This past election cycle Coloradoans had the opportunity to put into action a decision that would bring sanctity back to the unborn child.  A being with a soul, a mind, an intellect.  We failed to do that.  In fact we failed by a large margin with the personhood amendment only gaining 21% of a yes vote to proclaim by law that the unborn child was in fact a person. 

Now, this issue saddens me because it shows the true state of our church, the Church of Jesus Christ when we put politics over faith and don't even vote for life.  This was a vote for life, to protect life and bring a sanctity back to the womb of a mother, what is supposed to be the safest place on earth for a child.  Why do I think we as the Church failed in this respect?  We have failed as Pastors to teach, we have failed as churches to take a stand, we have failed as people of God to put life as a priority for who we are, the crux of the Christian faith is that Jesus died, rose again and gave us the ability to gain a new life in Him or be "born again."  That means life! 

The other sad fact is that we have killed an estimated 40 million babies since Roe v. Wade and we are looking at a serious generational problem when the baby boomers retire.  Interesting that the genx and geny generations are the generations most affected by this ruling and we see a decline of no's in the workforce from 40 mil boomers to 29 mil genxers and 20 mil genyers.  We effectively eliminated about 30-50% of two generations in this nation.  That's 40 million taxpayers gone, 40 million social security supporters gone, 40 million consumers gone, 40 million minds with the possibility for cures to illness, better energy solutions, creativity and a deeper talent pool, gone.  Could it be that the problems we are having might be directly correlated with the fact that we have chosen death over life and by virtue of this choice, death follows in every other category? 

These are some thoughts that need consideration and we need to start looking at issues like this not as political ones, but life giving ones.  We as the church need to be life giving people and follow this through by our actions.  I want to encourage us all as people of faith to pray, pray that human life will be protected and that we can get some government representation whose minds are not given over to a reprobate state when it comes to the issue of life, but that they can support and uphold life as the most basic and primary underlying tenet of society. 

John

Now, I hear all this fuss about our current economic slump and if you are a Christian, be concerned, but keep your eyes on Jesus because His economy is a good one and in His economy giving is the way to live.  That is proportionate giving (tithe), offerings (above tithe), alms (to the poor).  (fyi tithe didn't die in the NT, Jesus taught it, Matt. 23:23 "these you should have done (tithe) without neglecting the other).  This proportionate giving thing is so cool because it doesn't matter what economic scale you are on, you can still do it!  Maybe the Government should look at this as a way out of their debt????  Not a coincidence that we are experiencing less than 2% of evangelical christians in this country tithing, so my word to you who profess Christ as Lord, Tithe and watch God keep you during an economic slump. 

I am not saying that God will save you from losing your Benz, but He sure will keep the clothes on your back and food on your table.....and just maybe that family who is so wrapped up in selfish living might get closer through the trial and learn to trust and love one another again.  Paul said "I consider these light afflictions."  We can't even hold a candle to Paul's afflictions, shipwrecked, stoned and left for dead, beaten.........these were light, where do our "afflictions" stand in reference to Paul's scale? 

Ask yourself that question and you might just find some Joy and Peace in Who God can be to you through this. 

Be encouraged, "Godliness + Contentment = GREAT GAIN!" you can be richer than your wildest dreams...........in God's economy!

Transition, as women who have ever gone through labor without the assistance of an epidural could tell you, is the worst and most painful stage of childbirth.  It's the time that is also the shortest.  This is where I believe we find ourselves at this moment in time for our personal lives and for this nation, Transition.  An evangelist once said that "transition is the stage when nothing you are used to doing is working and everything you will be doing hasn't arrived yet."  That's a scary place to be in!  There are so many questions in times like these when nothing seems to be working out and it doesn't look like anything will, but the hope that we have is found in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope." (NET bible).  God knows and that should give us all hope! 

So my encouragement is for all of us to have hope, because God has plans to prosper us.  This great nation has never forgotten the poor and the orphan and though some might cry about the amount of money and resources we send all over this world, we have to realize that it is this spirit of giving that was established in the DNA of this nation by our forefathers and their foundation in the Christian faith that has made us the most prosperous and powerful nation in history.  It is also why we can never stop our giving, why we can never stop setting the captives free and never stop bringing freedom as we know to as many nations as we can. 

This will be a short season of pain and we will see God move in a mighty and miraculous way to break through with His sovereign power because He set this nation aside for a great purpose and He is not ready to see this nation humiliated before the eyes of the world.  He will hold it up and He will make it shine as our great Former President Ronald Reagan once said "like a city on a hill." (incidentally he was qouting scripture).  

Stay in Prayer and Keep the faith! 

