Calvary McAllen

I'M BACK!

After a 2 month hiatus (o.k., maybe a little more, but whose counting?) ... I'm back to blogging. A lot has happened since November 12th (my last blog). My family and I moved into a new house. Moving is a pain, but the house is a blessing. I went on a 2 week vacation over the Christmas holidays. We spent three days with my family in Houston. We spent four days with Priscilla's family in Dallas. We spent three days on the road. And we spent four days relaxing in McAllen. During that time I read three books and slept a lot.  One day I didn't even get out of my pajamas. I love it when I can do that, but it doesn't happen very often.

Now it's time to get back to work ... for all of us. We have so much to do in 2007 that I don't even know where to start. We are going to be focusing on two things this year. We'll take Mark 12:30-31 as our focus text for the year. Jesus was asked for his opinion on which of the Old Testament laws was the most important. "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' 31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

This is where we will live this year -- Loving God AND Loving our neighbor. This is how we will say it: WORSHIP (Loving God) AND MISSION (Loving Neighbor). We will spend the entire year learing how to do both and learning how to do them together.

It's going to be a great year!

blessings,

ellis

FAST-PACED CHANGE

Click on the following link, watch the video ... and then read the BLOG.

FAST CLOTHES CHANGING MAGICIANS VIDEO

Wow! I could use some of those quick changing skills ... couldn't you?

Change has always been with us ... and it always will be with us. Every generation has had to deal with the adaptive process. The difference today, is the rate at which that change is coming. The world is changing around us on a daily, if not hourly, basis. We have technology this week that we didn't have last week. We have tools for effectivness this month that we didn't have last month. And in this culture of lightening speed change the only constant is the fact that everything will soon change. By the time I finish writing this blog several technological advances will have been born in some brilliant geek's mind and within a few months they will be a reality. That's the world we live in. Face it. Deal with it. Get over it. Change is here to stay. If history is correct (and it usually is), it will be for another generation (perhaps my son's) to slow this crazy ride down and let some of us get off.

Now, what does all this have to do with the church? Well, I'm not always sure. I just know that our work is to save a lost world. And if that world is going 100 mph, then we have to get on the ride with them ... or we'll never be able to win them. Jesus did it. I guess he calls us to do the same.

blessings,

pastor ellis

LOVING EACH OTHER

We're talking about doing some different things in worship. Perhaps a traditional worship at the 8 o'clock service, a Saturday night worship time, a Spanish language worship on Sunday afternoon. We're reaching a lot of new people from different backgrounds. Most of that growth is occurring in the 11 o'clock and 12:34 services. We must build on these growth points and find others. It's a time-tested fact that when you start something new you bring in new people. It works in Sunday School, starting churches, and worship services. So ... there are more changes on the horizon. Many of these changes will most likely not affect most in our church. A few of the changes may affect everyone. I don't know. I just know this: We are God's church. We are an army. We have a mission. We have a battle to win.

The most important thing in all of this is that we love each other. We can survive many theological debates. We can overcome any philosophical differences. We can work through different opinions about strategic planning. We can find consensus on most methodological issues. BUT WE WILL NOT SURVIVE ONE DAY IF WE STOP LOVING EACH OTHER.

In the letter of First Corinthians, Paul addressed all the problems that the Corinthian church was experienceing (and there were a lot of them). At one point he stops talking about the problems and he says this: The most important thing is LOVE (1 Corinthians 13). You can survive anything as long as you never forget how to love each other.

As we look toward the many exciting changes God may have for us in the coming years I want to call you to increasing prayer, sacrificial service, and above all, an enduring LOVE for each other.

Without God's LOVE, we will surely fail.

With God's LOVE, we will surely have victory!

blessings,

pastor ellis

NEW SERMON SERIES

I will be starting a new series of sermons on Sunday, September 10th. This series will take a look at the work and nature of the Church. A very important part of our vision as a Church is that we are to BELONG to God and His Church. But what is it that we belong to? What is the church? And what was it created to do?  Of course, if you've been reading my blog for the last month you have a pretty good idea of my answers.  This series will reinforce a biblical understanding of the work and nature of the church.

In order to prepare for the sermon I suggest you read the E-Book that contains all the blogs I have written on the subject in chronological order.

