It has been a few weeks since I last posted. It is only because I am so busy with work and family. Now there is a new distraction to draw me away from this. We are starting a new church here in Chico. Maybe this will actually help to get me writing more. I was able to a lot when I was pastoring full time. Now I have another job (still delivering produce) which I actually love.

I have written a mission statement, which was much more difficult than I thought it would be. Here it is:

We exist to:

Worship God in all of His glory,

Enjoy Him in all of His fullness,

Spread a passion for His truth to all peoples,

That Jesus might be praised forever.

            We do not have a name yet, and we are already meeting on Sunday nights at my house. If you are in the Chico area, consider yourself invited. We meet at 776 Cleveland Ave. We will begin to meet on Sunday mornings towards the end of summer.

            As for my last post I would like to continue here with just one short thought. How big is your God? I know that most people would not even hesitate to say that their God is very big. Yet when you begin to ask questions and probe a little, you quickly realize that not only do they have a much smaller God, but they have a greatly inflated view of man. Let me illustrate.

            In the book of Romans, Paul is arguing for the all-sufficiency of God in salvation. In fact he goes so far as to say that God is the one who saves and not man by his choice.

Romans 9:6-13, “But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belongs to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return and Sarah shall have a son." And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call—she was told, "The older will serve the younger." As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

God chose who He would work His promise through not according to any foreknown works but purely because God’s election is based on His good purpose. Paul anticipates the response if the person who thinks his God is big.

Romans 9:14-18 “What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.”

This doesn’t sound like the American “come just as you are,” “try God,” or “raise your hand and pray a prayer,” kind of evangelism that I am used to, says the small God believer. I have heard people say if that is God I would not worship Him. That is scary, especially because I have really only quoted scripture. This IS the God of the Bible! Well Paul also anticipates this response from people.

Romans 9:19-24 “You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"  Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?”

Notice what Paul says in response to the small God-er, “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God?” I wonder how many people get this far and then either would simply close their Bibles or retreat to a more comfortable part of scripture never to return.

I would encourage you to read this passage over several times. In fact, read all of Romans over several times. Think about what it says in chapters 1-3 in regards to the deadness of man. Think about what it says in chapter 8 about God’s electing purpose in predestination, and how God in His sovereignty calls those He has chosen. Think about how God keeps those who are His, never to fall away or be lost. Think on the bigness of God and how He ought to be so big that you have a hard time reconciling Him with your fallen sense of right and wrong. He should defy your logic. He should inspire a measure of fear, after all, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Do not neuter God. Thoughts of Him ought to overwhelm you. If they don’t, then perhaps you are in need of a God upgrade.

Date:	2007-04-29 22:21
Subject:	God Is In Control!
Security:	Public
Mood:	calm

It has been quite a long time since my last post but I am not here going to take the time to update yet. I hope to get to that in the next few days and besides does anyone read this anymore? I don’t know.

I would like to say here that the sovereign grace of God has sustained me and will continue to sustain me. I here declare my love for the doctrines of Grace! This is the true teaching of scripture. This is the historic teaching of the church as found in many of the confessions of faith such as the Westminster, 1689 LBC, Heidelberg, Belgic, Synod of Dort, and several others.

I have seen what people do who do not believe in the truth of God’s sovereignty in all of life including salvation. They butcher the scripture, they avoid many passages that are “too difficult”, and they exult man and his will rather than giving God His almighty freedom over His creation. It is quite sad actually. They are so ignorant of church history that they will actually call heresy truths taught and held as orthodox by the church for hundreds of years. They somehow think that the church began with Billy Graham. Well maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration but hopefully you get the point. This should shame them on the level of allowing people to get drunk at the love feasts in the Corinthian church.

Now I do not state this to cause an argument but if one come so be it, I would love to show that these truths are nothing more than the revealed word of God. I am stating this though to anyone who would want to know what it is that I actually believe. So I will, Lord willing, in the next few posts explain the doctrines of Grace are if you do not already know. I will also be talking a lot about what the Lord is doing and has been doing in my life the last few months. It has been quite interesting

Where is God taking me? I don’t know. But what I do know is that God is completely in control and therefore I can and will trust Him. What do you do if you do not believe that God is in control of everything? Again I don’t know but you must be one sad, scared person!!

