Keep Pointing in Waterloo

A Sign from God?

Last week we advertised on the biggest digital sign in the area. Now, just for clarity, I do not think that is going to cause people to just drive into our parking lot on Sunday. But, I do think it makes it easy for those that go to the Waterloo campus to be bold with their invitations.

Perhaps it starts like this, “Hey friend, did you notice that Gi-normous sign over by the mall advertising church services in a middle school?” You probably could come up with something better, but it made it easier for me to talk to Brian at the car place, Rheagan at lunch and the person who cut my hair on Tuesday.

If you were looking for a sign from God to invite someone to another step, THIS IS IT! Just cut and paste the picture with an invitation this week. Or better yet, talk to them face to face and be bold for the King! Praying for seized opportunities this week! So, go and carpe some diem friends!

Never forget why you chose to go!

It doesn’t take long for the monotony of life to drain you of the hopes, dreams and desires that God has for our lives and those around us. We have to be disciplined to see beyond the minutia. We have to partner each day with God to see the narrative unfold. Never forget why you chose to go to Waterloo. Lives are being changed. People are stepping over the faith-line. Men, women and children are finding a new place to explore their faith and take steps toward God.

Thanks for your service, for your heart, for your love; it is changing the spiritual landscape of the Cedar Valley!

Never forget why we do this thing!

Do all roads lead to heaven?

Written by Brad Graber:

Is it all roads? Some roads? No roads? or one road? I've been told that Interstates 70 and 80 will get one to heaven, but Highway 30 and Route 66 won't.

Seriously, if the answer to that question is "Yes" then, the logical end really is total chaos. If all roads lead to heaven, then it really does'nt matter what one believes or does. Everyone can live as he or she pleases with no consequences. In the physical world, If everyone did what ever he or she pleases in society without consequences, the result would be total chaos.

I believe the same is true in the spiritual world, and if all roads led to heaven God would not be considered a just God.

The Bible is God's written communication to us. In Proverbs 14:12 God says, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death." No two people are alike and each of us, if asked, would have a different opionion about what is the right way to God. That's one of the reasons for all the different religions. Each one approaches the question differently with no assurances of being correct.

Jesus was very clear regarding this question. In John 3:3 when talking to a religious man named Nicodemus, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." Just as one is born physically, there must also be a spiritual birth.

In that same conversation he went on to say, "whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."

John 14:6 provides the most direct and succinct answer to the question, "Do all roads lead to heaven?" Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

There is only one way (road) to heaven. Jesus Christ is that way.

How far is too far when you're dating?

This question came up during the last panel discussion at the Waterloo campus.  It deserves more discussion.  So...

How far is too far when you’re dating someone?  The answer?  It depends.  How’s that for clarity?  We all know the Bible says that lust is a sin and that you shouldn’t have sex before marriage.  But what about when you’re dating?  Are there things other than sex you can do without sinning?  Yes and no!  I’m really not helping, am I?  Let me explain.  Yes, it’s possible that kissing, holding hands, and hugging are appropriate.  No, outside of marriage you can’t allow someone access to the private areas of your body and not be sinning.  It’s really that simple.  Now, let me back up a bit.  So, am I saying that if you’re a teenager you have complete freedom to kiss, hug, and hold hands?  It depends.  Are you annoyed yet?  Let me explain.  There are two important guiding factors when trying to answer that question.  What do my parents say and what does God say?  It’s possible that your parents have set boundaries in place for you.  If that’s the case then you need to respect those boundaries.  If you break them then you are sinning, because God says in Ephesians 6:1 for children to obey their parents and honor them so that you may enjoy a long life.  Just a side note here.  Parents, if you haven’t had this talk yet, you need to.  If you don’t set the boundaries then your child will.  Here are a few suggestions to help get the ball rolling.

· Initiate the dialogue.  This is too important to just assume or expect that it will just work itself out somehow. 

· Be honest about your own mess ups.  You don’t have to go into detail, but be authentic about the hurt that your sin caused you.

· Listen to them.  Really listen.  Don’t lecture or view this as a time for you to simply transfer information to them and then get everyone ready for dinner.  Set time aside and genuinely listen to what they have to say. 

· Set the boundaries based on what you’re comfortable being around and knowing might happen if you’re not there.

· Don’t expect your child to follow your rules if a relationship doesn’t exist.  Rules without relationship equal rebellion.  Invest in your child.

· Consider the age you allow your children to start dating.  Some research suggests that a child who starts dating at age 14 is four more times likely to have pre-marital sex than a child who waits until age 16 to start dating.  Waiting isn’t such a bad thing!

· Watch this video.

· Pray with them.

So, back to Ephesians 6:1.  God actually says that if children listen to their parents then they can experience a long life of satisfaction and joy.  Wow, why do you think that is?  It’s because parents have “been there done that” and know what to avoid.  Listen to them, they understand you (teenager) more that you realize, they were once a teenager too. 

