From the Pastor

Mercy Maternity Home

Terry Crigger — 2012-01-28T00:49:12-05:00

For years I had preached against abortion and participated in various aspects of the pro-life movement but offered no positive alternative for moms who felt that their situation was too desperate to give life a chance. After a few years of intentional silence, a dream was birthed in my heart to have a home for unwed moms who felt the pressure to have an abortion but desired to give their child the gift of life. The home next to our church property was available but the homeowners were not going to reduce their asking price of $210,000.00. The Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati Airport also wanted the property and made an offer near or at the asking price. It looked as though fate had intervened and the dream had died.

A few weeks passed and the owners contacted me to give our church one last opportunity to make an offer. The bank required approximately $30,000.00 to be raised before we could finance the balance. We had no available funds. I made a simple request on one specific Sunday and things began to move forward quickly. In one month we had signed the contract and the entire $30,000.00 was raised. Then, an additional $25,000.00 was needed for a new roof, to replace outdated windows and to upgrade every room in the house. God was faithful and our congregation worked hard to complete the project. We even had an odd occurrence when a couple drove their car into the unfinished garage that resulted in an insurance settlement and a completely renovated area for the girls to relax, watch television or have devotions.

Today, the doors of Mercy Maternity Home have been opened for nearly 12 years. During that time over 80 babies have been born to the moms that have lived there. This ministry would not be possible if individuals turned a deaf ear to the cries of the unborn. I’m grateful to serve a congregation who understands that our faith in Christ requires a commitment to the gift of life. I’m grateful to others in our community and in other parts of our nation who stand with us financially to provide a safe place for moms that desire to do what is appropriate for their baby. I’m grateful for our director, Cara Gault, and for house parents and volunteers that serve in this ministry and make the day-to-day operation of MMH a reality. And most of all, I’m grateful to God for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of children and young ladies who genuinely need a safe place for a short season. Mercy Maternity Home is such a place and we are blessed to be part of that journey.

Laughter from Heaven

Terry Crigger — 2012-01-19T20:32:30-05:00

The year was 1998 and we had recently moved into our current sanctuary. It had been a big step of faith for us, nearly tripling our mortgage payment. Our attendance and income had yet to see the anticipated increase and we were simply holding our collective breath. A more recent addition to the worship experience was the use of quality projection and I truly believed it was in our best interest as a church to purchase one for ourselves. The only problem was the cost, $10,000.00.

I can still remember the expressions on the faces of our church board members when I presented this request. They wanted to embrace this new project with the same enthusiasm as their pastor, but common sense and budget realities required at least some caution! The meeting ended with a no decision on the projector, and a wait and see approach as to how to move forward.

Sometimes a pastor struggles to wait and this was one of those times. I was certainly aware of the financial realities and knew wisdom guided our decision. I was simply consumed with the desire to purchase a projector but had no idea how such a large sum of money could be raised, especially with the current financial crunch.

A defining moment came one evening a few weeks later while sitting in the front row of our sanctuary as a missionary spoke about God’s provision. He was there to raise our awareness to world missions but my thoughts were fixed on the enormous costs of that silly projector. I was way too preoccupied and even a little embarrassed that this purchase had consumed so much of my energy. It was in that moment that something supernatural happened. In one of those divine moments where heaven seems to invade our human experience, in my mind I literally heard laughter followed by the words, “If you only knew how much money it was going to require for you to do the things I’ve called you to do.” It takes longer to write this story than the whole experience itself took all those years ago. All I know is that with the laughter and fresh word in my spirit, my soul was quieted and the restlessness concerning the projector immediately disappeared.

I have no memory of how we paid for that first projector. I do know it’s now impossible to think of a church service without using that form of media to communicate the gospel. Few weeks, however, will go by even all these years later without thinking of that moment when the Lord laughed at my little faith and challenged me to dream bigger dreams. He gave me my own Isaac that night and I hold to that experience now more than ever.

A Pastor's Prayer

Terry Crigger — 2012-01-06T17:07:13-05:00

God, I thank you for the honor of serving as the senior pastor of Christ’s Chapel. It has been an amazing journey that now exceeds 25 years. You’ve shown your faithfulness and power so many times and on so many levels. Thank you.

I pray for the body of believers that make this church their spiritual home. Bless their lives, protect them from harm, give them provision, watch over their children and grandchildren, guide their steps and preserve their hearts. For those who are married, secure their relationship with their spouse. Dear God, keep us pure, both in our hearts and in our behavior. Help us to discover your purposes for us this year that give honor to you and establish your kingdom more firmly in our church and around the world.

Father, give us divine guidance to appropriately balance your heart for outreach and discipleship. I know you’ve called us to reach our communities with compassion and to tell the lost about Christ, the Savior of the World. Please give us added avenues into our neighborhoods that will uplift the name of Jesus. But God, help us to equally care for and train those you’ve already given to us to become all that you desire for them. May we all grow in the things of the Lord and honor you with our lives.

God, we live in unsettling times economically. I’m asking you for the gift of provision for every individual and family in our church. Also, I ask you for a strong year financially for our church. We need a strengthened general fund and an ability to pay our mortgage and eliminate our debt. You alone are our provider and I trust you to show yourself faithful in matters of finance.

