Death and Celebrities-kinda about Michael Jackson June 29, 2009
Posted by matthewjhawkins in Uncategorized.Tags: Bible, billy mays, celebrities, death, Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Jesus, Michael Jackson, religion
1 comment so far
I keep seeing Facebook statuses about all the celebrities that have died this week, (Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, Michael Jackson, Billy Mays), and can’t help but think of death. I mean to watch all that unfolds in the Michael Jackson thing, his autopsy, his health, etc. we are encircled with the reality of death. I read this week that over 250,000 people die each day! Quite a staggering number!
I am reading a book on Heaven, by Randy Alcorn. It is funny because I think in my own studies and even through Bible College times, it was one of the least studied topics. The author contends, that culture and Satan have allowed most people to assume that haven is some blasé boring atmosphere where all you do is pray all day and sing songs like you were in Sunday school again. But I think it is important to have a heavenly perspective in the midst of this crazy world.
Here is an excerpt that was really cool. “Ancient merchants often wrote the words momento mori-“think of death” in large letters on the first page of their accounting books. Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, commissioned a servant to stand in his presence each day and say, “Philip, you will die.” In contrast, France’s Louis XIV, decreed that the word death not be uttered in his presence. Most of us are more like Louis than Phillip, denying death and avoiding the thought of it except when it’s forced upon us. We live under the fear of death.” Heaven by Randy Alcorn, page. xix
I think this is evident in churches, and certainly the lack of preaching about sin and death seems to be only for the crazies on YouTube! Now I am not becoming some emo-youth pastor, where I will now just wear black and always think of death, but when we realize how futile our life really is, and that we really only have a short amount of time here, he will allow us to have a heavenly persceptive to live faithful lives for the glory of Christ!
“Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slaverly all their lives.” Hebrews 2:14-15
July 2009 Newsletter article…nothing to do with Michael Jackson June 26, 2009
Posted by matthewjhawkins in Uncategorized.Tags: newsletter, Bible, God, christianity, religion, Harvest Fellowship, youth group, Jesus, Michael Jackson, dwell
1 comment so far
I think I kind of touched on this in a previous article, but a verse that I heard has really been resonating in my mind. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” I often turn on “Christian” tv, and it seems that it is just some pastor telling us not to live a certain way. Especially when someone is teaching a youth group, or it is geared toward younger people. It is always dwelling on the evil things of teenage years…Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, video games, dancing, bad music and the list really can go on. I know for me, when I fill my mind with worship music, as compared to just any old music, my thoughts are focused on the Lord, and my heart is open to hear from Him! Since so many people are hung up on all of these evil things, too many people fail to just live a faithful life that is surrounded by the things of the Lord. I love that verse because it is telling the Christians not to dwell on the evil things of this world, since there are many, but to focus and set our minds things that are Christ-worthy. The word dwell, here in the Greek points towards dealing with reality. If I reckon or calculate that my bank has $50 in it, then it has $50. So this word here means that we need to focus on the pure and lovely things and to live our lives faithfully not just think about them, but to live like they are a reality! It seems that teenagers have gotten this idea that to be a Christian that is sold out for the Lord, you must denounce your computer and TV, and just sit in a room all day with a Bible. There are so many avenues of life and people that need Christ, and I believe that when we live our life focused on the pure, honorable, right, and lovely things, we will be better equipped to share what Christ really offers, his never-ending grace and peace, as opposed to a bunch of rules and regulations!
hilarious.. June 1, 2009
Posted by matthewjhawkins in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
So i am sitting here at sbux on coliseum, and this guy comes in, total metro looking dude. anyway, he goes to pay for his drink, and his credit card is not signed. so my wife asked to see an ID, and he said “You don’t recognize me? I’m famous.”
to which my wife and the barista all said no sorry we don’t.
Now he is sitting in his Cadillac trying to be cool. I guess he has used this line before, and one of the other barista’s looked him up, and said he is not famous! ha
this is sick.. May 28, 2009
Posted by matthewjhawkins in Uncategorized.Tags: Bible, government, home study, San Diego, police
add a comment
http://www.10news.com/news/19562217/detail.html
read this article. I firmly believe this is where our country is headed. I guess we need to be thankful while we can that we can meet freely to worship God!
faith May 27, 2009
Posted by matthewjhawkins in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
I love faith. It is one of those words that gets grossly overuesd, but I have been teaching through Hebrews 11 on Wednesday nights and have been blessed to see these men and women throughout history that have been faithful. I love that in a time of distress, and trouble, that they turned to the Lord, and were obedient. Even in times of ridiculous trials and testings, we are commanded to remain faithful. We have been given so many promises in the Lord, promises of peace and joy in the Lord, promises of eternal life, promises of peace in times of trials, and the list can go on.