What about what God says?  Well, in Galatians God is very clear about how all this works.  He says in verses 7 & 8:

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.  A man (or teenager) reaps what he sows.  The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”

God knows our thoughts and desires before we have them.  He knows already if you’ve “gone too far” and so do you!  God puts His Holy Spirit in us for questions just like this one.  One of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to help us understand right from wrong.  God says that if we keep sinning we’ll end up with something destroyed in the process.  What are you willing to have destroyed in your life if you maintain a habit of sin?  However, if we don’t we can expect to be filled with a long life of pleasure God style.  I don’t know about you, but I’m not too much into destroying parts of my life.  I’d rather have a life that is in one piece and full of God.  

Play together, Stay together

If you have been serving in Waterloo, you know how exciting, yet demanding it has been. We have three teams with over 50 people each creating environments and moments for others to encounter and respond to God. Whether you are part of the set-up/take-down team, first impressions or leading a children’s small group, it is making a difference! We have seen an influx of new faces that are taking steps either toward or over the faith-line!

I want to say thank you. I want to hug each of you. I want to tell you that less will be required, but that just is not the case. I will tell you to keep striving for the Kingdom, but not at the expense of the Kingdom being destroyed in you! So, what can we do while we are waiting for another fifty people willing to serve? I say we play! Grab some people on your serving team and go play together! Ask your leader for some help with this one.

We value you more than what you can do for Waterloo!

Now, seriously, grab your team and celebrate each other and the wins you have helped create in Waterloo!

In the news again!

 
Word is spreading quickly about our new campus at Hoover Middle School. This past Friday the Courier ran an article about our multisite strategy and the great environments many of you help to create each weekend. Thank you for your hard work and sacrifice, it is paying off! Let’s continue to do everything we can to leverage our resources to expand the borders of the Kingdom! Way to go PLC Waterloo!!!

Do we have FREE WILL or does PREDESTINATION determine everything?

This question is perhaps one of the most confusing and difficult to answer.  However, Michael Gleghorn of Probe Ministries has done an excellent job.  He writes...

Norman Geisler points out in his article on "Freedom, Free Will, and Determinism" in the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, even fallen man retains a degree of genuine human freedom. This is taught in many passages of Scripture (e.g. Matt. 23:37; John 7:17; 1 Cor. 9:17; 1 Pet. 5:2; Philem. 14). Thus, even if it is not fully explicable (for man at any rate), the Bible clearly teaches both Divine Sovereignty and a degree of genuine human freedom and responsibility. Indeed, in some passages, both ideas appear virtually side by side. For instance, in Prov. 16:9 we read, "The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Passages such as this may teach that man has a measure of self-determination, while at the same time indicating that what man freely chooses is also (on some level) directed by God.

Finally, the Scriptures clearly indicate that God is graciously working in His people "both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). I don't think that this work of God should be viewed as a coercion of our wills. Rather, it seems to me that it would be more properly understood as a persuading and empowering of our wills so that we freely choose to do what God wants us to do. We may not have chosen to do such things apart from this work of God in our lives, but it is nonetheless WE OURSELVES who choose them in response to this gracious work. In a similar way, Satan is described as "working in the sons of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2) with the result that fallen, unregenerate men "want to do the desires" of the devil (John 8:44). But of course even here such men freely choose to follow Satan in his disobedience and rebellion against God (even if unconsciously). In addition, one must also keep in mind that even Satan's sin and rebellion against God is part of the plan and purposes of God (though freely chosen on Satan's part). And while Satan can only carry out his malicious intentions to the extent that God permits (see Job 1-2 and 2 Cor. 12:7-9), they are nonetheless Satan's (NOT God's) malicious intentions.

Thus, the biblical position (as I see it) affirms BOTH Divine Sovereignty AND some degree of genuine human freedom and responsibility. There is, I will certainly grant, a mystery here, but (at least in my opinion) no contradiction. Man is finite in his understanding and limited in his actions by time and space, but God is infinite in His understanding and not limited in His actions by time and space. It is therefore not unreasonable to think that what man may be incapable of comprehending (e.g. Divine Sovereignty and human freedom operating simultaneously and harmoniously) might nonetheless still be true. I therefore think that we are safest to stick closely to the express affirmations of Scripture, even if we cannot formulate a mathematically precise explanation of the relationship between Divine Sovereignty and human freedom. The Scriptures seem to affirm both and we must be content with this.

National Day of Prayer

In two days we get to celebrate a day that is set aside for people everywhere to gather and pray. This Thursday, May 6th starting at 6:00PM we are inviting you to walk the streets and neighborhoods around Hoover Middle School and pray. Pray for the families, pray for the children, pray that God would continue to bring them closer to Him. From 7:00-8:00PM we are meeting at the Cedar Falls Campus in Room 210 for a time of Worship and Prayer. Hope to see you there!