Date:	2006-07-25 15:38
Subject:	1st day
Security:	Public
Mood:	chipper

So I started my new job today. It is rather easy. I believe that I am one of the only ones that is married much less has any children. There were about 3 or 4 men who were older than me but for the most part there were young single men. This is intriguing to me because I know that God in His providence has put me here. My prayer has already been “Lord save some of these men.” I hope that He will use me to this end.

Back to the job. For the most part I go all over the warehouse on an electric pallet jack and hunt down the items that need to be shipped out on the next truck. It is like a big puzzle. My wife would love it because she loves puzzle games on the computer. Putting the orders together is not hard simply time consuming. I noticed that right at the end of the day I began to get sloppy and I made a few mistakes. If I go slow and double check everything I am good.

Doing this has already made me think of a spiritual lesson. “Life is so daily.” Have you heard that quote before? I don’t think that is the entire thing but that is all that is necessary for now. The orders always come in. They will continue to come in. While I am there they come, before I was there they came and after I am gone they will continue to come in. I thought about two passages often today. As I quote them bellow and as you read them, read slowly and carefully because they apply to you right now and tomorrow and every moment that the Lord sees fit to give you for the rest of you life.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 10:31

“So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”

2 Corinthians 5:9-10

Date:	2006-07-24 20:22
Subject:	tomorrow
Security:	Public
Mood:	nervous

So tomorrow I start my new job. I am a bit nervous; I have not worked in the “secular” work world in more than 5 years. It is a good place to be, you know that whole “in my weakness He is made strong” that I have been talking about.

My new Job is delivering produce to restaurants and to stores. I will be starting early somewhere between 2 and 3 a.m. I will be driving a truck and hopefully I will be able to listen to my Ipod while I am working. That would be a great perk. I am sure that I will be riding with someone for the first few days so pray for mw that I would be able to share the gospel with out getting in trouble for harassment.

On a completely different note. I told someone this week that I am a pastor and I feel guilty because I really don’t know what I am. It is not just the title or position thing, I truly don’t know my place in the body anymore. I have a strong desire to pastor and I am fairly certain that I will be again soon but right now is an awkward and humbling part of my life. I do not know where I am exactly going with this. Perhaps I just need to say such things. I am just being open in hopes of helping others and to solicite prayer.

Date:	2006-07-22 09:43
Subject:	In my weakness He is made strong.
Security:	Public
Mood:	happy

I have discovered a lot of my weaknesses lately. You know this is if you are a regular reader of my LJ. Paul was able to boast in his weaknesses because it was an opportunity for God to be glorified through him. In regards to his thorn in the flesh (whatever that might have been) Paul prayed three times and this is God’s response and his reaction to God’s words.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I am learning to go to the Lord with thanksgiving for what ever I find myself in. If it is a great trial I know that it means that the Jesus is either refining me, rebuking me, or simply desiring to glorify Himself through me (John 9:3, Hebrews 12:5-12, 1Peter 3:17). God does this for His own purposes and for His own glory.

Job looked back on his own experience in suffering and had some surprising words to say. After all that he went through we find him repenting of his words through out the book even in the midst of such suffering. Job 42:1-6 “Then Job answered the Lord and said: "I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.’Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 'Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.' I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” 

 How can we go through trials that come from God for His own purpose in our lives and yet be able to trust in Him still? Matthew 12:20-21 “a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope." Jesus is a God who will not ever leave us nor forsake us. He is tender even in the toughest times of our lives, even when He allows difficulty to come into our lives.

Date:	2006-07-19 08:29
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	optimistic

This is one of those stories that make me feel so dumb about my last post. Also to hear such a great confidence in the sovereignty of God make my heart glad in God.

Date:	2006-07-18 21:26
Subject:	Thought you had a friend
Security:	Public
Mood:	hot

Well I have discovered in the last few weeks that I have a fear of men rather than God sometimes, I have more anxieties than I ever thought possible, I have fewer friends than I thought I had, I need my family now more then ever before, and I am so glad for the family that God has given me.

The bottom line is that I need God. I had these needs and struggles masked and hidden under the surface for so long that I either took them for granted or just did not even know that they were there. The big event that brought this all to the surface can be summed up in Proverbs 3:30 “Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.”

