Author: Arw27

Hi, My name is Alan and I have been in ministry, for many years. I started out at Grace Community Church in their sports ministries, in Softball, Basketball and Semi Pro Baseball team, where I coached, led devotions, and shared my testimony on the baseball team with other teams we played. After leaving Grace, My wife Kathy and I were at Simi Valley Community Church, where we were lay pastors, and also got involved in Parenting classes called Growing Kids God's Way. The church ended up splitting and were part of the original people that helped start Cornerstone Community Church with Francis Chan and Ron Wilson. During that time, we continued in parenting classes, couples bible studies, and small groups. I became a non staff Pastor/Elder some years back and did it till I stepped down on December 31st, 2019. Nothing bad, just felt that the Lord was calling me to do something else, after 25 years at Cornerstone. Presently, I joined a band with our Homeless Ministry (PADS) and we just started a group on Friday nights, that ministers to professing believers who are going through some type of recovery. My desire, is that there will be some type of home/small church that I will lead, based on what the Lord seems to be calling me to. It is a really big step of faith, at 65 years old. A couple other things to note. I was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa and left there when I was 20 years old. My passion was baseball, and my desire, was to play professionally. I gave my life to Jesus when I was a young teenager, but lack of a consistent fellowship and some family problems led me away. I also, started letting baseball be my God. I moved to California when I was 20, and works for an offshore drilling company for about 2 and 1/2 years and then went back to school and Cal State University where I met my wonderful wife in Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU). We were married in 1980 and Lord willing, look forward to celebrating our 40th anniversary in August. We have 3 daughters that all live close by, until my middle daughter just moved to Tennessee. My Career, had been since I got out of college, with a degree in finance, a combination of IT, consulting, Executive Vice President, RE Broker and Loan Broker, and a short time as a VP Senior Financial Analyst with Bank of America. Well, I hope that gives you a little glimpse into my life, and where I think the Lord is leading. Please feel free to write. God Bless Alan

The Temple of God, both then and now. (See scriptures below)

Arw27

Then“……….God dwelt in one place
“Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. The priests could not enter into the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord’s house. All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the Lord, saying, “Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Then the king and all the people offered sacrifice before the Lord.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭4‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Now……………. He dwells in each believer
God chose to live on earth. And now the Church is that temple. We “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭19‬-‭22‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬

Why do we try and figure out God, in our itty, bitty, little minds, rather than walk in Faith? May we just stop and recognize him, in humility and say, “I will Trust in Him and his Marvelous Love. Help me with my Faith, Oh Lord, that I may see you Clearly, through the eyes of your Words(Bible)!

Arw27

Taken from Letters to the Church by Francis Chan

Slow down long enough to marvel. The sun is ninety-three million miles away, and you are unable to stare at it. You obviously can’t touch the sun and live, so how is it possible that we are currently attached to the One who shines brighter than the sun? High angels cover themselves with their wings in His presence (Isa. 6:2), yet you are a member of His body. Why would Someone so extraordinary choose to care for you like His own arm?

How can we Serve the needy, this Holiday Season?

Arw27
A sobering thought, this Thanksgiving and Christmas season as we choose our time for ministering to others or worrying about what we are going to get?

““Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭41‬-‭46‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.25.41-46.NASB1995

Oh Lord, may my tongue not betray me, and my heart not be corrupted by the world around me. May your Spirit fill me, that I may be able to season my words with your Grace.

Arw27

MacArthur Study Bible

with grace. To speak what is spiritual, wholesome, fitting, kind, sensitive, purposeful, complimentary, gentle, truthful, loving, and thoughtful (see notes on Eph 4:29–31). seasoned with salt. Just as salt not only flavors, but prevents corruption, the Christian’s speech should act not only as a blessing to others, but as a purifying influence within the decaying society of the world.

It is not how Many bible studies, Church services, tithes, church social events, etc., that we do…….Not saying these are bad, but if its a checklist, a thing you do, ant not a reflection of your heart, walking in Faith, with the living God????, then read Matt 7.. Where Jesus says, I NEVeR knew you!!.

Arw27

It is not how Many bible studies, Church services, tithes, church social events, etc., that we do…….Not saying these are bad, but if its a checklist, a thing you do, ant not a reflection of your heart, walking in Faith, with the living God????, then read Matt 7.. Where Jesus says, I NEVeR knew you!!.

Arw27

Prayer for the Destruction of the Treacherous. See the whole chapter below, to see the context of this verse.

