Campus Blogs

After many years, I am on my first full-fledged sabbatical. The last 19 years of administration made it difficult to take an extended period of time for study, reflection, and writing or creation of some kind. That, by the way, is a definition of a sabbatical. It is not just time off, but time for intensive work in one’s discipline, to retool in some measure, and write or produce works of scholarship or performance, depending on the type of academic work each of us does. Anyway, I am on the first real, full-semester sabbatical I have had in the 30+ years during which I have been teaching. As you can imagine, it is an adjustment. From multiple meetings daily, I have moved to an appointment or two a week. It takes a much planning I am finding, to effectively work with an open schedule as it does with a full schedule. I have learned from some of my amazingly productive colleagues at FPU who write articles, books, compose and produce during sabbaticals. I am working toward the same by the end of the fall. The goal is that those of us who teach will continue to be up-to-date in our teaching, bring energized and thoughtful minds to the classroom, with topics that educate, expand minds, and have relevance for students today. So what does one do on a sabbatical? I suppose it depends on the discipline we work in. I am up working by about 7:00 and go till somewhere around noon, and then resume in the afternoon. For now it is reading in and around political thinkers in seventeenth century England, particularly a group call the Cambridge Platonists. They were a group who reacted to strict predestinarian Calvinism, and the role of the Puritans, Presbyterians, and different forms of radical movements (Ranters, Diggers, Levellers, Anabaptists of one form or another, and Quakers, just to name a few), and their role in the English Civil Wars and rule of Oliver Cromwell (all from about 1640-1660). They survived all of this, and the Restoration of the monarchy. To get a grasp on this I have to read about Cambridge Platonist thinking and activity, the scientific revolution which was the major intellectual movement of the time, and the multiple schools of political thinking all struggling to come to grips with a civilizational and political environment in which different forms of Christian belief were used to justify rebellion, revolt, the killing of a king, the restructuring of a government, and finally the restoration of kingship. They were also concerned with deliberately anti-Christian thinking, and the materialist culture that was then forming that would become one of the defining characteristics of our modern world. It is a bit complex. The Cambridge thinkers were Christian theologians who took seriously the role of Christians in society, as well as of faith for the full development of a person. I am convinced there is something there to teach us, but it is difficult to define. I have been working on forms of this for most of my career, and find it interesting and compelling. It doesn’t particularly bother me that others do not! More on that later. I have some other duties—an accreditation visit to a Mexican university, some accreditation training, writing a review for the FPU’s Pacific Journal—and a few other ongoing projects. But for now I am jealously guarding my time for study, reflection and writing. You may see me in a Starbuck’s some morning, usually outside, reading, or writing (can’t stay home alone all of the time). If you do, stop for a minute to chat. I won’t bore you with the Cambridge Platonists. I am looking forward to the return to the classroom next semester, to working with students, and to considering big ideas and some of the important topics and struggles we face today.

Our Father we thank you today for your many blessings that you have shown to this University. Thank you for the resources, facilities, gifts and the people that serve others in this place. Father we come today to dedicate this year for your glory. We offer to you our minds, service, hearts and hands. We ask that you would use us to bring you pleasure, joy, glory and good fruit as an offering. Please bless our leaders, faculty, staff, and administration. Please protect and watch over our students at every campus. Keep them safe, healthy, encouraged and focused on you. We come today lord to dedicate this year of service to you. Thank you for another chance to serve you through this act of worship. In the name of the father, Son and Holy Spirit we pray.

