First Christian Church Guidepost

Andy Rooney said, "A great many people do not have a right to their own opinion because they don't know what they are talking about."
Frank Clark said, "I wonder why the fellow with the least information about a subject is so often the most opinionated?"
Plato said, "You are young, my son, and, as the years go by, time will change and even reverse many of your present opinions. Refrain, therefore, a while from setting yourself up as a judge of the highest matters."
Horace Mann said, "Do not think of knocking out another person's brains because he differs in opinion from you. It would be as rational to knock yourself on the head because you differ from yourself 10 years ago."
George Lichtenberg said, "Judge men not by their opinions, but by what their opinions have made of them."

It is easy to give others our opinions. It is sometimes tempting to armchair quarterback and to meddle in other people's lives. Some people just have to express their opinions even if it is really none of their business. Well-meaning parents will offer their unsolicited advice about their adult children's marriage or child raising techniques. College-age students often move far across the country from their parents because they want to live their own lives without well-intentioned parents constantly offering unwanted suggestions on just about everything. People want to live their own lives, make their own choices, and even make their own mistakes without a constant running commentary from someone else. Opinions are often introduced by "If I were you, I-" or, "I think you should-" and the receiver of the unwanted advice often thinks, "You aren't me! This is my life! Let me make my own decisions!"

We practice open communion based on the Apostle Paul saying, "A man ought to examine himself (not his neighbor) before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup." In matters of salvation, Paul writes, "Work out your salvation (not your neighbor's salvation) with fear and trembling" Philippians 4:12b. Most of the 14th chapter of Romans deals with giving our unsolicited opinions to others. In verse four he says, "Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls." And in verse 13, "Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way."

Where the Scripture speaks, we should speak. Where the Scripture is silent, we have freedom. Let God work as he wishes in another person's life. Phillip

And who knows if your opinion is the best one? God gives us the freedom to choose the course of our lives for ourselves. We should give the same freedom to others that God gives to us.

-Phillip

The Honeymoon

One of the weirdest questions that I have ever been asked is, "Well, is the honeymoon over yet?" I can't count the number of times my wife and I have been asked this question. For the record, the answer is a big NO! Yes, in four years we have become a lot more familiar with each other. I am better at knowing how she thinks and feels than I used to be. Yet, this hasn't ended the honeymoon. I am still happiest when she is around, I still want to make her happy, and my heart still races and my insides still flutter when I see her. If anything, our familiarity has convinced me that the best is still coming.

What disturbs me about this questions is the WAY it is asked. It is always accompanied with a "just wait, it will happen" attitude. Not that our relationship will end, but that the newness, the excitement, the desire to please each other will, in fact has to, end. This makes me sad, apprehensive, protective, and fearful of the future. I do not know where this attitude comes from, and I do not believe (I will not believe!) that this is something that has to happen.

What is more scary is that this attitude has invaded the church and our relationship with Christ our Lord and GROOM. Often, when people first find Christ, they are on fire. They worship with abandon, give all they can, serve as often as possible, and tell everyone they know about Jesus. It is truly awesome to be around. But then they start to talk to other Christians who try to help them by warning them to be careful, to not burn out, to pace themselves, and, perhaps worst of all, to tell them that this honeymoon time will end. I believe that more Christians have been hurt by this idea than almost any other. Their relationship with Christ turns into a boring, safe, partial relationship of convienience and obedience, but not love. When once they worshipped freely, they are now guarded. Where once they gave joyfully, they now give cautiously. Where once they served with reckless abandon, they now serve out of guilt or obedience. The passion is gone, and the love is cold.

We must end this now! We must remember our first love, we must rekindle the passion of loving Christ. Like marriage, this will start with talk. Spend some time talking with God, then listen for His answers. Open your Bible and remember who He is. Go for a walk with Him and marvel at all that He created just for you. Alan

Dance with God, sing to God, remember the extreme, crazy type of love He has for you, and recall the love you have for Him. Make the commitment; make it a priority today to get your relationship right with God. Rekindle the passion. Love, and never, EVER, let the honeymoon end.

God Bless,
Alan Dyson

Seniors Still Serving

You can pick up a copy of the October Senior Newsletter at the Welcome Center. Future copies of the newsletter will continue to be available to those who don't have e-mail. And don't forget our Senior Potluck Brunch on the first Saturday of each month from

10:00-11:30 am, unless you are otherwise notified. Hope to see you there!

Twenty4/7

My, how does time fly! It is amazing to me that we are at the start of October when it seems we were in February just a few weeks ago! I turned 40 on Monday the 6th, and I think the speed at which time flies must have some correlation with getting older. I don't remember telling my friends when I was in my twenties, "Wow, time sure does fly!" But I find myself saying it more and more!

Which leads me to pose the question: are we making the very most of our time? Are we looking at each day that we have in front of us as an opportunity to do good or as "just another day?" The former leads us to look for the best ways to love and serve others, and that should empower us to do whatever we can. The "just another day" approach, unfortunately, leads to a mundane life, a bleak outlook, and a sense that this is all there is to life, and it's not very good. I don't like that second approach, especially when life goes by at so fevered a pace.

