The Ark Church

I received a New Years greeting from my good friend in Bolivia, Ben Gil. Ben is 71 and reaches out to a difficult country of extremely tall mountains and deep jungles. He encouraged me to believe God in 2012 for a bigger impact, to love people more and to remember those who have not heard of Jesus. What an inspiring message from a guy who could easily be thinking of slowing down and enjoying his retirement years!

There is nothing that rhymes with 2012, so I have no catchy phrase to offer, but I believe Ben's message provides a great focus for the new year. Stretch yourself to believe God for more. More grace, strength, favor and resources. He is able to do far more abundantly than all that you ask or think in your life. Love people more this year. You'll never go wrong obeying the commandment to love especially in a world so desperate for something genuine - it's always the more excellent way! Do something this year to advance God's kingdom on the earth. Serve in ministry, give, pray, ask God to open your eyes to hurting humanity. You may not be called to a nation but you are strategically placed to make a difference in your world.

As you reflect on this past year and begin to plan, dream and set personal goals for 2012 here are some ideas to help you think positively about the future.

What thoughts hover in the background of your mind? Your thoughts and beliefs form the basis for decisions and actions. Worry, anxiety and fear can act like static that keeps you from clearly hearing God's voice. Instead of letting these things cloud your thinking, choose to replace debilitating thoughts with the truth found in Scripture.

Inviting God's Spirit to invade your thinking will strengthen you to lead like Jesus. Where do you need to focus on God's truth in order to bring clarity to your thinking?

Psalm 119:15-16 "I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word."

Here is a prayer I encourage to you pray:
God, You know the background noise that plays in my mind, keeping me from hearing and believing You. Today, I choose to meditate on You and Your truth. Speak to me through Your word. Fill my mind with Your thoughts, not my own, and strengthen me with courage and confidence in You. I ask in Jesus' name, Amen.

1 Chronicles 16:34   “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good...  His love endures forever.”

This Christmas Season and all throughout the year, we have so much to be thankful for! God has been so good and faithful to us.  It is a good practice for us to regularly pause, reflect, and give thanks and not overlook what could seem like even the smallest of blessings - things we could easily take for granted.

For example:

• If you have easy access to water, then you should give thanks.  884 million people in the world lack access to clean water.
• If you have access to healthy food, be grateful.  947 million people are under-nourished.
• If you have electricity, then rejoice! Nearly a quarter of humanity live without this convenience.
• And if you have something as simple as a toilet – be thankful.  40% of the world doesn’t have this convenience.

When you think along these lines and get right down to it… we have a lot to be thankful for!  We have many blessings to count! As we pause here at Christmas to spend time with our family and friends, let’s be sure to express our gratitude to God – remembering the many ways He has blessed us.

Looking forward to 2012, we can be confident that God’s goodness will be present all year long. We have a lot to look forward to.

Merry Christmas and have a blessed and happy New Year!

Bless is a word that has no good synonym. There is no word that compares to BLESS. When I want to describe what it feels like to have Gods favor and smile upon my life I always use the same word: Blessed!

I was annoyed years ago by a woman at a church that would respond to the question, “how are you?” with “too blessed to be stressed!”  I found it corny and superficial. I wondered why she would not be honest like me and just say “Im FINE. Im fine today.”

I understand now that she did not want to go along with the rest of the world and be FINE because she was, in fact, BLESSED. I have now become that annoying person that responds “blessed”.  How else can we say it when we have Gods salvation freely given to us? What else can I say when I know how dead I was and how alive he has made me now? How can I respond any different when I remember the darkness I walked in and the light that fills my heart and mind now? The simple fact is that I am blessed, I am blessed, I am blessed!

Blessing is given without deserving it. Blessing to me means that I have been given what I could not earn. Like the workers in the parable that only worked an hour and got paid for a whole day. NOT FAIR! Blessed! I have been given forgiveness when I did not deserve it. I have been loved when I was really not lovely. I was forgiven while I was still a sinner. What is that? Blessed!  Blessing is what comes down from heaven, unearned grace and favor of the almighty.

This is what I love the most about The Ark Church. Our church loves to share the blessing! We love to bless! This past week we partnered with other churches and organizations to give out thousands of meals. Why? We love to bless.  We visit those in the hospital and prisons. We take meals to folks in need. We share the gospel each and every week. Why? We love to bless. We open our doors to the Conroe Symphony Orchestra, High School bands and little dance teams from the community. Why? We love to bless. We want every person from every walk of life to feel welcome when they come into our Church. We love to bless.

Why has God blessed us so much as a church? I think a big part of it is that he knows we wont keep it to ourselves. We are blessed to be a blessing and we take blessing others serious. How am I doing today, you may ask……just guess.