I would also suggest that you download the SERMON NOTES for this series. You can print them out, place them in a binder or notebook and use them to take notes each Sunday.

You can download both of those items HERE.

In order to download these files you need Adobe Acrobat. If you don't have Adobe Acrobat, you can dowload it free HERE.

I look forward to sharing this series of sermons with you. I believe God is shaping us into the Church he wants us to be. It's a never-ending process that only God can create. Our job it to keep our eyes on HIM.

blessings,

pastor ellis

LITTLE CHRISTS

The church at Antioch was started after the diaspora from Jerusalem. You'll remember that after Stephen was stoned to death for preaching the gospel there was a brief period of persecution against the Greek Christians in Jerusalem. The Jewish Christians were left alone, but the Greeks ... different story. It's hard to be different. From the time we're little we just want to fit in ... we want to feel a part of the larger human family ... we want people to like us. That's why we gravitate to those who are most like us ... being different is tough. The Greek Chrisians were different. They didn't belong in Jerusalem in the first place. Their preaching about the heretical rebel Jesus was a convenient excuse to get rid of them. And so they ran them out of town ... I told you ... Being different is tough.

Some landed in Samaria, others in Galilee, and some went as far as Antioch. Antioch was located in Syria, on the river Orontes, about 16 miles from the Mediterranean, and some 300 miles north of Jerusalem. It was the metropolis of Syria, and afterwards became the capital of the Roman province in Asia. It ranked third, after Rome and Alexandria, with respect to importance, of the cities of the Roman empire. It was called the "first city of the East."  Those who landed at Antioch started a church. At Antioch, like Jerusalem, they were different. Antioch was a pluralistic city. It wasn't that they were Greek ... this time it was Jesus. They were followers of Jesus. That made them different. It was the distinguishing factor. And so they called them kristianos, which means"little Christs." It was a term of derision. They laughed at them as they called them "little Christs." They had no idea that they were, in fact, complimenting them. What an honor to be called a "little Christ."

When people see your life do they point a finger and say, "There goes a 'little Christ'?" Do you carry Jesus on your sleeve? Is it the distinguishing factor of your life? At some point you have to break away from the natural desire to be like everyone else. You have to accept who you are (a "little Christ") and what that makes you (different). The rest of the world can go wherever it chooses to go. Your destiny ... your only place in the world ... is with Jesus Christ. Until you come to terms with that you will never BECOME all that God wants you to BECOME.

blessings,

pastor ellis

NO TOMORROW

I want to finish my series on our church's vision. When I stopped to cover the Africa mission trip I was on the final leg of our vision: BECOME. You might want to go to the categories section of this blog, click on Church Vision/Direction and then look for the blog entitled, "CALVARY VISION, PT.3." Reading that post will refresh your memory.

A quick review (in case you don't have time to re-read the post) -- If you are to BECOME all that God wants you to BECOME then you must understand three big biblical facts: 1. You are a minister, 2. You are a missionary, and 3. You are a "little Christ."  I've already addressed #1 (see article, entitled "Pit Falling" -- June 11). So, today I will address #2.

If we are to BECOME all that God wants us to be we must understand that we live our lives ON MISSION for GOD.  That means that each one of us is a missionary. It seems almost redundant to talk about this now since that's all I've been writing about for the last 3 weeks. Forty=One of us went on a 3 week trip with a very specific mission in mind. We were focused and commited to carrying out everything God wanted us to accomplish on this trip. We did just that. We did it in spite of the obstacles (distance, finances, and an asortment of other mountains and moehills). We did it with focused attention, unswerving commitment, and utter dependence on God. We did it in spite of our own frailties, fears, and failures. We did it because we knew that it was exactly what God wanted us to do.

My contention is that every day of your life should be exactly like that. Every day of your life is a little mission trip. And when you add up all the days they form one great big mission trip called, YOUR LIFE. Every day of your life should be a focused attempt to accomplish exactly what you believe God has called you to do that day. It may be a small thing that takes you closer to the big mission for your life ... that's fine ... focus on what God has for you to do today. Remember, all you really have is TODAY ... tomorrow may never come. Have you accomplished HIS will for your life TODAY? Are you happy in the Lord TODAY? If the honest answer is, "Yes," then you are one step closer to becoming all that he wants you to BECOME.

blessings,

pastor ellis

PIT FALLING

We are alive so that we can BECOME everything God created us to be. One of the things he created us to be is a MINISTER. There are several Greek words used for minister in the New Testament. One of them means to stand beside, another to heal (it's the word that gives us our word, therapeutic). So to be a minister means that you are one who stands by someone when they are hurting or dying or alone, and you help them to heal. It's one of the most fulfilling things you will every do. It's what God created you to do.