Getting a Glimpse of Jesus Mark 9:2-10 2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. 7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. 9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant. Introduction: There is no greater Joy on a students journey than to have an invitation from the greatest teacher to ever live, to get alone with Him and to see what no other student has had the privilege to see. Every now and then God has a way of just pulling His children aside and revealing himself to them, so that they can have the assurance of knowing that He really is God. Introduction Today that’s what’s happening in this text. The greatest teacher in the Universe is showing his students a deeper glimpse into His deity. Their world is about to be changed forever, because of the lessons they will learn while on a student-retreat with Jesus! The Appearance of God 2 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Note: There are several things that arrest me in the first verse; the first is the selection of Jesus, and who it was that he desired to take with him upon the Mountain. Peter, James and John were all disciples, but they were often times picked out by Jesus to do certain things that the others were not. • These three are going to get to see what the other 9 disciples will not see. • They will get to hear, follow and participate in an experience with Jesus, that only they would be able to report about • They were handpicked for this experience and chosen by Christ to get to see a part of him that no one on earth has ever seen. The second thing I see is that they were chosen to go to a remote area; “A High Mountain” where their Christian world-view of God was going to be transformed! After this encounter with Jesus they were never going to see Him the same anymore! This was a sacred place, an isolated place, a place of solitude and divine instruction. Application: • Every now and then God still hand picks believers to encounter him in the secret place! • Every now and then God yet draws us away to be alone with him where we can see what nobody has ever seen before • Every now and then God elects to reveal something about him in the word that you never saw before. • When God chooses to reveal things about himself He often times takes us “up beyond the locations of life that we are familiar with” • I believe today that God wants to take us places in his word, where we can see things we never seen before! • I believe that God wants to expose us to his divine nature in scripture so we can have our Christian world-view changed! Question: 1. The question is, are you available for the journey? 2. Are you prepared to follow Him if he calls? 3. Are you ready to go where no other disciples have been? 4. Are you ready to move at the masters command? 5. If so then you are ready to study at Fresno Pacific University. The third thing I see is that he was transfigured before them! The word here in the Original language is pronounced “meta-morphoo” it is where we get our English word meta-morphis from. It literally means to change, transfigure, or transform. This is interesting because, Jesus, as God had become Flesh/Human and already changed into “Emmanuel the God-man”. However, when we see him in this verse, He has elected to Transform in such a manner that no earthly colors could compare or even describe the “brightness of His beauty”. This radiance described by Mark, is arresting because it reveals the Holiness of the Messiah” His clothes became shining, exceedingly white. What was on the inside of Christ came through his earthly garments. It became a divine garment that the disciples had the privilege of seeing. Note: 1. Then two of the Hebrew heroes from chapter 11 of the book of Hebrews, appeared with Him in this transfigured state. 2. Moses who was known as the deliverer and Elijah who was one of the first Prophets who served The Lord during the rein of the Kings of Israel. 3. Now this is interesting because they were both in eternity! One had been kissed by death, and the other never saw death, He was taken by God upon a fiery chariot! But they both had been Men that God used greatly to speak for Him while they were here on earth! 4. They were both now in eternity, but here they have come back to earth to learn from their King, Whom they had served while they were on earth. 5. Jesus who used them in the Old Testament now is having an eternal conversation with them while standing on Earth. These two heroes did not have the privilege of walking with Him in the flesh on earth, and now they get to come and learn about his ensuing sacrifice that they knew of, but were held back from seeing the Mystery! (Luke 9:31) 6. I believe that they were talking to Jesus about Calvary; HE was revealing to them the fulfillment of their ministries and his plan to redeem mankind! Application: If God has ever taken you up to the Mountain top and revealed intimate things about himself, he will always let you see things that you have never seen him do before! Peter James and John all get to hear and see Jesus like they have never saw him before. And so will you, while you are here at Fresno Pacific! This is going to be a mountain experience! The Lord will meet you miraculously in your studies and in your interactions with others, while you get away with HIM. The Awestruck Disciple 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. Note: The outspoken Peter is what I like to call “Awe-struck” He is filled with awe at what he has seen. As a result of what he has encountered, Peter the student has a brilliant idea… Let us make three Tabernacles! (Dwelling places) He wants to stay there permanently! 