Copperhill Blog

Living on Mission at City Hall (by Brendie Heter)

2009-11-10T11:02:00.000-08:00

God laid the groundwork for my mission field many many years ago. I was a strange child who watched CSPAN and volunteered on political campaigns. What can I say? I loved Jesus and politics!

I had no trouble deciding a major in college and signed up for Political Studies at the Master's College. While I loved my classes and professors, attending Master's really messed with my mind as a "career-minded" female. I became depressed because the other girls had lofty and clear "spiritual paths".

Most women were on serious missions to nab a pastor as a husband but I had actually made a vow never to marry a pastor when I was 11....I saw how hard it was on my sisters and wanted no part in professional ministry. Satan would constantly remind me how "lacking" I was and how often I had failed. I felt constantly under attack and "spiritually naked" surrounded by these women. Basically, I was confused about how I could serve the Lord while NOT married to a pastor. I couldn't sew, knit, and knew I wasn't called for full-time ministry ....so how could God use me?

I continued my passion for politics and worked on Capitol Hill in DC and then landed a great job with the City of Santa Clarita my senior year. Within the first week of my new job at City Hall, it just "clicked" and I knew I was in the right place. My co-workers encouraged me, pointed out gifts I didn't know I had, molded, and mentored me for advancement. HERE, I finally belonged!
I felt like an outsider in the Christian community but felt uplifted and loved at work.

Sadly, I focused more on this career then I did my relationship with the Lord. I will admit, I fell many times and damaged my testimony. I had an image of a proper "Christian Woman" and I just couldn't be her. And then...started believing I couldn't serve the Lord the "right way".

It was my roommate, Kellie Espino (then Kellie McDonald) who told me to make City Hall my mission field. We were sitting in our old apartment and I will never forget how stunned I was. It was a concept I never heard of and it was SO RELIEVING. I lost a HUGE burden off my shoulders. If she was right, God had actually placed me in this mission field and I wasn't somehow an outsider???

City Hall is challenging for many reasons. It's an amazing place to work but also easy to get distracted with career goals rather than living purposely. Sometimes I speak to the most difficult, rude people on the planet. Sometimes their self-inflated sense of entitlement makes me want to either laugh or scream. However, I have to be very careful in how I react to these people because I know I'm being watched.

Lately, opportunities have come from talking to co-workers about the biblical view on marriage. Going through the engagement process at work was interesting because the marriage "advice" started coming almost immediately. I was able to share the beauty of the gospel to friends by explaining God's "advice", His view on marriage.

My job has also opened the door, to the "social scene" of Santa Clarita. There are HUNDREDS of non-profit in towns but sadly believers are pitifully represented. These people are amazing, generous, kind and for the most part don't need recognition. They are serving the community passionately but are empty. This is a particularly hard mission field since they are amazing on their own strength and seemingly they don't need anything. Volunteering along side unbelievers has provided great opportunities to explain why I volunteer and who I ultimately serve.

The series on "Living on Mission" has been so powerful for my life. I've been challenged and encouraged. A few weeks back Brian read: "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ...God making his appeal through us!" I Cor 5:20

As a political nerd, this verse struck me because "ambassador" is a term for a high-ranking government official. Ambassadors are chosen very carefully. It takes a LOT of work to become one and he/she has been given a serious task. The Lord's Ambassadors are expected use their position to further the Lord's kingdom not their own.

I have been called to be an Ambassador for Christ in City Hall and through out Santa Clarita Valley. It's not glamorous and often frustrating. But it's exactly where the Lord has me and I'm grateful for the opportunity.

The Women's Gathering Recap (by Jennifer Jackson)

2009-11-10T10:57:00.000-08:00

Women's Ministry at Copperhill Church exists to create an environment where women can build lasting friendships while pursuing deeper intimacy with Christ. Our first gathering was held August 14th, which we hope is the beginning of what should be a promising string of women's fellowship events at our church.

The night began with mingling and greeting. A kind welcome and opening prayer from Cathy Daniels prepared our hearts for the tremendous testimony to be shared by Kellie Davenport. Kellie vulnerably shared how the Lord had brought her and her husband to a better understanding of living life with purpose through Him as she testified to the sufferings of having a child with unexpected health problems. Her words of wisdom coupled with her brutal honesty were just what were needed to challenge the women to think outside of their comfort zones or possibly release any feelings they had been harboring due to difficult times in their own lives. Kellie challenged our whole group to ask for the Lord's strength in suffering knowing that it would come our way. Kellie summarized her testimony and goal in sharing by saying that she is nothing apart from Christ and suffers only for the glory of the Lord who is able to sustain us in hard times.

Kellie shared a verse from 1 Peter 3:14-15, which says "But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." Through suffering, we grow in our understanding of this hope and God can use us to be a testimony to a hopeless world.

After Kellie finished sharing her testimony, we broke off into a time of reflection and sharing. It was an opportunity to hear about how other women in our church have suffered and how the Lord's faithfulness was their refuge and strength. Hearing of God's work in Kellie's family provided a reminder of our need for an eternal perspective. The many suffering stories that were shared that night posed as a challenge for the rest of the women to see suffering through Biblical lenses.

The Copperhill Women's event was a gathering blessed by God and one which will be remembered by all who were in attendance. This is just one of the many events which will be held so that the women of our church can grow in relationship, accountability, friendship, and Christ-like character with one another.

Note: Ladies, please mark your calendars for our next Women's Gathering. It will be Friday evening, December 4 at the Church Warehouse. More details to follow.

Men's Getaway Recap (by Scott Newman)

2009-11-10T10:51:00.000-08:00

On Friday October 2nd, fifty-five of Copperhill's men loaded up their camping gear and piled into trucks for a weekend men's retreat at the Ocean Mesa campground at El Capitan State Beach. As all men know, there are three key ingredients for a successful men's retreat: food, fun and fellowship over God's Word. Our retreat fit the bill in just about every way to make for yet another successful men's retreat to finish out 2009.

It is seriously questionable whether there has ever been better camp food than what the men feasted on at the retreat. Master chef Brantley Dunaway basically imported a roving kitchen to craft the incredible meals to keep the guys going during all the activities. Special thanks are due Brantley for taking his weekend (and his retreat time) to serve our men in the food department.

