stanpavkovich

I’m showing my age here…. But I loved the 80’s T.V. show the A-Team. You had this group of ex soldiers that would use their military training and expertise to come to the rescue of people in need….While all along they were being hunted by the government.

They would come up with these elaborate plans to save the day…. There was always plenty of action and explosions that went into their plan… but no one was ever killed.

In the end the good guy always won…
It was tradition that at the end of each episode the leader of the A-Team would always say I love it when a plan comes together…

I think we all receive joy and pleasure when we see a plan come together especially when we know God is behind it.…

With the economy in a recession you can look in all directions and see the ramifications of it. It is easy to become discouraged and overwhelmed with what we see.
But at the same time we need to remind our selves that God is not affected by the recession. That He will provide for our needs.
Several weeks ago on a Wednesday I received a call from a young family that was in desperate need of a car….We prayed together that God would provide transportation for them. That following Sunday one of our members came up to me and asked if I knew of a young family… that needed a car… because he had one that was very reliable and he wanted to give it to someone in need. Well the rest is history…As the A-team leader would say I love it when a plan comes together. Be encouraged God is not affected by the economy…He knows our needs even before we ask.

Remember what Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:25-33″Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28″And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Be Blessed,
Stan

I ran across a very moving story that John Trent, the President of StrongFamilies.com and the Center for Strong Families shared in an article.

A true story that  illustrates in a very real way, the power of our words. The Bible says that the power of life and death are found in the tongue.

Mary had grown up knowing that she was different from the other kids, and she hated it. She was born with a cleft palate and had to bear the jokes and stares of cruel children who teased her non-stop about her misshaped lip, crooked nose, and garbled speech. With all the teasing, Mary grew up hating the fact that she was “different”. She was convinced that no one, outside her family, could ever love her … until she entered Mrs. Leonard’s class.

Mrs. Leonard had a warm smile, a round face, and shiny brown hair. While everyone in her class liked her, Mary came to love Mrs. Leonard. In the 1950′s, it was common for teachers to give their children an annual hearing test. However, in Mary’s case, in addition to her cleft palate, she was barely able to hear out of one ear. Determined not to let the other children have another “difference” to point out, she would cheat on the test each year. The “whisper test” was given by having a child walk to the classroom door, turn sideways, close one ear with a finger, and then repeat something, which the teacher whispered. Mary turned her bad ear towards her teacher and pretended to cover her good ear. She knew that teachers would often say things like, “The sky is blue,” or “What color are your shoes?” But not on that day. Surely, God put seven words in Mrs. Leonard’s mouth that changed Mary’s life forever. When the “Whisper test” came, Mary heard the words: “I wish you were my little girl.”

That was a God moment for Mary… It was the turning point in her life …to know she was loved and valued…  Those 7 words began to change her life.

God wants to change our life as well.

But many times because of sins we committed and poor choices we have made… often times we feel like we can’t have a relationship with God…

That God no longer loves us or He has given up on us. But nothing can be farther from the truth.

To those who are crippled by sin or enslaved to things you know are not pleasing to God…
He says, “I wish you were my son” or “I wish you were my daughter.”

Remember what the book of James tells us draw close to God and He will draw close to you.

Isaiah 43:4 “You are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you… ”

Be Blessed,
Stan

I ran across a very inspiring story last week that I want to pass on to you….

Robert Schuller tells a story of his daughter Carol. Who was in a motorcycle accident years ago. It was a horrible accident she wound up losing her leg and because of infection she was in the hospital for 7 months.
She was a pretty bold girl… she was unashamed about her artificial leg…she would wear shorts and was very active.
But she was conscious of people looking at her.

The Schuller family was given a Hawaiian cruise. And on the last night of the cruise they had a talent show. And anyone on the cruise can participate.
Robert Schuller’s daughter said I’m going to be in the talent show. Her parents were bewildered… they were thinking, well we don’t think she can sing and we know she obviously can’t dance.