1. He gets a glimpse of the power and eternal glory of Jesus 2. He sees the saints of old, and delights to fellowship with them 3. For a brief moment he escapes the pain of this old world, and finds total peace on the mountain top with Jesus His idea is not a bad one; it’s just not the right one, because the Mission of Christ has not yet been fulfilled. He got the right glimpse of His glory, he just didn’t see the end of the story and he had not quite understood the purpose of His coming! Application: • Every now and then we too as students of Christ, have these Holy Moments and Inspirational ideas! • Every now and then we too have the feelings of “Lord let us stay here forever” • Every now and then we too recognize the fact that we are in the presence of Jesus, and would rather build a permanent dwelling place on earth, to enjoy his presence” Peter forgot that earth was a fallen planet, and sin still reigned in the hearts of men. Peter forgot, there were 9 other students waiting down the mountain to be with Jesus, He and James and John were not HIS only followers Peter needed to be reminded that the journey does not stop here! There is a Calvary waiting for Jesus, and a ministry of suffering is what he had been called to endure! The Answer from God 7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. Note: Right after Peter’s comment, The Father brought his thoughts back into focus. As Jesus was teaching Moses, Elijah and the three disciples… The Father speaks and informs the disciples that Jesus is HIS Beloved Son, “HEAR HIM”! Note: In other words, Peter You will not build three tabernacles… Hear Jesus! His words are what you need to know…Hear Jesus. Peter you wont be able to stay in this location forever…His words of salvation for they are what you need to know… Hear Jesus! Peter, I know things are comfortable here, but you cant stay in school forever… Hear the call to service, surrender and sacrifice, thesis what came to teach to you… Hear Jesus! Application: Students of FPU we are here to be reminded that earth is not heaven, and we are not to desire to dwell here forever! We have to be reminded that the thoughts and ideas of men are not to be “Taken as words of deity” and what God is commanding of us is to Hear Jesus. • As students if we would hear Jesus, we could love one another! • As students if we would hear Jesus, we could feed the poor of the world! • As students if we would hear Jesus, we could love the orphans of the world! • As students if we would hear Jesus we could serve the widows of the world! • As students if we would hear Jesus we could visit the prisoners of the world! • As students if we would hear Jesus we could give ourselves to the ministry of serving! • As students if we would hear Jesus we could preach the gospel to the world! The Assignment of God 9 Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant. Note: • The disciples here in this verse are given a command by Jesus. The command is to keep what they have seen to themselves. • They were to not tell a soul that they saw Jesus like they never saw him before • They couldn’t tell anyone that Elijah and Moses were real people! • They couldn’t tell anybody about the Glorious cloud that covered them and the powerful “booming voice of the father” gave them direct instructions. • They couldn’t tell anybody that Jesus Transfigured before them, and He really was God in the Flesh! All that they had seen, and all that they had encountered they were commanded to keep it to themselves! Because the resurrection had not happened yet! They couldn’t tell it because he had not yet completed the mission Observation: Jesus is making it very clear here that there was going to be an execution! He was going to die, BUT, he was also going to come back to life! He was going to rise from the dead. • After the resurrection, they could tell everything they saw! • After the resurrection they could preach about what they saw • After the resurrection they could tell of seeing Elijah and Moses with Jesus! • After the resurrection they could spread the word about what they heard! • After the resurrection their testimony would validate their faith • After the resurrection they could become good news reporters! Why? 1. Well I believe that after they saw Him concur death, their words would be more powerful! 2. After they saw Him come back from the dead, they would be sure of their message to the people! 3. After they saw Him come back from the dead, their confidence would be strengthen because they saw him before and after he went into the grave! Observation: • Here is Jesus is calling them to be eye witnesses of His glory. • If they waited to the resurrection to tell the story, they would have remembered what it was like to be with Him on the Mountain, when the saints stepped through the corridors of time, broke into the atmosphere of faith, teleported through the layers of the cosmos and ended up on a mountain in Galilee sharing space with lowly fisherman! • Their testimony would be greater if they waited until the resurrection! Conclusion: Today we know the story, because they got to get a glimpse of his glory • They got a glimpse of the plan of God! • They got a glimpse of what God was doing in the earth! Application: I got to leave you now, but before I go I want you to know that we have prayed over you and it is our request that while you study at FPU… That you would get a glimpse of Jesus, and understand scripture like you never knew it before! • We are praying that When you get a glimpse of Jesus, you would be ready to follow him to Calvary like you never had before! • We are praying that When you get a glimpse of Jesus, you will be able to hear the father speak!We are praying that • When you get a glimpse of Jesus, you will understand a little better, Why he had to go to Calvary to die for you! • We are praying that When you get a glimpse of Jesus you too can remember His promise, that He would suffer and die, but early Sunday morning rise again from the dead • We are praying that When you get a glimpse of Jesus you won’t want to keep it to yourself! • We are praying that When you get a glimpse of Jesus, you have to tell someone just like the disciples did • We are praying that when you get a glimpse of Jesus You will write it down, post it on media outlets, put in books for libraries, broadcast it on radio, television, any way you can you tell the story! • We are praying that the class of 2020 would Get a glimpse of Christ at FPU and turn the world upside down with the good news! • So get ready family to Get a glimpse today, and do great things for the Kingdom