The weekend was also a great time to both relax and compete together. The late night campfire on Friday night mixed with fresh baked cookies, good conversations, cigars and a starlit sky made for a memorable and calming evening. Saturday, following a morning devotion, the afternoon was spent on the beach. Most of the men enjoyed playing semi-tackle flag football organized by Luis Espino. Although many of us came back sore and bruised it's hard to spend a more worthwhile afternoon than playing football on the beach.

Most importantly, we were blessed and honored to have a wonderful retreat speaker this year. We were joined by Matt Troupe, an Acts 29 planter who helped start Free Grace Church in Fresno, CA. He challenged our men with the concept of living "Coram Deo", a fancy Latin phrase, which means that our entire lives are lived out in front of God. As Psalm 139 makes clear, God is intimately aware of every detail of our lives. This is comforting for us because we know that God is aware and cares about all of our concerns. However, it also reminds us that the infinitely holy God is aware of every single way that we fail to give him the honor He deserves. Understanding this helps make the Gospel come alive because it teaches us that God, who is fully aware of the ways that we sin against Him, nevertheless sent His Son to die a horrible death in our place. Then, because of Jesus' death, God is now able to shower grace into our lives so that we are enabled to give Him the honor He's due in our every-day life circumstance.

One Year in India (by Mike Gundersen)

2009-08-17T17:04:00.000-07:00

This year has been an enlightening one. When I first arrived in India, I was overwhelmed with the amount of work to do. I found myself suddenly in charge of six Indian people whose languages I did not speak and cultures I did not understand. As the months went by, God was gracious in allowing me to learn how they thought, the cultural and language differences. Friendships began to form as we worked through the hot summer and cold winter, serving daily alongside each other. God was at work in our lives.

As the year progressed, God continually exhibited his graciousness. He allowed me to be comfortable here, find my place here in Delhi, and work alongside my friends instead of just being an administrator among strangers. We got the operation running more smoothly and I had learned to live in a new world.

The work here encompassed many different things. Here are some highlights: English classes were taught, medicine was distributed, food was shared, blankets given, slum kids were tutored. Also, our ultimate goal of reaching university students through the work of PMI was realized in a number of lives. Their names are Sonu, Chanda, Mehnaz, Sandeep, Roman and Pooja.

I’ve learned much over this year about my own weaknesses. It was interesting to see how they exhibit themselves in a different culture. But our God is gracious and has taught me, and is still teaching me, to rely upon Him for the strength to get the work done, to go before Him in prayer for all my needs and to give Him the praise for the work He’s done, is doing and will continue to do.

Continue to pray for the work going on here. India is a very dark country, and is in desperate need of the Lord. Pray for the workers called here, to be faithful to their calling. I hope this encourages you to be faithful to your own calling, relying upon the Lord’s strength and to have your will aligned perfectly with that of our heavenly Father’s.

The Copperhill Jr. High Ministry, a Serious Faith in an Exciting, Youthful Way (by Jennifer Jackson)

2009-08-17T17:02:00.000-07:00

The Junior High Ministry almost dismantled last December 2008. But a group of men in our church, Joe Powell, Coleman Falco, and James Daniels, stepped up and saw the importance of continuing the ministry. As a result of their faithfulness to the Lord and His provision, a group of leaders were formed who were extremely passionate about seeing Jr. High students reached for Christ. Since then, many awesome things have happened. Our ministry has had over 30 students come through and runs a steady group of core students who desire to learn more about Christ and their purpose in Him.

We started with Sunday morning gatherings. We slowly saw an increase in our attendance and saw glimpses of the desire of our students to truly know more about God’s word and how it applies to their lives. Our Sunday morning’s have provided an opportunity to teach our youth about Christ’s walk to the cross and His sacrifice for sin; our sins and theirs. Most importantly it is a time to reflect upon our walk with the Lord and provoke preparation for the upcoming week which will without a doubt be full of life’s challenges and spiritual warfare.

Our desire to encourage adult like faith and responsibility in a group of Jr. High students is completely driven from our belief that age cannot and will not be an excuse or an obstacle to whole heartedly pursue Christ and be used by Him. This is why we decided we would need more than just Sunday mornings to influence the wonderful students the Lord had put in our ministry.

We launched our Wednesday night gatherings in April and have seen quite the success with our nights full of competition and the preaching of the Word. Our students love to play crab soccer and dodge ball and if you ever visited you would most certainly find a leader getting in on the action. They also get involved in the discussions and leave with a challenge to live their lives for Christ in a personal stimulating way. Our leaders are very grateful for Wednesday nights because they have enabled us and the students to get to know each other quicker and form bonds that will not easily be broken.

We held Jr. High summer camp in July. It was an opportunity for our leaders to grow in leadership and organization, but most importantly in edifying relationships with one another in the Lord. There were many areas to plan and prepare as each leader played a significant role in the overwhelming success of our camp. We took our students to a cabin a little over an hour north of Santa Clarita and away from the many distractions of technology, busy schedules, sports and the many other anxieties of life.

Before we even left for camp there were many obstacles and stumbling blocks. But the Lord knew exactly what would prepare our hearts to focus on Him and what it means to worship Him in spirit and in truth. How providential that our theme for the weekends’ messages was focused on Worship through prayer and the Word, music, and obedience. In spite of the late take off, flat tire, lost sleeping bag, and lack of street lights to guide our way, we arrived. How amazing that in this day in age we were able to take a group of about 20 students to a place where cell phone reception was absent and the opportunity to fully worship the Lord was overwhelmingly available. All we had to do, all they had to do, was embrace it and run full force toward the cross.

Our students did run toward the only One who is worthy of our praise both with music and in life style. There were many opportunities to speak openly about the lessons and the challenges when we broke off into small groups. Students were encouraged to specifically share ways that the truths of the Word could be applied to their lives. We had a blessed time together that weekend and we look forward to other trips and getaways we may have together as a ministry.

The Lord is blessing the Copperhill Jr. High Ministry tremendously. In fact we have been so blessed; one could say that the only thing we need or should ask for would be that both leaders and students would have a continued blessing and deeper desire to know Him more. Our prayer is that each student that comes through our ministry is presented with the truths of the Gospel and the reality of the Christian walk in light of their age and purpose in life. David was a man after God’s own heart and was joyfully growing in the Lord at a very young age. We want our Jr. High students to know that their age is not something that should hold them back in their faith, but it is something that the Lord can and will use to enhance their faith.