It seems like recently, I've seen article after article talking about how youth ministry across the nation is on the decline. I've read about how less teens seem to be believing in God today than ever before, and how fewer and fewer teens are plugging into local churches. On top of that, I have friends in youth ministry all over the United States telling me their numbers are way down, and down drastically. The conclusion by many is a lost generation.

At the beginning of 2011, I felt like the Lord gave me a verse for this year - Mark 11:24 which says, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." And as a staff, we've been praying, asking, and believing that God would move mightily among our young people. And when I read about the state of youth ministry, this verse keeps rising up inside of me. When my friends talk with me about what's going on in their cities, this verse rises up inside of me. And when I drive by the schools, walk on the campuses, and attend football games the same thing happens to me - Mark 11:24 - it's like I can't shake it. Believe. Believe first, believe before you see anything, and it will be yours. I can't get away from it.

This morning was "See you at the Pole," and as we went from campus to campus a strange thing began to happen. At 6:00am, Brabham Middle School had over 150 students show up to pray. At 8:00am, Peet Jr. High had over 300 students outside around the flagpole praying. At both schools, entire teams and coaches came out to pray. Teachers, coaches, and students praying for revival in their schools. Asking God to move mightily in their schools. 6:00am at Conroe High, around 400 students gathered to pray, 9:00am tons more at Willis High School. And as I am in the middle of all these students praying and calling out to God, inside of me, Mark 11:24 kept coming up. Tears filling my eyes, and me just repeating that verse over and over again.

I'm reminded of a very bleak situation the Israelites were in. A 9 foot giant was coming out day after day, mocking God and mocking them. But a young man believed that God was bigger than the giant. A young man believed God was bigger than the bleak situation his saw his countrymen in. And the young man was right. God delivered them. God answered them. God moved in a mighty way.

I'm stirred this morning to believe. To believe that God is raising up young Davids in this young generation. That a mighty move of God is coming to our young people. That there are students right now at these schools who will lead hundreds of their friends to Christ. That young men and women will rise up and walk in their God given destinies. That there will be an army of students who serve God - an army of God that is victorious.

It's happening, don't give up on 'em just yet. Despite what you read or hear, remember we have a God who is bigger. Bigger than giants. Bigger than bleak situations.

Mark 11:24, "therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

We were blown away by what the Lord did for us last Sunday night when 137 people came out to be baptized!

There was an excitement in the room that was palpable. You could sense that people were thrilled to get to declare their faith and full devotion to Jesus!

What fun it was as I walked through the line of people as they signed in Sunday before the service. I saw families that were preparing to be baptized together. I saw a  couple that had just been married 3 days earlier who were being baptized together. One lady told me that she had been praying for her brother for over 60 years! He was now 70 years old and we got to watch him be baptized! You can check out his baptism (his name is Jim) on the video we posted online and he is at the 52:20 mark of the baptism service video.

I liked what one guy said just before he was baptized at our service. When they placed the microphone in front of him he looked down and was a little shy but then he said, "My name is David,  and because He loves me so (paused to fight back tears) I've said yes to Jesus"

When David said that I almost lost all composure. What a testimony! How true for all of us is that? Because He loves me so I finally said yes to Jesus! Thanks to all of the wonderful folks that followed the Lord and heard His call to be baptized. Thank you to all the great members of the baptism team that work so hard and serve with such loving-kindness the people of the Ark. Thanks to our technical department that did such a great job capturing this night on video and then allowing us to watch it online!  Thanks to Millie, our Administrative Assistant in the Community Department, for pulling all the logistics together to make this evening happen.

Thanks most of all to the one who first loved us so that we can say yes and follow Him.

Ephesians 4:29 …Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Had a strange thing happen to me while eating breakfast and catching up on some Bible reading. No sooner had I read this verse in Ephesians when I overheard a not-so-quiet conversation just a few feet from my table. Let’s just say it was apparent this group of men did not care for someone. What made it worse for me was that they were talking about a pastor friend of mine. I believe the Lord allowed me to hear that conversation at just the time I was thinking about this verse of scripture. He did not let me hear it so I could think ill of these men. Nor was I there to bring correction to this group of strangers.

No, this was a teachable moment for ME. God used their conversation to stick in my craw and bother me.  Here is the personal truth it drove home: “Rob, when you speak ill of others it is ugly, painful, and harmful.” God wanted me to hear it and see it for MYSELF. Sure, I prayed for the men and for the person they railed against. But most of  all I asked the Lord to forgive me for the words of my mouth. What if we spent today only saying what is necessary for the good of others? Jesus said, “Its not what goes into the mouth that destroys but what comes out.”

My confession: I will speak only what edifies and helps other people. The words of my mouth are thoughtful, kind and uplifting. His praise shall continually be in my mouth!