I had a friend, and man I did not see the trouble coming and when things got sideways with him. I still do not get it. I wish that I did but I suppose I never will. All of this to say that I am really doing some soul searching lately. I am trying to have joy, and I do, but there is often something there to overwhelm that joy.

This last weekend I heard about something that happened to someone else and I got a lot of the negative feelings that I had gotten rid of in the last month. Boy o boy do people have a sway over us.

The solution is simple to write down here and perhaps even easy to do for a time, see Proverbs 3:1-8. But I have seen enough to know that there is very little of that passage truly being lived out.

In my own life I have seen my own lack in this area so much that I now have to reevaluate a lot that I have been taught in the last several years by well intentioned people but who were too superficial to have much real substance in their own life. I learned how to be just like them and it hurts now.

So as I find myself falling back in love with the Jesus that fell out of love with somewhere (sadly it was at church where I got to busy to meet with Him anymore) I would encourage you with a passage from 2 Corinthians 13 that has helped me evaluate my relationship with Jesus. “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? —unless indeed you fail to meet the test! I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.”

Date:	2006-07-17 12:52
Subject:	An invintation
Security:	Public
Mood:	creative

To anyone interested and in the Chico area, I am starting a Wednesday night home fellowship. For a few weeks we will be studying what it means to be “in Christ”. Then in Aug. we will begin a long series on the attributes of God. You are sure to grow in your walk with the Lord as you study either one of these topics. Consider yourself invited and I hope to see you there!

In my last post I wrote about the vision of our new church. Today I would like to address the mission of the Orchard Church. The vision is what motivates the mission. So when we say we desire to “grow passionate followers of Christ by teaching them to love God and love others in our community” we need to move from the philosophical to the practical and that is where our mission comes in.

 “The mission of the Orchard Church is to reach out to the unchurched in order to help them to connect with Jesus’ Church, worship and glorify God in our lives, and build a meaningful, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ, in order that we may serve and bring honor to God.”

There is a great need in the culture for those who have not been in the church for years or for all of their lives to have the gospel of Jesus preached and shown to them. Well actually we all, Christian or Non-Christian, need to hear and experience the gospel. Everyone needs to hear the gospel because it is the power of God to salvation toward those who believe (Romans 1:16). The Non-Churched peoples in our community need to hear it that they might believe and in believing become born again. Believers need to hear and see the gospel because it is a continual reminder of the grace that God has shown us.

We all need grace and because of this we as a church desire to show Jesus off as supremely glorious and gracious. We do this not only by proclaiming the gospel, the means of salvation Romans 10:14-17, but by living out the life of good news 1Corinthians 6:1-13.

1 John 3:18 “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” John understands the correlation between saying and doing. You can not legitimately say you are a believer and yet not do good toward others. As we believers model this kind of love to the unchurched and to other believers we ought to be giving of ourselves in the way that Jesus did, Philippians 2:4-5 “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus”.

This attitude moves into deeper worship as we see Jesus as more glorious. We get closer to Him and as we do we simply desire to bring other with us. As we bring others with us we see God transforming them into God glorifying, worshipful, servants of Jesus Christ.

Date:	2006-07-15 20:53
Subject:	Vision
Security:	Public
Mood:	thankful

So tomorrow is Sunday, the Lords Day, and as millions of people around America go to their respective places of worship, the Mathers’ are going to the Orchard Church. This has actually been our home church for a month now and I am going to do a series on the vision and what The Orchard Church is all about.

First off the church is evangelical, in the best sense of the term, which ought to make a church missional but sadly often does not. That can not be said of the Orchard Church. We believe that being evangelical does not mean that we simply believe certain things and that proves our orthodoxy, but that because we believe we are extremely missions minded.

Our culture (specifically Chico for us) we believe desperately needs to hear and to know Jesus Christ. We believe that this knowing is not an intellectual exercise but an experiential reality, Matthew 10:42. Because of this we seek to practically show the love of Christ to the city of Chico by various outreaches such as, giving away water for free with no strings attached at various popular parks in the area (it often gets over 100 degrees here), washing cars for free and actually refusing to accept ANY money what so ever, buying school supplies for low income families with out any expectation of payment or even to come to our church. So our faith is actually demonstrated regularly like Jesus said it would of those who were truly His, John 15:8.