Father, our nation is in the midst of an election cycle and our citizens will vote this November for a new congress and president. I ask that the journey will be directed by your hand, the people of God will vote your heart, and that our nation will experience revival that will renew the church and usher in a harvest of souls.

In the name of Jesus I bless the people I am so blessed to serve. Amen”

Prayer and Fasting

Terry Crigger — 2011-12-30T10:34:17-05:00

We serve a God of fresh starts and new beginnings and each New Year creates amazing opportunities for those who desire to embrace them. But let’s be honest. We live in unsettling times. There’s a degree of uncertainly in the world today. Economies are struggling and nations are feeling the stress of political change and citizen unrest. It touches each one of us to some degree on a very personal level. Even our church feels the impact.

Because these things are true, beginning 2012 with a season of collective prayer and fasting is not only appropriate, but it is also spiritually strategic. The combination of prayer and fasting is a biblical model that finds its roots in both the Old and New Testaments. I encourage everyone to participate in some form of fashion. Here are a few details to consider…

The 21 days begin on Monday, January 9th and conclude on Sunday, January 29th .
During Monday – Friday the weeks of January 9th, 16th and 23rd, the sanctuary will be open from 7 a.m. until 9 a.m. for those who would want to come for prayer.

During our Wednesday evening services (the 11th, 18th, and 25th), a portion of our worship time will be devoted to prayer.

A simple definition of fasting is that it is a season of abstaining for spiritual purposes. Although most apply it to food, others choose to refrain from certain activities and instead use that time for prayer or Bible reading.

Fasting food ranges to eating only certain types of food (fruits, vegetables, etc.) to abstaining from food altogether. Some fast a day or two each week of the fast, a meal or two each week of the fast, eating only one meal each day of the fast, etc.
Some focus their fast on what they drink instead of what they eat. For example, some will only drink water. Others will give us things like soda, coffee, etc.

As you can tell, fasting is very personal. It’s also very private. The journey of fasting is what is most important and I believe God knows our efforts and pays attention to our sacrifice. I hope we all participate on some level. Happy New Year!

A Child

Terry Crigger — 2011-12-16T13:02:50-05:00

Lord,
When you became one of us
you did not come as a man,
but as a child.
You, the eternal Word, the infinite God,
became a microscopic zygote
clinging to the wall of Mary's womb.

Through the miracle
and the mystery of life you became a tiny fetus,
living for a few short months
in the warmth and safety of your mother's body.
Then you were born
and the mystery of your life in the womb
was revealed for all the world to see.

From a babe in Mary's arms
you grew into a toddler, a child.
By this, the act of incarnation,
you have forever given, to every child,
a special dignity and worth.
You have made them a living treasure,
a holy treasure.
Each and every child is eternally precious.

Help us, I pray, as parents, friends and a church,
to be faithful stewards to these little ones.
May we nurture them
with your unconditional love.
May we disciple them
with your unerring faithfulness.
And may we train them
in your eternal truth,
especially at Christmas time.
In Jesus name we pray.

A Christmas Prayer

Terry Crigger — 2011-11-23T20:34:58-05:00

Lord,

Deliver us from the spirit of consumerism - from shopping lists, full-color catalogs, and credit card purchases which haunt us all year long.

Deliver us from empty cheer and season’s greetings born of obligation, sent without meaning.

Deliver us from the whirl of social events which supposedly honor Jesus’ birth but in reality are nothing more than another desperate attempt to coax some joy and meaning into a life filled to the brim with busyness.

Surely Christmas is supposed to be more than this, more than another round in our bumper car existence...

“How are you doing?” (Bump, bump.)
“Great party, isn’t it?” (Bump, bump, bump.)

Grant us the true Christmas spirit, Lord - the generosity of heart, the self-forgetfulness, the love which caused You to wrap Yourself in the garments of our humanity and live among us for a time.

Grant us the true Christmas spirit, Lord - the genuine joy of authentic celebration, angels singing, shepherds stumbling through the dark in search of the Savior, Elizabeth’s song, Simeon’s prophecy, Anna’s exclamation of praise!

Grant us the true Christmas spirit, Lord - hymns of faith sung from the heart, true worship, candlelight communion, prayer more real than words, the simple pleasure of family and friends, the excitement of children, adult conversation laced with memories, childhoods remembered and relived for a day.

Grant us the true Christmas spirit, Lord.

All is Grace

Terry Crigger — 2011-11-18T15:58:26-05:00

Taken from the Book All is Grace, by Brennan Manning

“Scripture is full of ragamuffins. I’ve overlooked one, no doubt for the obvious reason that he doesn’t appear to be a ragamuffin at first sight. His exploits are heroic, the stuff of legend. But stretching my mind to look deeper, I’ve seen his rags. His name was Sampson, the long-haired strong man who took Nazirite vows, the last and most famous of the Old Testament judges, the warrior who slew the lion with his bare hands and a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. But his storied life ended in a prison, his hair shaved, his eyes gouged out, weak, blind, dependent, little more than a child. In one final mockery, Samson was chained between twin temple pillars at the feast of the god Dagon for the amusement of the people. But not everything was as it appeared. Had the Philistines assembled on that day looked closer, they would have noticed a lengthening shadow on the ragamuffin’s head; his hair had begun to grow back and therefore his strength. In one final witness to the God of Israel, Samson seized the chains and pulled. He brought the house down, literally.