We thank you for your prayers and support. Please continue to join with us in prayer for the hearts and lives of each and every one of our Jr. High students, both present and future. With the Lord’s blessing there will be a future for this significant ministry, which is such a vital part of any local church, especially ours.

“Souled Out” for Christ (by Luis Espino)

2009-08-17T17:00:00.000-07:00

It’s amazing that summer has come and gone already. If feels like yesterday that the high school ministry was just leaving for Hume Lake. Our summer has been filled with beach trips, BBQ’s and sun.

The summer began with the ministry going up to Hume Lake for our annual summer camp getaway. This year, four of our students, Luke Wesselhoff, Max Greaber, Ashleigh Hill, and Shawn Taylor, accepted the Lord. This was amazing to witness for all of us and a great encouragement as a ministry.

We finished teaching through the Sermon on the Mount that we had been going through since last summer. As a ministry, we wanted to take the students through a section of scripture that dealt directly with the heart of following Jesus and that they would learn what it means to be a follower of Christ. Not only was it challenging for the students, but even more challenging for myself. I am overwhelmed at how much the Lord desires all of our life and not just a part of it. He is after a heart of joyful obedience and an understanding that it’s not a process of “doing” things, where instead He cares greatly for the motives in which we do them.

We are now changing gears to dig fully into who God is. We’ll be studying the different attributes of God so that we can have a better understanding of who God is. A.W. Pink wrote “The foundation of all true knowledge of God must be a clear mental apprehension of His perfections as revealed in Holy Scripture. An unknown God can neither be trusted, served, or worshipped.” We want our high school students to have an accurate view and knowledge of God. We desire that this would lead them to a greater intimacy with Him.

Please remember to keep our staff and our students in your prayers. If you would like more information on the high school ministry, please feel free to contact me anytime.

Overview of Counseling Ministry at Copperhill Church (by Josh Sheridan)

2009-08-17T16:52:00.000-07:00

The counseling program at Copperhill is committed to the sufficiency of the Word. This means, in essence, that this counseling ministry recognizes not only the validity of the Bible as a means of theological enlightenment, but also as essential to understanding, and handling the issues of life. This includes the wide variety of counseling issues that affect the Church.

In addition, a counseling ministry is not merely a separate entity that exists independently of other ministries. Instead, it is meant that biblical counseling is seamlessly integrated into the ministry, goals, and direction of the church as a whole. Biblical counseling, therefore, is really a form of focused discipleship based on ministering the Word of God.

The counseling ministry is dedicated to helping people in the process of conformity to the image of Christ through the loving, skillful, and practical application of biblical principles to the issues of life. This means that rather than "throw" scripture at a problem, counselors seek to partner with the counselee as in Galatians 6:1-3, coming alongside of them in order to work through the issues the counselee is struggling with. This involves a level of commitment, intimacy, and dedication seen nowhere else, but inherent in and particularly suited to the church.

It is also the believed that the ideal context for long-term growth as a believer and resolution of a given issue occurs in the context of community. Therefore ultimately the initial interactions and interventions of the counseling ministry at Copperhill Church serve functionally in a crisis management role, with long-term discipleship occurring through the shepherding done at the community group level. While no specific length of time is demanded with regards to how long a counselor spends with a counselee, it should be understood by both parties that the goal is to integrate the counselee into a community group for long-term growth and discipleship.

The principles of Matthew 18 also apply to the counseling ministry. This means that we take sin seriously, and do not seek to label it as anything other than what it is. On the other hand, it is essentially that counseling take place in a loving caring atmosphere where sin is confronted, but grace abounds. While genuine repentance is a vital aspect of true change, it is understood that some life dominating patterns that develop take time to change. With this in mind, the church discipline of Matthew 18 is applied with the spirit of grace it was meant to incorporate, while at the same time addressing an unrepentant heart in a biblical fashion.

The goal of the counseling ministry is to not merely help individuals out of difficult circumstances, or change behaviors, but to come alongside individuals so that they might grow in their maturity as a Christian and their likeness to the image of Christ. Ephesians 5:1,2 says, "Be imitators of God therefore as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us, and gave himself up for us a fragrant offering, and sacrifice to God."

If you are interested, or know someone who might need counseling, please contact the Church office for further information.

A Vision for Children's Ministry (by Luis Espino)

2009-08-17T16:40:00.000-07:00

Deut 6:5-7: 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Deut 4:9: 9 “Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children—

Acts 20:28: 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

As you can see, scripture is very clear in the role parents must have in raising up children in the Truth of the Lord. It is equally shown that the church must care for the flock the Lord has entrusted to it. Deuteronomy stresses the covenant responsibility of parents for their children and Acts 20:28 is asking the church to “Pay Careful Attention” to the flock and the church of God.

It is God’s desire for parents and the church to partner in raising a Holy and God-fearing generation.

As I was asked to come on staff here at Copperhill Community Church the above scripture filled my mind and my heart for the direction in which to pastor this ministry. It is clear while reading the above verses that it is God’s desire to see parents trained in how to parent, disciple, and lead their children in the Truth of scripture; that parents would use every moment as an opportunity to teach their children in the ways of the Lord.

God has also made it clear that the Church is to partner with parents in accomplishing this very task. Therefore, where there are parents, we are to teach, assist, encourage, and partner in order to equip you to do the work of the ministry. Where a parent may not be present, we are to minister accordingly.

Over the next couple of months, my main focus is to completely restructure our family ministries. Alongside of me, you will see the elders at Copperhill taking a more central role in Family Ministry. We are anticipating that these changes will lead to more effective ministry here at Copperhill.

That being clear, WE the core of Copperhill Community Church both parent and non-parent have a job to do. We need to be devoted to teaching and leading the children/youth of this church in all the ways of the Lord.

It is my prayer that as you read the word of God above that our minds would be renewed (Rom 12:2). It is also my prayer that it would pierce our souls to understand that the way we shepherd the flock the Lord has entrusted us with will have eternal consequences. What a great gift the Lord has given us to serve and Love Him in our obedience to His word as we raise a Holy and God-Fearing generation!

One of the ways we can partner together is for you to participate in our Children’s Ministry on Sunday Mornings. We are currently in need of 60+ additional volunteers in order to have an appropriate adult to child ratio for each class. If would like to volunteer in our Children’s Ministry, please click here and select “Children’s Ministry.” Please call me at 661.775.9598 or email me at lespino@copperhillchurch.org if you have any questions.

