Live The Great

Written by Donna Bruce, KCBT staff member

Christmas is a time when thoughts turn to family, friends, and helping those less fortunate. Angel Tree helps connect parents in prison with their children.  By partnering with Angel Tree, God gave me a Christmas I will never forget.

On a cold, snowy Saturday in December, my disciple and I stopped the busyness of our shopping to deliver a few gifts to kids that will spend a Christmas without a mom or dad due to incarceration.  We didn’t really know what to expect but didn’t let the unknown stop us.

As we approached our second home, we quickly decided which one of us would talk and then knocked on the door.   A grandmother came to the door and invited us into a house so cluttered that there was only a path from the living room to the kitchen.

With gifts in our arms, I knelt down by a little girl who was watching TV.  Her hair was tangled and her clothes were wrinkled.  The moment I started talking to her, all of the surrounding disappeared.  I told how much her mom loved her and that she asked us to bring her something special for Christmas.  She watched and listened seeming without even noticing the gifts.  I then told her that we all do things that get us into trouble.  We laughed as she gave us a personal example of getting into trouble.  I went on to tell her what God said about sin and his offer to forgive us if we accept it just like the gifts we had in our arms.  I told her that God loved her very much.  Her face lit up as she very thoughtfully repeated to herself that God loved her.   She jumped up out of her chair and hugged me like she was never going to let loose.   All of us in that little house were moved to tears and in awe of the spirit of God’s forgiveness and love.

As we said our goodbyes and drove away, we knew that God had given us the greatest gift and a Christmas we would always remember as one of our best.   This year KCBT has committed to give 47 children a special Christmas through Angel Tree.   If you, or your home team, or ministry team would like to purchase and deliver gifts and the gospel to children, contact Jennifer Madsen at 816.358.0988 x 2017 for more information.

Sunday mornings . . . a first time visitor is not really sure what to expect, but they come because they have a need. For the person who is struggling with issues of life, they come because they know they will be strengthened to make it through another week. For the mom who had a crazy morning getting the kids dressed, she understands the battle for the next generation and that God has a plan for her children. As a greeter, you welcome them all to our church. The smile on your face, and willingness to serve them, tells everyone who walks through our doors that we are glad you are here and that you have come to the right place.

Please mark your calendar for a Greeters Workshop on Sunday, November 2nd at 5:00pm in the Auditorium. During this time, you will be challenged in your area of service, you will be instructed so that we can reach more people, and you will be guided as teams come together in unity.

Our annual high school and college ski retreat is January 16-19, 2009. This trip is about so much more than skiing or hanging out; we will be spending time together each night in worship and hearing some excellent preaching. Pray seriously about coming and ask the Lord to use this trip to do a great work in your heart. Make this trip about seeking the Lord, and watch what happens! The base cost for this year’s trip is $235.00; lift tickets, equipment rentals, lesson, and meals are additional costs. Sign-ups will begin mid-November.

We will be staying in Golden, Colorado at the Holiday Inn (the same location as last year), and skiing / snowboarding at Copper Mountain. Copper is a great location with something for every level of skier or snowboarder. It is highly recommended that beginner skiers and snowboarders take a lesson - remember, we are going to the Rocky Mountains. For those of you who aren’t about the skiing, but love the fellowship – we will be hanging out at the Sixteenth Street Mall during the day. This is a very cool shopping district in downtown Denver – complete with ESPN Zone, movie theatre, bowling alley, and tons of places to eat or get some good coffee. Contact Janet Harding if you have any questions or would like more information.

Written by staff member, Donna Bruce

Sometimes seasons in our lives, leave us wondering if God really is there.  I was having one of those seasons with God.  In a powerful way God  showed me that He was there . . . here’s how.

As I was working at my desk, Janet, our receptionist called and said that you won’t believe this,  you have got to come out here.  I was thinking, “Alright! I have flowers.” I walked to the office lobby area, and she introduced me to Yuri Alfaro. Yuri is a pastor from Peru. He went on to tell me about Pastor Marco Castro coming to teach a discipleship conference that he attended several years earlier. He told me about that being a time of the Lord’s leading in his personal life as well as his ministry.

Several weeks before Marco left for the trip, he had challenged our church to purchase a Spanish version of Psalms 119 by Pastor Jeff Adams. I willingly purchased a book to support the ministry of our church in Latin America and wrote a note of encouragement in the front of the book.

The man then standing before me was the very pastor who received the book that I had purchased and prayed over. He went on to tell how God had used that book to encourage him as a young pastor. He said that he shared that book with other family members. He told me that God also used it to prepare him for a greater ministry. I stood in awe as God graciously showed me that He notices every small detail of my life and that He is there.