In Abraham’s case, he was told to sacrifice his son, with the promise that his descendents would be blessed. This challenge seemed to contradict itself, but in that time, he just ran to the commandment of God, and what he said, and he let God take care of the promises.
I heard Pastor Britt Merrick say that “God will sometimes test us in regards to what we value highly to make sure we value Him most.”
Holy cow! God doesn’t desire that we live our life like robots, just doing things blindly, but he wants our hearts! I love that we are commanded to just follow God in times of trial and in times of unsurety (is that a word?).
be faithful where you are at!
legalism=stupid March 30, 2009
Posted by matthewjhawkins in Uncategorized.Tags: Bible, Holy Spirit, Jesus, legalism, religion, teenagers, youth
1 comment so far
So this is my article from the April 2009 Harvest Fellowship Newsletter:
“For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness, (For the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw nearer to God.” Hebrews 7:18-19
“Two words stuck out to me in those verses, and it was that we have a better hope in Jesus. Often times we analyze our life before and after Christ and we make up a chart with how much money we may have had before, and after, or how nice our car was before, and now look what I have, an old Ford! Coming to Christ doesn’t simply produce a better life in the sense of possessions and your material wealth, but rather it is a secure, better way of living. It is about the hope that we have. No matter what this world throws at us, we will always have a hope in the risen Christ!
I was listening to a few teachings that were focused on teenagers, and I couldn’t help but get upset. It was a series of sermons that basically blasted teenagers for being worthless. Too many teachers constantly focus on what teenagers are doing wrong instead of simply teaching the word to them and allowing the power of God’s Spirit to work! Now I am not one of those freedom in Christ preachers, and I just go out and do whatever because I can, but I was thinking is this honestly going to change someone’s life? If you go tell a teenager to stop going on Facebook, or to stop playing video games in the name of Jesus, I believe you have done them a great disservice. Throughout all of these legalistic teachings, I never once heard the power of the Holy Spirit, or the Holy Spirit at all! Not one of these teachers emphasized that it wasn’t through their own power of giving up these things, or acting a certain way, but rather it was living a live of faith fully dependent on the Holy Spirit. I have been blessed by the book of Hebrews, and have been teaching this to the youth group, because it is giving the believers here struggling with their walks not to give up, not to throw in the towel, because what we have is truly better in Jesus Christ! It is now our responsibility, not to perform better, but simply live our life by faith, because what Jesus did on the cross, truly gave us a better way! He is our priest forever, and desires that we would run to Him! ”
so i guess this doesn’t surprise me March 5, 2009
Posted by matthewjhawkins in Uncategorized.Tags: bailout, Barrack Obama, hannity, marxism, politics, socialism, United States
10 comments
So today on the way home from my twice a week workout with my wife at the gym (which has been completely negated since I ate a TON of ice cream a few minutes ago) i was listening to the Hannity show on WOWO 1190. I know, I know, I am so conservative, and boy BO (thats my new slang for Barrack Obama) must be hating me. I wonder if BO is going to take up Hannity’s offer for a beer? that would be funny…
anyway, so I don’t listen to this show much, but I guess they have a reoccurring segment called Man on the Street where they just find some random person, and interview them. Tonight was this dude they found in Penn Station. So they found this guy, they say it is random, i guess it really doesn’t matter, but he gets on the radio and he is being asked these simple questions about politics, etc.
What made it interesting was the fact that one of the questions Hannity asked him, is what he thought of BO. He said he likes him, and Hannity asked why, and he said because he was black! Seriously! Seriously! So seeing this guy for what he is, Hannity began to ask him questions like do you feel it is the governments responsibility to provide health care for all of its citizens. He asked, do you feel like it is the government’s responsibility to provide transportation for someone who can’t afford a bus ticket to get to work, or a subsidized car for someone who lives in a rural area. Same response…he said yes. After being asked essentially the same question about housing, food, education, etc..this guy kept giving the same response. to which Hannity asked him something like is there anything that the government shouldn’t help out with? And he said, sorry I can’t rememer the exact phraseology, of no I can’t really think of anything.
Hannity asked him if he had ever heard of Marxism, and he had no clue who that was. how convenient.
the sad thing here is that our messiah, BO, has come promising people everything they have ever wanted. at what cost? Who is picking up the tab for this?
I think one of the most intelligent things Hannity said was, why all of a sudden, 200+ years after our country has been growing, etc…do we all of a sudden need the government to provide all these things? Haven’t we done just fine in the past without it? It is not the world or the government’s responsibility to find you a place to live/food to eat/ a car to drive to work/and a place to get free college…AMERICA THAT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY! if you want these things WORK FOR IT!
sorry i know i have been so PC lately, i just can’t help it. it is kinda nice being on the offensive for once..only 4 more years.