With what strength I have left, I want to grab the chains and pull, one last time. My hope, as always, is to point to the God too good to be true, my Abba. I’ve no delusions of heroically bringing down the house of fear that imprisons so many. My desire is to witness, nothing else. My message, unchanged for more than fifty years, is this: God loves you unconditionally, as you are and not as you should be, because nobody is as they should be.”

Trust

Terry Crigger — 2011-11-11T14:12:35-05:00

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Lord,
Trusting You isn’t all that easy.
I mean You see things from a totally different perspective.
I worry about the immediate while You’re shaping the eternal.
Daily demands dominate my thinking while You’re busy with the whole scope of my life.
For me my life is all consuming.
It’s important to You, too, but as part of a whole not just an individual entity.
I want to trust You.
I want to believe You know what’s best, that Your will for me is designed to release my highest potential.
I do believe, Lord, help me to believe more.
History is my best hope.
Across the scope of a lifetime, I can see the wisdom of Your will.
Even in my short life, the evidence of Your direction gives me a sense of destiny.
I trust You, Lord, I really do!
Amen

Rebuilding Broken Walls

Terry Crigger — 2011-10-20T22:06:51-04:00

I want to personally thank those in our congregation who are considering and now beginning to respond to the enormous need we have to pay our monthly mortgage payment. Being collectively responsible for an amount that exceeds $14,600.00 every month in addition to the general fund expenses is a daunting task for this local church, especially in today's economy. And yet, I'm already beginning to see some signs that God is going to help us meet this challenge.

Don't get me wrong. We are not even close to reaching our goal. And yet, people are talking. A handful of folks have already responded, but many more are having conversations about what they can do. Emails and phone calls combined with face-to-face questions and comments give me encouragement that our church family really does care about this situation. Now we watch and pray to see what God is going to do for us.

When Nehemiah assessed the situation at hand and the enormity of the task that lay before him, he was saddened by what he saw. The journey of rebuilding destroyed walls will always begin with an emotional response to whatever situation we are confronted with. I think it's fair to suggest that emotional response will include feelings of sadness, but can also include sentiments such as fear, anger, frustration, confusion, etc. The solution requires that we not become paralyzed and withdrawn by these emotions but proactive and engaged in God's answer for us. In this current sermon series, Rebuilding Broken Walls, my prayer is that each one of us submits to God, those areas of our life that He desires to rebuild inside and around us.

The Nehemiah journey reminds us that God can take what appears to be, and literally is, complete destruction and create a miracle out of it. The ultimate triumph was when God took a crucifixion and created a resurrection. As we walk the lessons of this sermon series out during our own 52 days of rebuilding, let's do it together, working side-by-side, each day growing in faith and watching God restore strength out of weakness and strong walls out of rubble. I love you. Thank you for the honor and joy of serving as your pastor.

Ragamuffin Gospel

Terry Crigger — 2011-10-14T12:36:35-04:00

The Ragamuffin Gospel is not for the super-spiritual.
It is not for muscular Christians who have made John Wayne and not Jesus their hero.
It is not for academicians who would imprison Jesus in the ivory tower of exegesis.
It is not for hooded mystics who want magic in their religion.
It is not for the Alleluia Christians who live only on the mountaintop and have never visited the valley of desolation.
It is not for the fearless and tearless.
It is not for the red-hot zealots who boast with the rich young ruler of the gospels: "All these commandments I have kept from my youth."
It is not for the complacent, hoisting over their shoulder a tote-bag of honors, diplomas, and good works actually believing they have it made.
It is not for legalists who would rather surrender control of their souls than run the risk of living in union with Jesus.
If anyone is still reading along, The Ragamuffin Gospel was written for the bedraggled, beat-up, and burned-out.
It is for the sorely burdened who are still shifting the heavy suitcase from one hand to the other.
It is for the wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don't have it altogether and are too proud to accept the handout of amazing grace.
It is for inconsistent, unsteady disciples whose cheese is falling off their cracker.
It is for the poor, weak, sinful men and women with hereditary faults and limited talents.
It is for earthen vessels who shuffle along on feet of clay.
It is for the bent and the bruised who feel that their lives are a grave disappointment to God.
It is for smart people who know they are stupid and honest disciples who admit they are scalawags.
The Ragamuffin Gospel is a book I wrote for myself and anyone who has grown weary and discouraged along the Way.

Ten Years Later

Terry Crigger — 2011-09-09T12:46:38-04:00

Dear Lord,
We’re still hoping we’ll wake up. We’re still hoping we’ll open a sleepy eye and think, “What a horrible dream!” But we won’t, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress. People did perish. It was no dream and, dear Father, we are sad.

There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her in those final moments?)

