Letter From Pastor - February 7, 2010

Good Morning,

 I cannot overstate the remarkable things the Lord will do in response to the prayer of His children. I do not want to plainly say that there is power in prayer because that is a gross understatement. Our prayers are powerful when they are directed to the Living God and based on a relationship of love made alive and possible through Jesus Christ our Lord. Praying to the Lord for His intervention for all of our concerns and about all that we need is the key to affective prayer. It is not my method of prayer, but to whom I appeal that makes all the difference. A reconciled child calls out to the Heavenly Father with a confidence that comes from knowing that he or she is so loved and preferred because young or old is in the covering of the Almighty Savior and Son.  Our prayer life is more powerful and affective the more confident and trusting our relationship is with God.

 The same is true with faith, hope, peace or any other longed for virtue or state of being. The target of each of these must be God. Having faith does not save us. Having faith in God saves us. Having hope does not encourage us, like having hope in God assures us. Longing to bring about peace without receiving it from the Almighty Prince of peace, is an evaporating temporary euphoria. Having random trust will only injure you, but when God is the one who is trusted we will never be abandoned.  Make God the target of your aspirations and requests because no process is the answer. Only the person of Jesus is.

 In the love of Jesus,  

Pastor Jonathan  

Letter From Pastor - February 21, 2010

Good Morning,

Pending some radical detour from what is expected to take place the first Thursday of March, I will be hosting a half hour live radio program on KFIA 710 AM at 3 in the afternoon. Please pray for me to clearly hear how the Lord would want to use this half hour a week radio program to encourage believers but even more importantly to reach out and bring hope and redeeming truth to those who need it and seek it. And please pray that the Lord will also use this program as a welcome to the people in our surrounding communities who are seeking, to come and worship with us here at DCA or with any other group of believers in Jesus. Always remember, there is a whole bunch more of us.

Today we welcome Dr. Lynn Willis who is a missionary to India. She is going to present to us this morning, the call she and her husband have, which primarily involves training church leadership to match the explosive church growth that is going on in India today. Her husband David cannot be here with us today, because he is finishing up meetings in Oregon. Jennifer and I have been friends with the Willis’ for many years and are another spectacular missionary couple who are following the call of God and serving the Lord’s purposes with incredible passion.

Because we are so blessed with an awareness of Jesus’ love and presence, we forget that there are many many people around us locally and around the world who live in desperation, confusion, and a lack of hope. As I close this letter to you today I ask us not to close our ears and cover our eyes to those around us who are calling out for deliverance and peace. Be grateful for and recognize the ever present love of God in your own life and continue to be willing to let His love flow through you to point others to the source of eternal love and mercy who is Jesus the Lord. Life is short. Let’s invite as many as we can to God’s great banquet. It is a feast that no one should miss.

In the love of Jesus,  

Pastor Jonathan