Thank you for partnering with us!

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is 1/18/09

2009-01-11T15:48:00.000-08:00

Copperhill Church is observing Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, January 18, 2009. Here is a bit more background on this event, as well as key scriptures that address the status of unborn children.

From the CareNet site:

Twenty-three years ago, the Christian Action Council Education and Ministries Fund, which is today known as Care Net, asked President Ronald Reagan to create a special day to focus on the intrinsic value of human life and the fundamental right to life, as recognized by the American Founding Fathers.

In 1983, President Reagan issued a proclamation establishing a National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (SOHLS). Since 1983, the SOHLS proclamation has also been issued by Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.

The National Sanctity of Human Life Sunday is held on the Sunday in January that falls closest to the day on which the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions were handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court on January 22, 1973.

The belief that human life is precious and worthy of protection is not merely a political position. God's word speaks clearly of the personhood and value of the unborn:

"Your hands shaped me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me? Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again? Did you not pour me out like milk ... and knit me together with bones and sinews? You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit" (Job 10:8-12 NIV).

"Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name...and now the LORD says--he who formed me in the womb to be his servant..." (Isaiah 49:1, 5).

"The word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations’" (Jeremiah 1:4-5).

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that fully well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:13-16).

"Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him" (Psalm 127:3).

"When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit... As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy" (1:41, 44).

On Sanctity of Human Life Sunday, and always, we celebrate that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made," and we acknowledge that all human life is precious, for we are made in His image. Let us also consider what this means in terms of living gospel-centered lives, with genuine concern for the lives of the unborn, as well as compassion and help for women and girls who face the difficulties of unplanned pregnancies or past abortions. That is what the Lord would have us do.

If you know of women or girls who need help in this area, please refer them to our partners at the pregnancy center here in Santa Clarita.

On Seeing Death Up Close

2008-12-12T08:24:00.000-08:00

A guest post from Josh Sheridan:

Recently I saw a man die. For most people, especially in America this is probably a fairly uncommon occurrence. I am a nurse in the operating room, and a young man was brought in after a car accident for a trauma surgery. For those who have ever been in this situation you know the intensity with which it unfolds. A mad rush of activity to save a person's life, and valiant efforts no matter how hopeless the case.

Without going into details about how the whole process transpired, the young man did not make it. His body, despite all the medical technology and skill available today, simply could not absorb the trauma it was required to endure. Eventually it could no longer stop its bleeding, and even the addition of multiple blood products was to no avail. When it was all over, and he lay there motionless, the finality of the situation crept in. I found myself glancing upward (in spite of theological inaccuracies), thinking perhaps his spirit in its final departure to eternity, was viewing his body from above.

Sometimes in these situations you try not to think about stuff like that. It's easier to do your job, and prepare for the next case—which incidentally started in 30 minutes. I picked up little blood soaked objects from around the room like an alcohol pad stuck fast to the floor in dried blood, and a piece of gauze stained red and looking vaguely tissue-like. We placed sheet after sheet soaked in blood into the linen hamper, and washed every piece of equipment off that had even a drop of blood on it. Am I using the word blood too much? Well, there was a lot of it. Normally most of this would have been the job of the surgical housekeepers, but as I said there was another case in 30 minutes, and we had to get the room ready. For a while I didn't think we would ever get the room clean. It just seemed like so much. But eventually we wiped away the traces of human tragedy from the room, and to my amazement in the requisite time frame we had the room ready for the next case. As if nothing had ever happened.

But I could not wipe clean the memory from my mind. Sometimes I find myself taking little snapshots in my head of situations that are well, Kodak moments. My kids playing in the yard, sitting with my wife on the porch in the evening, regal cumulous clouds bursting over the horizon, and a surgeon's hand inside a man's chest holding closed the aortic artery. Yeah, weird. I know. But that's life. A compilation of the majestic and the tragic. I don't always know how to handle or even process it. I can't really think of any spiritual conclusions other than to say that I never want to take life or my time here on earth for granted.

I have faith in God and His sovereignty in life to get me through such times, and yet no pithy conclusions come to mind to bring closure to this event. It was tough. I will get over it, but it will take a while. As it should.

Abortionists Providing Cover for Statutory Rape?

2008-12-06T07:31:00.000-08:00

"For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed" (John 3:20, NASB)

Meet Lila Rose, a 20-year-old History major at UCLA. Her diminutive size, small voice, and ability to act coy have allowed her to spoof being a 13- to 15-year-old seeking an abortion at Planned Parenthood. Rose's video and audio exposes are now making huge waves in the media. A recent video is provided below. In it Rose tells an Indiana Planned Parenthood nurse that she is only 13 years old and has been impregnated by her mother's 31-year-old live-in boyfriend. The nurse bluntly tells her "I don't want to know how old he is," then goes on to counsel her on how to lie about the situation. The video finishes with the nurse drawing a circle around an Illinois clinic address, where an abortion can be obtained without parental consent.

Granted, one could raise a legitimate argument against the deception involved in Rose's tactics, but shouldn't there be universal outrage that an adult in a position of authority would so willingly comply in a cover-up of statutory rape? These issues are emotionally charged and both sides of the debate are given to over-the-top characterizations -- and at times there is violence. So, in light of all we've heard at Copperhill and in God's Word about living out the gospel, how can we respond in a way that is loving, truthful, and morally consistent?

We'd like to hear your thoughts on this.

Looking for Signs of Thanksgiving?

2008-11-28T13:28:00.000-08:00

A guest post from Mark Montoya:

To look at early U.S. colonial history and this morning's headlines is a study in contrasts. I just read that a Wal-Mart worker in Long Island was trampled to death by eager shoppers in the early hours of Black Friday. This part of the story was almost unbelievable:

Before police shut down the store, eager shoppers streamed past emergency crews as they worked furiously to save the store clerk's life. "They were working on him, but you could see he was dead," said Halcyon Alexander, 29. "People were still coming through." Only a few stopped.