University Pastor: 1. We covenant with You O’ Lord that while we serve in this place, To uphold the preaching and teaching of your word, and the doctrines of the Apostles, until you return to receive us into your kingdom. Pacific Family: 2. And on the profession of our faith, We come today to dedicate our lives. University Pastor: 3. We covenant with you O’ Lord that while we dwell in this place, to be in one accord in all that we say and do for the advancement of your kingdom on earth. Pacific Family: 4. We covenant, with You, by the aid of Your Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of your kingdom, in knowledge, holiness, and comfort; We come today to dedicate our lives. University Pastor: 5. We covenant with You O’ Lord that while we dwell in this place, We will come to promote its Christian spirituality; to sustain your worship, ordinance, discipline, and doctrines; Pacific Family: 6. We promise to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the University, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the gospel through all nations. We come today to dedicate our lives. University Pastor: 7. We covenant with You O’ Lord that while we dwell in this place, we will promise to maintain biblical devotions; to religiously educate ourselves; to seek the salvation of our neighbors and our new found acquaintances; Pacific Family: 8. We promise to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful in our engagements, and exemplary in our callings; To avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; To abstain from the sale and use of intoxicating substances, and to be zealous in our efforts of evangelism and discipleship. We come today to dedicate our lives. University Pastor: 9. We covenant with You O’ Lord that while we dwell in this place we will watch over one another in brotherly love; remember each other in prayer; aid each other in sickness and distress; cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy in speech; be slow to take offense, and always be ready for reconciliation, and be mindful of Your rules to Love one another as You have loved us. Pacific Family: 10. We also promise that as we dwell in this place, we will carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God's Word. We will obey and follow leadership, Submit to the authority of your word, take care of these facilities and do all unto the glory of God, that your name may be exalted in the earth. We come today to dedicate our lives. University Pastor: Oh Lord of Heaven, Hear our prayers, in the name of your Risen Son our King, Jesus Christ We Pray, Amen.

Philippians 2: 5-11 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every Tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Introduction: A pastor once shared a story about his church. He said my church council was planning the annual “Youth Sunday” program, and one of the members suggested that the teenagers serve as ushers, lead in prayer, bring special music. One of the teens stood up and said, “Quite frankly, we’re tired of being asked to do little things. We’d like to do something difficult this year, and maybe keep it going all year long. The kids have talked and prayed about this, and we’d like to work with our trustees in remodeling that basement room so it can be used for a classroom. And we’d like to start visiting our elderly members each week and taking them cassettes of the services. And, if it’s OK, we’d like to have a weekly witness on Sun-day afternoons in the park. We hope this is OK with you.” He sat down, and the new youth pastor smiled to himself. He had privately chal-lenged the teens to do something that would cost them—and they enthusiastically responded to the challenge. He knew that sacrifice is necessary if there is going to be true growth and minis-try. The test of the submissive mind is not just how much we are willing to take in terms of suffering, but how much we are willing to give in terms of sacrifice. The university challenge for us family is found in this passage today…are we will-ing to live a life of service, submission and sacrifice so that Christ may be glorified… Just how far are we willing to bend? Just how much are willing to be broken? Let’s examine the text today to discover the secret to Sacrifice and Service. I. The Submission of Jesus 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, Note: Paul is charging the church to do something in this verse. He is calling for them to change from the way they were into another form. • He wants them to change their thinking and their perspectives • He wants them to allow for the Mind of Christ to rule them, their thinking, their be-havior, their desires, their total being… • This is an invitation for them to allow Christ to invade their worlds. Application I think verse 5 is a wonderful invitation for us too. It beckons us to give up our mentali-ty so that we can embrace Gods best for our lives. It challenges us to have a submissive mind for a greater call! God wants our minds, he wants us to think like him and to give up ourselves like him. If we would let the mind of Christ be in us, we could be much better believers… • Our thoughts would change… • Our actions would change… • Our desires would change… • Our decisions would change… • Our living would change … • Our giving would change… • Our service would change… • Our obedience would change In part two of this verse, we discover what was actually on the mind of our savior… Here we see that submission was what he was thinking about… And it was this submission that caused him to do what He did for us when He came down from glory! “being in the form of God, He did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,” This is a beautiful Mind! The triune God head is trying to get us to look like Jesus, think like Jesus, imitate Jesus, and follow the example of his submission on earth. Application Family, God is showing us what his mind was like… • This year you will be challenged to have a mind like this… • This year you will be challenged to have a mind of a servant • This year you will be challenged to have a mind for sacrificial involvement… • This year you will be challenged to give up yourselves for the good of others… • If Jesus could go to great lengths like this for us, how much-more should we do for Him? • Let’s work hard this year at having the submissive mind unto God…which is the mind of Christ. William Booth’s Secret When J. Wilbur Chapman was in London, he had an opportunity to meet General Booth, who at that time was past eighty years of age. Dr. Chapman listened reverently as the old general spoke of the trials and the conflicts and victories. The American evangelist then asked the general if he would disclose his secret for success. “He hesitated a second,” Dr. Chapman said, “and I saw the tears come into his eyes and steal down his cheeks, and then he said, “I will tell you the secret. God has had all there was of me. There have been men with greater brains than I, men with greater opportunities; but from the