http://www.calvarynaperville.org/ Calvary Church of Naperville en sdawes@calvarynaperville.org Copyright 2012 2012-05-11T18:26:08+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_wilderness_of_cleansing http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_wilderness_of_cleansing#When:18:26:08Z I have been out of work since August of 2008, and I had a heart attack in December of 2010. During that same year, my daughter and I joined Calvary’s Songwriters Group with Pastor Tim. It is through a life of suffering that I am now experiencing God’s abounding grace. By the grace of God, he inspired me to compose songs as my way of worship to him. Looking in the rearview mirror, I now see that God was establishing a more intimate walk through a worshipping heart, desiring his words, walking humbly in obedience and being contented with what we have, including learning how to tithe willingly—an act of worship. The goodness of God is immeasurable and inexhaustible. In short, it is in the wilderness of cleansing that I experienced God’s true mercy and loving-kindness. Watch sermon My Story, 2012-05-11T18:26:08+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/jacob_wrestles_with_god http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/jacob_wrestles_with_god#When:17:17:24Z Among my friends and family members, I have something of a reputation for being stubborn or, as my mother would say, obstinate. When I was growing up, phrases like “you can’t do that” or “that’s probably not a good idea” were usually just the encouragement that I needed to go through with whatever crazy idea I had at that time. Whether it was shooting fireworks at each other, shooting an arrow into the air to watch it come down or attempting my best daredevil jump on my 10-speed, I always ended up learning a lesson of some sort. The most consistent of those lessons was that, no matter how much I did not want to admit it, my parents were right. In Genesis 32, we join Jacob’s story as he is preparing to meet his brother, Esau, decades after tricking him into selling his birthright and then having to run for his life shortly afterward. At the end of chapter 32, Jacob is alone and finds himself wrestling with God throughout the night. In my life, wrestling with God seemed to mirror the battles of wills that I had with my parents growing up, but there is one key difference. The battle of wills that children and parents have will one day be decided for better or worse when the child is old enough to be on his/her own. But when it comes to wrestling with God (just like in Jacob’s story), there will come a moment when we are face-to-face with God. When he touches our lives, we are changed forever. That moment of change is painful, and it is one that we never forget, but when we wrestle with God and lose, we really gain. We gain a new name, a new purpose and a new identity from God, and we become children of God. While that life-changing moment is painful, the pain does not last. But what we gain lasts not just for our lifetime; it lasts for eternity. This week, take a few moments to look at your life and your past. Ask yourself what you are wrestling with God about. We cannot out-wrestle God. At some point, he will touch our lives in a profound way. When that happens, will you yield to God and let him give you a new purpose and a new identity? Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-05-08T17:17:24+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/rediscovering_god http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/rediscovering_god#When:19:56:56Z I grew up in an Assemblies of God household. Both of my parents reinforced within me that God is the basis of life and that it is essential to know him. When I was in 8th grade, I was baptized, along with my mother and older sister at my home church in Champaign, Illinois.  At that time, it was more of the “next step” instead of a desired choice by my own will … a bit pressured by my family. The God I knew then was completely different than the God I know today. The God I know today is more real and evident in my life than ever before. In my high school and college years, my faith wavered. I did not put an importance on God. I made stupid and unwise decisions. The whole time, God was still there, looking down on me, guiding and protecting me. Even though, at times, I did not respect him or turn to him like I should have, he still called me his own and loved me. Now I truly am leaving my old life behind and dedicating my life to living for and serving him. Three years ago, I met my husband. He was born and raised Catholic and had no idea what an Assembly of God church experience was like. I was excited to take him to Calvary Church and “show off” a little bit of me. His reaction and excitement, in turn, excited me and motivated me to find my faith again. He was overwhelmed by the differences and how “alive” Calvary was. At Calvary, people genuinely loved God and were not afraid to display it. All in all, my husband has grown into such an amazingly strong Christian! In fact, I turn to him for my own motivation and strength to continue growing in my faith. It is such an incredible blessing to have your spouse love Jesus the same way you do. I truly feel that my husband helped me to reconnect to my heavenly Father; therefore, I cannot thank God enough for him and the other countless blessings in my life. I am rededicating my love and life to Christ. I promise to live my life the best I can with his guidance and help. I promise to turn to him in times of need and praise his name daily. I promise to raise my children into soldiers of the Lord and to be the best display of the Christian faith that I can be. My husband and I are in this together. We are a team displaying God’s love and grace. Watch sermon My Story, 2012-05-04T19:56:56+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_sound_of_god_working http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_sound_of_god_working#When:21:48:31Z It probably comes as no shock to you that life often proves to be messy and complicated. Relationships do not always progress like you thought they would. People do not always turn out to be who you thought they were or who they said they were. And we have all experienced those curveballs that come out of nowhere that leave a lasting impact on our lives. But it can be easy to forget that everything in life has a purpose behind it and that everything we go through has a lesson to teach us. A few years ago, I had a major falling out with someone in whom I had invested a lot of time and energy and emotion over the course of many years. As you can imagine, I was deeply hurt over how things had transpired. One day, someone who is close to me asked me, “Why are you not more angry at them?” At first, I was taken aback by the question, but, without much hesitation, I said, “Because I do not want to be bitter about this.” You see, in my mind, I knew that, no matter how badly I had been hurt or how angry I felt, there were some lessons that I needed to be open to learning. When you get hurt, the natural reaction is to become angry and upset. But there is more there for you than the hurt and anger that you feel in those hard moments. God has a plan to use those moments to teach you something and help you to grow and use that experience for his glory. Often one of the most powerful uses that God has for what you have been through in your life has little to do with you. It might seem a bit counter-intuitive at first, but your story can bring hope into someone else’s situation. It can remind a fellow Christian who is tired and ready to give up that God is still alive and working. Your story can show people that there is still hope no matter how abandoned they feel. And your story can even bring a lost person into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. This week, take a few minutes to ask yourself these questions. What is God trying to teach me through my current situation? Who else in my life can benefit from hearing my story? If I slow down to look at what people in my life are going through, what can I say to them to help lift them up in the midst of their struggles? To quote my grandmother who has since gone to be with the Lord, “It’s not all about you.” We are the body of Christ, and we are in this together. God’s plan for your life is not just to help you survive but to grow you and bless you. He wants you to help and bless others through your story and along your journey. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-05-02T21:48:31+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_story_of_jacob http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_story_of_jacob#When:16:33:27Z I can sum up the hardest and most powerful lesson that I have learned during my walk with God over these last 20+ years with one word: Struggle. We all struggle with different aspects of our faith, whether it is a struggle to understand God’s plan for our lives, God’s timing in our lives or meaning and fulfillment in our lives. The story of Jacob is one of the most poignant examples in Scripture of two children struggling to find God’s purpose and fulfillment in their lives when it seems like what God is doing makes no sense or that God is not doing anything at all. All of us have had or will have one pivotal moment when we decide whether we are going to try to force or bully our way to the promises that God has for our lives or if we are going to surrender and lose the struggle with God and wait for God to fulfill his promises in his time. Jacob was focused on getting the position and authority that God had promised his mother for his own purposes and not God’s glory. As a result of his tricks and manipulations, Jacob finds himself running for his life. Eventually, after running and hiding, he finally stops thinking that he is alone and that he has outrun everyone, but what he finds is that, while he temporarily outran his brother, he ran right to where God was waiting for him. The most powerful moment in Jacob’s life came when he thought that he had outrun everyone—including God—but despite all of his scheming and manipulation, he ran right to where God was. Whatever your life has been like up to this moment, whatever manipulating you have done and whatever consequences or past experiences you are running from, God has brought you to this moment. No matter how good your life has been or how many horrors you have experienced, God has a plan for blessings and fulfillment in your life. But you have to stop struggling with him and start trusting him. This week, take some time to look at your life and those areas in which you have been struggling with God or trying to manipulate him to force getting your way. Give those to God and trust him instead of struggling with him. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-04-25T16:33:27+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/new_life_in_christ http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/new_life_in_christ#When:20:57:55Z In September of 2010, my company sent me on a business trip to Orlando. While there, I met many other industry professionals, including my now best friend, Chuck. After the trip, Chuck and I kept in touch long distance since he lives in South Carolina. He mentioned his involvement with his church at times; however, he never tried to sell me on religion or Christianity. Not once. You see, I’m 31 years old, and, after months of long conversations with Chuck, I can without hesitation say that I have never met anyone as amazing as Chuck. I naturally became interested and inquisitive about Chuck’s relationship with God. Chuck remembered that, 14 years ago, he was in a wedding in Naperville that took place at Calvary Church. So he looked up the church on the internet and suggested that I look into a young adult group called Axiom. After much thought and the passing of a few weeks, I decided to see what this group was all about. I had only been in church maybe four times previously, so I was definitely going out of my comfort zone. When I arrived, I found out that there was a business meeting that night and the group was not meeting. I was bummed and disappointed, and so was Chuck. A couple of months later, I took a trip to South Carolina to visit Chuck. I hung out with a bunch of his Christian friends, spent time at his church and continued our conversation. It was an experience that, I’m sure one day I’ll say changed the directory of my life. After getting back home, I decided to give Calvary and Axiom one more try. And this time, Axiom was meeting! From that point until now, I have been at Calvary every Wednesday and Sunday. It has been awesome! I had many conversations with the Lord, culminating with my acceptance of Jesus Christ as my Savior on May 31, 2011! On that evening, I asked him into my heart and am now saved for all of eternity! This was the end of my self-centered life and the beginning of my life serving him and living