October 29, 2011 by Worship Director.

When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none.  Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order. - Matthew 12:43-44

Make no mistake, there is evil in this world.  Not the ghosts and goblins, vampires or werewolves of Hollywood and Halloween – but real, spiritual villainy seeking to do us harm, lurking in the dark corners of our hearts, clawing at our fears, and draining the life blood of our joy and peace. Jesus Christ is the only Ghostbuster we need to call – running those dangerous spirits out of our lives and sweeping clean our homes of their frightful influences.

They always try to return, however, through every crack and fissure they can find like a chilling draft, but the love of God acts as a force field around us, insulating our hearts from their deadly winds if we keep Him close to our sides. We don’t have to live in a haunted house when we have Christ inside with the Holy Ghost.  So who you gonna call?

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October 24, 2011 by Worship Director.

Give to everyone what you owe them… and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. - Romans 13:7

The way of Christianity is the path of Servant Leadership.  Jesus, while the greatest leader ever to walk the earth, demonstrated how the heart of this new philosophy would be service.  All that follow Him would also have to wear the mantle of a servant and lead by motivation, persuasion, and love.

Those who devote themselves to the ministries of Christ must sacrifice all, bear much, and endure more than most to be true to their call. We, lay leaders, followers and seekers, are only asked to support the work of God’s Church and His ministers.  We can be the wind beneath their wings or the weight upon their shoulders.  Let us give today to enable them fly, so that in the end, we will all rise right along-side them.

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October 22, 2011 by Worship Director.

Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. - Exodus 17:12

Moses was a great leader.  After a shaky beginning, with all of his flaws and fears, God molded him into one of the most renowned and revered leaders in all of history. When Moses stood at the edge of the Red Sea, with Pharaoh’s army on their heels, Aaron and Hur saw his weariness, but not his weakness.  Rather than ceasing the opportunity to flaunt his failure, they quietly went to work to provide him comfort, support his work, and sooth his spirit by standing by his side – all day until the job was done. Even the great Moses, fueled by the supernatural power of “the burning bush”(Exodus 3:2),  couldn’t do it all on his own.

A servant of God is still just a human, bound by our physical and mental limitations, unable to live or work or accomplish God’s goals alone.  Together, some are called to lead; many more are called to follow.  A few will hold the staff, the rest of us must help them carry it.  This is God’s plan for His Church. Today, we honor the leader and show our appreciation by standing by his side – until the job of building the Kingdom is done!

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October 18, 2011 by Worship Director.

Those who were at Community Bible Fellowship for the Steve Archer Concert Sunday morning, were truly blessed by being there.  Steve’s personal testimony and personable style made for a rich experience of praise, worship and introspection of the heart.  We’ll still be singing along with Steve all week and beyond as he encouraged the crowd to “make a joyful noise” with him in beautiful tunes and lyrics with which he led us.

While beginning ministry with his musical family in the 70’s, he is just as engaging, just as relevant, just as real as in what seem to be distant days.  His amazing tenor voice is just as clear and strong as ever.  The rock-n-rollers of his day, who are still hitting the reunion stages, would be ecstatic to be in such fine form — but they don’t come close. God’s gifts never fade, but get better and better with time.  Whatever the style or form - from R&B to gospel to contemporary or Caribbean beats - Steve moved seamlessly between them all.

Whereas Steve regularly fills huge churches and concert halls across the world, it was a rare gift to spend a morning with such a talent and gentle spirit, in such an intimate setting.  We all had the precious opportunity to talk with, pray with, and feel a kinship to our new friend and sibling in the family of Christ.

Steve’s latest CD, “Call It Grace,” is available on iTunes, along with many other of his other solo works.  You will want to make it part of your music library, to park it in your heart, and take it with you wherever you go.”

If you couldn’t make it to the concert, you can enjoy it in the rebroadcast on the Community Bible Fellowship website for the next month.  On the Local Ministry page, look on the left side bar under “Listen to Worship” for the October 16 link.  Enjoy!

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October 16, 2011 by Worship Director.

Because of His grace He declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life. - Titus 3:7

Some call it crazy.  We call it Grace.  The world can’t comprehend an extravagant gift given to those that don’t deserve it, won’t earn it and can’t buy it.  The only thing we have in trade for the Grace of God is gratitude. The only price is to Pay-it-forward to a world of others who also don’t deserve it, won’t earn it and can’t buy it.