day I got the poor of London on my heart, and a vision of what Jesus Christ could do with the poor of London, I made up my mind that God would have all of William Booth there was. And if there is anything of power in the Salvation Army today, it is because God has all the adoration of my heart, all the power of my will, and all the influence of my life.” ” Dr. Chapman said he went away from that meeting with General Booth knowing “that the greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.” II. The Service of Jesus 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. Note: Here we discover a very powerful picture. Christ according to Paul made him, no repu-tation but rather him “emptied Himself” and become a servant. In His serving he willingly did the will of His father on earth… I don't believe this was easy…I don't believe this was a light decision…I don't believe this was something thought of in a vacuum… Family… God is showing us what true service is like…its doing exactly what the • This year were going to challenge you to have a mind like this… • This year you’re going to be challenged to lay down your agenda , just like Jesus • This year you’re going to be challenged to embrace a higher call to service , just like Jesus • If Jesus could go to great lengths like this for us, how much-more should we do for Him? • Let’s work hard this year at having the servant mentality , just like Jesus Thought: Even Creation thinks about serving… Have you ever thought of it, that only the smaller birds sing? You never heard a note from the eagle in all your life, nor from the turkey, nor from the ostrich. But you have heard from the canary, the wren, and the lark. The sweetest music comes from those Christians who are small in their own es-timation and before the Lord. Keep Serving no matter how small you may think you are… —Watchman-Examiner III. The Sacrifice of Jesus 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Note: • When we come to this verse it is a shift from the heavenly to the earthly! • Paul is reflecting on what happened after Christ became a man… • He kept on serving and being willing to serve…and because he was willing to serve, He humbled himself in all of his splendor and did what no one else dare to do! • HE BECAME OUR SACRIFICE! Note: In his humility… 1. he did not demand human rights and privileges [When he easily could have] In his humility… 2. he subjected himself to persecution and suffering at the hands of other hu-mans.[when he could have exercised his divinity and got revenge, but he didn't do it] In his humility… 3. Unbelievers were allowed to do him harm [when in his sovereign power as God he could have stopped them, but he didn't do it] The text says “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” The great Mathew Henry commenting on this verse said this…. “ His whole life was a life of humiliation, meanness, poverty, and disgrace; he had nowhere to lay his head, lived upon alms, was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, did not appear with external pomp, or any marks of distinction from other men. This was the humiliation of his life.” “ But the lowest step of his humiliation was his dying the death of the cross. He be-came obedient to death, even the death of the cross.” Observation: Can I tell somebody today! • Heavens Hero, took this form of death willingly! • He was heavens finest, and he was subjected to the lowest form of death • He was heavens answer for mankind sin, and his death was the worst in human his-tory • Yet he did it as a willing, obedient, sacrificial servant for his Father… This is incredible, this is amazing Grace… To save a wretch like me… Application: Family, can I tell you that … God is talking to you and I…He is trying to teach us what the secret to Sacrificial service looks like… Story: Bininger Chooses Slavery Abraham Bininger, a Swiss boy from Zurich, came with his parents to this country on the same ship that brought John Wesley. The father and mother of the lad both died on the voyage and were buried at sea, and he stepped alone from the gangway on to a strange continent, where there was not a single familiar face. When he had grown to manhood, he asked to be sent to tell the story of the cross to the negroes of the island of St. Thomas, having heard of their great misery and degra-dation. When he arrived at the island, he learned that it was against the law for any person but a slave to preach to the slaves. It was the policy of the planters to keep the blacks in ignorance and superstition. Shortly after this the governor of St. Thomas received a letter signed Abraham Bininger, in which the writer begged urgently to become a slave for the rest of his life, promising to serve as a slave faithfully, provided he could give his leisure time to preaching to his fellow-slaves. The governor sent the letter to the King of Denmark, who was so touched by it that he sent an edict empowering Abraham Bininger to tell the story of the Messiah when and where he chose—to black or white, bond or free. that’s what we are called to do… we are to become slaves of God in a foreign land to reach those who are insulated to sin… Welcome to FPU…a place where you will be challenged to serve others Welcome to FPU…A place where you will be reminded to submit to God in every area of your life 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Note: As we close let me consider the words of Dr. William Mc Donald … He says when we arrive at this last verse of this song… (It was a great hymn of the church) we see that there was an abrupt change. Because Jesus took the path of renunciation, and did not seek a name for himself, But humbled himself. We get to see what the father has done to consider the actions of his Only Begotten son. Because Jesus humbled Himself, God has highly-exalted him! ( Oh yes he has) Because Jesus didn’t seek a name for himself, God has given him a name above all names. Because Jesus bent his knees, to serve others, God has decreed that every knee shall bow to Him… Application: So what is our lesson family…. The lesson is that the way to go up is down! We should not exalt ourselves but be the servants of others…. The lesson is that God is in the exaltation business, if you humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God he will exalt you in due time…. Let’s serve him this year, being committed to sacrifice and service in our beloved community and abroad.

