Calvary Chapel North Phoenix

For those of you who were praying for Jeanne being up in Oregon with her failing mom, I thank you so much for your support. I received a call Sunday night, June 1 that Jeanne’s mom, Wanda Wyatt, passed away.

I will be flying up to Oregon late Thursday night and the funeral will be Saturday at 1 pm. Pray that I will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading as I share about the hope of heaven for the believer.

Mike Means will be teaching on Sunday morning because our flight back won’t be until Monday morning.

Again, thanks for all your prayers.

Now that spring has sprung it’s time for Jeanne and I to gear up for the summer.

I’ll be attending the annual Senior Pastor’s Conference for Calvary Chapel pastors in Murrieta, CA during the first week of June. The theme this year is: Pastoring in the Last Days . There are many distractions out there in these last days that keep leaders and pastors from the simple exposition and application of God’s word.

Jeanne’s mom in Oregon will be turning 87 the last week of May. She will be heading up there for a few days to spend some time with her. Her mom has Alzheimer’s Disease and is now not able to communicate except by facial expressions and hand motions. Pray for Jeanne’s mom, Wanda.

Our church will be having our annual Men’s retreat (we call it an ‘Advance’) on Saturday, June 21. This year we are going to keep it in Phoenix at our church for a one-day event. Pastor Don McClure will be our guest speaker and he will also teach the congregation the following Sunday morning. His wife, Jean, will also be sharing with a few ladies during that Saturday.

Our youth will be having their week long summer camps in June, and our annual Vacation Bible School will also be held the fourth week of June during the day.

We will finish off the month of June by having a water baptism service on Sunday, June 29th right after the morning service.

Right now we are studying through the book of 1 and 2 Thessalonians. For the month of June we will be touching on what the Bible has to say about events that will occur in the last days. I firmly believe we are living in those days right now. The current events of our day line up with what has been foretold in Scripture. It will be an exciting study!

That’s all for now. Thanks for checking out the blog!

Hello, again…

Every day we are hit with advertising designed to create a sense of lack in us unless we purchase this or that new product. Marketers know that unless there is that sense of lack, the odds of the product being purchased will be dismal.

Here’s the problem: the root of the issue is that it’s a play upon covetousness. When our focus is upon what we don’t have or can’t acquire, discontent begins to rule our thought life. Then we get stirred to step beyond the bounds of our reasonable ability to pay for it.

Let me make a suggestion: whenever discontent or covetousness crops its ugly head up in your thought life and starts to stir your emotions and desires, fight back! Consciously look at all the Lord has brought to you and allowed you to do up to this point in your life. Actively thank Him for what you have right now. Tell Him that you appreciate His kindness shown to you by how He has met every need to this hour.

Flush out those covetous thoughts and feelings by the power of the Holy Spirit. Turn instead to sing out a praise chorus and offer that sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving.

It may take a lot of effort at first because of deeply rooted habits that have been allowed to make their home in your heart. But persevere in this. God is looking to do a good work of contentment and peace in your heart.

Every time we come to a new month we change the calendar forward. The previous month is in the history books. The new month is full of uncharted territory.

The children of Israel had a monthly festival every time it was officially the new moon. It was an opportunity to stop their busy lives and remember all God had done for them. It was also a time to prepare their heart to trust God for what lay ahead. 

The new moon was the beginning of increased light at night.  This reminds me of my need to look forward with hope to see what God is going to do in the coming days.

You have obviously flipped the calendar to February.  What lies ahead for you?  God wants you to trust Him with all your heart.  He promises new mercies each and every day (Lamentations 3:22-26).

Believe God for this.  There are new mercies He has waiting for you and me at the start of each new day, each new week, each new month.

I, for one, want all that God has for me.  Let’s find out together what He has in store for us all!

Now that 2008 is in full swing, it is time to make sure my heart is renewed and ready to serve the Lord whenever and wherever.

Jeanne is back from her short-term mission to Ukraine. Micah and his family are back here in AZ for a two month furlough (that is a time when they reconnect with their supporters and let their kids interact with other English-speaking children, friends and family).

What’s ahead for Bob and Jeanne in the next month? In addition to the regular applicational teaching from the Word, there is the need to put together a ministry training team once again. This will be a nine month course of 18 lessons designed to help prepare those who sense a leading from the Holy Spirit to get involved with ministry in a deeper way. We will begin in February.

Jeanne will be back teaching the Tuesday Women’s Bible Studies the end of January. She is also now the main coordinator of the Nursery-Toddler room. She and her helper, Teresa Bedwell, will be helping out Sandi Miller, our Children’s Ed. Director, by taking over this area. There are still openings for volunteers to help out in this ministry, as well as several openings to serve in the Children’s ministry on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. A background check and attendance at our Safety Class are mandatory.

That’s about it for now. We have a very special group of families — single and married — that make up our church. I love all of you and appreciate your support and prayers.