for him. I’m excited to continue my walk with the Lord and strengthen our friendship with each passing day. I truly am richly blessed and highly favored. No doubt about it! Watch sermon My Story, 2012-04-20T20:57:55+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/whats_next http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/whats_next#When:21:21:38Z Now that our Easter series is behind us, Pastor Keith’s message, “What’s Next,” was the perfect question to ask after celebrating the life of Jesus and what he did for us on the cross. Pastor Keith summarized Luke 24:13-35 with a simple phrase: “Things are not always as they seem.” That phrase caught my attention because, for the disciples and anyone who was a follower of Jesus, those few days after his death were very dark days. In just about everyone’s mind, whatever plan that Jesus had to redeem the nation of Israel looked like it had failed. Rather than restoring Israel and getting them out from under the Roman Empire, he was handed over to the Romans, crucified as a common criminal and buried in a tomb. His followers must have felt devastated, confused and hopeless. How could Jesus be the king that they were expecting and redeem the nation of Israel from the grave? But things were not as they seemed. Jesus would not stay dead for long, and he would not leave his disciples and followers without hope. His plan of redemption had not failed. Two thousand years later, we know how the story ends, and we know that God’s plan was to do far more than redeem one nation … he provided salvation for the entire world. Even though we know how the story ends, we still have those moments when we want to give up—those times when life becomes so hurtful and unbearable that everything about God feels like it was a cruel joke. Even when it seems like things cannot get any worse, like life will never get better or like you will never heal, God comes to us and begins to remind us of the things that he has done in our lives. Jesus showed himself to his disciples after his resurrection, and he came to the travelers on the road to Emmaus to remind them that there is still hope and that he was alive. Jesus reminds us that, while it might not look like it, things are not always as they seem. Like Paul says in II Corinthians, we live by faith, not by sight. This week, ask yourself how you see God. Is God an active part of your life? Or is God more of an observer of your life? God wants to be an active part of your life … so much that he sent his only son to die on the cross for you. God has a plan for your life and is working in your life. Whenever it feels like there is no way out of your situation or like there is no way to make ends meet, God wants to remind you that things are not always as they seem. He has not left you. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-04-17T21:21:38+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/second_chances_part_2 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/second_chances_part_2#When:18:32:12Z This past weekend was the second of our two-part Easter series, Second Chances. The service was full of music, dramas and powerful teaching points about what God has for our lives beyond salvation. I encourage you to watch the service from this past weekend. While you’re watching, ask God to show you what he has in store for your life beyond your salvation. God is not just asking to be our Savior and to help us through the impossible issues in our lives; he is inviting us to embrace the plan and purpose that he has for us and to partner with him to bring life to the world around us. On behalf of everyone at Calvary Church, we are excited to see what God has in store for your life this coming year! Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-04-11T18:32:12+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/god_made_the_way_for_me_to_go http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/god_made_the_way_for_me_to_go#When:17:06:57Z I have a chance to return to Kenya for missions this year, and many miracles happened over the past several months to allow me to go. I didn't think I would be able to afford it; I felt like I was not worthy to take this trip again! But the Lord said to “be still,” which was difficult, to say the least! I prayed and then penned my first sponsor email. Praise the Lord … I received $500 during the first week! The following Monday, my boss handed me my bonus check, explaining how we deserved it because of our hard work last year. We did not qualify for bonuses because our team did not meet their goals. You can just imagine my joy! I immediately bought my ticket. There are many more stories of how God made the way for me to go, and I can’t wait to see what amazing things he has in store for me and the testimony I will have of his love! Watch sermon My Story, 2012-04-05T17:06:57+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/second_chances_part_1 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/second_chances_part_1#When:20:57:44Z This past weekend was the first of our two-part Easter series, Second Chances. The services this year are full of musical numbers, dramas and teaching points and are powerful services to see. I encourage all of you to watch the video of the service and, while you’re watching, let God speak to your heart about your own second chance. We have all failed God at various times in our lives, but the message of Easter is that, regardless of our failings, Jesus died on the cross for us and gave us a second chance! Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-04-03T20:57:44+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_prayers_and_outreach_made_the_difference http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_prayers_and_outreach_made_the_difference#When:20:56:56Z 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. Watch sermon My Story, 2012-03-29T20:56:56+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/finding_meaning_in_our_trials http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/finding_meaning_in_our_trials#When:15:19:16Z 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. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-03-28T15:19:16+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/every_nation http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/every_nation#When:17:24:20Z 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. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-03-21T17:24:20+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/influence http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/influence#When:16:40:17Z 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. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-03-13T16:40:17+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/a_favored_life http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/a_favored_life#When:20:03:45Z 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. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-03-06T20:03:45+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/effective_prayer1 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/effective_prayer1#When:19:07:51Z Prayer is one of those unique things where a few seemingly simple questions have served as a source of debate for centuries. Most of the time, the questions about prayer can be grouped into three overall categories: technique (how to pray), content (what to pray) and condition (the state of the heart when we pray). In many ways, we are at a disadvantage when it comes to trying to fully understand prayer. We are finite beings with limited ways to observe the world around us, yet, through prayer, we are able to draw close to God and get to know him in an intimate way even though we cannot perceive him in the same way that we perceive the world around us. Even though certain aspects of prayer may always be a mystery, there are things that we can learn both through practice and from God’s Word. You do not have to look very far in the Bible to see that prayer is an intimate thing. For instance, in Romans, it says that the Holy Spirit hears the groaning of our hearts and intercedes for us when we do not know what to pray (Romans 8:26-27). In Psalms, David says, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (139:23-24).” And, when asked by the disciples how to pray, Jesus instructs them to start with the words, “Our father …” (Matthew 9:6). I have often asked myself why intimacy seems to be so vital to prayer? Simply put, without intimacy, everything else becomes impossible. However, intimacy in prayer does not happen automatically; it is a purposeful choice that we make to slow down and listen to God and learn more about who he is. This week, make the choice for the rest of this year to slow down in your prayer time and be purposeful about letting God speak to you and getting to know who he is. You do not have to be perfect or have all of your issues worked out. All you need to do is choose to slow down when you pray and take time to get to know who God is. Once you start to build that intimacy, all of the other aspects of prayer will flow from that. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-03-01T19:07:51+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/walking_in_super_natural_margin http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/walking_in_super_natural_margin#When:16:03:07Z A few years ago, I got my Master’s degree through South Eastern University. My Master’s focused on leaving a legacy and passing along values through the various ways that we communicate every day. Just the idea of living your life in a way that makes an impact on the world around you after you are gone is a seemingly impossible task. That is one reason why children and a family or ethnic heritage is so important. It allows the examples and lives of our parents and those who came before us to shape our own lives and, in turn, contribute to shaping the world around us. As Christians, our influence on the world and other believers works in much the same way. While there are people who have made outstanding contributions to our faith, in the end, who we are as the body of Christ is built mostly on who came before us. When we start talking about our resources, it usually evokes a defensive reaction in us. But how we spend those resources that God has given us provides a unique window into our priorities—not just in relation to the church. It also shows us what our highest priorities are. I am blessed to be the fourth generation in my family that is called to invest my life in the kingdom of God. When I look back at my parents, grandparents and great grandparents, I see men and women who decided that what they could do on their own would never last. Instead, the time, money and talents that God was asking them to give in order to support and grow the kingdom of God was something that would echo through time. II Corinthians 9:13-15 (The Message) says, “This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they'll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need.” At first, giving always seems like a money issue, but at its heart it is not a money issue at all: it’s is a faith issue. This week, take some time alone or with your family and ask God to show you where your priorities lie. It may mean starting to tithe for the first time, or it could mean raising your commitment to support and invest more of your resources in the kingdom of God. This week, make the choice to invest in the kingdom of God and see what he can do through you that will echo through eternity. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-02-23T16:03:07+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/a_healing_community http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/a_healing_community#When:21:50:00Z It is our nature to be skeptical of anything new. Regardless of what that new thing is, once we make friends and put down roots, our first instinct changes, and we want to protect ourselves and those around us. To this day, I remember the first time I moved and had to make new friends for the first time in my life. It was halfway through my freshman year in high school when I moved and had to start at a new school; however, everyone there was welcoming and friendly, and I quickly made new friends. But, as time went on, I found that, while it was easy for me to make friends, feeling like I belonged was another story altogether. For the few years when our family lived in North Carolina, I was blessed with some great friends and grew close to some incredible people; however, when it came to friends at school, I always felt somewhat out-of-place. When we moved, all of my classmates from school threw me a going-away party. They even had a few going-away gifts for me. One of them was a handmade collage with photos of all of my classmates. Toward the end of the party, I had a conversation with one of them that changed my life. During one brief moment of the conversation, I said that I was having a great time but that part of me had never felt like I totally belonged or was an important part of their lives. They were pretty stunned and, after a moment, simply said, “It is just the opposite. When you moved here, it felt like you had always been here, and I guess we kind of took that for granted and never tried to make sure you knew that.” In the course of one sentence, my life changed forever, and I learned something important that day. We can welcome people into our lives and befriend them, but unless we make a conscious effort to include them, part of them will always feel like observers and like they do not belong. The question is: Who in your life is God asking you to include (not just befriend)? And who are we as the Church being asked to reach and include regardless of outward differences? This week, take a few minutes to ask God to give you a burden for someone in your life whom he wants you to make a conscious effort to include in your life and in the life of the Church. Then make the effort to reach out to them. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-02-14T21:50:00+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/keep_practicing_your_praise http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/keep_practicing_your_praise#When:20:16:14Z I spent years playing basketball and soccer and a few years playing tennis as a kid. I saw myself as the next sports megastar in whatever sport I was playing at the time. But no matter how good I pictured myself being, I was never actually that good and never really became that much better than when I started. My coaches always encouraged me to practice at home, but I rarely found the time to do so. I figured that, if I just tried hard enough at each game or team practice, it would be enough. As I grew up, I began to notice that behind the cliché statements about practice making perfect or being prepared was the heart of something that everyone needs in order to succeed at anything in life: commitment and dedication. In many ways, this principle of dedication carries to our spiritual lives. God wants us all to come to faith through him, but he wants so much more for us after that. The problem is that we have to daily choose whether we are going to pursue him and let him mold us and change us. One of the things that we are constantly encouraged to do through Scripture is to praise God. So often, our natural reaction is to be negative and cynical in our lives. Our world is far from perfect, and sometimes we get caught up in the consequences of our own actions and/or the consequences of others. When we praise God, we are reminded of the amazing things that God has done in our lives. Praise helps us to remember that God’s work in our lives is rarely instantaneous; it always takes a lifetime. Sometimes what God is rebuilding in our lives is not just for us; it is also for our kids and the generations that will follow us. This week, ask God to reveal some areas in your life where you need to see healing and restoration. Then begin to praise him for the work that he has already done and will do in your life. When we praise God, we allow him to continue the work of restoration and healing that he started in our lives when we came to him. As you go about your week, remember that you do not need someone to give you the lyrics. In your own way, purposefully find something to practice your praise with every day.  Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-02-07T20:16:14+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/how_do_we_talk_to_a_holy_god http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/how_do_we_talk_to_a_holy_god#When:20:01:26Z In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus gave us a template of how to pray. It started out by saying,  “Our father in heaven …” In an age where the more important you were, the longer title you had, Jesus told his disciples that, when you pray, pray with the attitude as a child praying to their father. The theme of God as our heavenly father is repeated in many places throughout Scripture and is key to understanding who God is, his relationship with us and how he sees us as his children. I have to say that no relationship has impacted me more or been of greater importance to me than my relationship with my father. I do not know if he ever realized it or not, but being able to hear him preach and watch him walk out his sermons in the good and bad times in his life has taught me things that I do not think he could have expressed in simple conversation. An author named Clarence Budington Kelland was talking about his father and said, “He didn’t tell me how to live; he lived and let me watch him do it.” As I look back to when I was a kid and even as an adult, I can remember many great conversations with my father. But what I remember most are the things that he lived in front of me every day, regardless of the cost physically or financially. It might have taken me a long time to understand, but I can see my father’s heart best when I view it through the lens of his devotion to his family and to God. Unfortunately, not everyone has good memories of their father. Some people did not even have a father in their life at all. What Jesus is telling you is that, regardless of how good, horrible or absent your father was, God is a better father. Maybe God is asking you to let him show you what it means to have a good and loving father. Make a choice this week to let God be that ultimate heavenly father in your life, then step out in faith. No matter how good or horrible your father was, God is a better one, and he is asking for a chance to show you what that means. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-02-01T20:01:26+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/what_god_could_do_through_a_healthy_spiritual_community http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/what_god_could_do_through_a_healthy_spiritual_community#When:06:33:46Z I spent most of my childhood in Lubbock, Texas. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Lubbock, there are two important things to remember. The first thing to remember is that Lubbock is a few thousand feet in the air, but it’s on a plateau, so it is incredibly flat. The second thing to remember is that Lubbock is in the middle of nowhere. The closest big city is Dallas, and that is six hours away by car. Lubbock was a boring town, so when there was no school or church to occupy my time, I rode my bike a lot. One day, while I was riding my bike, I found some dirt piles about five feet high. Without any hesitation, I decided that a chance like this would not present itself again. I got as much distance from the dirt piles as I could, then I put my bike in high gear and peddled as fast as I could. The good news is that it worked and I made the jump from one dirt pile to the next. But there is a catch. Rather than land on it like a ramp, I landed in the dirt pile headfirst. Over the years, I have reflected on that story and asked myself why I would have done something like that. Maybe it was because I was young or did not understand gravity. It really comes down to something simple: I saw a chance to do something awesome, but, rather than take it seriously and commit to doing it right, I put it on the same level as buying a pack of gum and just hoped for the best. In many ways, it is easy to be a Christian in America. For most people, it is simply a choice that they make, and, if you do nothing with it, then Christianity will never have any impact on your life. But God does not want us to be casual Christians; he wants us to commit not only to him but also to one another as the body of Christ. This week, during your commute to work or your quiet time, ask God to show you a few ways in which you can minister to those around you. Maybe you can buy lunch for someone; maybe you can pray with someone. You could do something as simple as hold a door open for others or help them pick up something that they dropped. These are all small things that can have a big, positive impact. When we take what God has called us to do seriously, we begin to change society one person at a time and demonstrate what it means to be Christ followers in practice and in name alone. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-01-25T06:33:46+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/i_took_my_fears_and_concerns_to_the_lord http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/i_took_my_fears_and_concerns_to_the_lord#When:17:35:17Z In 2003, I was severely injured at work while caring for a mentally challenged patient. Because I must avoid narcotics of any kind, for eight years, I found it very difficult to cope with the pain. I was very fearful to commit to the needed surgery (cervical fusion) because I am a single mother of five and have no one to take my place. This past year, the pain got so bad that I had no choice but to move forward with the fusion. Over several months, I chose to take my fears and concerns to our Lord with the help of Calvary's prayer partners during altar call. Our wonderful prayer leaders simply asked that I let the church know when my miracle happened.  On the morning of August 22, while I lay on a cart waiting to be wheeled into the operating room, my surgeon approached me and stated that he had just reviewed my x-ray reports one final time, only to discover that there appeared to be no need to proceed with the radical surgery as planned. A much simpler procedure was done that day, and I returned home within two days pain free! Praise God! Watch sermon My Story, 2012-01-19T17:35:17+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/what_would_it_take_to_make_jesus_lord_of_your_life http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/what_would_it_take_to_make_jesus_lord_of_your_life#When:07:34:45Z “There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the end, ‘Thy will be done’” (“The Great Divorce,” C. S. Lewis). It can seem like such a simple choice. Either it is our will or God’s will in our lives. Either we have lordship, or God does. However, for many, there is no word more offensive than lordship or authority. In many respects, the goal of growing up is to be in control of our own lives, live our own lives and be responsible for our choices. When it comes to our spiritual lives, often the more we grow as Christians, the more God asks us to live under his lordship, which sometimes means giving up things that we care deeply about. But it is so much more than a matter of control; it is a matter of the heart. When we want control, it comes from selfishness and pride that we are better or can do a better job at guiding our lives than God. When God asks us to let him be lord of our lives, it comes from a deep love for us as his children and the desire to keep us on the right path and help us to grow so that he can bless us. We all have those things in our lives that bring us great joy. For me, one of those things is photography. The idea of seeing what is beautiful in the world and then sharing it with others is just amazing to me. However, about nine months ago, I felt God asking me to change my priorities and give up photography for a while. At first, I was certain that I had just heard God wrong. I mean, why would God ask me to give up one of the things that he knew I was passionate about? But, as time went on, I knew that I had heard God correctly, and it was up to me to decide whether or not to obey. A strange thing started to happen. The more certain I was that God was asking me to change my priorities, the more angry I got and the more hurt I felt. However, once I decided to obey him, some incredible things started to happen in my life that would have never been possible if I had not given God lordship over that part of my life. Take some time this week to ask yourself one very hard question. When it comes to who has the ultimate say in what you do with your life, do you say to God, “Thy will be done,” or does God say to you, “Thy will be done”? God will not ask you to give something up for him out of condemnation, fear or hurt. There will always be a promise of something greater than the cost of what he is asking you to give up. God is asking you to take your eyes off the cost of what he wants you to do and to keep your eyes on his blessings that will come after the cost. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-01-18T07:34:45+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_christmas_gift http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_christmas_gift#When:19:44:19Z In August, my car broke down (again!). In order to get my kids to school and myself to work, I had been taking three buses and a train every morning (we live in Chicago, and I work in Oak Brook). I had to start working part-time because of the transportation schedule. As winter and the snow approached, I wondered how I'd make it to work on time and pick up my kids from school before being penalized for being late. This Christmas, our family was adopted by another family at my children's school to help us with presents. When I went to the school to receive the gifts that they had gotten us, the dad told me that he was getting his wife a new car for Christmas and that he was giving me her old one! Several of the teachers and staff had even collected money to pay for the title and transfer. God is so good; I can't even believe it! The car is just what I would have picked out if I had ever fathomed being able to buy one! I was even able to junk my old car for $300 to help catch up on my bills. Hallelujah! Watch sermon My Story, 2012-01-13T19:44:19+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/what_would_it_take_for_you_to_be_happy http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/what_would_it_take_for_you_to_be_happy#When:15:44:19Z Anne Frank once said, “We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.” Much of human history is a reflection (in one way or another) of our attempts at finding happiness. While there is nothing wrong with wanting and trying to be happy without defining happiness or where it comes from, how will we know what we are searching for? For many people, being happy is about getting more of something good in their lives, whether that is more money, more friends or more peace and justice on earth. We are always striving for more of something in our lives. While the world’s definitions of happiness are temporary and fleeting, we as Christians have a different definition of happiness. Numbers 6:23-26 says, “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.”’” And John 15:11 says, “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” As Christians, our happiness comes from God. It is not dependent on any external factors like our situations, our possessions or our past. The everlasting joy and happiness that God wants us to have comes from who God is. After my grandmother passed away, I began to watch my family and extended family as we all dealt with her death in our own ways. But from the many ways we as a family expressed our loss for my grandmother, a bigger picture began to form in my spirit, and it was not what I expected. Out of all of the grief and pain, there came an image of joy and hope. For me, no matter how much I missed my grandma or how painful it was, I never found a moment when God’s love and peace was dependent upon my circumstances or anything that I had any control over. It is easy to think of being happy as a place where we want to be … if we could only get there, then we would be happy. If we could only get more of whatever we are after, then that will be what makes us happy. But happiness is not something that we can chase or manufacture; it comes from God. When we have a healthy relationship with him, his happiness and joy reside in us. We were made to continually grow in our relationship with God and go deeper—always discovering new things along the way. But it is also in our nature to stop digging when we find a moment in our lives that we feel makes us happy. God is an unchanging God, but he bids us to follow him every day as he leads us through life. If we stop following him and stop daily bending our knee to his lordship in our lives, then we become out of synch with him. This year, God isn’t calling us to stop following him at the first place that we enjoy; he is calling us to keep following him and to discover the even better places where he wants to lead us. This week, take some time to kneel in a private place before God and let him smile on you. Commit to following his lordship this year and let his joy reside in you as you reside in Him. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-01-11T15:44:19+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/staying_on_course http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/staying_on_course#When:20:16:48Z The ball has dropped. The fireworks have been set off. Society is buzzing with resolutions for a new year. I have loved staying up and celebrating the new year from the first time I stayed up to watch that ball drop. The idea that we have a clean slate and a fresh year to look forward to is a powerful concept. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors and let each new year find you a better man.” One of the areas that we as Christians often resolve to do better is our spiritual life. It is easy to get caught up in the various holidays, celebrations and the busyness of our lives. When that happens, our spiritual lives can drift and lose focus. The new year brings not only a chance to make new resolutions about our health, relationships and jobs, but it also gives us the chance to bring focus back to our spiritual lives. The hardest part about stopping the drifting in our spiritual lives is learning to spot the drifting in the first place. In I Samuel 15, we see Saul’s fall as the king of Israel and even hear God turn his back on Saul’s kingship. Saul started out with such promise when he was anointed as king, but by this time in his life, the spiritual drift had slowly caused him to make compromising choices. He chooses to ignore God’s command and think that he somehow knows better than God by sparing the king and some of the cattle when he wages war on the Amalekites. He goes on to try and cover up the fact that he went against God’s command and attempts to justify his actions to Samuel and God. Pretty quickly, Saul takes that small step from lying about something to trying to change the truth to fit what we want to do or to justify what we have done even though we know we are doing the wrong thing. As the truth of what he has done dawns on Saul, he admits that he had sinned because he put the approval and fear of man ahead of the approval and fear of God. Over the next week or two, many of us will be looking back over the past year and making resolutions or goals to try and be better people this coming year. As you look back on this past year, do not forget to examine your spiritual life and try to identify those moments of spiritual drift. Were they moments of pride? Of deception? Of twisting the truth to justify something you wanted to do but knew was not right? This year, take the time to be intentional and examine your spiritual life often and guard against those moments that can cause you to drift spiritually … and purposefully chase after God. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2012-01-05T20:16:48+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/marys_secret_gift http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/marys_secret_gift#When:15:34:10Z So many things are better when we have people to share them with … when we know that we have someone who will not envy us or be jealous of the good thing that has happened in our lives and will celebrate them with us. Every year on my birthday, I have what many have told me is a strange tradition. On a day that is in all rights all about me, my main goal is to bring everyone I care about together for a dinner and let none of them pay for it. Honestly, it is not something that I have ever really thought about, but this past weekend, as I was balancing my time with family and friends, I found myself asking, “What is it that makes Christmas so special?” In many ways, the same question can be applied to a lot of the major holidays and events in our lives—things like weddings, birth of children, graduations and new jobs. Many things have lasting impacts on our lives. One aspect that is common to every holiday and special moment in our lives are the people we choose to celebrate them with. In Luke, Mary is visited by an angel and told that she will give birth to Jesus. In Luke 1:39, after the angel leaves, the first thing that Mary does is run to see Elizabeth to share and celebrate the unbelievable news from the angel. Mary's first reaction to this incredible news that she will give birth to God's promise of salvation to mankind was not to write about it or post a message on Facebook or worry about the consequences of being a pregnant, unwed woman in that society. It was to run to her closest friend who she knew would be genuinely happy and celebrate with her. It is easy to look back on our lives and remember the dark moments. In fact, our human tendency is to get caught up looking at how many negative things are going on in our lives over the years. With the economy not being where we want it to be, all of the conflicts going on in the world and all of the emotional issues that we have all dealt with, many people are looking forward to a new start and a new year. As we approach the new year, take time to celebrate the good things that have happened in your life … those moments when you found yourself with an unexpected smile: the promotion at work, the new relationships in your life and all of the blessings that God has brought your way this last year. Then look at those around you and find someone with whom you can celebrate the good in their life, even if what you’re celebrating about is something that you have been praying for and have not received. Just like Mary got up and hurried to her friend, Elizabeth, to share the good news from the angel, we all want someone in our lives who will celebrate with us. This next year, let it be a year when you strive to celebrate the good moments in others’ lives, and you might just find that they will celebrate the good moments in your life. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-12-30T15:34:10+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/light_for_men http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/light_for_men#When:23:54:11Z A simple concept is powerful—not because it is easy to grasp but because it is grasped by the heart. Winston Churchill once said, “All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.” Many of the things that shape us and that we cherish fall into that category of simple yet great. Love, peace, health, faith and salvation are all simple words but change the world every day. This month, we have been talking about one of those simple words: light. On the surface, light seems simple. We need it to see. When we are in a dark room, it is instinctual for us to reach for the nearest flashlight, candle or switch. Even our movements are slowed down and exaggerated to the point of being comical. But that is not the kind of light that the Bible speaks of in places like John 1:4-5. “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” God did not send us a light to simply illuminate the darkness but to bring us life through his light, which is his son, Jesus. The light of Christmas allows us to not just see our world but also to understand who we are and our need for salvation. This year, ask yourself one simple question. When you think of Christmas and the light that God shone into the world through his son, Jesus, what do you see? Is the light of Christ simply how you are aware of your surroundings like a flashlight or a neon sign? Or is it the light that brings you life and healing and restores your relationship with God? This Christmas, God wants to shine his light into your life. Maybe that means a change in how you view Christmas or some priorities. Or it might mean finally taking that chance and stepping out in faith to let God really shine his light into your heart to bring you home this year. From everyone at Calvary Church, have a Merry Christmas, and may God bless you this coming year! Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-12-21T23:54:11+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/light_of_the_world http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/light_of_the_world#When:23:55:21Z In one simple act of disobedience against God, the world and everything in it was cursed. Starting in the Garden of Eden and throughout the Old Testament, God speaks about his plan to bring redemption and salvation into the world. Throughout the Old Testament, creation and mankind waited in expectation of what God was going to do. Then, in the beginning of the New Testament, God sent his son into the world. Jesus was born to a quiet family, in a place fit for animals, with an audience of sheepherders. The answer that all of creation had been anxiously awaiting had come in a very unexpected way. If there was one emotion that summed up Christmas for me, it would be expectation. When I was a younger, I remember going through all of the magazines and circling the toys that I wanted. I tried to drop hints or leave the pages in places where I knew my parents would see them and then try to find my presents in the house as it got close to Christmas. Of course, there were the sleepless nights that week of Christmas as it felt like I was on a never-ending sugar high, culminating in the destruction of lots of wrapping paper on Christmas morning. These days, I look forward to spending time with my family, having Christmas dinner and enjoying all of those family traditions that I used to dread as a kid. Our expectations of Christmas change over time. Christmas becomes less about the gifts and more about from whom they come. It is less about money to spend on gadgets and more about money to pay the bills. It is less about grudges and past hurts and more about a longing to have relationships restored. Many of us are expecting God to do incredible miracles in our lives. No matter how dark your life may seem, the light of Christ comes into our lives and shines in even the darkest places. This Christmas, open your heart and expect God to do great things in your life. Let the light of Christ into your heart! Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-12-13T23:55:21+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/by_jesus_stripes_i_am_healed http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/by_jesus_stripes_i_am_healed#When:22:25:35Z In November, I went for my yearly mammogram. While there, the tech said that she thought she saw something in my left breast. One hour later, my primary care doctor called me. Her staff had looked over my mammogram pictures, and they saw a lump. The next week, I went in for an ultrasound, and they confirmed that the lump was there. Because of my family history with cancer, they were concerned and wanted me to get an appointment with a surgeon. The next week, I had an appointment with the surgeon, and they made a decision to do a biopsy to rule out cancer. During this time, my family, friends, schoolmates, coworkers and church were praying for me. I also went to the front for prayer on the Sunday before the biopsy. Because I was getting nervous, I said two things every day: 1.) No weapon formed against me shall prosper and 2.) By Jesus’ stripes, I am healed. I used these two things as a daily mantra to keep me positive. I was at the hospital for the biopsy and lying on the table when the first tech came in to find the lump. She looked with the ultrasound machine but couldn’t find the lump. Tech two couldn’t find the lump. Tech three couldn’t find the lump. The surgeon came in to take over and get the job done, but he couldn’t find the lump. They decided that I needed a different type of biopsy from a different type of specialist. I came out of the procedure to the waiting room and I told my husband what happened. He says, “I think God healed you!” I said, “I think you’re right!” We decided to do have the other biopsy done (because of the cancer history in my family) and then use it as a confirmation that God healed me. We went to the next surgeon, and she couldn’t find the lump. This was the confirmation that I needed to know that God had healed me! In total, 17 people looked at the pictures of this lump, and now it was not there. It was gone! I know that I was healed by the blood of the Lamb. Miracles still do happen today! Watch sermon My Story, 2011-12-08T22:25:35+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/a_light_in_darkness http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/a_light_in_darkness#When:21:18:46Z In last week’s blog, I talked about the play, “A Christmas Carol,” and how it had a powerful impact on me as a child. While I do think that it is a powerful story, the story alone is not what had an impact on me. For many years, the church where I grew up put on its own variation of “A Christmas Carol.” Often I helped set up the play and run various things during the play. One year, I decided to watch the play rather than spend that week behind the scenes. During the visit from the second ghost, something started to click in my spirit. By the end of the play, God had given me a revelation about Christmas. That Christmas wasn’t just about me and my family and friends; it was about Jesus and what his birth meant for the world. Now, like many people, I had grown up being taught that exact thing in church services and Sunday school lessons, but in that moment, the truth behind the words became alive to me. In “A Christmas Carol,” Scrooge has his own moment when the light of Christmas dawns in his heart and Christmas stops being a holiday and becomes the gift of salvation to a world that lives in darkness. And when you catch that in your heart, you cannot help but radiate that light to the world around you. Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message) says, “You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” This Christmas season, as we go about our lives, God will put people in our paths who desperately need to see God step into their lives. Take the time to let God use you to shine his light into their lives and bring hope, healing and salvation. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-12-06T21:18:46+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_giving_is_the_blessing http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_giving_is_the_blessing#When:22:55:13Z St. Francis of Assisi once said, “It is in giving that we receive.” So what will you receive this Christmas? This past weekend, Dr. Betta Mengistu brought a challenging message about how we as Christians see the resources that God has entrusted to us. As Christians, we understand that giving and tithing are laid out for us in the Bible. But giving is much more than just a spiritual discipline or a dry obligation; it is meant to be a transforming force and a blessing in our lives. At the heart of giving lies one simple question that God asks each one of us: What do we see when we look at our money? Matthew 6:31-33 says, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Jesus is not saying that it is wrong to have things. The problem starts when our focus shifts to the pursuit of those things rather than the pursuit of God’s kingdom. God knows what we need to both survive and enjoy the life that he has given us. Instead, he asks us to change our perspective and evaluate everything that we do with his kingdom as our first priority and let him bring the things that we need. One of my best memories as a child was seeing our church put on an adaptation of the play, “A Christmas Carol.” In the early part of the play, the ghost of Jacob Marley says something that has always stuck with me: “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business. Charity, mercy, forbearance and benevolence were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!” In Luke 2:49, Jesus says to his parents, “Why did you seek me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” The question, then, becomes: What is our Father’s business? There are many examples throughout Scripture of what is in the heart of God, but one passage in particular sums it up rather well. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ … The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’”(Matthew 25:35-40). God is asking us to put his kingdom first in our lives and to be about his business. In order to daily demonstrate his heart to everyone, we need to meet and genuinely care for people—not out of obligation but out of a passionate love for God and what he cares for. Take some time this week to ask yourself what you see when you look at your life. More importantly, pray and ask God to show you who he wants to see his heart through you. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-11-29T22:55:13+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/parable_of_the_talents http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/parable_of_the_talents#When:15:32:56Z In college, I was able to work with missionary Michael McNamee and Convoy of Hope in Europe. My first official trip during that internship was going to Scotland and working with local churches to organize many of the details for an upcoming Convoy of Hope in Aberdeen. As I sat listening to every talk about the food we would give away, the local bands, the haircuts, the kid’s center, medial screenings and the sermon that would be preached, it slowly began to dawn on me. What we were preparing to do was not just an act of social compassion; it was a powerful way for God to show his love and forgiveness to all who would literally come for their daily bread. It was a powerful and incredibly humbling realization to think that I had been entrusted with the chance to influence people on God’s behalf. At some point in our lives, we are all given a responsibility or task do. It’s a fairly common thing, and, in Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus takes a moment to share a story of a rich man who does just that with his servants. As the story goes, two of the three workers to whom he entrusts his money find ways to grow what they are given, but one man decides to bury his money instead of risk losing it. When the master returns, he rewards the two who grew their money but throws the one worker who buried his money and did not try to do anything with what he was given. However, this story is not about how much the workers grew their money or even how much they could have lost. For two of the workers, this was more than something to watch over or check off a list; it was an expression of their master’s confidence in them. It was about treating what they were given as their own and doing something with what they were given to be effective on their master’s behalf. This week, ask yourself one simple question: Are you scared to use the gift or resources that God has given you? Have you been hurt and buried your talent, or are you scared that, if you give what little you have, then there will be nothing left? Try to look for small ways to use your talents, and, as God grows you, let how you use your talents grow, too. Also, there are those to whom God has given a lot of talents and resources. If you fall into that category, ask yourself if you take what you have for granted. If you do, then ask God to show you ways to connect with his vision and use what he has given you in ways that will glorify him.   Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-11-23T15:32:56+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_unmerciful_servant http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_unmerciful_servant#When:22:15:48Z So often it seems that complex and powerful concepts are wrapped in a few simple words. Forgiveness is one of those concepts. It seems so simple on the surface and is summed up in one word. Yet forgiveness can be one of the hardest things that any of us will ever do in our lives. In Matthew 18, Peter asked Jesus a question that many people would ask Jesus if they had the chance. “How many times should I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?” (Matthew 18:21). This prompted Jesus to give Peter an incredibly high number and leads us into a poignant story about forgiveness. The point of Jesus’ story is not simply a guideline or a number. Forgiveness is not about how many times you have to forgive someone; it is about the fact that God has forgiven us from the incredible debt of our sin. We, in turn, should be compelled to forgive those who hurt us, and we should do it out of love—not obligation. Saint Augustine once said, “Forgiveness is the remission of sins. For it is by this that what has been lost, and was found, is saved from being lost again.” We were once lost, and, through the sacrifice of his son, God provided a way to find us and save us once again. But forgiveness is so much more than a begrudging acceptance or turning a blind eye to the words and actions of others who hurt us. In fact, often forgiving those who have deeply hurt us is seemingly impossible. However, in those moments, God speaks to our hearts and forgives and saves us. As it says in Ephesians, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our sins, made us alive together with Christ … for by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast” (Ephesians 2:4-10). This week, make some time to pray that God will show you those things that you are holding on to. Ask him if there is anyone you need to forgive. Often forgiving someone does not happen overnight, and it can seem like a long process, but God will see you through, and, in the end, he will lead you to a place of forgiveness and peace. If you need help, do not be afraid to reach out and talk to someone who you know cares for you and has the maturity in their walk with God to be able to give you some guidance. Find someone to talk to when you’re feeling confused on your journey to forgiveness. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-11-15T22:15:48+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_godd_samaritan http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_godd_samaritan#When:16:34:52Z Many of us have heard at least a sermon or two on the Good Samaritan at some point in our lives. It is a staple parable and one that is used to help illustrate compassion in a simple way. One man stops to help someone left for dead on the side of the road, and two walk past him without stopping to help. It is easy to grasp which was the more compassionate choice. However, what we often miss is the setting of the story and how important that is. To the Jews, the Samaritans’ theology was wrong. They were unclean, and they were treated as being worth less than the Jewish people. The very idea that a Samaritan, who by most accounts hated the Jewish people, would show compassion and help a Jewish person was laughable, but Jesus used him for that exact reason. Jesus made someone who had every right to not want to help a Jewish man dying on the side of the road the hero to illustrate a powerful point. When we take the time to reach out and serve those around us and especially those whom we might not agree with, the barriers are broken down. Jesus is not only saying that we need to care for those who are in need of help, but that we should care for those whom we might not agree with. As we demonstrate his love for others through us, those barriers that seem impossible to break through will crumble as we humble ourselves and care for our neighbors. This week, take some time to ask God how you can serve those around you. Maybe you can find the time to serve in a ministry at Calvary Church. Maybe there is someone in your workplace or a friend that you can find ways to go out of your way to help. It could be something as simple as just going outside of your comfort zone and befriending those around you who would never expect you to look past what you disagree with and show that you care about them. It might not be easy at first, and you might be offended or feel the urge to grumble and say that it is not worth it, but don’t give up. In the end, you will be amazed at what God will do when we serve and care for one another. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-11-09T16:34:52+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_mustard_seed http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_mustard_seed#When:20:18:58Z The list of things in life that are common to everything is short, but one of the things that makes that list is time. To quote C. S. Lewis, “The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is.” Many things in our lives are based off time out of necessity, and that is ok. But why is it that we are always trying to get things that take years to happen in an instant? Matthew 13:31-32 says, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches” (Matthew 13:31-32). About a year ago, I was talking with a close friend of mine who was upset with his parents over something that had happened a little while back. After he got done expressing how he felt and how upset and angry he was, he looked at me and said, “And I have the right to be mad and angry at them if I want to be.” Honestly, I was a bit taken back, but I could understand where he was coming from. It just caught me off guard to hear someone say it like he did. When I responded to what he said, it was simple and frank—just like his statement to me was. I told him that he had every right to choose to hang onto his anger and pain but that it was the wrong choice. It was unhealthy, but it was his choice. If we refuse to let go of our dreams, our worries and our pain, then we will never grow. And if we always dig up what we let go, then we will never heal. In our society, when we focus on doing and getting everything as fast as possible, it is easy to forget that God’s work in our lives so often takes time. To put it another way, there is no microwave function for personal or spiritual growth. This week in your quiet times, quiet yourself before God and ask the Holy Spirit to show you what you are holding on to and why you keep holding on to it. If you do have some things in your life that you are holding onto and want to let go of, then try something symbolic to help you let go of them. You can write them on little slips of paper and then destroy the paper. You can find someone you’re close to and share with them what you need to let go of, then have them pray with you and help you keep your focus off those things and on the promises of God. Most of all, remember to give yourself some time. It is not a fast process to grow, and if you try to speed it up or shorten it, then you will only hurt yourself. Let God guide your life and allow him to help you grow into the amazing person he sees when he looks at you.                                                                                                                      Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-11-01T20:18:58+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_ten_virgins http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_ten_virgins#When:21:49:06Z There are many ways to say it: time management, priorities, responsibilities, to-do lists, etc. At the end of the day, though, they all boil down to one simple concept. How do we balance our lives within the non-negotiable 24 hours in a day and do so in a physically, spiritually and mentally healthy way? Among family, pets, work, friends, hobbies, health needs, vacations, bills and who knows what else, it is easy to see how any combination of these things can quickly add up and start to overwhelm us. All it takes is one little slip-up in our plans somewhere, and, all of a sudden, things start to bump into each other and get completely out of hand. In Matthew 25:1-13, Jesus tells us the parable of the ten virgins. In this story, the Church is compared to ten virgins who all grow weary and fall asleep while they wait for the bridegroom to return so that they can greet him and go into the wedding feast. Some of these virgins planned ahead and brought extra oil to help fuel their lamps while they waited, but some did not. When the warning cry came, they were all awakened, but only five of them had enough oil. The other five had to go and buy more. While they were gone, the bridegroom came, and the five who were ready went into the feast. When the other five came back with their oil, they were turned away as the doors had been shut. We often live with little or no margin when it comes to balancing all of the people and responsibilities in our lives. We can even get very good at it, but it tends to produce a subtle and dangerous side effect in our spiritual lives. We grow so accustomed to making all of the things in our lives work with no margin that we begin to live our spiritual lives with no margin—no extra oil. In the parable, the ten virgins are meant to signify the Church. At some point in our lives, we all can grow weary and sleepy in our spiritual walks. Both the good and bad things in our lives have the ability to slowly cause us to grow spiritually tired or fuzzy. In the end, is it any wonder that, no matter how hard we try and no matter what we do, we are so often tired? If you are feeling tired or like you are running on a minimum in your spiritual life, try setting apart some extra time for some kind of “spiritual retreat” in your life. Listen to a worship CD that impacts you. Go for a prayer walk (even if it is around your neighborhood). Find a conference or new small group or class that you can attend. When we try to do everything in our own power, we end up tired and worn out. We need to lean on God and let his spirit empower us to live the lives that he has called us to live. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-10-25T21:49:06+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_vinyard_workers http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_vinyard_workers#When:19:45:27Z We all have those stories of unfair moments with our siblings or other family members as we grew up. I can remember one time in particular when I was watching TV after school and my sister decided that I needed a little excitement in my life at that moment so she started to yell and act like I was bothering her. Now I am sure you can imagine my shock at this especially when she was on the other side of the room. Well my mother who was not in the room at the believed my sister and sent me to my room. I tried to defend myself but with no luck and was quickly sent to my room to think about what I had done. I know in the grand scheme of things that is a small event but it highlights something very simple that we all learn. Life is simply not fair at times. In Matthew 20:1-16 Jesus tells us the parable of the vineyard owner and his workers. The vineyard owner goes out early in the morning and hires workers for the day and he continues to do so at various hours throughout the day. Every one of the workers was glad for the chance to earn a days wage but things quickly went awry as the time came to pay them for their work at the end of the day. The issue was not that the workers who worked all day did not receive a fair wage but that everyone received the same pay, a full day’s wage, no matter how long they worked. Very quickly we see jealousy show up in this story as one of the men in verse twelve says “These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.” (Matthew 20:12 NIV) The men who worked the hardest and the longest felt like they deserved more than the others. If we are honest with ourselves we see this often in our own lives and in those around us. In many ways society encourages jealousy but it is never called jealousy. We all strive to earn more, make more, or be more prominent than those around us. We desire to stand out and be noticed to be greater than other people. But that never seems to lead to a life of contentment and fulfillment.   This week take some time and intentionally ask yourself these three questions. Do you have any jealousy in your heart? This is never an easy question to ask because the answer will not always make you feel good but without an honest answer and the Holy Spirit’s help you can get rid of the jealousy. Do you have any unreal expectations in your life? When we have unreal expectations of others it makes it impossible for them to meet our standards. When we have unreal expectations of God it makes it impossible for us to be content and happy in the race he has called us to run. What was your moment of grace? In the parable of the vineyard workers some of the workers get so caught up in how much they are getting paid they forget that they started out their day with no job and no prospects of being able to provide for their family. So what is your moment of grace? Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-10-18T19:45:27+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_persistant_friend http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/the_persistant_friend#When:19:05:13Z Jesus often told parables in such a way that we can compare ourselves to one person or another in the story. In Luke 11:5-13, to give us some insight about prayer, Jesus tells the story of the neighbor who needs food for his unannounced guest. If we look at this parable like many of the other parables in the Bible, then we think that we are the ones who should be persistent like the neighbor who is knocking on the door. But that makes God the grumpy man inside the house, and that can be a very unsettling way to think about God. Towards the end of the parable, Jesus says, “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need” (Luke 11:8). Jesus goes on to say, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11:13)! In this parable, the point is not for us to compare a character to God but to contrast that, if we as sinful beings understand compassion and how to be good to those we love and care for, how much does our heavenly Father want to give us good things? So what does this all mean about our role in prayer? In Luke 11:9-10, Jesus says, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Take some time to think about some things that you have been praying a long time for. Is there something that you gave up on praying for because it just seemed too impossible? It can be hard to remember that nothing is impossible for God when life seems so big and people can seem so hard. If you have grown weary of praying for someone or something in your life and have given up, take this week to bring those prayers before God once again. If you are feeling worn out and discouraged, then memorize Romans 8:26-28: “Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good”(Message). Let the Holy Spirit come beside you in those moments when you feel like what you’re praying for will never happen and keep on praying until you get your breakthrough. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-10-11T19:05:13+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/we_are_not_forsaken http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/we_are_not_forsaken#When:17:37:21Z In April, my husband, Vern, was diagnosed with a brain stem glioma. Doctors informed us that "this hit fast, hard and in the worst place possible." Vern was given less than a year to live. A second opinion led us to another hospital where, after complications, Vern lay near death. Through the intervention of prayer (we believe) MRIs now reveal that the tumor has shrunk. Neuro-oncologists can no longer be confident in the original diagnosis and look to other causes for the brain tumor and lesions on his lungs. Vern, who was unable to walk or talk, is improving daily. We trust that "he who began a good work will complete it." Being self-employed, Vern has not worked for eight months, and we have yet to receive a disability check. But God is our provider, and we are not forsaken! Our brethren have supported us through organized garage sales, a 5k, meals and loving monetary gifts. Because of their love, we have had all of our needs met. We have not had to walk this journey alone, but we have felt the strength and support of our fellow believers who have truly been the hands and feet of Jesus to us.  Watch sermon My Story, 2011-10-06T17:37:21+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/one_day_challenge http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/one_day_challenge#When:18:28:05Z Now that the air is turning crisp and the various scents of fall are filling the air, it is time for OneDayChallenge at Calvary Church. The purpose of OneDayChallenge is for us to give one day’s wage in support of incredible ministries throughout the world. In the past, we have focused on providing medical aid to the poorest in India, food and disaster relief for refugees in Europe, help to those suffering from aids in Ethiopia and rescue from human trafficking in India and Nepal. This year,k we are focusing on Latin American Childcare that was started by Pastor John Bueno and his wife, Lois. The vision for LACC was born out of an encounter that John had with a boy who was selling newspapers. As he bought the last few newspapers the boy had, he realized that, while he had helped the boy, it was only temporary because he would be back selling papers again tomorrow. In that moment, he decided that the only way to truly help that boy and so many other children like him was to give them an education and a chance to rise out of the depressing poverty that they lived in. For the last few years, OneDayChallenge has become an ever-increasing challenge in our current economic times. For many people, one day’s wage is hard to give because it is needed now more than ever. But in the times when obeying God means giving time, money or talents that, in human eyes, we cannot afford to give, God does amazing things in our lives. There are times in our lives when God looks down on us and asks us to do something that he knows we cannot do, but that is the point in situations like that. John 6:5-6 says, “When Jesus looked out and saw that a large crowd had arrived, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy bread to feed these people?" He said this to stretch Philip's faith. He already knew what he was going to do. Part of human nature looks at the world around us and tries to narrow it down to only the things that we have an influence on or can accomplish in our own power. The world is so much bigger than us, and the needs in it are overwhelming. Often we unintentionally do the same thing in our spiritual lives, but, in doing so, we forget how big and powerful God really is. When we do this, we run the risk of forgetting that our God is supernatural and does not operate within the same restrictions as we do. But, more importantly and potentially more devastating, when we start to shrink our world to match what we can do, we risk losing the love and compassion that comes from God’s heart. God calls all of us to look beyond our circumstances and to not be offended or stumble when he asks us to go with him and do the impossible. OneDayChallenge is not about how much you can give or how much you make; it is about responding to what God asks us you to do and to stretch your faith. This week, take some time to ask yourself what God has laid on your heart as your OneDayChallenge. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-10-04T18:28:05+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/keeping_friendship_fresh http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/keeping_friendship_fresh#When:18:05:04Z We spend our whole lives surrounded by physical things. In some ways, it makes sense; we do live in a physical world. But have you ever thought about what drives us to pursue things beyond what we need to cover the basics? If we took the time to examine why we do the majority of what we do, we might be surprised at how much of it is directed towards friendship. It has been said by more than one author and philosopher that friendship is one of the most highly prized and sought-after things in life. In fact, C. S. Lewis once said, “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art. It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that gives value to survival.” We all have our own burdens that we collect as we walk though life. We all are looking for someone to help lighten our burden and to walk through life with us. As George Eliot once wrote, “Oh, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a friend; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away.” There is comfort in knowing that you are safe to say what you are thinking and feeling when you are with a good friend … that they hear both what you are saying and what you are trying to say … that they forgive you when you offend them and won’t disown you when you make a fool of yourself. Some do not know what it is to have good friends whom we feel safe around and are free to be ourselves with. But we were not created to live life alone. “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22).  We were created for fellowship both with God and those around us. God does not want to be some far-off imaginary figure in our lives; he wants to be as real to us as our best friend. He wants us to come to him and laugh with him, to cry with him and let him be our refuge and safety when all others might leave our side. Take some time to memorize John 15:13-17 this week. Then pray that God opens your eyes and heart to those around you. If you need a friend, do not let the fear of rejection stop you. Ask God to show you who you can reach out to and start building friendships with. If you have friends already, ask God to show you what you can do for the friends in your life. Take the time to make sure your friends know how much they mean to you and take the time to reach out and start building that new friendship this week. It can be risky to be a friend, but it is worth the risk. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-09-27T18:05:04+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/bad_day_turned_good http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/bad_day_turned_good#When:15:15:32Z While encountering car problems last week, I had the privilege of meeting a member of your church. His name was Ryan. This young man not only came to my rescue during the morning rush hour (when I am sure he had other things to do), but he also did it with kindness, without hesitancy and in such a Christian-like manner. It made what started out to be a bad day into a very nice day. Ryan shared with me that he is awaiting word from the Chicago Police Department on acceptance as an officer, and he asked for prayers. He told me that his church is also praying, and then we talked about our church homes. When I tried to offer him some money to buy breakfast, he quickly said, "Oh, I can't accept that, but please donate it to your church." I was so impressed with this young man's focus and kindness that I've shared this story with as many as will listen, asking them all to pray for Ryan. I thought that you should know about your member in Christ, and I ask for all of his friends at Calvary Church to continue to pray that his prayers be answered regarding his future. He is the type of person who not only speaks of faith but also acts in faith. God bless you, Ryan! Watch sermon My Story, 2011-09-23T15:15:32+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/worship_celebration http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/worship_celebration#When:15:04:21Z What is the most beautiful thing that you have ever seen? This seems like such a simple question, but, as we all know, its answers and complexity are seemingly endless. Some would argue that the answers are elements of nature such as a mountain range, flowers, the ocean or even a desert. Still others would answer insects and animals or even physical things like the necklace your mother used to wear or a painting. Many would even say the human imagination and its various forms of expression through music, literature or poetry. The list of what someone finds beautiful never really ends and often changes as we go through our lives. This weekend at Calvary Church, we had a special service celebrating worship. Worship has long been regarded as one of those uniquely beautiful things both to witness and experience. Charles Spurgeon once said, "God is to be praised with the voice, and the heart should go therewith in holy exultation." Or to put it another way, as we worship and seek God with our mouths, our hearts begin to follow. Throughout history, with each generation, God has given a new song to that generation. Sometimes those songs had such an impact that they changed how we experienced worship even after that generation. Psalm 40:2-3 says, “He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn't slip. He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God. More and more people are seeing this: they enter the mystery, abandoning themselves to God.” God wants to give us our own song, a song that lifts our gaze towards him and, in the process, lifts us out of the muck of our lives and puts us back on solid footing. When I read the word muck or deep mud, it reminds me of that certain kind of mud you will often find in the country or around lakes. On occasion, it can be found just about anywhere after a big rain. The kind of mud that seems to suck everything in that steps in it yet is so sticky that, if it does not suck something down, it won’t ever come off what stepped or fell into it. That is the kind of muck or deep mud here in Psalm 40. Everyone has those things in their lives that either weigh us down or always stick to us. Those things are just as easily the good things in our lives as the bad, but as time goes on, they all tend to start to add up and weigh us down. So what are those things in your life that have stuck with you, good or bad, over the years? Take some time and analyze not only what they are but also how they influence your perspective and attitude in your life. Then ask God to give you a new song. Don’t ask him to take anything away or give anything to you; just ask him to give you a new, powerful song that will lift you up and put you on solid ground and set your eyes on him. Memorize and sing that song, let it work itself into your heart and praise him every chance you get. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-09-20T15:04:21+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/calvary_west_is_moving_forward http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/calvary_west_is_moving_forward#When:19:38:30Z Over five years ago, when it seemed like it wasn't a good time to take on another challenge, Pastor Ross and our leadership took a step of faith and followed the leading of the Lord to plant a campus in Sugar Grove, Ill. Hundreds of Calvary Church members worked together to make this possible.    The vision of Calvary West is the same as Calvary Church: to reach and serve our community and to love everyone who comes through our doors. We have become a diverse church family that ministers weekly to hundreds of men, women and children. Calvary West has an exciting, friendly and energetic atmosphere. Every week, people from every type of background come together with one uniting bond: they have a love for Jesus and a love for others. Two and a half years ago, Calvary West was a growing congregation of 170 people who wanted to make a difference in the area. Since then, we have doubled in size and are now a maturing congregation of over 300! Because of our growth, we were able to enlarge our parking lot by 60% this summer, and we are going to two services (beginning Oct. 9) to facilitate reaching more people. Our giving has also increased to the point where, this year, we became a financially self-supporting church that is now able to give back and look to the future to reach more people. On Thanksgiving weekend, we will celebrate our fifth anniversary as a site church of Calvary Naperville! Just like anywhere, if you want to see a harvest, then you have to plant a seed, water and tend it and depend on God for the growth. We're not slowing down; we're moving forward to do as much as we can for Jesus Christ! Watch sermon My Story, 2011-09-16T19:38:30+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/friendship_foundation http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/friendship_foundation#When:14:33:20Z It is so easy for Christianity to become all about the routines and habits in our lives. To slowly move away from our times of prayer and devotions or to drift from those that help lift us up and encourage us to grow in our faith.  