So the night came for the talent show and Carol Schuller steps up on stage in a long flowing gown. She faced 600 people and she said…I don’t really know my talent but I feel like I owe you an explanation…
I know a lot of you have noticed my fake leg and wonder what happened to me. I was in a motorcycle accident and I spent 7 months in the hospital fighting for my life. She said again, I really don’t know my talent but I do know this. During that time my faith became very real to me. Robert Schuller said the place got dead quiet. She said you know… I look at you girls who walk without a limp and there is apart of me that wishes that I could be like that… but you know what I found out… in life what really counts is, it’s not important how you walk but who walks with you and who you walk with.
And then she said I don’t have much of a talent but I can tell you this… I want to sing a song about my friend the Lord and she began to sing the old hymn He walks with me
And talks with me
And tells me I’m His own…

After she concluded the song…She then said thank you and walked off.
Robert Schuller said there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.

At the time she was only 17 years old…

Think about it…One girl during a tough time chose to come close to God. And it touched and impacted the lives of so many.
When you draw closer to God it not only changes your life, but it changes people around you.

James 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Be Blessed,
Stan

Last week I spoke with someone after service and they had a great question. They told me that they understand why bad things happen to good people in the context of sin and the fall – but wondered, how can you explain when a small child dies or someone dear to you dies of cancer?

In other words:

Why didn’t God intervene for my loved one?

Is he not powerful enough?

Or did he not care?

It brings up the misconception regarding the nature of God that says: He is either all powerful and doesn’t care or that He cares and is not all powerful.

Circumstances like these raise difficult questions. We are not God, and are coming from a very limited perspective.

When I am trying to make sense of the injustice and suffering I see in the world it helps to keep in mind the following things:

God has a bigger perspective than us.
Again, like the parade illustration from last week’s blog. Sometimes what God allows may be less terrible than the future we had in mind.
We don’t know what the future holds, but he does.

God uses suffering to draw us closer to Him.
We can see this all through the Bible.
Job 36:15 says, “But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction.”

C.S. Lewis said it this way, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, he speaks to us in our consciences, but he shouts in our pain. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

There have been many times in Karen and my life when tragic things have happened to us or to those that we love deeply. We’ve asked the question, “God how can that be?” We weren’t immediately rescued from the situation…we and our loved ones; we were left in our suffering.

But in those times we have met God in a very deep and real way…we were drawn closer to him.

God can use suffering for a greater good.
Roman’s 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
God doesn’t cause all things. Like I said last week during the weekend message, God is not the creator of evil, but he certainly does allow things to happen. And if we allow him to, he’ll work good in it.

Consider the story of Joseph in Genesis 50:20.
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers.
Joseph spent time in a prison when he was unjustly accused.
10, 15 or 20 years into the process Joseph probably looked up and said, “Why, God?”
I mean, “Where is your goodness here?
I don’t deserve any of this, and yet I’m getting it.”

And yet at the end of the story, his brothers come to see him as the savior, not only of Egypt, but of Israel. And he says to them in Genesis 50:20, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

I’m convinced there are times that God will allow bad things to happen for a greater good to be accomplished.
Sometimes we see it in our lifetime, and sometimes we don’t.

Psalm 30:5 (New King James Version) 5 For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

Be Blessed,

Stan

I once read a story about an American submarine at the end of World War II.  The sub was headed to Newport News, Virginia to dock and just as they were coming into port something went wrong.  There was a mechanical failure that caused the sub to sink.

The Coast Guard was dispatched to try to save the crew.  They sent divers down to the sunken sub to see what happened.  As the divers swam around the sub, they could hear pounding coming from inside the hull. 

What was the noise?  It was a resourceful sailor who had taken a hammer to tap Morse code from the inside of the hull.  He tapped, “Is there hope?”

Is there hope?

This question is one of the most fundamental in life. 

Can I count on anything in life?

Is there hope?

This question might sound familiar, particularly in the uncertain times that we are living in.

This weekend the series, “Christmas on the Silver Screen” will tackle this fundamental question.  Bring a friend, or family member, it is a message that everyone can benefit from.