John 

Thoughts of working at my home church at the time, Houma 1st A/G, as a youth intern one summer cropped up.  And I can remember about once a week we had to stop by and visit Mr. Landry, the Church grandfather.  When Mr. Landry prayed, it was always in French and everyone knew that if they stopped by during the week he always had something cooking on the stove.  Fresh fish, white beans and rice, alligator, some gumbo, fresh shrimp, you name it we had it once a week.  The hospitality was somethin' else.  It has been awhile since I have been back to Houma, but I know lots of family and friends are still there, building their life and enjoying the booming oil business again. 

Some of the good thougts aside, I can also remember the hurricanes.  Hurricane Andrew stands out in my mind since it was the last one that I rode out with my family.  Up all night listening to the news, parents playing cards, no electricity and me trying to find a place to crash in my uncle's house.  Laying there staring at the ceiling listening to the wind howling outside, not being able to look out of a window or a door because everything was boarded up, yet hearing the cracking of tree limbs and trunks as several of them simply couldn't stand any longer.  I can still hear the sound of these massive trees crashing all around us, the slow cracking and popping as the trunks give way and then the loud final whooshing sound trees make when all their branches and leaves are shaken, along with the final cracking and popping of those same limbs.  The next day was always the cleanup, mopping up water, clearing downed trees and picking up trash.  These are the things I am remembering tonight. 

Let's pray for safety over our family and friends and that God would spare them from the fury that this storm can bring. 

Blessings, John

We were also privileged to hang out with some great pastors who provided some much needed guidance and support in the work of the ministry.  But the biggest and mose impactful time came on Tuesday morning when Pastors Gordon and Derozette Banks sat all of the sr. pastors there on the front row of the church and washed our feet!  This pastor who has played in the NFL, served at Covenant Church as a Sr. Associate Pastor and now as the Sr. Pastor for New Heart Worship and sits on not only our Church Board, but many others, knelt down in front of me and washed my feet!  Yes, I know of the story in the bible about Jesus washing Peter's feet, but knowing a story and experiencing a story are two different things.  When someone who has paid the price, who has been a faithful servant and sits in an honorable position lowers themselves and says to you "I am here to serve, to cover your back and to give you whatever you need to succeed" that does something to a man.  I was broken.  In fact I still am. 

I can see now why Peter came back after denying Jesus to become the great Apostle.  I think he remembered that night when Jesus bowed low and served him and he felt that twinge of gratitude and humility.  I think it made his passion for serving Jesus burn even more.  I know it has for me. 

It makes me passionate about serving God and Covenant Church till the day I die and I am not just talking about our local Covenant Church, but mamma Covenant and all of her babies.  This Covenant DNA is the church that Jesus talked about when He said "I will build my Church."  That's why we serve because it is the Spirit of God and the servants of God that have faithfully served that compels us! 

You know, there are so many types of conferences and things pastors and ministry leaders can go to and all of them are good I am sure.  But to have the opportunity to have one on one time and impartation in a setting that is personal and intimate is priceless.  Pastors need times like these to be refreshed and have their passion for the work of the ministry revived.  It is a necessity!  But the cold hard truth is, you can't get this type of ministry from just any old conference, it has to be from a truly apostolic house that has the spirit of a father present.  It is the way God intended it just as it was for Paul and Timothy.  We need more this type of ministry for pastors across this nation. 

So thank you again Pastors Mike and Kathy and Gordon and Derozette for making this happen!  You are the most awesome people we know and my wife and I are privileged to serve!

Servant for life, John

I learned a few things along the way such as, There can always be too much of a good thing!  They were begging us not to go to disney the last day :-) And that you can do alot more and be more energized when you are having fun!  Not to mention the lack of stress!  My wife and I intentionalized not answering phone calls or email while we were there and for 10 days really disconnected.  All of us need to do this in some way during the year.  You never realize how much of a burden you are carrying on a consistent basis when you are so connected all the time.  Blackberries, cellphones, PDA's, always on internet connections at home beckoning you to just ck and see if someone important has emailed you (all the while spending precious minutes away from your family browsing through spam and unimportant little forwarded emails!). 

It kind of reminds me of a story about a mother who hid her blackberry in the bathroom because her kids made her promise not to be on it when they were home in the evening.  Her kids remarked about how odd it was that she had to go to the bathroom so much!  What a sad indictment upon us as parents when we forget the main things in our lives.  This weekend I believe I finally understood why our personal families should be the priority in our lives.  No matter how much time and effort you put into anyting else or anyone else, they will at some point move on in life, Your kids don't.  They are yours for life and will always be there, especially when you nurture and engage them at every stage of their growth process. 

Be Blessed and take a moment to engage with your son or daughter today with the computer, tv and cellphone off and your mind and emotions in the moment. 

John

There are two responses for a Christian as they go through trials;

1) Harden your heart towards God through questions of why and attitudes of woe is me. 

2) Embrace it and learn to walk in God's rest. 

This past week I came across a video on youtube of a Hillsongs worship recording.  The name of the song is "Desert Song" and one of the worship leaders shares her testimony of things that happened in her life only a week and a half before the recording.  You will have to view it to get the full impact (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QemZQKKJbRU).  "Refine me Lord through the pain" and other verses are the exact thing that this verse is talking about. 