But Christianity is about a relationship or a friendship it is not about a set of rules. Exodus 33:11 says “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.” God wants us to have a relationship with him, to see him as a friend not just to look at him as a distant and abstract presence who might help us if he is in the mood. In Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 it says “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Often I hear those I am close to open up their hearts in moments of honesty and say they feel sidelined in their lives because of personal issues. At times I am sure most of us have had those moments or seasons in our lives. The easy thing to do is to close our selves off and pretend that we can do this alone. In our flesh we tend to think we can fix our own issues, be our own best friend, and pick our selves up when we fall. But what God is saying to us is that we need friends in our lives and God wants to be our closest friend. As I look back on my time with friends and family I find that all of my good memories that really meant a lot to me involved the people I cared about. Friendships and relationships are not easy and require a lot of work. Often times we have to give of our selves or our time or talents to invest into someone else life. We have to take risks of opening up to other and as we become closer friends sharing things we probably would rather not share. But it is those acts of investing in someone else and allowing a few good friends to really get to know you that will bring you the most reward. No matter how hard we try we can never be completely self-sufficient. We need friends to help us keep a good perspective in life. To celebrate and laugh with and to walk through life with, especially when it gets hard. This week if you feel alone ask God to show you people in your life that you can work on establishing some friendships with. If you are feeling good about your friends and where you are with your relationships pray that God shows you who you can invest in or those relationship that need your time and attention. Weather you are in desperate need of some meaningful Godly friendships or feel lead to reach out to someone or just need to work on a few of the relationships you already have in your life. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-09-14T14:33:20+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/we_love_our_church_family http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/we_love_our_church_family#When:21:35:05Z I would like to share about how God has blessed our family through our commitment and connection to Calvary. We LOVE our church family! God has blessed us abundantly through our experiences within our Community Group! From the first moment we walked into the home of our leaders, we felt welcomed! My husband and I have grown spiritually—as a couple and as parents learning and sharing life with our group. They are family to us. They celebrate special occasions with us. They pray with us and for us. They encourage us through email, phone, text and fellowship beyond just meeting every other week. Our group is an extension of the community by which we've been blessed at church. Everyone should get connected with a group. It’s such a wonderful experience! Thank you, Calvary! Watch sermon My Story, 2011-09-09T21:35:05+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/to_the_praise_of_his_glory1 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/to_the_praise_of_his_glory1#When:19:27:12Z I can still remember when, as a young kid, I accepted Christ. While some of the details such as the exact date or time of day are a bit fuzzy, the moment I prayed that prayer is still fresh. After a service one Sunday, I realized God had been dealing with my heart and that it was time I made a commitment for myself. You would think being a pastor’s kid that I would have known what to do and not been nervous, but, on the contrary, my hands were all clammy, I was queasy and I was generally as terrified as I could be as a young boy about to accept Christ into my heart. So what did I do? I went and found my mom (or, at that age, mommy) and asked her for her help. We went to one of the stairwells that led up to the choir loft and baptism area, and we talked for a bit and prayed. Well, as time went on, I grew in my faith and diligently went to Sunday school and youth groups. As I found out early on, when you’re a pastor’s kid, not going to church is not really an option most of the time. But, as time went on, I started to notice an interesting trend in walking with God. Apparently, growing in Christ required me to make difficult and unpopular choices. Now fast-forward from a time when “who cheated at four square” was a big deal to high school when the stakes were much larger. Just when I thought all the tough choices had been made, I graduated from high school and went to college. Well, as you can imagine, this trend just keeps going as life goes on and the effects of our choices get more and more profound. In Ephesians 6, Paul sums it all up for us when he says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil” (Ephesians 6:10-11). As we grow, our choices in life become harder and define us more and more. But, as the stakes go up, God continues to equip and empower us. Paul does not call it the armor of God for nothing. The armor that we are instructed to wear is the same armor that God wore when he brought us our salvation. “So His own arm brought salvation to Him; and His righteousness upheld Him. And He put on righteousness like a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; and He put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle” (Isaiah 59:16-17). It only takes a minute or two to come up with a litany of ways that society makes it seemingly impossible to grow as a Christian and not compromise our belief and values. At times, we all fail when we try to walk in our own strength, but God is not asking us to walk in our own strength. He has given us his armor and wants us to stand firm in his strength when all else fails. So, ask yourselves about those situations or people in your life that lead to compromises in your Christian walk. Then pray about them and ask God how to bring Christ into those situations so you grow from them rather than stumble.   Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-09-07T19:27:12+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/i_needed_god_to_change_me http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/i_needed_god_to_change_me#When:21:11:17Z Almost 16 years ago, my wife, Cyndi, and I left Chicago and moved to Oswego. I was working a full-time job and, at the same time, running my own business from my house. I came to realize that my personal business was making more money than I was earning at my job, and I was missing out on my two daughters’ lives. We quit our jobs, I took my business to a full-time level and we purchased a house in Oswego. Life was going pretty well. I was spending more time with my kids, working from home and feeling pretty lucky. I was doing everything except giving my wife the time, love and attention that she deserved. I wasn’t going to church and had no relationship with God. Unknown to me, my wife was praying for me every day. She was praying that I would become the man that she knew I could be. Our younger daughter became involved with liturgical dance, and we started going to church simply to see her dance. We began attending church on a regular basis and even started serving. We also found out that a friend's wife had developed cancer. In the course of three years, she had beaten it twice. But, when it retuned the third time, it came back stronger, and things were not looking very good. Then something began to happen to me. As I saw that my best friend was losing his wife, I remembered my wife. God had given me a wonderful woman who loved me, prayed for me and blessed me with two beautiful daughters … and I could lose her just as quickly and as easily as my friend was losing his wife. I had to change, and I knew that I needed God to change me. Though our friend’s wife died, God used the situation to show me that he had been doing the things in my life—things that I considered to be luck. I became more involved with the church, accepted Christ as my Savior and began learning more and more about what he had done and was doing in my life. I became the spiritual leader of the family and a much better husband to Cyndi. In addition, our pastor at the time did a message on tithing that really opened my eyes. I realized all that I had—my success in business, my home and my life—belonged to God. I was not lucky at all; I was blessed. A couple of years ago, we were looking for a new church.  A friend invited us to Calvary Church for a class called “Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage.” We really enjoyed it and the people, as well. We began attending Calvary’s weekend services. After about the third or fourth service, I saw Cyndi crying after service. I asked her if she was crying because she was happy. She nodded “yes.” Calvary became our new church home, and we have been happy here ever since. We began to tithe immediately because, no matter where we were, our “first” still belonged to God. God has been blessing us through our faithfulness and has always provided even during the lean times. Our story is not over—not by any stretch of the imagination. We are taking this exciting journey together and cannot wait to see what adventures that God has planned for the rest of our lives!  Watch sermon My Story, 2011-09-02T21:11:17+00:00 http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/a_life_of_faith http://www.calvarynaperville.org/calvary_church/blogs/a_life_of_faith#When:19:04:49Z When I think about faith and what it looks like, I immediately think of my family. I am blessed to have multiple generations of pioneers and church planters in my family that have left a timeless example. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” There are countless stories of God’s grace and provision for my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, but as I thought about this weekend’s sermon, the one person who really jumped out at me was my grandmother (on my father’s side). My grandpa was a pioneer for Teen Challenge and a church planter nearly all of his life, and my grandma was, as we would say in Texas, a spitfire. I can freely admit that, as a child, I was a handful, and I am pretty sure that is putting it mildly. When I was full of energy, I would outlast anyone—except for my grandmother. Eventually, my grandparents retired and moved to Florida. It was in those years that my grandma started to show signs of Alzheimer’s. This was not the first time that someone in our family had this disease, but for me it was the first time someone whom I was close to had it. Over the years, I watched the grandma that I knew slowly slip away from her loved ones. I can only imagine what it would be like to know that everything and everyone you loved was slowly being washed away. What I could not imagine was how much she would teach me even as she slowly forgot who I was. Grandma had loved God with all of her heart for most of her life. She gave everything she had to him, and he had seen her though some very hard and dangerous times in her life. Toward the last half of her battle with Alzheimer’s, her mind really started to go. It was during this time that that I saw the most incredible examples of her faith. There was one time when my aunt had taken her to her and her husband’s church outside of Dallas. Grandma could barely remember her own kids and had since forgotten who I was. But, as my grandma walked into the sanctuary of that church, the first thing she did was start to pray. My 90-pound, four-foot-something grandma who could barely remember her children was still a prayer warrior. Later on, near the very end when she couldn’t remember anyone or even how to speak, she would still hum or try to sing along with her favorite hymns. Saint Augustine said, “Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe.” My grandma lived her whole life believing for things she could not see. Even when she did not know who or where she was, her spirit still believed what it could not see. In the end, she saw with her own eyes what she had spent her whole life seeing by faith. The question is: What do you see? What do you stand on with your faith? What circumstances in your life are so beyond your control that you are scared to even think about? This week, bring those things to God in prayer. Ask him to show you through faith that he is working in your situation, then let that work itself into your spirit as you stand on your faith. Watch sermon Sermon Reflections, 2011-08-30T19:04:49+00:00