At Twenty4/7, from now until the end of the year, we are starting a new series called "Life Development Plan 2009". In this series, we are going to address many of the issues that we face that stifle us and prevent us from being the free and joyful people that God has called us to become. In this series, we will take a practical and Biblical look at how to deal with issues such as depression, loneliness and loss, over-comittment, anger, finances, and other life realities. As a minister and as a person involved in the lives of many people, there is a repetitive thread of these issues in almost everyone I counsel. People need help!

We're looking long term at how to best empower people for the year ahead of us. There are many things happening around us for which there is uncertainty. We feel it is important to remind people that there is hope, and there is Someone who can provide relief and love, and that person is Jesus!

Don't let issues in your past or present cause you to have an outlook on tomorrow that says it is "just another day," because that life perspective will lead to regret and remorse and unfulfillment. Come to Twenty4/7 if you feel you need some tools to change your outlook. And if you have a friend who has such issues, bring them as well. We would love to serve them!

Blessings,
Paul Mondragon
Media Minister, Twenty4/7 Director

Praying Through the 10/40 Window
Each year FCC is part of "Praying Through the Window." This is a world-wide prayer initiative focusing strategic prayer on the spiritually impoverished area of the world known as the 10/40 Window. This invisible rectangle represents the area extending from 10 degrees to 40 degrees north of the equator, spanning the globe from western Africa to eastern Asia.

While people in the rest of the world have an excellent chance to be exposed to the gospel many times, those living in the 10/40 Window have almost no chance of ever hearing the Gospel--not even once! Why not? Many of these nations lack religious freedom. Their religion is dictated by their political and spiritual leaders.

The 10/40 Window is the greatest remaining stronghold of Satan, but as God's people have prayed, the borders of darkness have grown smaller. By participating in the 10/40 Window initiative, we are joining millions of believers around the world, focusing prayer on 67 countries in the Window, asking God to intercede on behalf of all those who live there. That Window encompasses the majority of the world's Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists. Inside this Window live 97% of the world's unevangelized and 82% of the poorest of the poor. Inside this Window, 2.4 billion people-40% of the world's population-live on less than $1.40 per day.

There are over 4 billion people living within the 10/40 Window, and approximately 49% are female. In two of the major religions there, Islam and Hinduism, women have almost no human rights. Child prostitution is rampant; malnutrition is on the increase; and millions of children are without parental guidance. Ninety-five percent of the people living in the Window are unevanagelized; these people may live and die without ever hearing the Gospel. Every major non-Christian religion is headquartered in the Window: Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism along with indigenous religions and millions of people who have no religious beliefs at all.

Where FCC Partners In the
10/40 Window

Kulpahar Kids Home - India
In the middle of the 10/40 Window is the subcontinent of India where the major religion is Hinduism. With a population of over one billion, India is overwhelmed with poverty and ravaged by disease. In a nation in which fattened cows roam freely among emaciated humans, we must proclaim the truth that Jesus came to give us life, and give it abundantly.

Kulpahar Kids Home now consists of a home for orphaned and abandoned Indian children (94 in residence and 50 in training or working elsewhere), a school for over 400, and a hospital which serves more than 1000 patients a year. Leah Moshier, Linda Stanton, and Sharon Cunningham are the North American workers there.

North Burma Christian Mission-China, Burma and Thailand
North Burma Christian Mission is located in the mountainous area of northern Thailand in the city of Chiang Mai. Thailand sits in the middle of a cluster of about 14 nations whose collective population totals 2.5 billion people, which is about half of the world's population. Currently, none of the other 14 nations permit Christian workers to live and work openly. For this reason, Thailand has become a vital and strategic staging ground for ministry outreach. FCC supports three families in NBCM: Eugene & Helen Morse, Walter & Jeannette Ridgley, and Joel & Kelly Lillie. They work mainly with Buddhists, Animinists, and Tribals.

Bi-vocational Workers in Morocco
Morocco is a hostile environment for Christians, which is why we can't publish the name of the people we partner with there. Anyone who comes to Christ can face a charge of treachery and illegal contact with foreign Christians. Sunni Islam is the state religion. The government is committed to the preservation of Islam as the religion of all Moroccans. Under the present constitution, a Moroccan church of former Muslims cannot be recognized. Other religious groups are tolerated so long as their ministry is confined to expatriates. There is widespread poverty with 50% of youth being employed.

Humanitarian Aide Workers in the Middle East
A team of Latin Christians have entered a war-torn Middle Eastern country as teachers and aide workers. The extreme harshness of the former regime has crushed all opposition, isolated the country, and impoverished its peoples. The Kurds have been especially marginalized. They have fought for survival and a national identity for 70 years. Over 3,800 of their villages have been destroyed; 500,000 have been deported to distant camps, and over 250,000 have been killed.

Bi-vocational Workers in Indonesia
Although not technically located within the boundaries of the 10/40 Window, Indonesia meets all the other requirements of the countries there. Over 48% of the people live in poverty in this predominately Muslim nation. FCC partners with two families in this island country.

Please Pray for the People in the 10/40 Window:
That Christians would be bold and take every opportunity to "speak before kings" as the Holy Spirit directs.

For health and protection and wisdom of all Christian workers.
That evil rulers would be toppled, and God would raise up righteous, God-fearing leaders who have compassion for their people.
That current political leaders would come to know the Lord.
That the evil spirits that control and manipulate wicked leaders would be bound.
That believers will understand the urgency of reaching the Window nations and will focus time, resources, and manpower there.