We are sad, Father. For as the innocent were buried, our innocence was buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known better. But we didn’t. And so we come to you. We don’t ask you for help; we beg you for it. We don’t request it; we implore it. We know what you can do. We’ve read the accounts. We’ve pondered the stories and now we plead, “Do it again, Lord. Do it again.”

Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children from the angel of death. We have children, too, Lord. Do it again.
And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You answered them. Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.

You changed Daniel from a captive into a king’s counselor. You took Simon the fisherman and made him Peter the apostle. Because of you, David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.

Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we saw here last Tuesday, you saw there that Friday. Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the ash fell on our children, the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was pierced.
And by dusk, heaven’s sweetest song was silent, buried behind a rock. But you did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us a September Easter.

We thank you, dear Father, for these hours of unity. Christians are praying with Jews. Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank you for these hours of unity. And we thank your for these hours of prayer. The Enemy sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however, that we would kneel before you. And he has no idea what you will do. Let your mercy be upon our President, Vice President, and their families. Grant to those who lead us, wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe.
And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand years you’ve used her to heal a hurting world. Do it again, Lord. Do it again. Through Christ, Amen.

Surrender

Terry Crigger — 2011-08-19T21:38:47-04:00

Lord,
I can only confess concerning my yesterdays
and I cannot make any promises about the future,
but in this moment, right now,
I give myself to You.

I confess to failures in my past.
These can’t be changed, only forgiven.
I long to make promises concerning my future,
but honesty with You and with myself
makes me give You only me and only for today.

In this moment I offer myself to you as a living sacrifice
praying for You to make me holy and acceptable.

Take control of my thinking until my thoughts
are more Yours than mine.
Direct my actions till my selfishness is
replaced by selfless service to You and others.

Lord,
I’m really inviting You to invade my person.
I’m asking You to inhabit me,
to take a new lease on my life and make me once again
truly the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

I am found!

Terry Crigger — 2011-08-26T21:37:27-04:00

Over the past number of years, it has finally become apparent that You have been keeping me closer than I had thought. In my childish folly, I thought I could remove the pain of my youth by denying you my companionship. Yet I now see that You have been by my side all along. When I was drowning in despair, it was You who gave me a lifeline. When I was lost in the dark, it was You who gave me the light. When I hit the wall of doubt and did not know where to turn, it was You who opened the door. When I slipped on the shaky ground at the rim of hell, it was You who pulled me back.

In my wretched existence without You in my heart, I cursed and abused You. I looked away from Your light, and I was blinded by the myriad distractions of sin. I held my hands over my ears to avoid Your call, and I fell prey to the lies of evil. I slapped Your hand away in arrogance, and I took the fruit of sin and devoured it with smugness. I crossed the world to get away from You, but You were already there; yet I began to talk and act as if I did not recognize You.

Oh, forgive me, Father for I was wrong! I sinned against You and turned my back on Your will. I sought another path to Your door, and became lost along the way. I strayed so far, and now this lamb is tired, weak, cold and alone.

Father, I hear Your Servant, and He tells me my Master is nearby. My heart beats for joy, and I turn around. I am Your lamb, and I hear the Shepherd call my name. Yes, Jesus, I am here! I weep with tears of joy. I jump and bound into the embrace of my Lord and Savior. I am filled with the warmth of His goodness, and the radiance of His grace washes away the filth of my accumulated sins. Praise God, I am found and whole once again!! Hallelujah, I am found!

Independence Day

Terry Crigger — 2011-07-02T22:36:31-04:00

Even though Independence Day wasn’t celebrated in America until after the War of 1812, it remains the single most important holiday in American history. On July 4th, 1776, the United States claimed their Independence from England. Foreign laws and powers would govern America no longer! The country’s first great leaders established their own democracy, a government by the people for the people. The concept of social equality and individual rights was in place. Once this happened, it didn’t take long for the rest of the world to take notice and soon stories of the ‘American Dream’ were spread across foreign lands.
The document that gave immigrants these rights after gaining access to the Unites States was the Declaration of Independence. This government declaration was established to insure and secure rights of individuals to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It also gave American citizens the right to alter or abolish their government and replace it, were it to become destructive, with one that insures their safety and happiness. What this document was to the rights of the American people, so was the Constitution to the legal framework of the United States. Established on September 17th, 1787, the Constitution, established justice, insured domestic tranquility, provided for the common defense, promoted general welfare, and secured the Blessings of Liberty to everyone and their posterity. These two documents together were the foundation of our nation.
It’s important to learn the history of your country. We must not forget the hardships those who came before us experienced in order to gain the freedoms we sometimes take for granted. So this weekend and tomorrow you should raise a flag, have a picnic, gather with friends and family, and when you hear the sound of fireworks as they light up the July night sky… remember your freedoms today are because of the men and women who were willing to give their lives in order for you to be free, great men and women of conviction that risked a great deal in the formative years of our nation, and a God that gives guidance and has watched over the United States all these many years.

Staked Down

Terry Crigger — 2011-06-24T13:59:12-04:00

Behind the scenes of an Arizona circus, Bob Biehl started chatting with a man who trains animals for Hollywood movies: "How is it that you can stake down a ten-ton elephant with the same size stake that you use for this little fellow?" I asked, pointing to a baby elephant who weighed three hundred pounds.

