The prayers and outreach made the difference
by Tony Rivera
While driving to work last August, I began to feel ill. Trying to get off the highway, I started losing some of my motor functions. I wasn't really able to apply the brakes, so I ran the car off the road. Needless to say, the car went over an embankment and rolled into a small retention pond. At that point, I was beginning to lose consciousness, and I didn't realize the seriousness of it.
Once in the hospital, I was diagnosed with a heart attack, followed by a stroke. I was in a state of controlled sleep for several weeks. Needless to say, I was in an extremely tenuous situation. I finally had open-heart surgery to remove a clot. Part of it had broken off the morning of the accident and gone to my brain.
I received several weeks of therapy, and doctors were amazed at my recovery. Some even called it miraculous. I am certain that all of the prayers and outreach made the difference. The Lord has truly blessed me. I thank all of the pastors and congregation at Calvary for their payers and outreach ministry.
Finding Meaning in our Trials
Pastor Michael Escamilla
Preached on March 24 & 25, 2012
by Matthew Ross
The Bible has many stories of times when kings, prophets and even Jesus’ disciples are so caught up in their circumstances that they begin to doubt and question God. For John the Baptist, one of these moments of doubt comes toward the end of his life. He finds himself alone in a prison cell, cut off from the world around him. But why did he end up in a prison cell? John had done nothing wrong. In fact, according to Jesus, John the Baptist was one of the greatest men of his time. He had dedicated his life to preaching about repentance and preparing the coming of Jesus’ ministry on earth. Yet, despite all of the incredible things that John had seen and heard during his ministry, he found himself wondering if he was right about who Jesus was.
I am sure that you have had those times when life is good. There are no major health issues, no relationship problems and all of your needs and most of your wants are met. Then, out of nowhere, life flips upside down, and you find yourself in one of the hardest time in your life. It could be a marriage that is about to fall apart, a serious health issue or the loss of a loved one. Regardless of what you are going through, all you know is that life was good for one moment, then you are “down for the count” for the next moment.
Despite all of the things that you have seen and all of the stories that you have heard, slowly your world shrinks, and soon all you can see is your doubt, your pain and your circumstance. For John (and for you), the answer comes from Jesus: “Go and tell John what you have heard and seen” (Matthew 11:4 CEV). In John’s case, he literally could not see or hear what Jesus was doing, so his disciples needed to tell him so that he could be reminded of who Jesus was.
Whether or not you are in one of those hard times in your life this week, take some time to ask God to help you remember what he has done in your life. Or take some time to volunteer in a ministry at Calvary or find a way to reach out to someone in need around you. You can be the person who reminds someone else of what God has done for them, and, in the process, God might just remind you about what he has done in your life, as well.
Every Nation
Preached on March 17 & 18, 2012
by Matthew Ross
At Calvary Church, missions has always been a cornerstone of who we are and what we do. This past Sunday was the culmination of our Spring Missions Convention. It was an incredible week with many missionaries sharing their stories at various potlucks and in Wednesday night classes and groups. The week was capped off with a message from missionary Jamie Kemp. Jamie was our former junior high pastor and was called to the mission field in Indonesia in 2009. I hope that all of you were able to hear some of the stories of what God is doing through these missionaries around the world.
While it is inspiring to hear what God is doing, not all of us are called to a mission field halfway across the world. But we can all still support the work that is being done through Calvary Church. While God might not ask all of us to leave our homes and what we know and to go to a new country and culture, we still have our part to play.
In Matthew 28:18-20 (The Message), Jesus gives what is called the “great commission” when he says, “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
If you would like to help support missions through Calvary Church, feel free to fill out a faith promise card.
Influence [Watch Video]
From the "Imagine the Possibilities" series
Preached on March 10 & 11, 2012
by Matthew Ross
Scott Adams (the creator of Dilbert) once said, “You don’t have to be a ‘person of influence’ to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they’ve taught me.” While a comic writer is rarely the source of inspiration, in this case, he might be on to something. Influence is a powerful yet very subtle thing. We are surrounded by it every day, but we often fail to realize when it impacts us or to realize the amount of influence that we can have on those around us. It is easy to think that we need to be the next big name in technology, religion or popular culture in order to change our world. But the truth is that everyone who has ever changed the world started out with very little influence.
But why does God give us influence? What purpose does it serve? Simply put, the influence that we are given is a gift from God, and it is meant as our way to change the world around us and point it toward him. The world needs Billy Grahams and others to spread the Gospel in big ways, but we do not have to be the next Billy Graham in order to use the influence that God has given us. Just tell your story. God is not asking us to be perfect; he is asking us to be obedient and, through that obedience, to let his favor and influence follow us. As we learn to take advantage of the opportunities that God puts in our lives and be obedient to him, our favor and influence will grow. And once we start to continually operate in that manner, that is when we will see our impact on the world around us grow and begin to change the world in larger and larger ways.
God has placed you where you are for a reason. Rather than being weighed down by what you cannot do or how small your life may seem, take a moment to stop and look at what and whom God has brought into your life. Maybe it is being a godly example for your kids or being in a position of leadership in your job or amongst your friends or even having the skills and resources that he has entrusted you with. This week, look at where God has placed you and find a way to be an influence in your family, neighborhood and workplace. You can only start where you are, and you are where God wants you to be. So start with the opportunities that he has given you and see what God can do through you.
A Favored Life [Watch Video]
From the "Imagine the Possibilities" series
Preached on March 3 & 4, 2012
by Matthew Ross
In his book, “Through Painted Deserts,” Donald Miller describes our walk with God as a dance—not a walk. “Life is a dance toward God. And the dance is not so graceful as we might think. For a while we glide and swing our practiced sway, God crowds our feet, bumps our toes, and scuffs our shoes. He lowers His head, whispers soft and confident, ‘You will dance to the beat of “Amazing Grace” or you will not dance at all.’ So we learn to dance with the One who made us. And it is a taxing dance to learn. But once learned, don’t we glide. And don’t we sway… And don’t we love to dance.”
For many people, one of the hardest parts of learning this dance is not a lack of rhythm, clumsy feet or a lack of discipline to practice; it’s simply letting God lead. It might seem silly to compare our walks with God to a dance, but it is far more applicable than you might think. When we refuse to let God lead, we start to dance our own dance without a partner. God may ask us to do things in our lives that might feel clumsy or require us to pay a cost. If we refuse to obey God right away, we will stumble and possibly miss something incredible that he has for us. As it says in Jeremiah 29:11, “I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”
Every day and in every choice, God asks us one simple question. Who will direct your life? Will you be your own master, or will you allow God to lead you in your dance or walk with him? You might not always agree with God’s timing or what he is asking you to do or let him unfold his plans for your life.
This week, set some time aside and ask God to show you where you have been dragging your feet or trying to do your own thing, then resolve each day to trust in God as he leads you. Donald Miller is right. Learning to dance to the beat of “Amazing Grace” is taxing in so many ways, but once we learn the dance, there is no better dance.