Our acts of kindness and giving do bring glory to His Name and kingdom. You have the same opportunity of being a part of the short-term mission team preparing to go to the Dominican Republic in January 2009. Pastor Marco Castro and the team will teach a discipleship conference to local pastors. Show your support by purchasing a copy of the Spanish Directions for $16 from the Resource Center. Write a note of testimony in the front of how discipleship has changed your life. Then, place the book in the Spanish Ministries mailbox in the office area.

What a wild ride these past few weeks! A serious economic crisis coupled with an important time of national elections has caused many people to emotionally hyperventilate. A couple of times in the past few weeks I have mentioned in preaching that we should live our lives by faith, not fear. With this in mind, I decided to modify something I posted on my blog on September 25 when all this financial craziness was getting cranked up. I was thinking of a famous quotation by Franklin Delano Roosevelt saying, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” This statement was part of his first inaugural address in 1933 in response to the very depth of the Great Depression. Reading this again, I was amazed at how appropriate many of his words are even today. Here’s a sampling from the speech.

I am certain that my fellow Americans expect that on my induction into the Presidency I will address them with a candor and a decision which the present situation of our people impel. This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself—nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.

In such a spirit on my part and on yours we face our common difficulties. They concern, thank God, only material things. Values have shrunken to fantastic levels; taxes have risen; our ability to pay has fallen; government of all kinds is faced by serious curtailment of income; the means of exchange are frozen in the currents of trade; the withered leaves of industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no markets for their produce; the savings of many years in thousands of families are gone.

Yet our distress comes from no failure of substance. We are stricken by no plague of locusts. Compared with the perils which our forefathers conquered because they believed and were not afraid, we have still much to be thankful for. Nature still offers her bounty and human efforts have multiplied it. Plenty is at our doorstep, but a generous use of it languishes in the very sight of the supply. Primarily this is because the rulers of the exchange of mankind’s goods have failed, through their own stubbornness and their own incompetence, have admitted their failure, and abdicated. Practices of the unscrupulous money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men.

Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.

Eliminating Fear from our Personal Lives

There is a great verse that I have mentioned several times lately that directly deals with the issue of fear in the life of a follower of Jesus Christ.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1John 4:1

Here are some items you might want to consider to be certain that your life is driven by faith, not fear:

• Mentally and prayerfully go through our KCBT pathway to maturity. Are you connected to God and the church? Are you directed in your spiritual growth? Are you getting perfected in God’s plan for your life? If not, take the necessary steps to continue your growth toward spiritual maturity. A life driven by fear is a life that has not yet reached an acceptable level of spiritual maturity.
• This is a time to be working toward eliminating debt, not a time to be increasing your debt. Need help? The Dave Ramsey class is offered on a regular basis on Sunday mornings.
• In times of financial uncertainty, mature believers express their maturity through faithfulness in giving, not by selfishly withdrawing and hoarding.
• Plan to celebrate a real Thanksgiving this month, giving thanks to God for all the bountiful blessings he provides. There is a great correlation between a thankful spirit and a giving spirit, just as there is between a fearful spirit and an immature spirit.

Eliminating Fear from our Church Life

The current economic challenges have caused many to wonder and ask about whether we will go ahead with our campus expansion plans. That’s a great question and one that any responsible person would at least entertain. Upon prayerful reflection, there are some solid reasons why we are convinced that this is the moment to press forward in faith:

• This is a decision God led us to make in a time of prosperity, and one our leadership has embraced believing that this was the clear direction of God and consistent with his truth. When God led us to make this decision, he certainly knew of the coming economic down-swing, even if we did not. A decision to turn back now would be one of fear, not faith. From the beginning we have known that any decision of this magnitude would be tested.
• We have complete confidence in the collective wisdom of our board, both in their knowledge of business and economics as well as their godliness. Our leadership team stands together united in our determination to trust God.
• There are several practical reasons that suggest this may be a wonderful time to proceed with this project, including historically low interest rates, availability and willingness of contractors to work for very reasonable and competitive rates and other factors. Jeff Cox explained this well to our deacons recently.
• Over the past several years, our leadership has been very conservative and frugal, resulting in our church being in the very best position possible to take on a challenge of this nature. Easy? No. Doable? Yes!
• The spiritual and practical necessities for space that prompted us to seek God’s will about this expansion in the first place are just as relevant now, and more so, than when we began.

So, we are excited about the future! If we will all just do what God requires of us in our regular tithes and offerings, we will soon break ground and be on our way. Originally, we hoped to break ground this fall, but it is shaping up for early next year, probably toward the end of February. As I am sure you understand, large projects depend on the coordination of many different people and entities, and it is very difficult to project such dates with great certainty far ahead of time. Thanks for your prayerful support!