"'It's easy...'the trainer said. 'When they're babies, we stake them down. They try to tug away from the stake maybe ten thousand times before they realize that they can't possibly get away. At that point, their 'elephant memory' takes over and they remember for the rest of their lives that they can't get away from the stake.'"

Humans are sometimes like elephants. When we are teenagers, some unthinking, insensitive, unwise person says, "He; not very good at planning," or "She's not a leader," or "Their team will never make it," and zap, that mental stake is driven into our minds. Often when we become mature adults, we are still held back by some inaccurate one-sentence 'stake' put in our minds when we were young.

Today you are an adult capable of much more than you realize. You are far more capable than you were even twelve months ago, and next year you will be able to do things you can't imagine doing today.

Don't let a little stake tell you anything else!

I am blessed to be part of a church filled with both experienced leaders and developing leaders. People who serve their Lord and this congregation help in making our church a good place to belong.

Happy Father's Day

Terry Crigger — 2011-06-17T17:11:36-04:00

Father's Day creates personal emotions that run the gamut from sadness to celebration, grief to gratitude. However, I choose this day to once again tell my dad's story and find comfort in what I had and continue to embrace instead of focusing on what I've lost and miss each day.

Dad was born into a family of eight brothers and sisters. He was raised in Wytheville, Virginia. His mother died when he was 16 years old so responsibility came to him at an early age. The chores at home and the need to financially help the family by working at the local general store developed a strong work ethic in him.

As a young adult he began working at a company named Georgia Pacific and met his future wife in Cumberland, Kentucky. Space will not allow me to tell all the fun stories of their dating and early years together, but I love hearing them over and over.

Growing up, Dad was away from the house usually three nights a week as a salesman for Georgia Pacific. I still remember anticipating his phone call each evening, his arrival at home on Thursday nights and the occasional business trip I took with him during the summer.

When Dad got saved he was in his mid-40's. He had always been an ethical man, but the Lord challenged him not to continue "business as usual" which, by this time, he had become fairly successful at. Leaving Georgia Pacific and eventually going into business for himself was not an easy move but one which proved to be the best.

I thank God for the gift of my dad and for all he invested into my life. Thank you...

...For all the memories of childhood and providing for our family.
...For developing in me a sense of confidence and a work ethic necessary to succeed.
...For loving my mom and remaining faithful to her for over 54 years.
...For showing me the inward strengths of integrity, character, compassion and
humility.
...For requiring of me a college education and providing for it financially.
...For loving my wife, Cindy, and your grandchildren, who adore you.
...For living out your faith in Jesus Christ with discipline and obedience.
...For 100 things space will not allow me to mention and 100 more I simply will never know.
...For allowing me the honor to serve as your pastor for twenty years.
...For making heaven feel more like home now that you are there.

Bikers' Church Weekend Rally

Terry Crigger — 2011-06-03T12:14:20-04:00

I was on the church telephone with a missionary friend when all of a sudden the line went dead. A few seconds later the phone rang again and I quickly picked it up without saying the usual, "Hello, this is Pastor Terry" or "Hello, Christ's Chapel. May I help you?" Instead, I just said, "Hey!" assuming it was my missionary friend calling back. I was wrong. It was somebody I had never met or spoken with who had just prayed that God would let him speak to me. This was how Al Abrams and I began our friendship that is now in its fifth year and how I was first introduced to the world of bikers.

Pastor Al and Dana now oversee Bikers' Church, an ongoing ministry here at Christ's Chapel. Every Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m., area bikers and friends of this ministry meet to worship the Lord and discover God's purpose for life. This weekend, here on our church property, we've had a festival of sorts that's called "Bikers' Weekend Rally." To make sure we all have the opportunity to see what this ministry is about, there's an entire afternoon filled with games and activities for both adults and children. Sunday night at 6:00 p.m. there is a concert as well.

Bikers' Church has now become part of the DNA of our congregation. I feel blessed to work so closely with Pastor Al and Dana and trust the Lord is going to continue to show favor to this ministry. This morning, Pastor Al is going to share the good news of what God is doing in his life personally and the overall Bikers' Church ministry. I ask you to bless this ministry in whatever way you can. Tell your biker friends about it and let's ask God to increase their influence into our community.

A Cord of Three Strands

Terry Crigger — 2011-05-19T22:03:31-04:00

If you've been in the Sunday services for the past few weeks you've heard me mention an opportunity that has come our way as a church, to expand into the communities along the Ohio River by using a church facility in Newport called Full Gospel Assembly of God. This is a church that has existed for nearly five decades and had seasons of tremendous influence in their history. In recent years, however, the church has struggled and now numbers between 20 and 30 on Sunday mornings. They voted this past weekend to become a satellite location for our church, Christ's Chapel, and have asked us to set in place a second ministry campus at that facility. This would give us a platform to impact the neighboring communities for the Lord.