All of this can be summed up by Pastor Jim, “Our vision is to grow passionate followers of Christ by teaching them to love God and love others in our community.” That is the vision statement of the Orchard Church. I would like to say here that many of the churches I have been to in the past have had similar statements. This is the first one where we are actively pursuing it at every event and talk about it at every meeting so that we might live our lives in the light of the glory of Jesus and thus show Him off as the wonderful savior as we live lives of service to others.

As you read this you might think that “this is what most churches would say that they do.” I agree this is what most churches “say” that they do, but I am here to tell you this IS what we do and that is rare.

So as I talk about the church this week think about your own place of worship and try to compare it with the biblical model (you thought that I was going to say our church didn’t you 2 Cor. 10:12). If it really matches up then praise God. If not pray about what the Lord would have you do to change the direction toward more biblical shores.

Date:	2006-07-13 19:21
Subject:	Funny and the sovereign purpose of God
Security:	Public
Mood:	peaceful

Interviews are a funny thing to me. I mean really funny. Here I am talking to two people about why “I am so good and they need me at their company”. I am not a salesman and yet every interview so far has been sales position. So here I am trying to sell myself to people who need to hire a salesman and I can’t sell. Are you laughing yet? Well I am and I have been for the last few days. It makes my whole job hunting experience that much better.

On a different note I am reading a book given to me and I simply do not get how someone can have written such a popular book and make statements like what I am about to quote. Hold on a minute, actually I can understand why this stuff is so popular. It is dealing with symptoms but not the actual disease, the S.I.N. virus.

Now for the quote. He begins with a passage of scripture to explain what he has just said about humility. Isaiah 45:9-12 NLT (the authors preferred translation) “Destruction is certain for those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot ever argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, `Stop, you are doing it wrong!' Does the pot exclaim, `How clumsy can you be!' How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father and mother, `Why was I born? Why did you make me this way?' “This is what the LORD, the Creator and Holy One of Israel, says: "Do you question what I do? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands? I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands I stretched out the heavens. All the millions of stars are at my command.” Then the author goes on to say: “In the end, God’s man doesn’t have to pray for humility as much as he needs to remember his place. God is like a craftsman, wielding full control over His tools to build and create, asking us for freedom and control to practice His master craft within us.” (Emphasis mine).

Now call me crazy but did the author not just quote that God says “Do you question what I do? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?” And yet he immediately goes on to say that God asks us “for freedom and control” to do what He wants. Does this really sound like God? Let’s look at a few other verses to find an answer. In another place the Bible says of God “Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.” (Psalm 135:6). Psalm 115:3 “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” God is completely sovereign, He asks no one for permission to “to practice His master craft within us.” He asks no one “for freedom and control” in their lives. King Nebuchadnezzar understood well for God sovereignly intervened in his life, with out his permission I might add, and made him go crazy for 7 years. This is the King’s response: “At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?" Daniel 4:34-35

God does not ask us if He can work in our lives. God is not powerless apart from our allowance of His intervention. God does what ever He pleases including giving us life, physically and spiritually, Acts 16:14, 17:25, 2Cor 4:3-6. Job rightly says of God “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” The book of Proverbs declares “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.”

We as people and especially as Americans are very suspicious of authority as we are very independent. We do not naturally like the idea of God doing whatever He desires to accomplish His sovereign purposes. Why? Because we somehow do not think that it is fair based upon our partially sanctified logic and sense of right and wrong. You see we ultimately do not think God is ultimately fair when we question His authority and Sovereign purpose. Of course we would not admit it out loud but the bottom line is that we do not. The solution is that we need to do a good study in this area of God’s sovereignty. Perhaps begin with Ephesians 1:3-12 and then with all of the verses listed here. Then you will begin to see this great theme everywhere you look in scripture. Believe what the Bible says and your confidence and love of God will soar.

I regularly listen to about 8 or 9 different podcasts. One of the more frequented is John Piper’s Desiring God Radio program. On the June 25 episode (I listen to them in big a block, that is how I can listen to so many) John began the program with a startling observation. He said “People that come into my office weeping are generally weeping because of the consequences of sin not because of sin. Very few people today are weeping because of their deep offense of the living God by the attitudes that they have and the unbelief that they have.”