4 Ways to Set Boundaries in Ministry Written by Jimmy Draper It is important to acknowledge that most of us are our own worst enemies in thinking we have to be present at everything that happens at the church. It was a liberating day for me and for the church when I discovered that meetings could go on without me! It also is empowering for church members to know you trust them enough to do their work.To evaluate how you are doing at protecting time for your family and yourself, consider these questions. • How often do you work on your days off? • What do you do when a church meeting or appointment conflicts with an event important to one of your children? • How often do you take your wife out on a date? • How long has it been since you enjoyed a round of golf, a tennis match, or some other sports or hobby activity? • On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate your physical fitness? • On a scale of 1-5, how would you rate your spiritual fitness? • How long has it been since you ate dinner at home? • How often do you spend time alone with one of your children? • Did you take all of your vacation time last year? The year before? If your responses to these questions indicate you have progress to make in setting and maintaining boundaries, don’t despair! You can make changes. Here are four suggestions, based on my 35 years of pastoral ministry. I didn’t start out practicing all of these. Some were learned through the crucible of wrong choices. I offer them for your consideration. 1. Review the activities at the church. Decide which require your attention and which do not. This may require handing off assignments to the staff or lay leaders. Work with the appropriate persons to make those changes as needed. 2. Get a physical check-up. If you haven’t had a physical examination recently, get one. Then develop a plan for eating, exercise, and recreation, and follow it. You will feel better and have more energy for ministry and for your family. 3. Evaluate your present habits of prayer and Bible study. Are you allowing adequate time to prepare for teaching God’s Word? What about your own needs for personal spiritual renewal? Make changes as needed. 4. Schedule time with your family. Make time for the entire family as a whole and with individual members. Place these times on your calendar, along with church meetings and appointments with church members. All of us need to spend time with our children, attending their important events, and building strength into family relationships. Establishing boundaries and respecting family engagements and needs is the only way to do that.

Written By: Cierra Guerra I feel my spirit in the leaves I'm falling falling in the breeze I let you lead me and let you guide me where you want me to go. Where I'll end up only you know. I had started to think that I belonged on the tree. But know I let you guide me, I flow in you and I'm free. You dip me in the river and I begin to flow. And I sink down down way down low. I was starting to think I belonged on the tree. That I belonged in the breeze. But now I feel you, Water, all around me. I'm wet, I'm soaked in your embrace. Then slowly slowly, you let me slip away. It's cold, it's dark, and I'm afraid. But I trust you, still, I trust you anyways. You guide me back to the shore, You say you'll miss me. I say I'll miss you more. Now I belong to the soil: barren, worn, and tired, And I'm ground to dust, and dust to the ground. I stare up at the trees. I watch one leaf become loose in the breeze. And so the story repeats. Are any of us really free? -karma meets me and it greets me. It helps me find love, And let's my spirit soar high up above. But then it takes me and it breaks me til I think I'm at my end, And then it takes me and it makes me begin all over again. But maybe this time, if I was good, I will be bigger- I will be the tree, Or take me to Varanasi And set my spirit free in the Ganges. -CMG 07/07/16 I've been thinking about karma a lot these past few days and what it means here in India versus what the implied meaning and use is of the term karma is in the States. Karma here in India implies being part of a cycle of life in which the concept is, "You get what you deserve." That includes both good and bad. If you live a good life and are a good Hindu person, then you get to have a good next life maybe be a Brahmin or at least better than you were before. However if you led a bad life you might be a lower caste member or a insect that gets crushed or something else bad. This concept plays a lot into how Hindus treat each other as well. They don't feel as bad for lower caste members because of the idea that they probably did something in their past life to deserve the life they have now. However it is important to recognize that karma is both good and bad and not just bad as westerners often stress the bad. Another concept of karma is to find love. Which is a pretty beautiful concept of you think of repeating your life, or going through your life in order to find