Now, to be fair, we don't yet know whether the trampling was the immediate cause of death. The stampede might have triggered a heart attack (the victim was young, however) or some previous health condition. Still, one would expect the event to prompt more people to pause and perhaps offer a prayer for the person who is passing from this life a few feet away. What about just calling off the hunt right there out of respect for the departed? It reminds me of a story out of Israel a few years back in which a surveillance camera captured motorists swerving around a body that lay dead in a busy city intersection. What made it news was not the man's tragic death, but the callousness of his countrymen.

In contrast, there have been times in our nation's history during which a celebration of Thanksgiving prompted acts of selflessness and genuine appreciation for the blessings of this life and the providence of God Almighty. Just last night, my wife's cousin asked the family to observe the tradition of the "Five Kernels." I had not heard of this tradition before, and I'm still not sure how air-tight the story is. Yet, we can be confident of the conditions surrounding the time and place in which it is set.

As the legend goes, in the winter of 1621-22 the Pilgrims of Plymouth faced a "starving time" during which the rations fell to five kernels of corn per day, per person. In subsequent Thanksgiving celebrations, the settlers placed five kernels on their plates, just prior to the feast. They used that symbol to 1) count their blessings, 2) remember the sacrifices that were made, and 3) show appreciation for God's provision. We know that no one can survive for very long on five kernels per day, but considering that 46 of 102 Pilgrims perished that first harsh winter of 1621, it's not hard to see how truly tough life would have been. Here's what we do know: Even after facing some of the most difficult times in their lives, the Pilgrims sought to offer thanks to God.

On the commencement of Thanksgiving in 1623, Governor William Bradford issued this proclamation:

Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience. Now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday, November 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty-three and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.

Our nation's history is not perfect by any stretch of imagination. But one aspect of the national heritage that seems worth preserving is that great tradition of setting aside a special time to collectively acknowledge our dependence on our Creator and to ask Him, once again, to bless America (and not just materially, but with goodness and repentance too). While the headlines offer little encouragement as we cross into that "holiday period" between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I am reminded of the need to resist hedonistic materialism and to look for ways to be more generous and thankful.

Connecticut - Gay Marriage Legal

2008-10-14T10:43:00.000-07:00

On Friday of last week, the Connecticut Supreme Court overturned the ban on same sex marriage in their state. Here's a link to an article [click here]. Linked below are also the series of sermons preached at Copperhill last month concerning the biblical foundation for human sexuality and the God-given design for marriage to be between one man and one woman. Be reminded of our call to live morally consistent, loving, missionally permeated lives in the context of our community, for the eternal good and salvation of our community.

Is Same Sex Marriage OK? [Pt. 1]
Is Same Sex Marriage OK? [Pt. 2]
Is Same Sex Marriage OK? [Pt. 3]

What is your Rock?

2008-09-29T15:00:00.000-07:00

As we all know, the financial world is going through turbulent times that are literally being felt all over the world. More than 30 have died in the last days due to a string of bombings in Baghdad. Hyperinflation in Zimbabwe has caused more than 80% of the population in that country to live below the poverty line. Up to 1 million people have been killed in Somalia in the last 15 years as a result of uprisings. Life on a fallen planet, inhabited by sinful people, is not always a walk in the park. In the midst of all this, among many other difficulties that life may throw at us, what is our Rock? What is our security?

What we run to in times of trouble reveals where our heart truly is. Do we run to the true God, or to a finite, temporal god (money, work, family) when the pressure is on? There's nothing wrong with family or work or money, but when they take the place of God, they become idols. What we naturally turn to in difficulty shows what we value the most, and therefore, what we worship. Becoming more like Christ means that there is a continual process of amputating the idols (remnant sin) that are present in our lives and to instead worship God in every area of life. This is a lifelong process that will not be perfectly complete until our ultimate glorification on the last day.

Think about this passage from Psalm 46:1-3: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."

Look at what you turn to in times of trouble. Is it to God? or to something else? God has promised to provide strength in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9) and He is trustworthy. Worship Him. If you have questions about this, feel free to email anyone on staff at Copperhill.

Kirk Cameron only kisses his wife

2008-09-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

This is a great article where Kirk Cameron talks about his commitment to his marriage. In a business where people move through spouses faster than running shoes, Kirk Cameron is a huge breath of fresh air. Read about it here.

See the trailer for Kirk Cameron's new movie, Fireproof, here.

There is No Neutral

2008-09-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

We have a choice as we go through this life: will we live for our story or God's story? From an eternal standpoint its an obvious decision. I once heard it described this way. We can be the main actor in a movie that shows once and everyone forgets as soon as they leave, or we can have a secondary role in the greatest movie ever produced and will be remembered for all eternity. It may sound good to have the name of being the main actor in a movie, but what if the movie is never watched?

We, as people who have embraced the gospel of Jesus, are called to the greatest cause that has ever existed on this planet. This is the original cause. The best cause. We're called to display God's name throughout the earth, for His glory, so that the world can see and know and divert all their pre-existing, but misplaced, worship to the only Being worthy of it: the Creator God. Then, and only then, will the world be satisfied. We're to be crying out with Isaiah to the dissatisfied populace looking for joy in the desert; "come to the waters, come buy and eat. Why do you spend your money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Come delight yourself in abundance." (Is. 55) The gospel is the only cause worth living for.

We are to reflect Christ, who is reflecting the Father, and the world sees the glory of the grace of God through Christ in our lives as we, through the power of the Spirit, radically amputate the petty, selfish worship in our lives and instead live lives of missionary sacrifice that look to the world like our treasure is in heaven and not on the earth. Our goal in life is to have a joy in Christ, (not in the world) that is shaken by no pain, (because He is our Rock in times of trouble) and competed with by no earthly pleasure (because He is the Creator and giver of joy and peace).

So the choice is ours today in 21st century America: will we live for our name and our pursuit of the American Dream? or will we dwell in the world as living representatives of God's glory and for the unending remembrance of His name? In the end we're either promoting God's cause, or the devil's cause.

"Yes Lord, walking in the way of Your truth we wait eagerly for You; for Your name; and Your renown are the desire of our souls." Isaiah 26:8

Listen to the sermon from Sunday 9/21/08

Evolutionary Theory on the Decline? Or is it?

2008-09-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

The Church of England officially apologized to Charles Darwin for "misunderstanding" him. Apparently they have accepted as true the theory of evolution as the explanation for the origins of mankind and the universe. But surprisingly enough there is quite a stir in the UK and US surrounding the debate of creation vs. evolution as foundations for world-views. Below are some quotes from the article, or, to read the full article click here.

