The Periodically

Recently, I sent the following email to care group's outreach coordinators to send on to their care groups. Hope it encourages you this Christmas. Pastor Ben -------- Christmas can sometimes be a "same old, same old" time of getting together with the same folks to talk about the same, surfacey things. Are you willing and prepared to initiate spiritual conversations? Whether your family has a strong Christian presence or most of your family are not believers, talking about spiritual things is normal (not a scary, rare thing) for those that follow Christ. 2 Timothy 4:2 says, "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching". Below are a few resources you can open to equip you with questions you can ask your family and friends this season. Enjoy talking about the Lord during the celebration of His birth! Resources: 1) How to Talk about Christmas: 5 easy questions to start a ...

The world: You are great. Believe in yourself. You can do everything you put your mind to. The Gospel: God is great. Believe in Him. He can and has done everything.  The world: You are not in need. You are awesome. The Gospel: You have more of a need than you realize. God is awesome. The World: Save yourself from sorrow. Build your kingdom here on earth. The Gospel: Jesus saves you from your deepest sorrow—your sin. Build his kingdom here on earth. The world: Life is about you. Make your best choices.  The Gospel: Life is about living for a greater purpose. Make the best choice—Jesus.  --Pastor Ben

Recently I have started reading through 1 Corinthians and found one passage jumped out at me as far as thinking about my identity. When I was in college I came in contact with a guy that was seemingly better than me at everything, and I mean everything. He was better at sports, speaking, reading, interacting with people,… you name it he did it and better than me. I felt I needed be validated, to find something I could be known for or best at. I found myself trying to even find just one area of my life in which I could be better than him to support my existence. I never did. However, by God’s grace I did find something else out. My purpose in life is not to be the best or most well known person at something. My personhood, identity, and reason for existence are not wrapped up in my accomplishments. They will fail me. There will always be someone better than me. I am not on this planet to accomplish or be known for some grand thing. Rather, I am here for another and His exaltation. I...

At BCC we firmly parents are the primary people God has placed in the life of kids raise them in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4).   With that in mind, our goal as a Youth Ministry is to come alongside parents and help them in whatever way we can to accomplish that high calling God gives them. One of the hardest parts of parenting is assessing where your child is at spiritually. Living with them day in and day out we often times have a general “feeling” of where they’re at, be even that can be skewed based on the day and thinking about how to help progress them in their Christian walk can seem very daunting. This year I’m very excited as we introduce a new tool to hopefully help our parents in that process. Like all tools, it is not perfect, but I think if you give it a try you may find it to be useful in the shepherding of your kids. It is a Discipleship Assessment Chart. The chart consists of 4 columns the 3 in color (green, red, & blue) deal w...

Is there any heart discouraged as it journeys on its way? Does there seem to be more darkness than there is of sunny day? Oh, it’s hard to learn the lesson, as we pass beneath the rod, That the sunshine and the shadow serve alike the will of God; But there comes a word of promise like the promise in the bow — That however deep the waters, they shall never overflow. When the flesh is worn and weary, and the spirit is depressed, And temptations sweep upon it, like a storm on ocean’s breast, There’s a haven ever open for the tempest-driven bird; There’s a shelter for the tempted in the promise of the Word; For the standard of the Spirit shall be raised against the foe, And however deep the waters, they shall never overflow. When a sorrow comes upon you that no other soul can share, And the burden seems too heavy for the human heart to bear, There is One whose grace can comfort if you’ll give Him an abode; There’s a Burden-Bear...

I have recently had the privilege of talking with a few different people going through severe, long lasting, suffering in their lives. One common question both have brought, and one which I think dwells deep in each one of us when things don't go are way is, "Does God really love me if He's doing this to me?" One person stated that, "Scripture calls God our Father, but if your dad kept giving you only bad things would you really think he liked you all that much?" We each have this heart of doubt toward God's love as we experience difficulties and trials. In fact, in some ways it is a similar mindset to that of Job's friends who contend that God does good to those who are good (loved) and punishes those who are bad (unloved). It is a sad view toward exulting our works that completely overlooks the gospel and we are each tempted toward thinking like it especially in times of suffering. So what is our hope? I have found Romans 8 a great ...

I've just now read the details regarding the reason ACBC changed locations for their upcoming conference on abuse to be held in Ft. Worth, TX October 1-3. Their  explanation  for the change of venue is worth the read for a helpful overview of a theology of ministry to the abused.  These recent events just heighten my awareness for the need for the Church of Jesus Christ to improve our ability to compassionately and wisely respond to a growing trend of sinful, abusive behaviors of all kinds in our culture. Ever since I was young, I can remember a strong sensitivity for those who are disenfranchised and abused. Now, more than ever, my heart is moved to care for the abuse victim and the sufferer. The more I'm called to help victims, the more I am aware of my own lack of understanding, training and skill-sets. For these reasons and more, I hope to attend this conference. I'd like to encourage you to consider attending as well.  I desire is that...

Whenever I’m talking with people about Summer Camp (SC) I often refer to it a spiritual greenhouse for our students. I tell them it is a wonderful time and there are very few things like it that are so beneficial for our youth. Here are ____ of the main reasons why I feel this way… 1). It takes the kids away from their normal routine and comfortable environment. – If you’re like me you know you tend to get your life and schedule into ruts. SC helps our kids, early on in the Summer get out of those habits and help them start setting new ones to carry them through Summer. Some of these may include, regular time with the Lord in His Word and prayer, or fellowship with other believers. 2). It disconnects kids from the social influences around them. – Whether friends or social media we intentionally have rather strict phone use policies to allow the kids to be influenced during the week by people, messages, and beliefs that are valuable and life altering. 3). It allows t...

In the Sermon on the Mount we read, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.” We are helped in our understanding of our Lord’s words here by remembering two ways that salt functions. First, salt seasons. Think about the food you ate recently. Did you shake a little salt on it? Why? Because salt adds some season to the food! Second, salt preserves. Before the days of refrigeration salt was used to preserve food. It was rubbed into meat, for example, as a means of preserving the meat for later consumption. We could elaborate on why it is that salt adds savor or how it actually functions as a preserving agent, but the main point of the two uses of salt cited above is this: salt is different from the thing it comes in contact with. [1] Therefore, at the most rudimentary level, to be the salt of the earth is to be different from th...

In the Christian life there are times where we each fall and go back to our sin… This weird thing we hate and yet pursue (see Rom 7:1-20). The question that many ask themselves in those times though is, "What do I do after I've sinned yet again?" From my own life and that of others I've talked with it often seems our first instinct and common tendency is that of "wallowing" for lack of a better term. We tend to have this self pity-party consisting of faux-sorrow and leading to statements like, "I can't believe I did that again," or "how could God still love me and forgive me again for this," or other such things. What I've come to recognize is this reaction is in itself sin. It's my pride that I failed again. It's my pride thinking I ever could meet God's perfect and holy standard on my own. It's my pride thinking I had actually been acting good enough in such a way as to have earned God's forgiveness and ...