In closing I wanted to share something with you.  This past week I received an email from a young lady in our church who has given me permission to share this.  In her email she shares how she found hope and overcame her loneliness.

“Hey Pastor Stan, I was there for this weeks message, and it really, just opened my eyes again,

To when I was alone before I was married…

I was very scared and hated being alone…

Then the Lord touched me and actually became my husband. 

I since then have been married 8 years and my husband…

Has had to recently take on a lot of side jobs and hasn’t been around.

So that fear kind of rekindled… 

Your message reminded me of a poem I wrote 10 years ago…  

 It was actually based on Psalm 91:4 Psalm 121, 7-8 and psalm 32:7.

The poem goes like this…

Please do not fear my child,

I am with you in the night.

Can you not see the stars up there?

Your fear of the dark, is why I made them bright.

You are not alone dear one,

Can’t you feel my arms?

They are reaching out to hold you,

and keep you safe from harm.

You search and search,

For someone to give all your love.

But why is it,

You don’t look to the heavens above?

I want to be the one,

In whom you give your soul.

I want to be the one,

In whom you do console.

I want to hear your secrets,

And laugh with you on end.

Can’t you open your eyes my child,

I want to be your friend.

Do you see all that sin that is laying on your heart?

I can wipe it away, and give you a clean start.

Come unto me my child,

Let me push away all your fears,

Come unto me my child, let me hold you near.”

By Karie Italiano Helmuth

God wants to show himself faithful to each and every one of us if we will let him.

Be Blessed,

Stan

As we go into the holiday season I want to remind you to keep the main thing the main thing…it is so easy to forget the meaning behind the celebration of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Even during worship at the weekend service it is easy to lose sight of what worship truly is. To quote an unknown source….

“Worship is a huge thing. We look forward to worship every week. When the music includes one of our favorites, we say, “The worship was great!” When the music stinks, we yawn and wonder why the worship wasn’t very good. We leave churches because of the “worship style.” Worship is a huge thing. Have you ever wondered if we’re more concerned with what worship does FOR us and less concerned with the Object of or worship? It seems like it’s more about what we GET, not what we GIVE. It would be like taking a gift to a friend’s birthday party, but keeping it for ourselves. Worship is all about GIVING our lives (again) to God.

Worship is not about the feelings we receive when we sing. Worship is not about convincing God to bless us. Worship is not about whether or not the guitar is too loud. Worship is not about what’s happening on the stage. Worship is not about entertainment, lighting, or sound. Worship is not about us at all. IT’S NOT ABOUT US. It’s about Him. And we enter through the gateway of the cross. At the cross, we surrender, love, cry, dream, give up, shut up, kneel, confess. We look at God, and place Him above all else because He is worth it! Life gets crazy and painful. No one can deny that. No one is asking you to pretend that those things aren’t affecting you. DON’T PRETEND! You’re just being invited to bring that stuff to the cross, and to simply gaze at Jesus. And as you look at Him, allow your response to be – Worship.”

Be Blessed,

Stan

This weekend we are wrapping up our Fireproof Your Relationships series. Now is a great time for us to ask ourselves some thought provoking questions.   Asking these questions will help us take what we’ve been learning and turn it into action steps that can change the way we live our lives.  Some things to ask ourselves are:

What can I/am I doing differently to improve my relationships as a result of this series? Several couples have committed to working though the book “The Love Dare” with their spouse. One husband told me that as a result of reading this book  they are learning to be more thoughtful and sensitive towards each other.

What changes have taken place in your life or what viewpoint may have changed because of this series? I know for me, I was challenged by Tiffany’s message last weekend on how to be a better grandfather. She reminded me that when dealing with my grandkids I need to view life through their eyes not mine.

It is so easy to come to a weekend service and hear the message but not take the next step by applying what we heard to our life. Remember what the Bible says, we are to be doers of the word not just hearers. In other words, we are to take the truths we hear from the messages and what we read in the Bible and apply it to our lives.

Be Blessed,
Stan