"Science does not have to be taught in conflict with faith or religion," he says. "I believe the current debate over creationism versus evolution is beginning to draw more and people over to our side (creationism) of the argument."

"The materialist explanation of the creation has nothing to offer - if we came from nothing and go into nothing, then that encourages people to lead reckless and materialistic lifestyles."

"Evolution is a world-view that leads to futility. It's no wonder people are dissatisfied with it."

In Defense of Losing Your Virginity?

2008-09-09T16:26:00.001-07:00

Though I didn't see it, I read today about a couple of comments made about purity rings during the MTV VMA's. I am posting an interesting article here for you to weigh in on. In case it isn't obvious, the perspective in the article does not reflect a Christian worldview.

Here is a quote:

"Virginity till marriage isn't a solution, it's a slogan. People should be free to make this choice, obviously. I'm not going to say they should be celebrated, because our sex lives are private. Neither side deserves cake and balloons.

But the idea of saving it for marriage is only so useful, and it's the sort of thing that will no doubt lead to starter marriages between horny 18-year-olds who don't have any idea what "till death do you part" really means.

Virginity itself is actually way less important than self respect, self control, and the ability to keep both intact in tough situations. Those are the lessons parents ought to teach. Ultimately, that's what will keep our kids safer in a big, bad world."

Read the whole thing here and feel free to comment

Copperhill Church on iTunes

2008-07-16T14:29:00.001-07:00

Hey! You probably know that you can look up Copperhill Church on iTunes and find our sermon podcasts but guess what? You can now also look up the official Copperhill Church Worship Music iMix and Walk-In Music iMix on iTunes!

Here's a brief explanation of the two iMixes:

Worship iMix
This is a collection of songs that we sing on Sunday mornings. Just so you know, these are not actual recordings from our gatherings- they are done by other worship bands and artists (sometimes it's the band or artist who wrote the song).

Walk-In iMix
If you're ever cruising into church or hanging out after worship and hear a song playing that gets stuck in your head, this is the iMix for you. You can go here and preview the songs and find out the artists from that past Sunday. We'll try to update this iMix every week.

Here are directions to find them:

-Open your iTunes Store

-In the top left you'll see a box labeled "iTunes STORE". Click on the link that says "Music". This opens the Music page of the
iTunes Store.

-On the Music page, scroll down and on the far left (the fourth box from the top) you'll see a box called
"MORE IN MUSIC". In that box, click on the link that says "iMix". This opens up the iMix Homepage.

-In the top left part of the iMix homepage, you'll see a search box. Type in "Copperhill Church" and then hit ENTER.

-You'll now see both iMixes listed for you. Click on whichever you'd like and enjoy!

See you all later!

-

Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Isle of Man

2008-07-09T15:31:00.000-07:00

This is a really interesting interview with the Bishop N.T. Wright from the Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert. Please note that this is a satirical news show, so don't count on a purely journalistic interview. Aside from the satire, Wright briefly discusses the central ideas of his new book on heaven, "Surprised by Hope"- very potent things for today's Christian to think about.

James Daniels Update

2008-06-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

You've probably been keeping updated on James Daniels' condition through the Friends of James blog but in case you hadn't visited recently, Cathy filmed a short video of James talking and thanking everyone. It's pretty incredible and really encouraging to watch. Check it out by clicking on James' picture on the Copperhill site's main page.

Peace.

Rise of the Rebel Virgins

2008-06-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

In this month's issue of Christianity Today, there is an editorial regarding a recent movement amongst secular American college students toward abstinence prior to marriage. This thought-provoking article gives the reasoning behind the movement and explains how Christians should know the true reasons for abstinence. With news report describing the rising promiscuity of America's youth, this article provides an interesting avenue for Christians to missionally approach sexual purity and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Read the article here.

This article first appeared in the June 2008 issue of Christianity Today. Used by permission of Christianity Today International, Carol Stream, IL 60188

Calendar Updates

2008-05-29T16:15:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody!

Here are some important events coming up for the month of June:

JUNE 1ST - CORE GATHERING - 6:30PM @ RIO NORTE
This will be a meeting to fill all of you in on what's going on in the life of the church and to answer questions. Coffee will be provided, but we ask that you bring a desert with enough to share. Child care will be provided, but party hats won't. See you there!

JUNE 8TH- BAPTISMS - 2:30PM @ THE POWERT'S
This is an exciting opportunity to share in the joy and fellowship of Copperhill baptisms. Directions are on the website on the events tab. Should be easy to find if you go back to the website. or websight. if you can see it...

JUNE 29TH - PASTOR'S COFFEE - TBD
More information to come. Check your bulletins or the pastor's coffee image (which is nifty and hard to miss on the home page...) sometime soon for more information.

JUNE 25TH - JOSEPH ISAAC'S BIRTHDAY - ALL DAY
That's right kids. Your least favorite pastoral assistant (everyone knows Sue is the best!) turns twenty-three this day. For all of you calendrologists, that means his half-birthday is Christmas. Pretty cool, eh? Anybody else having a birthday this month?

Alright, that's about it! Have a great June!

Free to Speak Your Mind?

2008-04-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

Now playing at Edwards Cinema in Canyon Country:

George Foreman Smokeless Grill (aka - living in light of the Gospel)

2008-03-17T16:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a quote that I ran across recently, and I thought it well represented the mindset we should have as Christians.

"Constantly running its course through the many paths of our minds should be how astonishing the grace is that we have through Christ Jesus, and then every other thought should be subject to and infused with and motivated by this self-humbling and Savior-exalting mindset. When we are reviled, we do not revile in return because of the example of our God. He did not return evil for evil when He was the victim of the greatest injustice in human history but rather showed an astounding and incomprehensible love; perfection being slaughtered for the vile, for the scum of life, for the prostitute, for the addict, for the weak, for the sinner, for me, for you. This mindset should be fuel for the Spirit driven fire of compassion we are to have for mankind; both Christians and non-Christians."

Let Them Eat Dirt

2008-02-02T17:01:00.001-08:00

Geophagy. This is defined in Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary as the following:

: the practice of eating earthy substances (as clay) that in humans is performed especially to augment a scanty or mineral-deficient diet or as part of a cultural tradition -- called also earth eating

It is curious that describing it as 'part of a cultural tradition' is included in this definition. It would be hard to imagine anyone here in Valencia seeing a child chew on dirt as anything other than something that must be fixed.

