Open Forum

How many times have you heard the assertion that true science will always be in agreement with Scripture? Or that unless every detail of the biblical creation narrative accords with physical science, the entire Bible is untrustworthy? Bring a friend and join author Gordon J. Glover as he discusses these and other questions relating to science and the scriptures on Friday, Sept. 19, at Java Grande (7-9 PM) in Ellicott City.

In his ongoing quest to integrate science with Christian orthodoxy, Gordon has probably held just about every conceivable position on Creation. He now spends most of his free time studying, discussing, speaking and writing about the challenging philosophical issues that arise from the scientific investigation of natural history - and doing backyard astronomy with his kids.

Gordon has always had an insatiable interest in the natural sciences; specifically how they relate to Christian theology and the Bible. Sacrificing the romantic idea of a scientific career on the alters of pragmatism, he studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas and Ocean Engineering at Texas A&M University. He then served 11 years in the U.S. Navy as a Deep Sea Diver and Ocean Engineer before settling down in the suburbs of southern Maryland.

The Kingdom Today!

Today I went to an event with other community leaders to learn about a new group, Columbia Tomorrow (CT). CT is a citizens advocacy group that supports people and institutions working together for a better future for Columbia residents. Their mission is “to help create a more sustainable, inclusive and attractive community that strives for excellence.” This movement is in response to the lively discussions that the residents, institution, business and government leaders of Columbia have had and are having regarding the future of Town Center in Columbia.

I admire and applaud this new community advocacy group’s deep passion to make Columbia even better. They want to uphold the uniqueness (i.e., racially diverse) and community values of Columbia. They understand that Columbia needs diverse voices from all sectors of life to help make Columbia better.

So as I heard their presentation, I asked myself (and now asking you) how does the church community at large and our church specifically help in making Columbia better? Isn’t that part of our mission? We believe that part of praying for God’s kingdom to come (The Lord’s Prayer), God will powerfully use us through the ministry of the gospel to really and truly change the community for the better. The Gospel, Jesus and His message, makes an enduring and radical difference in the community we live: brokenness to hope; hate to reconciliation; sadness to joy; inequities to justice; and pride to humility. Throughout history God has brought His kingdom to societies and radically changed them for the good.

I think how our Gracious Triune God is doing this in Rwanda. God is bringing people from both sides of this horrific tragedy to experience forgiveness and healing. We hope to show this documentary testifying of this reality in the next couple of months. Check out this website As we Forgive to learn more.

Of the many passages in the Bible speaking of God’s kingdom, here are two for us to consider:

“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction” (Mt. 9:35).

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 14:17).

Give me some of your thoughts on how we can participate with God in bringing His Kingdom TODAY to Columbia and our surrounding area.

Warmly,

Pastor Jeff

The Addict in All of Us

Some of you know that each year Val and I attend the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation (CCEF) Annual Conference for a time of spiritual renewal and refreshment. This year we would like to encourage you to attend as well. The theme of the conference is “The Addict in All of Us.” It is for all who struggle with addictions, and for all who want to help them. I know that I fit both categories.

Click here on CCEF to find out more information and to register. Please pray and decide soon for the early bird special of $185 is until September 15. It goes up to $200 thereafter.

Val and I can’t say enough about how much this time of worship and insights from godly and gracious men and women have impacted our Christian walk. Even though we have been convicted much of our sin, we have also seen the beauty and glory of Jesus during this weekend. Jesus truly does meet us in our pain and brings us hope and power in the midst of it.

We hope you can attend with us.

Warmly,

Pastor Jeff

Bold but Risky

Many have described John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin for his running mate as bold but risky. Now I could give my humble opinion and insight on such a choice but I won’t. I desire to apply this statement to the church—our church. How would we react to the Columbia Flier or the Baltimore Sun or the Washington Post if they write that City of Hope Church is bold but risky in loving our community?

For the past 2 years, our small group has been studying the Acts of the Apostles. From Peter and Paul to Priscilla and Aquila, these men and women along with many others who transformed by Jesus and his message were bold and took enormous risk to share Jesus and his message. They were willing to risk their lives and take Jesus and his message to very diverse, difficult and important people and places. Jesus and his message so greatly impacted and captivated the early church that it expanded to many regions in the world. What encouraged them to be bold and risky?

Jesus encouraged his disciples at the beginning of Acts and us as well:

“But you have receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

In our small group we are attempting to encourage one another in engaging our friends, peers, and families with Jesus and his message. We are reminded in this verse that God has given us His Spirit to empower us to be bold and risky. But throughout Acts and even in this verse, God emphasizes that we also need one another—we need to be involved in a Christian community so that we can encourage one another and help one another to grow in loving others well with Jesus and his message.

Peter gives us in Acts 2:38 the unpopular but bold and risky message that we must bring to our community:

“And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Tim Keller states, “…Peter tells them that if they repent/believe — they will receive two promises. They will receive “forgiveness of sins” and “the gift of the Holy Spirit”. This is a great summary of what it means to become a Christian. When we become a Christian, there is something legal that happens outside of us — we are accepted as sinless and perfect, our record being pardoned and covered. Secondly, there is something that happens within us — we get the new life, a new power and Spirit directly from God that then grows in us.”

John Stott affirms, “Here then is... the message. Two events (Christ’s death and resurrection) as attested by two witnesses ([the Bible and historical witnesses to resurrection]), on the basis of which God makes two promises (forgiveness and the Spirit), on two conditions (repentance and faith)... We have no liberty to amputate this apostolic gospel...” (The Message of Acts, p. 81)

May we be so captivated and impacted by Jesus and his message that the Holy Spirit empowers us to be bold and risky in loving our community. Let us also encourage one another to be faithful in this united call for all Christians.

Let me use the popular slogan from the Obama campaign: Yes We Can (by the grace and power of God) be bold and take risks with the transforming message of Jesus!

Warmly,

Pastor Jeff