Under the guidance of our District Superintendent, Joe Girdler, our church board granting approval for initial discussions, and me personally meeting with members of their board and church members, this process has focused primarily within the congregation of Full Gospel as they made a collective decision and expressed their desires concerning their future. Now the process moves to our church family as we collectively do the same thing. Is this something we believe is a healthy thing for Christ's Chapel? Is it an opportunity worth pursuing? Is this in the will of God for our church? These are the questions we will attempt to answer in the next few weeks.

The process of answering these questions will include the following. First of all, please take some time in the next few days to pray about this situation. Secondly, make the effort to attend a few Wednesday evening services as we will devote most of our time discussing the opportunities and challenges presented in taking this journey and ultimately voting to either approve or decline moving forward. I have set aside Wednesday, June 8th as a time for us to discuss as a congregation, the initial plan of how this venture would take shape and to answer all questions on the subject. Our church will then vote two weeks later on Wednesday, June 22nd. This will allow the Wednesday of June 15th to be a format, if needed, for any additional conversation to occur and will also provide ample time for everyone to prayerfully consider our options.

The Beautiful Cross

Terry Crigger — 2011-04-22T07:49:40-04:00

"Lord, your cross is not simply ugly, it's beautiful! Not with the pseudo-prettiness of stained glass and neon, but beautiful, with the vibrancy of life as seen through the reflected light of the empty tomb! Your crucifixion was not a disaster. It was a divine provision. You were not a helpless captive, but a willing sacrifice. You became obedient to death, to the death of the cross. You refused to be taunted into coming down because dying was the only way to destroy death; because coming back from the dead was the ultimate triumph. Your cross is paradoxical: both an end and a beginning, both a tragedy and a triumph, both death and life. Thank you, Lord, for using the ugly cross to forever disarm death. Thank you for coming out of the tomb and bringing all of us new and endless life. Amen."

Simon Cyrene

Terry Crigger — 2011-04-14T16:30:30-04:00

"As they led Him away, they seized Simon Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him." Luke 23:26-27

The beam of lumber weighed only thirty pounds. Normally, a man who had earned a living as a carpenter would not find this too much of a load. But Jesus' muscular body had been ripped from whips. He had suffered pain so great it sucked the breath from His lungs and left Him in physical shock. He had lost much blood and was on the verge of unconsciousness from thirst.

Falling and bearing the beatings silently, somehow He got to His feet one more time. It was as if something was driving Him to reach Golgotha.

Jesus drove Himself to His feet again and again because He had accepted the task that awaited Him at Golgotha. Much more than the thirty pounds of rough-hewn lumber on His back, He carried the great need forced upon Him by all the selfish desires and actions that separate all of us from God. His agony, exhaustion, and certain death were not payment for anything He had done wrong, but for what we have done wrong.

It is easy to weep when we see Jesus with the cross. But those are tears He does not want. He wants us to cry for our sins. He wants us to ask forgiveness.

This journey is called repentance as we daily turn from sin to the grace and calling of God.

A Job Application

Terry Crigger — 2011-03-20T21:21:33-04:00

One of the toughest tasks a church faces is choosing a good minister. A member of an official board undergoing this painful process finally lost patience. He’d watched the Pastoral Relations Committee reject applicant after applicant, so he stood up and read a letter purporting to be from another applicant.

“Gentlemen: Understanding your pulpit is vacant, I should like to apply for the position. I have many qualifications. I’ve been a preacher with much success and also some success as a writer. Some say I’m a good organizer. I’ve been a leader most places I’ve been.”

“I’m over 50 years of age. I have never preached in one place for more than three years. In some places I have left town after my work caused riots and disturbances. I must admit I have been in jail three or four times, but not because of any real wrongdoing.”

“My health is not too good, though I still get a great deal done. The churches I have preached in have been small, though located in several large cities.”

“I’ve not gotten along well with religious leaders in towns where I have preached. In fact, some have threatened me and even attacked me physically. I am not too good at keeping records. I have been known to forget whom I have baptized.”

“However, if you can use me, I shall do my best for you.”

The board member looked over the committee. “Well, what do you think? Shall we call him?”

The good church folks were aghast. Call an unhealthy, trouble-making, absent-minded, ex-jailbird? Was the board member crazy? Who signed the application? Who had such colossal nerve?

The board member eyed them all keenly before he answered. “It’s signed, ‘The Apostle Paul.’”

Lessons from the Journey

Terry Crigger — 2011-03-10T11:50:51-05:00

Richard Exley, my good friend and pastor for many years, turned sixty a few years ago and celebrated that milestone by writing down a few life lessons he’s learned along his journey. I’m going to mention them in today’s message and thought I would provide them in today’s From The Pastor.”

No One Goes Through Life Unscathed: Sooner or later someone you trust will betray you, a business deal with go south leaving you in a financial crisis, illness strikes or someone you love dies.

Refuse To Define Your Life By A Single Event: Whatever it may be, that event is a real part of your life but that is all – just a part.

Make Peace With Your Pain: When you have been wounded it is critical to make peace with your pain, turning it into an ally. Embrace it and learn from it.

Storms Produce Strength And Character: I hate hard times but in looking back over my life I can see that the hard times have been used by God to make me who I am today. Without them I wouldn’t be the man God has called me to be.

