Hooray for Earthquakes!

As most of you know by now we got to have an earthquake today in Southern California! The epicenter was in Chino Hills, which is really close to where we're at, so we felt it pretty strong. I would like to tell you that my macho Californian "I'm used to earthquakes" instinct kicked in, but then I would be guilty of breaking the 8th commandment.

No, actually what happened is I was in the middle of a Seminary class via internet extension, when I interrupted Professor Veum and said something like, "The earth is shaking I have to leave now, goodbye." I then proceeded to run, to where I don't know (running does not a lick of good in an earthquake, not one ounce of good, but that is what I did!).

On the other hand I am thankful for times like these because I am reminded of how small I really am. What in the world can I possibly do when the Lord decides to let the earth shake around me? The only wise thing, the only right thing to do is trust Him. For some more perspective on these things please see Psalm 29.

CORE VALUES

Yesterday I began a series on Victoria Community Church's Core Values. The first core value lays out how we feel about the Bible pretty clearly:

"The Bible is central in our congregation and in our households. The Word of God is the focus of our worship services, the textbook for our teaching ministries, and the foundation of our daily lives. Whether we are preaching, teaching, singing, or just talking, we want to be people of the Word."

As I was preaching on the value of the Bible, I found myself convicted of devaluing my Bible. It's so easy to get busy doing something else, reading something else, watching something else. But there is nothing else that carries within it life like the Word of God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says: "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

If you'd like to listen to the sermon for yesterday's sermon the audio is located
here.

UPDATE: Speaking of valuing our Bibles, here is a great little fact posted on Gene Veith's blog that gives us some perspective.

Adult Catechesis

In case you're wondering, Catechesis is just another way of saying teaching (there's more there, but I won't get into it here). As some of you know, in the Fall I am hoping to start an Adult Catechism class up at Victoria Community Church.

The reason for this? The idea came when talking to parents of junior high confirmation students. They were so impressed with what their kids were learning in their catechism class that often times they would say, "I wish their were a class like this for adults." Now those wishes will come true.

The Catechism class will not cover the same things as the junior high class, but will actually be an in depth class on the doctrines that our Church (The Church of the Lutheran Brethren) holds to.

Each week we will take an article from our Statement of Faith, disect it, wrestle with it and gain a greater understanding of it.

I am really looking forward to it! Titus 2:1 instructs us: "But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine." By God's grace we will!

Some Good Reads

Lately I haven't had a chance to read as much as I normally do, but the books I am currently reading are real gems. The first book is called "The Genius of Luther's Theology: A Wittenberg Way of Thinking for the Contemporary Church" . The book is written by Dr. Robert Kolb and Dr. Charles Arand, two excellent scholars on Luther. The book is basically broken up into two sections: 1. Luther's view on the two kingdoms (the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Man) 2. Luther's view of the Word and it's power.

The second book is called "The Living Church" by John Stott. This book essentially boils down Stott's Pastoral vision for a Biblical, Spirit filled Church. This is a great summary of what the Bible teaches the Church ought to be.

In the future when more time allows I will comment more specifically on each of these books, but for now enjoy a little of what the Word has to say on these things.

From the mouths of Infants and Babes...

As many of you who visit this blog know, this week the Church is offering our vacation bible school program, "SONfest." I am truly surprised to see how many children have shown up! Most of these kids are attenders of the Church. The rest of them are generally from other church bodies in the area.

So the emphasis this year for SONfest has changed from "outreach" to "inreach" (if that's a word). We are equipping the youngest members of the body of Christ with the gospel, and with the knowledge of their Lord. How are we doing this? Through singing biblically based songs, making biblically based crafts, eating snacks (I don't know that mud cups qualify as 'biblically based?) playing games, and teaching from the Word. What a worthy endeavor!

Sermon Audio

This last Sunday the sermon was entitled, "More Grace...More Gratitude," and was based on Luke 7:36-50. Below is the link to the audio:

http://victoriacc.org/m/MoreForgivenessMoreGratitude.mp3

The Consumer Church

Gene Edward Veith has a good entry on his blog today about a friend of his that has been a part of a wide variety of Christian denominations. This sort of thing is really unique to American Christianity. We are the land of choice in everything: Taco Bell for lunch, Turkey for dinner. So too with the Church: If the Pastor is entertaining, the people are welcoming and they keep my kids pacified than I will attend. The beliefs and doctrine of the Church are secondary to how they individually can be served.
I confess as an American that I suffer from much of the same consumerism that infects the average churchgoer. I just really don't want too!
One of my favorite videos is a popular one called "MeChurch." I think it defines much of our Church culture painfully well.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cGEmlPjgjVI

Sorensen Boys in Full Effect...Yo!

I've always been a bit shy about dancing in front of others, but me and my boys have worked out quite a routine that just had to be shown!

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/XVVx65PIpo5DaV1e#/view/GQbQ5sGnFEAkaZct

Thanks to the Lombardoson!

Tim Keller on "The Gospel Centered Ministry"

A number of months ago I found out about this gathering of various evangelicals called "The Gospel Coalition." As I searched through their sight, I came across this teaching by Dr. Timothy Keller on the ministry of the Church and found it to be wonderfully encouraging. I hope you do as well. The Gospel Centered Ministry can be found here.