How awesome is it for people to see others who have walked through personally devastating circumstances and watch them still stand before a congregation and simply say "All of my life, in every season, You are still God, I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship!"  This is a person that decided to walk with "confidence, steadfast to the end."  They are those who will enter His rest.  I am convinced that the rest Paul is talking about is a rest that can only be found in the trial and deserts of our lives.   

The downside is that Paul says the people who will not enter that rest are those who harden their hearts. 

I have personally walked through many challenges spiritually and physically that have occurred during the founding years of Covenant and I can honestly say that God has brought us through some very tough times.  But i cannot say that I always responded with steadfast confidence.  There are times that on the outside I was confident, but on the inside I was in turmoil, mad at God for allowing certain things to happen and hardening my heart in the process.  Then there were times where my heart was truly broken and embraced the pain of the refiners fire that I was going through.  And after personally knowing and walking through the two responses, the latter one is the best one, because God is faithful. 

"I will sing praise."  That should be our response, because God is God and that alone gives me a reason to worship. 

Blessings, John

As the altar call was given last night my 4 year old Juliana whispered in my ear "I want to go down."  Then my 6 year old Isabelle, on her birthday nonetheless, leaned over and said "Daddy I want you to go down with me."  On that note I had the privilege of walking my two daughters down the aisle as they responded to the call to make Jesus the Lord of their life.  I asked them if they understood what they were doing and I got several answers, but suffice it to say that understanding sometimes is over rated.  Faith can never be over rated. 

That's the difference between a child and an adult, adults sometimes need too many justifiable reasons or answers to respond to things.  To answer the call that God has on our lives we often need explicit instructions or "divine revelation" instead of that still small voice that my daughters heard in their hearts.  God isn't looking for us to have a neon flashing light saying "turn here" or "do this."  But He is looking for us to respond to that still small voice.  And respond to it in faith.  

It only took a few minutes and child like faith for the work of salvation to be done in Isabelle and Juliana's life and now because they responded with faith, maybe not fully understanding in their minds, but they understood in their hearts, eternity is now planted in their souls. 

Where do you stand with eternity?  Are there still too many questions bouncing around in your head that they overcome the faith in your heart?  Take the time and receive the Kingdom today. 

Blessings, John

Taken from Luke 15 and the story of the prodigal son, there are 4 key elements to a good family.  The first one would be Compassion.  We find this in the father's response to seeing his son and it moved him to throw his arms around him instead of condemning or questioning his appearance (the guy had to stink and look horrible after living with pigs!).  Compassion starts with the heart and parents, extended family members and friends need to be moved with compassion towards each other.  The second would be humility.  We see this from the son, who in his pride left his father's home and wasted his inheritance, but in humility approached his father and truly desired only to become as one of his slaves.  Then we find forgiveness.  The father forgave, didn't question, didn't rebuke, he simply forgave.  He didn't even take time to find out what his son had done with all his money.  I guess his appearance may have spoken volumes to the father.  It reminds me of the story I heard about an executive who had just lost a million dollars working on a business deal.  He gets called into the owner's office and before the owner addresses him, the executive speaks up and says "I will get my desk cleaned out by the end of the day" to which the owner responds and says "why in the world would I fire you?  We just spent a million dollars to train you!"  

That father must have felt the same way, the money was worth the investment to have his son come home, his pride broken and his heart ready to receive from his dad.  But the key is in the father's response, let's celebrate!  You see Forgiveness was already there, it existed long before the son ever approached, but it was only received when the son approached with humility.  That's how God is towards us, forgiveness is there and always has been, but how long will it take us to approach Him with humility and receive it?  

The last key is celebration.  The father commanded a celebration because his son that was dead was alive again!  We have to celebrate one another in our families and relationships.  Truly celebrate the worth and value of each person and let them experience acceptance and love.  Rejection abounds in our lives and it is up to us as family to celebrate each other.  And this does not stop with our earthly family, but the family of God as well.  True celebration of one another's value and worth happens from the heart, which is where compassion is seated.  So it starts with compassion, humility is the ability to receive, forgiveness is the ability to give in spite of and celebration is the triumph of our relationships.  

So let's apply these 4 keys not only to our family, but our friends and co-workers as well and watch how God blesses your life!  

John 

In the meantime you can also tune in to our newly launched Radio Program, Covenant Life, on castle rock radio.com by going to www.castlerockradio.com Sunday mornings from 9-10 a.m. mst.  This new and exciting venture is something that will bless your life with practical teaching and real life transparency about Covenant Church and what we believe and teach.

I hope to meet you this Sunday at Covenant Church on the corner of third and perry in downtown Castle Rock,

Where we want you to Believe, Belong and Become all that God has for you! 

John