Man oh man, did that one hit home. I actually had to pull over the car and dry my eye. Why? Because that is so me. If it is not you might be dead, Eph 2:2-3 or perhaps you do not understand why that quote is so profound.

Imagine if you will that a man named Phil is married to your sister. They are married for 10+ years. Yet for the last 5 years Phil has been cheating on her. She discovers it and leaves. Phil is now broken over that fact that he has lost his wife. But the real motivation over his brokenness is the fact that he now has to cook his own meals, do his own laundry, pay alimony and child support, face all of her family and friends, well you get the point. This would be so offensive to you, your sister, you family, your friends, pretty much everyone you know. Now why would you be so upset? Of course the reason is that he did not really care about his relationship with his wife. He cared about the consequences of his actions, but only because it brought discomfort and perhaps some sense of guilt. If he was truly broken over the split he would immediately try to reconcile.

Now back to the quote. We do the very thing that Phil did in our fictional story everyday hundreds of times when we sin against God, and yet we are rarely broken up over the sin itself. More often than not we need to experience the consequences of my actions before we come to repentance and this repentance, like in our story, is motivated by pain and discomfort rather than an overwhelming sense of how greatly we offend the Holy God when we sin against His Law.

God talks about this spiritual adultery many times in Scripture. Jeremiah 5:7-10 “How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of whores. They were well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for his neighbor's wife. Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord; and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?” Ezekiel 16:38 “And I will judge you as women who commit adultery and shed blood are judged, and bring upon you the blood of wrath and jealousy.” God is just as serious today as He was 3,000 years ago in regards to His Holy Name and that it not be profaned by peoples’ sin.

God saved believers from their sins so that His Name would be glorified. Romans 1:5 “Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations.” Isaiah 49:8-11 “For my name's sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.”

Are you enthralled with God? I mean so in love with Him that the thought of sin troubles you. Or are you one who is broken after the consequences come down upon us? The sad truth is that we are more often the latter. Yet the love that I have for Jesus is growing and I can honestly say that tonight I am more in love with Him than I was when I woke up this morning. So as I keep falling more in love with Him the more often I come to Him in genuine heartfelt repentance because “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

Date:	2006-07-11 20:34
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	good

I am now suddenly iodated with phone calls, interviews and job offers. Boy, when it rains it pours. I have as of late been in much anxiety over being jobless. I have forgotten to appropriate cretin verses. The word appropriate means to live according to a known truth. In other words read it, believe it and do it. Let me explain what this looks like.

Paul uses this concept in regards to our battle between our flesh and our new nature. Romans 6:12-14 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.”

This same concept is what I should have been applying in my job hunt. Psalm 37:25 “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” Proverbs 13:25 “The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want.” Proverbs 10:3 “The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.” Psalm 34:9-10 “Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

I am a very self-centered man. I say this not as some great revelation but to my shame. I am not a humble man. I desire to be blessed too much. Now do not get all “Oh, Pat just needs some positive self-esteem.” My problem is that I have too much self-esteem; I think that I am great. I am not!

I exist to bring God glory (Rev 4:11) not to have my needs met (Luke 9:57-62). Gosh that is just so different from what is told to us by the world and even by a large portion of the church. I am a sinner and so sinful that in order for me to have any value I need regenerated by God, Titus 3:3-7.

So how does all of this apply to my job search?

First, I do not deserve any blessing form God, a job or otherwise. It would be presumption on my part to just assume “God would of course bless me.” Yet many do think exactly this about God.

Second, once I have been born again by the Holy Spirit then I have the ability to glorify God and this is what I ought to be pursuing in everything that I do, 1 Corinthians 10:31. In my job search as well as my eating of dinner I ought to be glorifying God and His glory ought to be foremost on my mind not the job search or dinner.

Third, as I do this in the power of the Holy Spirit then I can rest in the promises of the verses that indicate a blessing given to the righteous. God promises are not given to be used as get out of jail free cards or demanded as blessings as though God owes us something. Romans 11:34-36 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

Date:	2006-07-10 19:24
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	excited

I am interested in church planting. I have been from the time of my conversion. I have tried in the past to plant a church. In Wisconsin I was invited to come to a church and from there to go plant a church. This church actually turned out to be somewhat cult-like and so we returned home humbled and somewhat fearful about church planting.