the love of your life. Karma in the western world however only really emphasizes the, "You get what you deserve concept." Like how the idea of karma allows the Hindus to overlook the injustices of the lower castes, so karma in the States allows for a lack of mercy and a bitterness to harbor in people's hearts. It does take away from some of the getting revenge aspect when someone commits a wrong against you, so instead of getting revenge you say life will get back at them for it basically. It allows you to release it to the world or to God, but it makes you hold on to the injustice longer than needed. A lot of people in the states don't even know the true meanings and originations of karma. Karma is a religious term, and the biggest aspect of it has to do with repeating your life until you get it right. From the Christian perspective this looks like a tiresome cycle that is based on deeds, while Christians are saved by grace through Jesus because we would never be able to achieve heaven on our own. There is a lot of comfort in that. However, to a Hindu karma keeps things in alliance with doing good and treating others right, but a lot of Hindu's are tired of the cycle and go to Varanasi and the Ganges, the holy city of India, in order to die in the city and then have their ashes-or body depending on how they died, spread in the river, which allows them to get out of the cycle of Karma. Which is just a city and just a river in our perspective. It would be like going to Jerusalem and the Jordan and expecting to be saved but never knowing Jesus. But for the Hindu it is access to their god and to heaven and an escape from karma. Karma is more than just a saying, it is an inspiration for the Hindu to lead a good life in order to avoid bad karma, and it is an inspiration to the Christian to pray and to be grateful for our salvation through Christ. Because we don't get what we deserve, we get Jesus and for that we should be grateful and continue to do good deeds like sharing this love, forgiveness, and mercy. With the love of Christ, Cierra Guerra

Written By: Rocio Claros Among the many adventures we have experienced here in Kolkata, India, there is one in particular that I would like to share. About a few days ago we had the wonderful opportunity to go to the state of Orissa with the MCC organization. The purpose of the trip was to see and learn more about the projects MCC is involved in. In order to get to Orissa, we took an overnight train ride. I was not so excited about the idea to go on a train; I had never been on one, not even Amtrak back in the states. Therefore, I was a little apprehensive about the whole situation. One of my worries was that I was going to be left behind or that I’d have to run after it to get on. But thank God none of that happened, we all managed to get on the train and settled in our given bunks. It surely was an eventful train ride. Most of the night I spent killing bugs (people that know me know that I am scared by any kind of bug); I freak out and get paranoid. So, you can imagine. Anyway, we got to Orissa safely and we began our two-day adventure. The person in charge of our tour through Orissa had organized a very nice lunch in a restaurant up on a hill. We got to see such a beautiful scenery. It was raining and it was just amazing. There was so much green in every direction we looked. After lunch we got taken to a guest house which belongs to a Buddhist Monastery. It was a beautiful house and, once we settled in, we had the opportunity to visit the projects MCC is focusing on. MCC has partnered with ISARA which has helped villages find a source of water so that the people from the villages don’t have the need to travel a long distance to get water. Now, that they have water, they have been able to make use of their land and plant crops, grow their own food, and make a living off of their land which has helped them tremendously. That is the short version of what MCC has been working on. We visited some of the villages where MCC and ISARA has completed this project. It was amazing to see how grateful the people are. The first village we went to greeted us with a welcoming ceremony. They had chairs set up for us to sit, away from the rain. They showed us around, showed us how the new water system worked and I could see they were proud, happy, and excited to be able to share what they have been able to do. Back home we take a lot of things for granted, seeing all of this makes me reflect on how much we don’t appreciate what we have, particularly the water we have. It was an awesome experience to be a part of and to learn about things that we hardly talk about back home. There is so much to do; so much to see. I think that God has a plan for this country and his work is just beginning to show. I can see it and sense it as I journey through India and as I learn more about the work that is being done here not just physically but spiritually as well. I hope that God opens the path for us and others to do more of what He has planned.