Luther on the Atonement

"Our most merciful Father...sent his only Son into the world and laid upon him...the sins of all men saying: Be thou Peter that denier; Paul that persecutor, blasphemer and cruel oppressor; David that adulterer; that sinner which did eat the apple in Paradise; that thief which hanged upon the cross; and briefly be thou the person which hath committed the sins of all men; see therefore that thou pay and satisfy for them. Here now comes the law and saith: I find him a sinner...therefore let him die upon the cross. And so he setteth upon him and killeth him. By this means the whole world is purged and cleansed from all sins."



Mark 10:45- "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Christ our Passover Lamb

Today @ V.C.C. we are privilaged to have Brian Zuckerman from CJF ministries. Brian is a Messianic Jew and is going to lead our congregation through a presentation of the Passover and explain how it all points to Christ!

Unfortunately, most Christians fail to understand how "Jewish" our faith really is. Jesus said that all of the Old Testament was written about Him (John 5:39). Paul declares that Christ is our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7). And if you ever try and read the book of Revelation it will seem completely baffling unless you are familiar with the Old Testament. Yet most of us aren't very familiar with that first part of our Bibles. So here is a chance today to take in some good teaching and really dig into our roots as Christians. Soli Deo Gloria!

RESURRECTION

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die."

As some of you know my Grandma passed away on Monday the 7th. As a result, I've been thinking alot about death and resurrection. Seeing death makes it so abundantly clear that this world is in "bondage to decay" as Paul states it in Romans. It is tempting to see someone you love die and wonder whether there is hope.

Then I read a statement like the one above from Jesus and I realize that indeed there is great hope! Jesus has risen from the dead and death no longer has mastery over those who believe!

Martin Luther said, "Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime." Yes, He has written resurrection all over the place for us to see and rejoice in as we look forward to the glorious day when He will call His own home for good.

It may be that we wonder when death draws near where God is at. Then we read the story of Lazarus (the quote above from Jesus is from that story) and realize He's right here with us. Our God is not far away in the clouds, but in the person of His Son came to this world and suffered on our behalf. As one man said, "Jesus crawls into the grave with us." When He sees His friend die, even though He will raise him from the dead, He weeps over him. Yes, Jesus is with those who mourn. "Blessed are those who mourn" Jesus said, "for they shall be comforted."

RECEIVING...GROWING...GOING...

Below is the link for yesterday's sermon:

http://victoriacc.org/m/ReceivingGrowingGoing.mp3

The message is on Victoria Community Church's purpose: Receiving, Growing, and Going.

This will probably be preached again in the future as, contrary to popular belief, your largest congregation is not there on 4th of July weekend.

Created in the image of dog?

There is a story out this morning talking about the relationship between humans and dogs. Growing up a dog lover I can understand the sentiment a little bit, but this shows I believe a bit of a disturbing trend.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/06/america/pets.php

Dennis Prager poses this scenario to young students: You are walking along the beach with your pet when suddenly you see a complete stranger struggling to stay above water. At the same time your pet races out to the water and pretty soon you see that both of them are struggling to stay above water. You can only save one. Who or what do you save? At least half of all that answer this question opt for the pet.

Understandable? After all most of the time your pet "loves" you unconditionally where as the person could be a complete jerk. However, there is something extraordinarily distinct about the human being that changes the situation completely. There actually is a correct answer to this question. If you'd like the answer please see Genesis 1:26-27: http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Genesis+1&src=esv.org

P.S. The picture above is of Elwood, voted the world's ugliest dog. I still think he's kind of cute.

Sermon audio

Below is a link to last Sunday's sermon:

How_Jesus_Handles_Our_Doubts.mp3

I will try to remember to post sermons here at the beginning of the week from now on. This Sunday I will be preaching on Victoria Community Church's purpose: Receiving, Growing, and Going.

Atheist Believers?

Scratch your heads as you look at this statistic from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public life:

21% of Atheists believe in a God!

Check out the story @ http://religions.pewforum.org/reports

I love this statistic! Luther said in the introduction to the Ten Commandments in the Large Catechism that

"A god means that from which we are to expect all good and to which we are to take refuge in all distress, so that to have a God is nothing else than to trust and believe Him from the [whole] heart; as I have often said that the confidence and faith of the heart alone make both God and an idol."

This statistic seems once again to confirm this biblical teaching. Everyone is born with an innate sense that there is a God and therefore will worship in some way, something.

For more on how to worship and who to worship I refer you to Hebrews 1.

Secularism at it's finest

Oh my goodness, read this article:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/29/AR2008062901477.html

I was alerted to this article by Gene Edward Veith's wonderful blog, Cranach. This is an absolutely damning piece written by a Ugandan Pastor about the AIDS crisis over there. It seems that with the funds that we've sent to help in the crisis, we also have sent our worldview that assumes that all people want to do all the time is look for casual sex! Since our culture is so oversexed we assume that everyone else's ought to be as well. The Pastor does a great job of pointing out the folly of this thinking.

Last line of the piece: "So hear my plea, HIV-AIDS profiteers. Let my people go. We understand that casual sex is dear to you, but staying alive is dear to us. Listen to African wisdom, and we will show you how to prevent AIDS."