But now I find myself in the position that I am considering once again planting a church. Perhaps God in His great Providence has brought me to such a place as this for just such a purpose. I have begun praying to this end. I have a renewed passion for Christ and His Church. I have a great desire to see God’s people well fed and well cared for. I know God has called me to this end but I have not been confident enough to step out and to try. I am going to read Acts and pray about God’s will in this. I will still need a job. So now, perhaps, I have two goals.

I am currently job hunting. It is no fun. There is not a great demand for ex-Pastors. Well maybe it is little fun driving around and having to think on my toes when I am asked unexpected questions. Also I get to listen to several studies on my IPOD that have been waiting for me patiently. But make no mistake; all in all job hunting is not something I recommend getting yourself into unless absolutely necessary.

As for me it was absolutely necessary. I have spent the last 6 months in the middle of a fight over doctrine, personal offence, power struggle, and emotional manipulation. Perhaps a year or two ago I would not have ever thought that Christian Leaders could let a situation go so far. I need to qualify what I just said; I never thought that this would have happened with me involved. I have heard of such troubles in other places, but I did not really ever expect to be the subject of such controversy.

I want to be clear here I love Calvary Chapel and believe that the Word of God is faithfully taught there and that many people are growing in their relationship with the Lord there. I do not think that people should leave the church just because we had to leave. We left in obedience to scripture. I know that the following passage is long but please take the time to read it.

Romans 12:14-21 “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

The phrase “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all” was the reason that we had to leave the church. For the Mathers to stay would have led to a large fight and perhaps even a church split. I love Calvary Chapel to much to do this, so we left.

This next passage speaks to those who sought to continue and even to escalate the issue. It is so clear that I can not understand how someone can call themselves a believer and yet, well just read. 1 John 4:19-21 “We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

Again, let me be clear I have tried to resolve this in a biblical manner. Perhaps I should have left sooner. But anyway I am now jobless and looking for work. So wish me well and this is the last time I will talk about what happened at my old church. I would rather talk about my new church and what God is doing in my life now.

Date:	2006-07-09 18:45
Subject:
Security:	Public
Mood:	content

I am no camper! I hate being dirty. To the best of my memory I have never fully enjoyed a camping trip. Until now. I believe that this is due to the group we went with. The Orchard Church is the most unpretentious group of believers I have ever encountered. I can simply be Patrick Mathers and that is fine with everyone. In the same vain I could accept everyone and truly love them. There was no confusion about who could I talk about certain things, about who I ought to be talking to because of my position (or lack thereof), about who might get mad at what I say, and on and on that kind of weirdness goes. Just good, helpful, God pleasing fellowship. I can not wait to go again.

I am more in love with Jesus today than I was before I left for camp on Friday. That is the goal of true fellowship. This is what I was talking about last week. I can now confidently say that it exists in Chico. For a while I was wondering about that. I am glad to contribute to the health and the love that God has for those attending the Orchard Church. My I not mess up this place of love and grace, because I am need of the love and grace of God in my life so that I can minister that same love and grace to others. God has a sovereign purpose in having the Mathers family here, and my aim is to rest in the sovereign providence of God.

Thank You Lord for keeping me close to you. For giving me the faith needed to come to You and to continue to walk with You. As I search for Your will in my life specifically in regards to a job keep me well grounded in Your providence, knowing that You will provide for me and my family regardless of feelings, circumstances, and sin on the part of others. Family camp this weekend was a great affirmation of Your love and care for the Mathers. Thank You Lord Jesus.

So today we are off to family camp for the weekend. I am so excited. I want to spend so good alone time with the Lord this weekend. I know that stuff will try to get in the way of that. Please pray for me. I have two things especally heavy on my heart and I want direction or at least a measuer of clarity. God bless you this weekend! 

Isaiah 12

I am a little frustrated right now. You see I spent the last 15 minutes filling out this on-line application for a job and the last thing I needed to do was to copy and paste my resume. As I was doing this I accidentally closed the page that I had just spent the last 15 minutes filling out! Fifteen minutes of my life wasted. So Lord what is the lesson in this? I am beginning to worry about my job situation. Will you provide Lord?