My March 2009 newsletter article March 5, 2009
Posted by matthewjhawkins in Uncategorized.Tags: Bible, Calvary Chapel, Christ, England, God, Jesus, missions, religion, youth group
1 comment so far
I know that I touched on this a bit when I was teaching last Sunday, but it has really been on my heart that I need to be a person more focused on missions. I have been trying to have the kids of the youth group to get involved with this vision through our trips to the UP, having missionary friends of mine come and visit, and even doing a missions benefit concert next month. When I was in Bible College we went to Newcastle England for a three week missions trip. It was my first experience being overseas, my first missions trip, and it was an amazing time in my young walk with Christ. It was then that I first felt the call of missions upon my heart. They were a church that focused on the lost kids of that town, and since then have really grown and been given the opportunity to be able to minister to a lot of people. Long story short, they are in need of support in a building project that they are doing to help make this a possibility to more people of the town. Their building has been provided at an amazing discount, and they have a central location near the city center, which in Europe is a big plus! When I first talked to them, I immediately was looking for plane tickets to England and checking with my schedule, but the Lord totally showed me that it is not necessarily about being there, but supporting these people in prayer, and using what God has given us here to support them in anyway that we can. With this in mind, we are going to have a benefit concert on March 21st at HeBrews to help raise money for their project. We are having 4 local singer/songwriters going to be sharing music/worship with us, and it is going to cost $5, which 100% is going to the work in Newcastle. I would encourage you to come out and be a part of that night (don’t worry no hardcore music).
Ray Bentley, pastor of Marantaha Chapel in San Diego said this about missions: “Look around you-whether it be overseas or right in your own neighborhood, the river flows constantly, the needs are great. Is it messy? Uncomfortable? Tiring? Even dirty and painful at times? Oh yes. But you won’t die from the heartache or the giving. You’ll find joy. In fact, only then will you be truly alive.”
Lets be a church that is missions minded. Not just in the 3rd world countries, but in the neighborhoods of Fort Wayne, and the cubicles at our jobs.
couldn’t agree more–economy February 19, 2009
Posted by matthewjhawkins in Uncategorized.Tags: America, bailout, economy, government, mortgage, obama, stimulus
3 comments
‘The government is promoting bad behavior… do we really want to subsidize the losers’ mortgages… This is America! How many of you people want to pay for your neighbor’s mortgage? President Obama are you listening? How about we all stop paying our mortgage! It’s a moral hazard’…
I love it how we are going to be bailing out the morgages of people who made ridiulous mortgages, but the “responsible” americans that are paying them, why are we not entitled to a lower rate? I love this guys attitude, and look at the traders in the background.
if you can’t see the video, go to http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1039849853
HeBrews and use of gifts February 12, 2009
Posted by matthewjhawkins in Uncategorized.Tags: coffee house, Gifts, harvest, HeBrews Fort Wayne, ministry, music, Service, youth group
4 comments
“Now Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skillful person in whom the Lord has put skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work in the construction of the sanctuary, shall perform in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded. Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillful person in whom the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it. “ Exodus 36:1-3
So lately I have been wondering what or how can I be a more effective minister of the gospel of Christ, and been seeking the Lord on how I can encourage those that are working with the youth group, as well as some of the kids that are in the group and getting them involved in ministry. Whether that is designing a poster, making the menu at Hebrews, or simply serving at the shows and youth group by setting up and tearing down. Things over at HeBrews have been going very well. I am so blessed that we have people that have had their hearts stirred to contribute to the ministry. Tim and Michelle Kimes, our coffee masters, Erik Kim-our sound engineer, Peter Flohr-our prayer warrior, and the countless kids that just come and help serve. I think it is one thing to just gather people together, but I know that some of these people have had their hearts stirred, and they have been given skills in those areas that allow the ministry of HeBrews to be a success. The Lord has put skill into all of our lives, and it is only when we realize that, have our hearts stirred to serve, is when we can effectively use those skills. I often wonder what my role is at HeBrews besides booking bands and overseeing all that stuff, but I think it is more of a bridge between that and the Youth. God has given me a unique testimony, and I feel like the Lord is using my life to just be an example. So anyway I was just encouraged by those verses in Exodus, and while we aren’t building a tabernacle over at HeBrews, we are gathering as the church to reach out to the community and to be an example to all the kids that come and the bands that play their music!
Be sure to come out to some of our upcoming shows! If you want to be a part let me know!
February 21st-The Glorious Unseen, Sonoro(us), Medic Medic—$5
March 8th-Lyrycyst and Wayfield—FREE SHOW!
March 21st-Benefit Concert for CC Newcastle (UK). Ben Elder, Ryan Pelton, Chris Eggert, and more TBA! $5..with 100% proceeds going toward the people in England
April 4th-Bethany Dillon. $10
April 18th-Black Pajent Band…$3
May 9th-The Great Transparency..$5
http://www.hebrewsfortwayne.org
*we have some stickers being made..if you would like a FREE sticker please let me know!