There was once a man who was walking along a road when he fell into a pit. He never saw it coming. The pit was very deep and steep. He couldn't get out. Several self-righteous people came by and saw the man in the pit but they did not help him. They were too busy or too afraid of the pit or too self-righteous (afterall, what kind of idiot can't see a pit in the middle of the road?).

Finally, a friend came by and when he saw the man in the pit he jumped down into the pit with him. The first man said to his friend, "That was dumb. Now we are both stuck in this pit." And his friend said to him, "No ... you see, I've been in this pit before ... and I know the way out."

So, the next time you see someone who has fallen into the proverbial pit and can't get out, you stop and stand beside them (which means you jump into the pit with them). And then you help them to heal (which means you show them the way out of the pit). Don't be too busy ... anything worth having will wait until you have finished helping. Don't be self-righteous ... you have your own pits, you're just better at hiding them. Don't be afraid ... this is what you were born to do.

Blessings,

pastor ellis

CALVARY VISION, PT.3

The final piece to our vision is to BECOME all that God wants us to be. We call this chasing God's dream for our lives. God created you with purpose and for a purpose. "'I know the plans I have for you,' saith the Lord" (Jer.29:11). God's grace comes to all of us in different packages -- different shapes and sizes -- but we all get it for free. There is nothing we can do to earn it. But once we have it, we are locked into a relationship with God that will never end. In that relationship, as with all healthy relationships, we must grow. God forgives instantaneously -- in the blink of an eye. And with that forgiveness comes our salvation. But growing in our relationship with him takes time. That's the journey.

I love journeys. I remember the greatest vaction of my childhood. We went to the Grand Canyon. My sister and I were eight and nine, respectively. My little twin brothers were two. We piled into my Dad's Pontiac with a teenage cousin tagging along (she was there to help with the terror twins). My parent's were brave (but not brave enough to do it alone). Seven of us in a Pontiac! What were they thinking? I could spend days telling you about that trip. Pieces of it are engraved in my mind like the stuff that stays at the bottom of the barbecue pit and you can't get out (does anyone really try?). But, what I really want to talk about is the preparation for the trip.

I remember my Mom bought my sister and I little red suitcases for the trip -- cardboard covered with vinyl. I remember packing those little red suitcases with great care. I remember the feelings of excruciating excitement as we packed. On this vacation we would be staying in real hotels ... hotels that had swimming pools. Up to this point in my life we had only vacationed in cities where there were relatives to stay with. That pretty much limited us to 3 cities in Texas. But this time we were going to cities that had not a single Orozco within miles. We were going to states that had no Orozcos. I packed my brand new swimming suit that my Mom bought through the Sears and Roebuck Catalogue. Up to that point we had only used it when we ran out of toilet paper. I have to say, packing for the trip was almost more fun than the trip itself. Anticipation has a way of doing that to us.

God wants us to BECOME all that he wants us to be. He has great dreams for our lives. Finding those dreams is a journey ... in fact, it's the journey we call life. Along the way we pack our little red suitcases with some things that help us get there. Packing is almost as much fun as the trip itself. The truth is, when you've packed well it makes the whole trip better. We want to help each other pack for the trip.

Some tidbits for your suitcase:

1. Everyone is a minister. On the journey when you find someone hurting or dying or alone, help them. It's not a distraction from the journey ... it is the journey.

2. Everyone is a missionary. On the journey when God gives you something to do, do it. It doesn't slow you down -- it lifts you beyond the journey and gives you a glimpse of the destination (heaven).

3. Everyone is a little Christ. That's what they first called the followers of Christ at Antioch. Christians = little Christs.  It was a derogatory remark, but it stuck. It stuck because it's true. For some reason God is giving you the mind of Christ. And every person you meet is either someone with the mind of Christ ... OR ... someone who needs you to be Christ to them (which means Christ is in them begging you to help -- "Lord, when did we see you and not help?").