One final note – national elections are always a crazy time with fears and emotions stirred by media, campaign advertising and everything else. Read the first few verses of Romans 13 and rest assured in God’s sovereignty. Then, exercise your right and responsibility to vote. Even though I am currently out of the country, I took care of this before I left. No matter whether your favorite candidate wins or not, God will still be in control of our country, our states, counties and cities the day after the election. As followers of Jesus, we will submit to and respect accordingly those whom God places in positions of authority.

¡Qué altibajos hemos visto en estas últimas semanas! Una crisis económica grave junto con una época importante de elecciones nacionales han hecho que muchos emocionalmente se hayan quedado sin aliento. Un par de veces en las últimas semanas he mencionado durante la predicación que debemos vivir por fe, no por temor. Con esto en mente, decidí modificar algo que publiqué en mi blog del 25 de septiembre, cuando toda esta locura financiera estaba empezando. Estaba recordando una cita célebre de Franklin Delano Roosevelt, quien dijo: «Lo único que tenemos que temer es el temor mismo». Esta afirmación formó parte de su discurso de inauguración en 1933, respondiendo a las profundidades de la Gran Depresión. Cuando volví a leer lo que dijo, quedé asombrado de ver cuántas de sus palabras son apropiadas aún hoy mismo. Esta es una porción de su discurso.

Tengo la certeza de que mis conciudadanos estadounidenses esperan que al entrar en la Presidencia, me dirigiré a ellos con una franqueza y decisión exigidas por la situación actual de nuestro pueblo. Esta es la época preeminente de hablar la verdad, con franqueza y denuedo. No debemos alejarnos de la honestidad al enfrentar las condiciones que imperan en nuestro país hoy. Esta gran Nación perdurará como ha perdurado, revivirá y prosperará. Así que, en primer lugar, permítanme afirmar mi creencia firme de que lo único que tenemos que temer es el temor mismo; aquel terror no nombrado, irracional e injustificado que paraliza los esfuerzos necesarios para transformar la retirada en un avance. En toda hora tenebrosa de nuestra vida nacional, un liderazgo de franqueza y vigor ha recibido la comprensión y el apoyo del pueblo mismo, los cuales son esenciales para la victoria. Estoy convencido de que nuevamente darán ese apoyo a sus líderes en estos días críticos.

Con tal espíritu de mi parte y de la de ustedes, enfrentamos las dificultades que tenemos en común. Gracias a Dios, sólo tienen que ver con cosas materiales. Los valores se han disminuido a niveles fantásticos; los impuestos han aumentado; nuestra capacidad de pago ha desmejorado; todos los tipos de gobierno enfrentan reducciones graves de ingresos; los medios de intercambio están congelados en los torrentes del comercio; las hojas marchitas de la empresa industrial yacen por todas partes; los granjeros no encuentran mercado para sus productos; en miles de familias, los ahorros de muchos años han desaparecido.

Sin embargo, nuestra aflicción no obedece a una falta de sustancia. No hemos sido afectados por plagas de langostas. Comparado con los peligros que conquistaron nuestros predecesores porque creyeron y no tuvieron temor, todavía hay mucho por lo cual podemos dar gracias. La naturaleza sigue ofreciéndonos su riqueza y los esfuerzos humanos la han multiplicado. Hay mucho en el umbral de nuestra puerta, pero su uso abundante languidece ante los ojos de la oferta. Esto principalmente se debe a que los gobernantes del intercambio de mercancías de la humanidad han fracasado, debido a su propia terquedad e incompetencia, han reconocido su fracaso y han abdicado. Las prácticas de los cambistas inescrupulosos comparecen encausadas en el tribunal de la opinión pública, rechazadas por los corazones y las mentes de los hombres.

La felicidad no se encuentra en la mera posesión del dinero; se encuentra en el gozo del logro, en la emoción del esfuerzo creativo. El gozo y estímulo moral del trabajo nunca más debe quedar en el olvido por la búsqueda alocada de ganancias efímeras. Estos días tenebrosos habrán valido todo lo que nos costaron si nos enseñan que nuestro destino verdadero no es ser ministrados, sino ministrarnos a nosotros mismos y a nuestro prójimo.

Eliminando el Temor de Nuestras Vidas Personales

Hay un versículo magnífico que he mencionado varias veces recientemente, que trata directamente con el asunto del temor en la vida de un seguidor de Jesucristo.

En el amor no hay temor, sino que el perfecto amor echa fuera el temor; porque el temor lleva en sí castigo. De donde el que teme, no ha sido perfeccionado en el amor.