God Always Uses Imperfect People: Imperfect people are the only kind of people there are. God has a history of using the insignificant to accomplish the impossible!

I Am A Flawed Man: If I deny this painful truth I condemn myself to a life of secrecy and deception. If I acknowledge it I am free from the need to pretend to be something I am not and freed from pretending I can honestly embrace the grace of God that makes me a new man.

Life Is Too Short To Hold A Grudge: You can’t embrace life if your fists are clenched and ready to take revenge.

Life Is Often A Mystery: When tragedies strike we are often tempted to ask why. While this is natural it is an exercise in futility. Even if we could figure out “why” something happened it wouldn’t change a thing. At sixty, I am finally learning to replace the “why” questions with “how” questions. Instead of asking, “why did this happen”, I am learning to ask “how is God going to use this for my good and His glory.”

In Every Situation I Can Be Part Of The Problem Or I Can Be Part Of The Solution: The choice is mine.

Never Let Anyone Make You Into Something You Are Not.

We Cannot Escape Life’s Difficulties But We Can Prepare For Them.

Gospel Concert Series

Terry Crigger — 2011-03-03T20:48:34-05:00

Gospel music takes on many forms and styles in today's culture. I was born again in 1975 when names like Andrae Crouch and Dottie Rambo were changing the landscape of gospel music. Since that day it's been amazing to witness all the various musical expressions of praise and worship in today's church.

As we have a diverse congregation that enjoys both traditional hymns and music with a contemporary sound, we at Christ's Chapel attempt to honor the Lord in our various styles of worship. I happen to enjoy basically all styles of gospel music, because at its core, it reflects the uniqueness of individuals as they discover the wonder of God and put words and music together as an expression of praise to the one who is changing their lives.

We've decided to celebrate the tradition and passion of southern gospel music here at Christ's Chapel on the first Sunday evening of every month. We will have a variety of bands over the year including a few local groups but mostly nationally known individuals and musical teams. I hope you mark your calendar now to plan on joining us each month and also assist in spreading the word of what's happening here.

Tonight we have our first group. They are called “Crabb Revival” and those that know southern gospel music tell me they are very good. I hope you join me as we worship our Lord with those from our congregation and the surrounding community. It starts at 6:00 p.m. See you then!

Wednesdays @ Christ's Chapel

Terry Crigger — 2011-02-24T19:57:15-05:00

Our mid-week service at Christ’s Chapel offers excellent teaching on relevant topics along with dynamic worship and classes for children of all ages. I’m extending a genuine invitation to our entire church family to come and be part every Wednesday beginning at 7:00 p.m.

Beginning this coming week three new, adult classes will be offered…

Pastor Terry/Pastor Steve: We are taking all of 2011 and teaching the bible from cover to cover. This next six-week study is on the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John).

Pastor Craig: Joyce Meyer wrote a book entitled, “Battlefield of the Mind” and Craig is using that book as a tool to help believers discover how to win this battle that we all face daily.

Family Life Track: I’m excited to announce that beginning this six-week study we are offering an ongoing track called “Family Life.” Each six week session we will be discussing a different topic to strengthen families at Christ’s Chapel. This current study will have a handful of our parents leading us in an ongoing study/conversation on the subject of raising children and grandchildren, with specific emphasis on children newborn through 3rd grade.

In addition on Wednesday nights, our worship time together is very special. We have child-care and ministry for children of all ages that includes a dynamic Uprising Youth service and kid’s programs called Royal Rangers and Mpact Girls. It’s very much a family service and the teachers in each classroom work hard to make it well worth your effort and time to be there. I hope Wednesday night becomes a habit for you and this coming Wednesday is a perfect time to start!

Forgiveness

Terry Crigger — 2011-02-17T18:08:28-05:00

Bad days are the results of things that happen, and things that happen are the results of what people do. People who misunderstood. People who intended to hurt us. People who forgot or neglected to do something. People who betrayed or violated us. People whose injury done to us was either yesterday or yesteryear. People do things, and we find it difficult to believe what Jesus said about them that day – that they didn’t know what they were doing.

Yet His words are probably the most descriptive truth about all human sin, lovelessness, rebellion, hurt, hate, anger, violence, and the thousand other evils that overflow our fallen race. Even when sin is calculated, planned thoroughly, conceived carefully, and executed efficiently, no one really understands the depth or dimension of sin’s destructiveness or the degree of its horrible damage to people. In a very real sense, every sin is a sin of ignorance.

To learn the grace of forgiveness – to embrace the will to forgive anyone or everyone who seems to be ruining your life right now – you need to find a starting place and Jesus points you to it. “They don’t know what they’re doing.” But the fact of the matter is, that isn’t the way you feel. You tend to see things from the viewpoint of your experience, and when bad things happen, it appears that whoever did you wrong knew exactly what he was doing and didn’t really seem to care either.

It must have looked that way from the Cross, too, but Jesus teaches about the forgiveness: Forgiving those who assail you is the key to not being permanently victimized by them. Whatever the initial impact of any offense you experience by others, your will to refuse to react, carry a grudge, or seek to retaliate in kind secures the high ground.

