and vision designed to guide us specifically and strategically to reach people for Jesus Christ, and love and serve in the way that Christ calls His followers to love and serve.

Join us on Sunday for very special and unique services where we hope to clearly communicate who God is calling Life Bible Fellowship Church to be, and how He is calling all of us to get there.

See ya Sunday!
Jeff

This Weekend's Message: Hold On

In 2004, hurricanes in Florida left many residents without power. One resident used a portable generator to supply power until the electrical lines could be repaired. While waiting for power to be restored, some audacious criminals stole the generator. The owner didn't discover the theft until he went outside to put gasoline in the generator. So how did the thieves cover up such an obvious crime? They started another gasoline engine and left it running right beside the generator. The robbers took off with the generator, while the owner was lulled into a false sense of security created by the sound of his own riding lawnmower.

This week we will be looking at a passage in which Peter points out how we need to be alert to the reality that we have an enemy and there are consequences when we are deceived. We hope that you will join us at one of the three services as we look as Peter’s commands as we live in a home away from home.

Matt Sasso
Pastor of Student Ministries

This Weekend's Message: Surprised?

Imagine a group of Olympic track athletes training. During the practice one athlete stops and says, “Enough is enough!” When the coaches approach him, he says, “This is ridiculous! It’s hot, I’m sweaty, and I’m exhausted! I’m tired of this training and I want to be done!” The response of every person around this athlete would be the same. They would all want to ask, “Are you really surprised by all of this?” After all, when an athlete signs on for Olympic training, he should expect all of the pain and all of the difficulties that go along with that training. In other words, while he certainly has a right to find the training to be difficult, he has no right to find the training surprising.

Similarly, in his letter, Peter tells believers in Jesus that they have every right to find their suffering and oppression to be difficult. But he says that we shouldn't find it surprising.

Dan Franklin

This Weekend's Message: Stand-out

During the teenage years, most of us wrestled with a deep desire to be normal. We wanted to fit in and feel at home with those around us. So we adjusted the way we talked, the way we dressed, and activities we did in order not to stand out too much. As adults, we are not so different. We still feel the pressure to fit in with our families, with the people at work, and with the people in our neighborhoods. It is hard to stand out. It can make us feel alone and vulnerable. Most of us would rather blend in.

In his letter, Peter says that those who embrace Christ will not fit in with the world around them. Instead of feeling at home, they will stand out. They will face the loneliness and vulnerability that goes along with the fact that this world is not their home. So, how do you make a conscious choice to stand out?

Dan Franklin

This Weekend's Message: Make It Count

I had a friend in college who was an argument waiting to happen. Wherever he went, conflict seemed to follow. There was always an issue to be debated, an argument to be had, a mistake to be exposed. People had different reactions to him. Some thought that he was great because he always stood up for his beliefs. Others thought he was a trouble-maker. But everyone agreed that controversy followed him wherever he went.

The Bible says that Christians will experience conflicts in the world. Does this mean that we are supposed to be like my friend, initiating conflict wherever we go? If not, what is the source of the conflict we experience, and how does God call us to respond?

Dan Franklin

This Weekend's Message: The Sound of Silence

There is much to criticize as the secular world looks at the Christian community. As I think back over the past several years I recall too many personal failures by pastors and Christian leaders in our nation. Many of these make headlines in our national news. For example, a few years back the pastor of a mega church in Colorado who had preached over and over again against sexual sin had actually been living in repeated acts of sexual sin for some time. And the result of this was that he lost his position at church, he lost his reputation, and he did great damage to the name of Jesus and his followers. Yes, the critics of Christianity have much to point to in a Christian’s life as a lack of consistency in living the teachings of Jesus.

But what if...? What if the people who follow Jesus could silence the critics? What if the way Christians lived gave critics no reason to speak badly against Jesus or his followers?

This week in our series through 1 Peter, called “Home Away from Home,” we’ll look at that “what if.” We’ll look at what Peter says characterizes the lifestyle of a believer who sees himself or herself as a temporary resident on this planet – their home away from home.

I hope to see you on Sunday,
Gary Keith

This Weekend's Message: Strangers in a Strange Land

Many of us like to go camping, but very few of us would enjoy living in a tent full-time. Even though the adventure of camping has its good moments, we often long to return to our long-term homes. We want to be somewhere that is familiar and safe and comfortable. Home is close to the heart.

What if you found out that you would need to live in a tent for an extended amount of time? What if you were unable to settle in and set down roots, but instead needed to live in a temporary home? It would be tough. You would probably need a really good reason...and a really good payoff.

Pastor Dan Franklin