Jesus was often surrounded by kids. The children must have really been drawn in by Him. I can imagine Jesus hugging children and tossing others playfully up in the air and laughing as he caught them. He must have tussled their hair and tickled them too. When you love children you get down to their level and they sense that you love them.  One thing is certain, kids won't offer to be around a stick in the mud type. In the middle of a busy schedule and full time ministry jesus said,  "let the little children come to me because this is what heaven is really like!"

This past Sunday I could not help but notice all the little children proudly wearing their new backpacks all around the lobby at church. I had one child proudly reveal to me all the goodies they had inside. I also smiled to see little boys and girls coming out of our "salon for a day" classroom with fresh clean hair cuts. The children were blessed this past Sunday at church. Of course, parents were blessed as well. Nothing makes parents happier than when their kids are blessed.

Today I am thankful to be a part of the Church that takes the word of God seriously and looks to bless people in our community. And I am convinced that the Lord Jesus was smiling on us Sunday as we blessed the children in his name. After all, the scripture says that if we have done it to the least of these we have done it to Him. Thank you Lord for the wonderful Church you allow us to be a part of. Thank you Jesus for The Ark.

It’s back-to-school time, which I know is no news to you parents!  If your house is like mine, there’s a lot of buzz and excitement in the air, along with a touch of apprehension.  I don’t know if you’re anything like me, but it seems like I can easily forget the goodness and faithfulness of God.  As I was leaving the high school counselor’s office the other day, I found myself frustrated and anxious about my son’s schedule that was not working out as he had requested.  Then the thought came to me, “God has been faithful every single year for the past 12 years with having my children in the right classes with the right teachers.  So why I am I worried now?  He will continue to be Who He has always been.”  That’s when the peace came and I was able to believe again that God truly does love my kids more than I do and He is absolutely trustworthy.  That’s certainly what I want to communicate to my kids, but it has to start in me.

This time of year is a great opportunity to lead and encourage your kids, and yourself, with God’s truth, wisdom, and hope.  Ask God for a specific scripture for your kids and/or family for this school year.  Share it with them, pray it over them, post it on the bathroom mirror and the fridge, and believe it.  Then throughout the school year check in with each other and see how God and the truth of His Word are showing up.  For this school year we are specifically praying Luke 2:40 for all of Ark Kids.  It says, “The child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.”  We are praying that your children will grow and become strong at heart, that they will be equipped to make wise choices, and that God’s grace on them will be evident to others.  

In Ark Kids we are here to partner with you.  Our Sunday and Wednesday classes and services are designed to help connect your kids to Jesus.  Check out our Ark Kids facebook page each week to see exactly what your kids are learning and get some ideas for reinforcing it at home.  We are using facebook as our primary means of communication, so be sure to “like us” on facebook.com/arkkids and let’s partner together for your kids and for a great school year.  We are praying for you!

For this article of Inside The Ark I am again sharing from my SOAP journal. I'm so glad Pastor Alan taught us this simple method. I use it While reading my Project 3:45 chapters. When something jumps out at me I write the Scripture, my Observation, an Application, and a Prayer.  Often I will then sum up what i have learned with a daily confession based on the word.  Here it goes on one I wrote when we were reading Ephesians together:

SCRIPTURE:
Ephesians 3:7
Through the Gospel of which i became a minister ACCORDING TO THE GIFT OF THE GRACE OF GOD given to me by the effective working of His power. 

OBSERVATION:
Paul always acknowledges the grace of God in his life. He notices the grace working in his him. He also is careful to give credit where credit is due. The grace on me....the grace in me working mightily.

APPLICATION:
What do I have that I have not been given by God? I function in the grace of God every single day. I5 years ago I was in a Psychiatric hospital having just suffered a nervous breakdown.  I lost everything dear to me; even my ability to reason and connect with others in a meaningful way. My education was gone and my relationships were gone. I lost income and incurred debt because of my troubles. I remember being alone and embarrassed. Here is the bright side of losing it all: when you get it back you know where it came from! I can boldly confess now that EVERYTHING I have is from the Lord. I received His grace and now I live in His grace. My soul shall makes its boast in the Lord! The humble will hear it and be glad. This poor man cried out the the Lord and He herd me; and saved me from all my troubles. God's grace allowed my girlfriend Stephanie to get saved. By His grace she married me. By His grace we have been given 3 wonderful children. By His grace I was placed in ministry. By his grace I am allowed to minister to others. I am what I am today because of the Grace of God! Everything I am and all that I have is by Grace. The car I drive is a grace car and the home I live in is a grace home. I have a grace family and a grace job. I live and will always live a grace life! Im thankful for His grace!!

PRAYER:
Father, thank you for your Amazing Grace. How sweet the sound of it that saved a nervous wreck like me. I once was lost and now Im found. Thank you father that once I was blind but now I see.

Confession:
Since I am a trophy of Gods grace I will live by that Grace working mightily in me. I Live according to His Grace!