Call it what you will, but just don’t keep it to yourself.

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October 8, 2011 by Worship Director.

Join us Sunday morning, October 16, 2011 at 10:45am for the musical ministry of STEVE ARCHER.
You will be blessed!

“He’s singing better than ever and ministering out of a heart that has been seasoned and effected by life change…And all that is only surpassed by a mutual heart and passion for broken people.”

Check out his music here

Steve’s Bio:

Born in Southern California and raised throughout the Golden State, Steve Archer grew up in a very musical family. His earliest musical experience came at the age of nine when he and his brothers began singing together for the sheer joy of it. “We would sing in my dad’s church” he recalls, “and when I was thirteen, my brother, Tim and I entered the Teen Talent Search and won second place nationally. That success inspired us to form our own group, ‘The Archer Brothers.’ We were still in school, so it was a part-time effort.” After graduation however, Steve was able to turn his full attention to his music career, and that he did! With the addition of Nancy Short (later replaced by their sister, Janice), they became known as “The Archers”. They were one of the first ensembles to perform what was later to be known as contemporary Christian music.

The group toured extensively, both in the United States and abroad, performing at a number of auspicious events, including one at the White House, for President and Mrs. Carter. Many television appearances followed, including the Jerry Lewis Telethon, the Easter Seal Telethon, a home-video series entitled America’s Music and their own half-hour television show produced by, and aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. In 1980, The Archers participated in a project entitled “The Lord’s Prayer,” a musical written by Reba Rambo and Dony McGuire. Their performance earned the group a Grammy Award and an appearance on the Grammy telecast. The following year they were again invited to appear on the show, as their album “Spreadin’ Like Wildfire” was nominated. After ten years and seven albums with The Archers, Steve embarked upon a solo career.

Steve’s second album, “Through His Eyes” established him as an important solo artist. The title tune jumped to #1 on the Contemporary Christian Music Charts. His first music video was produced to accompany the song. It proved to be popular and was in great demand by video shows around the country. In 1986, Steve released his third musical offering, “Action,” a brilliant album produced by Skip Konte, Chris Christian, and Keith Thomas, featuring a duet with Solid Gold and Fifth Dimension star Marilyn McCoo. The song “Safe”, quickly climbed the charts to #2 nationally and was voted by Contemporary Christian Music Magazine’s year-end chart as the #4 song of 1986.

In 1998, the album “Stay Right Here” garnished a top 20 single on Inspo Radio with the title cut, followed seven years later with the critically acclaimed project “Call It Grace.” Steve still feels this was a landmark recording, containing seven brand new songs and four remakes of Archers classics that are simply not available on CD… this will be a special treat for longtime Archer fans!

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October 6, 2011 by Worship Director.

Sing to Him; yes, sing His praises. Tell everyone about His wonderful deeds. - 1 Chronicles 16:9

Music was King David’s passion and praise of choice.  For thousands of years, the Hebrew children have worshiped God and celebrated community in melody and dance.  The New Covenant Church, including us today, learns of Jesus and shares His Word through our psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Like God’s Spirit, His creation of music touches the soul in a deep and personal way; a joy to give and a gift to receive.

Open the ears of your heart and feel His love reverberate through you.

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October 6, 2011 by Worship Director.

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.  - Isaiah 55:11

When we send “The Word” out into the world, we’re walking arm in arm with Jesus Himself.  The Gospel of John says, “The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” The Bible is not just a book about Jesus, it is the powerful, life-changing embodiment of His Spirit.  That kind of power cannot make contact and leave the receiver unaffected.  It is credible, concrete and contagious.

“In the beginning was the Word” and it will be the new beginning for all who will crack its cover.

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October 4, 2011 by Worship Director.

Jesus taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed.  As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it.  Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow.  But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died.  Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain.  Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!  Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.  But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!  - Mark 4:2-9 & -20

Jesus wanted us to understand the significance of The Word – God’s Word – through His simple stories and eternal truths.  As the written covenant with Moses had sustained the Children of Israel to the time of the Messiah, the New Covenant of Jesus Christ would sustain us to the end of time.  In His story of the Farmer, Jesus illustrated how an everyday guy just like you and me, would take His message into the world, experience rejection more often than not, and still see the glory that blossoms when His Word breaks through.

It’s the Seed, the Sword, the Source – the Bible.  Spread it around and watch it grow!

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