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus gives some clear instruction for me right now. In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus teaches that we as Christians should not worry about such things because 1) God takes care of creation and I am more valuable than creation to God 2) I can’t really accomplish anything by worrying 3) This line of thought is how the rest of fallen humanity thinks and acts.  God’s solution is to seek first God and His kingdom and His righteousness in my life and then let the Lord take care of the rest.

Now, this really quite hard for me right now. I know the truth of Jesus’ words and have used them in counseling situations for others. I have even been able to live this way in the past in my own life. But the situation I find myself in right now seems bigger and harder than anything else I have gone through. Having to leave my job and my church (they were one and the same) has been like slowly ripping tape off of my hairy arms. It is slow and painful and about all I can think about right now.

The above passage is a great definition of God’s providence. Providence is a doctrine that I am very fond of and love to share it with others. I have seen and experienced God’s invisible hand of providence so many times in my life but now I find myself like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness. They had been delivered and sustained my many miracles and yet they still complained and doubted the goodness and strength of God, or perhaps they simply didn’t think that God liked them and would continue to do the same kind of things any more. This is more like where my thoughts go.

God, do You still like me? I know that You do. Yet I feel so far from You. Help me to not trust in my feelings but in Your providence. You are good and Your mercy endures to all generations, ant that includes me. Thanks Lord!!

Date:	2006-07-04 22:46
Subject:	Fireworks
Security:	Public
Mood:	contemplative

Tonight I took my family to the 20^th St. Park to see the fireworks that they shoot of from the nearby racetrack. They were much smaller this year and seemed to go by much quicker. Cutbacks I guess. The Bundle is teething and got a hold of the book I brought with me, John Piper’s The Pleasures of God, and gnawed the back cover half-way off. The Peach and Tinkerbell got to ride there and so they felt like big girls. I had the Princess on my shoulders while my cousin had Six on his shoulders.

I had a good time and got to see several friends from my old church. It is always good to be around other believers, and the ones that are true believers stand out. This made me think about the difference between true fellowship between believers and hanging out with some good people. There is something to be said about fellowship. True fellowship is not sitting around at an ice cream social, or having a big steak with a bunch of men, or watching a fireworks display with other Christians. True fellowship is getting closer to another believer as we are both getting closer to God. John talks about this quite clearly in 1 John 1:3&4, “that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.” Joy is found in this kind of fellowship. Not just a good feeling or a happy time but a deep resounding joy in the presence of God during the time of fellowship with my brother or sister in Christ. Now how often does this happen when we get together with another Christian. I am ashamed to admit that I am more often than not just hanging out with someone rather than having true fellowship. To have joy in the presence of God as I relate to another person is what true fellowship is all about.

I need to cultivate this in my life. When I look at the book of Acts the church there is having an amazing impact on there culture around them. As a 21^st century church we read that and try to model the effect. Where we ought to be focusing our attention is on that which the early church focused on; prayer, reading and discussing the Bible with each other, doing acts of kindness, worshiping God by enjoying Him personally and in other Christians. This is the essence of Christianity. Or in other words love the Lord your God, and love your neighbor as yourself.

As I move on to our new church I want to bring this with me. I want to start out there in real fellowship. I don’t want to loose this. I did somewhere along the way before, I let it get lost in all of the stuff that happened in the old church. As I go back to the old paths I would ask you to come with me and seek a pure and radical view of fellowship and perhaps worship God with a freedom you have not before.

Happy 4^th July! Independence Day!

I am going to try to get back to writing like I used to. I have been occupied with so many things, like having to resign from my old church because of a few unrepentant people. Looking for a new job. Getting acquainted with the people at the new church we are going to. Trying to keep my family stable. So I have been busy.

The new church is called the Orchard Church. We meet at Chico Country Day School Sunday mornings at 10am for the summer and 9:15 and 10:45 am during the rest of the year. The Biblical church we see in the book of Acts had several things going on and a deep level of fellowship that I have not seen in most of the churches I have been to. I will talk about this more in my next few posts.

Let me leave you with a passage 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.”