Horizon.org

I’m not gonna lie to you, it’s been a pretty heavy week here at Horizon. As many of you know, we had a terrible car accident involving five seniors from a local high school.

Driving way too fast, way too late, having had way too much to drink, they lost control and rolled the car at 1:45am Sunday morning. One of the passengers Alex Capozza was thrown from the car and pronounced dead at the scene, another spent several days in the hospital, three suffered only minor physical injuries yet have a memory they will never forget. Our prayers have been with the boys and their families including Brandon who was driving under the influence and currently awaits trial.

As heavy as this cloud of gloom has been, there have been some amazing rays of light. Several fellow classmates have started attending church and as a result have dedicated their lives to Christ. Three students (including one who was in the accident) were baptized this past Sunday following the weekend services (over 75 have been baptized from Horizon in the last month).

“So Parents, in light of this horrific tragedy, What do we do? How can we improve? (and kids for your sake, make sure they do it) Let me share with you a “Fourfold Foundational Framework for your Family”
Are you Ready???

1) PRAY: Pray with your kids. Don’t just pray for them; pray with them. The Bible says, the fervent prayers of the faithful availeth much. Praying for them is a must. Praying with them is obviously taking it to a fervent level of seriousness. It shows them your seriousness and teaches them by your example to take it just as serious as you.

2) PLAN: Plan to plainly live out your love for your kids. Don’t just tell them; show them! They need it as much as teen-agers as they did as toddlers. Regularly being reminded of your love will keep them from doing stupid things to gain the approval and acceptance from others. You need to make a plan to do everything in your power to keep your kids from making stupid mistakes and (God forbid) wrecking their lives.

3) PROTECT: I honestly don’t care how unpopular this might seem, parents your primary role is to protect your kids. Trust your instincts. If you have a hunch that things are too open to the wrong persuasions than pull in the slack. The worse thing you could do is give them so much freedom that is ends up destroying the very freedom they cherish. Set a family curfew; make sure you know who is influencing them most. Know that our adversary (the devil) roams about seeking whom he may devour. He wants to steal, kill and destroy this impressionable generation spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.

4) PRIORITIZE: Church services and activities should be at the top of your priority list for your kids (no if’s and’s or butt’s). No excuses! Get them to church. Get them in a Bible Study. Get them in touch with some youth leaders and pastors who will re-enforce the priorities that you know are essential in building a strong spiritual foundation. Prioritize their Peers, their iPods, their Facebook account, their friends, movies, weekends, dreams, goals and fears. If you are their Parent, you need to help them Prioritize right from wrong, light from dark, good from bad and love from hate.

For those of you reading this who are struggling with your kids (or kids struggling with your parents) please know that I or any of the pastors at Horizon are available to talk with you about anything that is on your heart. May the Lord bless you and keep you. In Jesus name, amen.

Is this the beginning of the end? Come one, you’d have to agree, there seems to be a lot of strange things happening on the world stage lately that would lead even the skeptic to a place of admitting something’s up! Whether it’s an increase in natural disasters, earthquakes, fires and floods, or the economic twister of havoc and fallout, we are living amongst a series of cataclysmic events that are bound to grab everyone’s attention at some point. Bottom line is this; we need to get ready. Although daily events surrounding us might seem out of control, our hearts need not be. In Psalm 37:23-26 we are told that, “the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand. I have been young and am now old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful and lendeth and his seed is blessed.” The sobering realization is this; yes we are in fact living in the last days. Yes, God is trying desperately to get our attention. Yes, our faith is being tested. And Yes, this last chapter if life (the Epilogue) can be for you the best chapter ever. You see, and Epilogue is written so that what hasn’t happened can happen. Maybe what hasn’t happened for you is full surrender to Jesus Christ. Maybe what needs to happen is a chance for the things you know you should be living for to become the priority. Today is your chance to get right with God! Let me encourage you, don’t waste it. God wants to see you finish well and we want to do all we can to help make that happen. In fact this fall I am launching a brand new series at Horizon entitled; EPILOGUE: Life’s Last Chapter. I hope you can join us for it either in person on the web (horizon.org). It’s a practical series that relates to the events of today and helps us keep our eyes on Christ and finish our race the way God would desire. May God bless you.

Back in the 1600’s a group of radicals came together to declare their faith in no uncertain terms.  It came to be known as the Westminster Confession. It was signed by the Westminster Assembly and has obviously lasted for hundreds of years. Bonnie my wife and I recently has the privilege of visiting the Westminster Abbey and Chapel along with the British Parliament buildings in London on our way home from a missions trip in Africa. While we were there it dawned on me that the world has changed dramatically since the Westminster Confessions were penned. What hasn’t changed is the Gospel they stand for, but it seemed to make sense to pen them again for a new generation of radical committed Christians. So we came home, compiled the thoughts of our staff, a few like minded church and friends and came up with “Our Confession for the Last Days”.

“CONFESSIONS OF FAITH”

MY GREATEST LOVE & HIGHEST CALL IS TO
SERVE MY LORD & SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
(might be in banking, real-estate, construction, surfing,
horses training but grtst love highest call)

I AM SAVED, FORGIVEN & FREE FROM THE WAGES,
SHAME & CONDEMNATION OF SIN
(Paul says Rms 8 there is therefore no condemnation …
nowhere else can you find that)

I LIVE BY COURAGEOUS FAITH TO CHANGE
THE WORLD BOTH LOCALLY & GLOBALLY
(here’s the opportunity of a downturned economy …
learning to live by faith … courageous faith)

I WON’T BE BOUND BY FEAR OR ANXIETY,
BUT TRUST THE LORD WITH ALL MY HEART
(JC said do not worry … yet worry & stress will be the
cause of death more than any other cause)

I REJECT ALL MY INSECURITIES IN THE
POWER OF GOD’S LOVE & ACCEPTANCE OF ME
(We don’t serve God so He will love us, we serve
God b/c does! Accept or Reject but can’t Chg)

I FULFILL WHAT GOD CALLS ME TO THROUGH
THE POWER OF HIS SPIRIT IN MY LIFE
(not own abilities, contacts (people want to
believe who you know) only ONE matters)

I AM A FAITHFUL SPOUSE & SEE MY FAMILY
AS CENTRAL TO MY CALL INTO MINISTRY
(my family is not to be the cost or casualty
of my call to ministry … but central to it … yours too)

I WALK BY FAITH BELIEVING GOD IS
THE FAITHFUL PROVIDER OF MY EVERY NEED
(not your greeds … ask amiss b/c spend it on pleasures …
entertaining our way to hell) Faith!

I AM COMMITTED TO LIVING THE TRUTH
OF SCRIPTURE BY THE POWER OF PRAYER
(Living Pwrfl, given by inspiration of God,
line upon line … power of prayer … lit up)

I HAVE ACCESS TO THE WISDOM OF THE LORD
CONCERNING EVERY DECISION I MAKE
(James tells us if we lack wisdm we can ask …
torrents gushings … liberally)

I AM PROTECTED FROM SPIRITUAL ATTACKS &
OPPOSITION IN THE NAME OF JESUS
(Eph 6)

I BELIEVE LOVE IS A SACRIFICIAL COMMITMENT
& THE GREATEST QUALITY IN MY LIFE
(1Cor 13)

Click here to download “Confessions of  Faith”