More on these in the days to come ... I'm going to Africa ... I have to go pack my little red suitcase.

Blessings,

pastor ellis

NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP

The more years of parenthood I get behind me the more I learn about prayer. When you drop your 13 year old off at his first co-ed birthday party on a Friday night, you learn about a new dimension in prayer. I grew up in church, so I grew up around prayer. All of the significant adults in my childhood claimed that prayer was important. I prayed ... sometimes. But certain events in my life have brought me to the conclusion that I am mostly an amateur when it comes to praying.

The first was when I was nine years old. My uncle, who lived with us, had a heart attack one night in his room. His room was right next to mine.  I heard his screams. Later, the sirens screaming back. I cried because I was scared. And I prayed. Not the "now I lay me down to sleep ..." kind of prayer, but the "Oh God!" kind of prayer. I prayed like never before. My uncle still died.

The next was my freshman year in college. I was at Glorieta for Baptist Student Week. I got a phone call. It was my Dad. He was crying. I had only heard my Dad cry two times in 19 years (at the funerals of his brothers). And he had never cried when talking to me. My mom was in the hospital. Heart attack ... they thought ... they really didn't know. Will she make it? Hard to say. I don't remember much of the conversation except that it made me wish I could fly like a bird straight back to Houston to stand next to my mom the way she had always been next to me. I cried because I was scared. And I prayed. Not the "bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies," kind of prayer. But the "Oh God," kind of prayer. I prayed and prayed and prayed -- I fell asleep praying. And my mom was O.K.

Then there was the day my first child was born. Priscilla had been in labor for 24 hours when they said, "The baby's in trouble. We have to go in and get him." They shoved me aside, whisked my wife away from me, and told me to wait for them to come back. I eventually got into the operating room to witness the c-section that ripped my son from the comfortable womb into the cruel world. But in the 5 minutes I had to wait (it seemed like 5 days), I felt like my whole world was slipping away from me. What is it like to lose the two most important things in your life on the same day? Unimaginable. But, unfortunately, I have a pretty good imagination. I didn't want to think about it. I couldn't cry. I had to be strong for Priscilla. So I prayed. Not the "God is good, God is great ..." kind of prayer. But the "Oh God!" kind of prayer. My wife and my son came through like the champions they are.

Sometimes those "Oh God!" prayers work out, sometimes they don't. I guess the point of all this is that the most desperte and earnest prayers of our lives are usually spoken (or groaned) for the people we love the most. It stands to reason that when we begin to DO LIFE TOGETHER our prayers for each other will change from "Now I lay me down to sleep, bless this food, God is good," prayers to "Oh God!!!" prayers. When that begins to happen ... look out ... there's no telling what God might do.

Blessings,

pastor ellis

UNITY

When we begin to DO LIFE TOGETHER, we will find a growing depth in the way we care for each other. It’s inevitable. When you get to know someone at a deeper level, your care for them is bound to grow. The interesting thing is that this growing care is not affected by any differences that may exist between you.

My sister and I differ on numerous points of faith and politics, but I love my sister. We were raised together in the same home. We are exactly one year apart and slept in the same room for the first ten years of our lives. I don’t always agree with her. Sometimes I adamantly disagree with her … but it never changes the way I feel about her … It never changes the way I love her. Our hearts always beat for each other. No matter what she does or where she goes she will always be my sister and I will always love her.

Now, this kind of UNITY (that comes from DOING LIFE TOGETHER) binds us to the vision and direction of our church. Just like an Olympic rowing team, every oar in perfect sync, we are propelled with seemingly effortless grace in ONE direction.

I’m not sure that we fully understand the idea of vision. It can be confusing. In fact many of the church growth books I have seen in the Christian bookstores are more about image than vision. Image is what we want to look like when we have arrived on our pedestal of success. Vision, on the other hand, is what God has given us to do. It’s that simple.

When we begin to care deeply about each other, then the non-essentials (anything outside of what God has given us to do) become less significant than the bond of our caring. The essentials (what God has given us to do) become a unifying chord.

We are becoming one heart, one mind, one body. The Body of Christ. Hallelujah!

Blessings,

pastor ellis