Cajeunes,11, shows his tongue after eating a mud cookie in Cite Soleil, Friday, Jan. 18, 2008. Rising prices and food shortages threaten the nation's fragile stability, and the mud cookies, made of dirt, salt and vegetable shortening, are one of very few options the poorest people have to stave off hunger. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

Read the following Associated Press article on the art of the dirt cookie here.

For what we as Christians should be doing about this consider reading Tim Keller's latest book: Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road.

One For The Ladies

2008-01-25T09:14:00.000-08:00

Wendy Alsup is deacon of women's theology and teaching at Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA. She is a wife and mom and also occasionally teaches mathematics at a local community college.

She has written a series of four articles found on The Resurgence website satirically titled "The Ideal Christian Woman". Wendy skillfully refocuses the discussion of what the 'Ideal' should possibly look like.

Part 1. She is honest about her sin.
Part 2. Her identity and security are found in Christ
Part 3. In her body and life, she seeks to reflect the image of God.
Part 4. She ministers Grace to others, within and outside of the church.

Below is an excerpt:

I have had several women recently come to me concerned that they don't match the stereotype of the Ideal Christian Woman. That got me to think--what is that stereotype? When I hear others discuss the "Christian Woman" at our church, I think I know what they are talking about. I'm not going to describe her here, because I don't want to hurt any woman who may fit that stereotype. But I do want to shoot down the main myth I hear about the stereotypical Christian woman.

Myth
The godliest of Christian women look great all the time, all have godly Boaz type husbands, and have the same convictions about childbirth, breastfeeding, education, dinner preparation, employment, and so forth.

The Truth
First of all, "godliest" is a bad label. It implies we determine our godliness by comparing ourselves to others. "She's godlier than that other lady, so that makes her the godliest." Wrong! Christ is our standard of perfection, and we all fall short of His glory. The best analogy I've heard is that it is like someone standing on a sheet of paper and claiming to be closer to the sun. When we try to use the label "godliest," we are equally absurd. READ MORE

John Piper: "It's Crap"

2008-01-22T18:54:00.000-08:00

Think the health, wealth and prosperity 'gospel' is just an American phenomenon? We have now exported this 'Name It and Claim It' ideology to vulnerable developing countries like Zambia. And it is exploding.

Many Christian leaders have been vocal about their view of this type of 'gospel' and in the video below John Piper is certainly not offering an anemic opinion.

Watch the video and then read the following article in Christianity Today.

Chuck Swindoll and Howard Hendricks on Legalism

2008-01-16T12:08:00.000-08:00

Today, I was at Ed Stetzer's blog and came across a dialogue between these two men. One of the issues that they addressed was legalism. Here are some quotes:

"...when we get into areas that are not set forth in Scripture, either in precept or even in principle. These may be such things as length of hair, tattoos and other body piercings, skirts or pants for women, makeup or no makeup. Those are not scriptural issues. Sometimes these issues are cultural, and you do have to address them when you are in that particular culture. But I think legalism begins when you do or refrain from doing what I want you to do or not do because it’s on my list and it’s something that I am uncomfortable with."

"The problem with legalists is that not enough people have confronted them and told them to get lost. Those are strong words, but I don’t mess with legalism anymore. I’m 72 years old; what have I got to lose? Seriously, I used to kowtow to legalists, but they’re dangerous. They are grace-killers. They’ll drive off every new Christian you bring to church. They are enemies of the faith. Other than that, I don’t have any opinion!
So, if I am trying to force my personal list of no-no’s on you and make you feel guilty if you
don’t join me, then I’m out of line and I need to be told that."

If you want to read more, go here and then scroll down.

Mark Driscoll on Humility

2007-11-09T14:12:00.000-08:00

Here is a clip of Mark Driscoll speaking on humility from Justin Taylor's blog. In posting this, I am not giving anything away about myself--that would be ridiculous!

Sam

Between Two Worlds: Driscoll on the Pursuit of Humility

What Brian will be reading in 2008

2007-10-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

Recently I heard someone say "If you want to see how a person has grown in the last year look at what they read last year. If you want to know where a person will grow next year look at what they will read next year." Though this statement does not take into account that we grow in amazing ways through trials it is definitely true that we grow as we read. My commitment is to read through the Bible each year and to read a minimum of 100 pages per week in books that will help me to grow. By simply reading 15-20 minutes per day a person can read 100 pages per week. Annually I make a plan of what I will read in the coming year to maximize my growth. So here are the approximately 5200 pages that I will be reading next year. Join me if you are interested! -- Brian Howard

1. Heaven Randy Alcorn
2. The Religious Affections Jonathan Edwards
3. Above All Earthly Powers David Wells
4. Simply Christian N.T Wright
5. The Shaping of Things to Come Frost and Hirsch
6. Lectures on Calvinism Abraham Kuyper
7. Death by Suburb David Goetz
8. Restoring Broken Things Chapman/Smith
9. Heaven is a Place on Earth Michael Wittmer
10. Heaven is Not My Home Paul Marshall
11. Next Generation Leader Andy Stanley
12. When I Don’t Desire God John Piper
13. Christ Centered Preaching Brian Chapell
14. What Women Wish Pastors Knew Denise George
15. Death by Meeting Patrick Lencioni
16. Brothers, We Are Not Professionals John Piper
17. Three Signs of a Miserable Job Patrick Lencioni
18. Instruments in the Redeemer’s Hands Paul Tripp

willow creek's new vision

2007-10-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Hopefully you're all doing well. Thankfully the fires seem to be subsiding around us, and as far as we know, everyone in the church was kept from losing property. Please keep in prayer for the hundreds of people who did suffer loss in these fires.

Shannon Hoffman brought to our attention a really interesting article about Willow Creek Community Church and some thoughts from their pastors about where the church is going. If you're not familiar with Willow Creek, you can check their website here. If you've ever been a part of a "program-driven" church, this may intrigue you. I can definitely say that as Christians who so value and emphasize community in our church (because it's our church's middle name?), this is quite encouraging to hear...