Arw27

1aGive ear to my prayer, O God;† And bdo not hide Yourself from my supplication. 2Give aheed to me and answer me; I am restless in my bcomplaint and c1am surely distracted, 3Because of the voice of the enemy,† Because of the apressure of the wicked; For they bbring down 1trouble upon me And in anger they cbear a grudge against me. 4My aheart is in anguish within me, And the terrors of bdeath have fallen upon me. 5Fear and atrembling come upon me, And b1horror has overwhelmed me. 6I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!† I would fly away and a1be at rest. 7“Behold, I would wander far away, I would alodge in the wilderness. 1Selah. 8“I would hasten to my place of refuge From the astormy wind and tempest.” 91Confuse, O Lord, adivide their tongues,† For I have seen bviolence and strife in the city. 10Day and night they go around her upon her walls, And iniquity and mischief are in her midst. 11aDestruction is in her midst; bOppression and deceit do not depart from her 1streets. 12For it is anot an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it; Nor is it one who hates me who bhas exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him. 13But it is you, a man 1my equal, My acompanion and my b2familiar friend; 14We who had sweet 1fellowship together aWalked in the house of God in the throng. 15Let 1death come adeceitfully upon them;† Let them bgo down alive to 2Sheol, For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst. 16As for me, I shall acall upon God, And the LORD will save me. 17aEvening and bmorning and at cnoon, I will complain and murmur, And He will hear my voice. 18He will aredeem my soul in peace 1from the battle which is against me, For they are bmany who strive with me. 19God will ahear and 1answer them—† Even the one bwho 2sits enthroned from of old— Selah. With whom there 3is no change, And who cdo not fear God. 20He has put forth his hands against athose who were at peace with him;† He has b1violated his covenant. 21His 1speech was asmoother than butter,† But his heart was war; His words were asofter than oil, Yet they were drawn bswords. 22aCast 1your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you;† bHe will never allow the righteous to c2be shaken. 23But You, O God, will bring them down to the a1pit of destruction;† bMen of bloodshed and deceit will cnot live out half their days. But I will dtrust in You.

Prayer for the Destruction of the Treacherous. See the whole chapter to see the context of this verse.

Arw27

1aGive ear to my prayer, O God;† And bdo not hide Yourself from my supplication. 2Give aheed to me and answer me; I am restless in my bcomplaint and c1am surely distracted, 3Because of the voice of the enemy,† Because of the apressure of the wicked; For they bbring down 1trouble upon me And in anger they cbear a grudge against me. 4My aheart is in anguish within me, And the terrors of bdeath have fallen upon me. 5Fear and atrembling come upon me, And b1horror has overwhelmed me. 6I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove!† I would fly away and a1be at rest. 7“Behold, I would wander far away, I would alodge in the wilderness. 1Selah. 8“I would hasten to my place of refuge From the astormy wind and tempest.” 91Confuse, O Lord, adivide their tongues,† For I have seen bviolence and strife in the city. 10Day and night they go around her upon her walls, And iniquity and mischief are in her midst. 11aDestruction is in her midst; bOppression and deceit do not depart from her 1streets. 12For it is anot an enemy who reproaches me, Then I could bear it; Nor is it one who hates me who bhas exalted himself against me, Then I could hide myself from him. 13But it is you, a man 1my equal, My acompanion and my b2familiar friend; 14We who had sweet 1fellowship together aWalked in the house of God in the throng. 15Let 1death come adeceitfully upon them;† Let them bgo down alive to 2Sheol, For evil is in their dwelling, in their midst. 16As for me, I shall acall upon God, And the LORD will save me. 17aEvening and bmorning and at cnoon, I will complain and murmur, And He will hear my voice. 18He will aredeem my soul in peace 1from the battle which is against me, For they are bmany who strive with me. 19God will ahear and 1answer them—† Even the one bwho 2sits enthroned from of old— Selah. With whom there 3is no change, And who cdo not fear God. 20He has put forth his hands against athose who were at peace with him;† He has b1violated his covenant. 21His 1speech was asmoother than butter,† But his heart was war; His words were asofter than oil, Yet they were drawn bswords. 22aCast 1your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you;† bHe will never allow the righteous to c2be shaken. 23But You, O God, will bring them down to the a1pit of destruction;† bMen of bloodshed and deceit will cnot live out half their days. But I will dtrust in You.

The Gospel of Jesus, is needed by us as a constant reminder, that we have been rescued from darkness, to eternal life. How others know the truth, if we are not being filled with his good news daily? I’m not saying that we ignore the other disciplines of our faith, but in the many sports I was involved with, in my youth, we must never forget the fundamental truth of our Faith. (Though, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us).

Arw27

TAKEN FROM MY MORNING DEVOTION

There is no greater need in your Christian life than regularly reminding your own heart of the truth of the Gospel. How can we share this with others, if we can’t be filled with his Spirit and Trust of this message, daily or regularly, that every day is a blessing to us and to others.