Estos son algunos puntos que tal vez quieras considerar para asegurarte que tu vida sea impulsada por la fe y no por el temor:

• Mentalmente y en oración viaja por el camino que KCBT ofrece hacia la madurez. ¿Estás conectado con Dios y con su iglesia? ¿Has recibido dirección en tu crecimiento espiritual? ¿Estás perfeccionándote en el plan que Dios tiene para tu vida? Si no, toma los pasos que sean necesarios para continuar tu crecimiento hacia la madurez espiritual. Una vida impulsada por el temor es una vida que no ha alcanzado un nivel aceptable de madurez espiritual.
• Esta es una época para esforzarte por eliminar las deudas, no para aumentarlas. ¿Necesitas ayuda? La clase de Dave Ramsey se ofrece regularmente los domingos por la mañana.
• En épocas de incertidumbre financiera, los creyentes maduros expresan su madurez a través de ser fieles en dar, no en apartarse y conservar sus bienes de modo egoísta.
• Planea celebrar un verdadero día de Acción de Gracias este mes, dándole gracias a Dios por las abundantes bendiciones que ha provisto. Existe una correlación muy alta entre un espíritu agradecido y un espíritu dadivoso, tal como también la hay entre un espíritu temeroso y un espíritu inmaduro.

Eliminando el Temor de la Vida en Nuestra Iglesia

Los desafíos económicos actuales han hecho que muchos se pregunten e inquieran sobre si procederemos con nuestros planes de expansión de nuestros edificios. Esa es una excelente pregunta y una pregunta que toda persona responsable debiera al menos considerar. Después de reflexionar en oración, estas son algunas razones de peso por las cuales estamos convencidos de que este es el momento de avanzar por fe:

• Esta es una decisión que Dios nos guió a tomar en una época de prosperidad, y el liderazgo de la iglesia la ha abrazado, creyendo que ha sido la dirección clara de Dios y que es consistente con su verdad. Cuando Dios nos guió a tomar esta decisión, Él ciertamente sabía del colapso económico que se avecinaba, aún si nosotros no. Retractarnos ahora sería una decisión nacida del temor, no de la fe. Desde un principio sabíamos que una decisión de esta magnitud sería puesta a prueba.
• Tenemos plena confianza en la sabiduría colectiva de nuestra junta directiva, tanto en su conocimiento de los negocios y la economía, como en su piedad. Nuestro equipo de líderes se encuentra unido en la determinación de confiar en Dios.
• Existen varias razones prácticas que indican que esta sería una época maravillosa para proceder con este proyecto, incluyendo tasas de interés históricamente bajas, disponibilidad y disposición de los contratistas de trabajar por tarifas sumamente razonables y competitivas, y otros factores. Jeff Cox explicó esto a nuestros diáconos de modo excelente recientemente.
• En años recientes, nuestros líderes han sido sumamente conservadores y frugales, lo cual ha llevado a que nuestra iglesia se encuentre en la mejor posición posible para enfrentar un desafío de esta naturaleza. ¿Será fácil? No. ¿Podemos hacerlo? ¡Sí!
• Las necesidades espirituales y prácticas de más espacio que nos impulsaron a buscar la voluntad de Dios en cuanto a esta expansión en primer lugar continúan siendo tan relevantes hoy, y quizás más aún, que cuando empezamos.

¡De modo que estamos entusiasmados con respecto al futuro!  Si todos sencillamente hacemos lo que Dios exige de nosotros en nuestros diezmos y ofrendas regulares, pronto empezaremos la obra y estaremos en el camino. Originalmente habíamos querido iniciar las obras en este Otoño, pero parece que las cosas estarán listas para principios del año próximo, posiblemente para finales de febrero. Estoy seguro que comprenderán que los proyectos grandes dependen de la coordinación de muchas personas y entidades diferentes, y resulta sumamente difícil vaticinar tales fechas con certidumbre con tanto tiempo. ¡Gracias por su apoyo y oraciones!

Un comentario final: Las elecciones nacionales siempre son una época de locura con temores y emociones atizados por los medios de comunicaciones, las campañas, los anuncios publicitarios y todo lo demás. Lea los primeros versículos de Romanos 13 y descanse seguro de la soberanía divina. Luego, ejercite su derecho y responsabilidad de votar. Aunque en este momento me encuentro fuera del país, ya cumplí con esta responsabilidad antes de partir. No importa si su candidato preferido sale victorioso o no, Dios seguirá estando en control de nuestro país, nuestros estados, condados y ciudades el día después de los comicios. Como seguidores de Jesús, nos sometemos y respetamos a los que Dios ponga en posiciones de autoridad.