Willow Creek Repents?

precious moments in american religion

2007-10-23T09:30:00.000-07:00

In Sunday's sermon on Luke 6:46-49 (which you can hear back on our church website or on our podcast) about hearing and doing what Jesus teaches us, Brian commented on how Santa Clarita (and more so suburbia in general) is "the hardest place, maybe in the world, to live out our Christianity." In explaining that, Brian reminded us that in a culture such as ours, we must constantly examine our hearts and tune them to worship God, not turning our eyes to the idols around us. That reminded me of an article written by a guy named Michael Horton called, "Precious Moments in American Religion." It's pretty lengthy, but if you have time to read it, I'd really recommend it. If you don't have the time, here are some thought-provoking points that Horton brings up about American idolatry and the suffering of suburban Christians...

"...popular American religion in general has become increasingly captive to false gods."

"It is a tough lesson, and Israel had to learn it again and again. To worship God - even the true God - according to our own imagination rather than according to his own self-revelation, is to discover 'the consuming fire' rather than the welcoming Presence."

"It was not enough to worship the correct God; they had to worship the correct God according to his own revelation, not their own wits. And why? Because one day, the true 'icon of the invisible God' would appear, the promised Redeemer (Col. 1:15). God himself would visit his people and save them from his just wrath. He would come not in the form of a golden calf (or a ceramic cherub), but 'though he was in the form of God,' he would come 'taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death - even death on a cross' (Phil. 2:6-8). To solve the problem of impatience with an icon of their own making, Israel was substituting the glorious hope of the Incarnation and redemption in Christ with a mute piece of precious metal. They had worshipped themselves instead of God, settling for a cheap imitation who would satisfy their 'felt needs' and momentary pleasures."

"...Much of that which we call 'religion' is indeed simply the illusory projection of our own felt needs, inner longings, and sinful demands. Israel projected her idolatrous longings for a user-friendly deity like that of her neighbors, and 'out came this calf.' Likewise, we determine what is most important to us, shaped as we are by consumerism, popular entertainment, shallow conversation, and the torrent of trivial information, and out comes whatever image of God that happens to satisfy our momentary lusts."

"...Ours is among the most image-based and image-worshipping societies in human history. Like the golden calf, our images promise health, wealth, happiness, success, even intimacy, without any price. 'Don't worry be happy,' cry our gelded idols from the pages of slick magazines, billboards, TV and computer screens, and radio ads. 'Sure it costs more, but I'm worth it!' 'You deserve a break today!' 'You can have it all!' 'Just do it!' 'Screw guilt!'"

"And too often, the evangelical world simply shapes its own calf from the fool's gold of popular culture. 'God' is now worshipped as though he were a product, making promises not unlike those mentioned here in connection with other units of sales. Instead of being hidden in thick smoke, his voice shaking the earth as it sends terror into our sinful hearts, the images we market console us in our misery, enslaving us with bonds of addiction, at last leaving us to rot in a cell of consumption, self-deceit, and unfulfilled cravings. Part of the problem is that we do not even really grasp our captivity; we are still in the phase of adoration, believing in the benevolence of the idols too much to reject them. When we hear stories of persecuted Christians in hostile lands, we cheer them on in their refusal to give in to the enormous pressures of compromise. As for the persecuted believers themselves - especially in Islamic states - they do not have the luxury of enjoying both the comfort of their cultural acceptability and the purity of faith. At some point, they have to choose. After careful consideration, weighing the options, counting the cost, they finally agree courageously to be baptized, realizing that this will alienate them from their whole society. Now, of course, nothing like that confronts us in terms of degree; but we do face the same challenge in kind."

"The problem is, we express alarm when it comes to the political and moral crisis of our time, while we often ignore the ways in which our culture is deeply corrosive of Christian faith and practice in deeper and broader ways. I am far more worried about the market-driven, therapeutic, narcissistic and entertainment-oriented culture of modern evangelicalism than I am about the second term of President Clinton."

"America's popular culture is every bit as dangerous (perhaps more so because of its pervasiveness) as these more obvious threats. Popular culture, vast in its liturgical forms, is an ideology, perhaps even a religion."

"While there is undoubtedly a great deal more freedom and justice in America than in China or Iran, there is almost no discussion within evangelical circles about the enormously detrimental effects of free market capitalism and its mass popular culture on the family, vocation, local culture, language, and faith and practice. In a fallen world, free market capitalism may indeed prove the best system, but to suggest (even by implicit silence) that its effects are either entirely benevolent or neutral is, I think, precisely what makes it impossible for us to see ourselves as exiles. While we are not persecuted, we are seduced. What we need to do at this moment in time is to repent: to say simply, like the Chinese or Iranian convert, 'By God's grace, we renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil.'"

"It may just be that, as the culture unravels at an increasingly rapid pace, large churches that want to be faithful will experience serious numerical loss over a short time. This, it seems, to me, is the price we may have to pay, and it is hardly to be compared to the price paid by our persecuted brothers and sisters. The other option is to be increasingly seduced and to maintain our numbers or even increase the rolls, only to create a successful secularized congregation."

"If there were only one Word and one Mountain, we might all become existentialists and abandon ourselves to this nihilistic realm of self-destruction, where we consume and amuse ourselves to death. After all, if God is only wrath and power, justice and holiness, we too might as well call for the rocks to fall on us - or fill our days with frolic around the golden calf - rather than face the God who is there. But, as God revealed his goodness to Moses by proclaiming his mercy instead of showing his face, so now, when God at last comes near to us in the flesh of Jesus Christ, we can finally see God and live to tell about it."

"Instead of Mount Sinai, burning with smoke, we have come to Mount Zion (Heb. 12:18-28). In Christ, the Consuming Fire is hidden in the gentleness of the manger, turning water into wine, inviting sinners to his table. Clothed in him, we are protected like Moses in the cleft of the rock, and are able to stand in his Holy of Holies without fear of judgment. And yet, our worship must still be "with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is [still] a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29)."

*italics added for emphasis

Anyway, I just thought this was really interesting in light of what Brian taught us Sunday morning. And I would encourage us to not simply swallow popular culture (nor this article!) whole, but instead (with the discernment of the Holy Spirit that God has placed in our hearts), continue to examine the Scriptures to see who Jesus is and what He taught, and then consider how our lives hold up to that. Feel free to post your comments as well, they are gladly welcomed! As for now, "check yourself before you wreck yourself!"

Become a better you? What???

2007-10-16T09:17:00.001-07:00

Form Without Substance