Keep Playing

Terry Crigger — 2011-02-10T22:36:27-05:00

“Wishing to encourage her young son’s progress on the piano, a mother took the small boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted a friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her. Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked “NO ADMITTANCE.”

When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her son was missing. Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage. In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”

At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy’s ear, “Don’t quit.” “Keep playing.” Then leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right hand reached around to the other side of the child and he added a running chorus. Together, the old master and the young novice transformed a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was mesmerized.

That’s the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren’t exactly graceful flowing music. But with the hand of the Master, our life’s work truly can be beautiful. Next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You can hear the voice of the Master whispering in your ear… “Don’t quit.” “Keep playing.”

Faith Promises

Terry Crigger — 2011-01-29T09:15:34-05:00

This Sunday morning you have a missions faith promise card in your bulletin. This is one tangible way that each believer and family at Christ’s Chapel can do his or her part in fulfilling the Great Commission. Please take the time this morning to fill out the faith promise card and place it in the offering as it is passed before you. As you consider what you may be willing to do in 2011, consider the following quotes from some of the great missionaries and pastors throughout history. Thank you!

"I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light" – John Keith Falconer

“The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed." -- Hudson Taylor

"Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God." -- William Carey

"The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become." --Henry Martyn, missionary to India and Persia

"He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." -- Jim Elliot

"In the vast plain to the north I have sometimes seen, in the morning sun, the smoke of a thousand villages where no missionary has ever been." – Robert Moffat

"If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?" -- David Livingstone

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." – C.T. Studd

"No one has the right to hear the gospel twice, while there remains someone who has not heard it once." -- Oswald J. Smith

"Any church that is not seriously involved in helping fulfill the Great Commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist." -- Oswald J. Smith

"Someone asked, Will the heathen who have never heard the Gospel be saved? It is more a question with me whether we -- who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who have not -- can be saved." -- Charles Spurgeon

"The gospel is only good news if it gets there in time" -- Carl F. H. Henry

The Samaritan Woman

Terry Crigger — 2011-01-20T14:27:50-05:00

Lord,
All of us are a little like the Samaritan woman at the well.
We have sins and failure in our past,
a closet full of skeletons
which rattle from time to time, threatening to get
and spoil our good image.
For many of us it’s not just the skeletons either,
but real live boogie men.

For the most part,
we keep them tightly suppressed,
but from time to time they escape,
terrorizing our families,
and reducing us to guilt and confusion.
I hate and fear
the boogie man inside of me.
The egomaniac who talks too much.
The proud presumptuous me.
The critical, cutting me.
The carnal man, my feet of clay.
The pseudo-spiritual me.

The Samaritan woman found release
when You told her
everything she had done.
Does this mean blackmailing
boogie men cannot survive
in the light of Your
loving acceptance?
If it does, then tell me, tell us,
everything we’ve ever done.
Show us the futility of pretending
and protesting our innocence.
Give us the courage to own up,
and in this owning up,
let us find forgiveness and freedom.

Amen

Thank you

Terry Crigger — 2011-01-15T19:44:29-05:00

I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone that made last weekend’s 25th Church Anniversary such a wonderful event. Our attendance on Saturday night, Sunday morning and at the Sunday evening banquet was tremendous. It was a special occasion made all the more wonderful because it was shared with so many friends. Special thanks…

To those that have served our church long-term. At the banquet we honored those that have been members at Christ’s Chapel for ten years or longer. I don’t know if there’s anything magical about ten years but our church is built upon the foundation that long-term members provide.
To the families of those that were members of our church but have passed away over the years. These precious folks may no longer be with us but the impact of their lives continues to shape who we are as a church. They will never be forgotten.
To Marty Henlsey for all the hours put into creating a video that captures so many past memories and documents our church history so we can remember the faithfulness of God over the years.
To Steve and Meredith Sayre for cooking our banquet dinner and assembling a team of volunteers that made Sunday evening run so smoothly.
To Liz Biddle for organizing and implementing so many of the details connected to the anniversary weekend.
To Joe Girlder, our District Superintendent, for sharing the weekend with us and preaching for us on Sunday morning.

God has been very gracious to our congregation over the years and today each member stands on a foundation provided for them by others. Anniversaries remind us of that truth and hopefully inspire us to provide the same for those that are coming after us. Today we begin a journey that will eventually lead to our 50th Anniversary. Many of us will have moved on or passed away by then, but our efforts today and in the ensuring years will influence what this church and community look like in 2036. Let’s journey together and may faithfulness and finishing strong be our most enduring qualities in the years ahead.

21 Days of Fasting

Terry Crigger — 2011-01-04T18:54:51-05:00

As we begin this new year of 2011 I am calling on the Christ’s Chapel family to consider participating in a 21-Day Fast beginning Monday, January 10th and concluding on Monday, January 31st. Fasting combined with prayer is a very private experience and folks should consider what is best for them and specifically fits their schedule. Some will fast specific types of food or activities while others may fast a meal a day or perhaps a few meals each week. Some of course may extend their fast several days while others will choose not to participate at all. Either way, the entire congregation is asked to pray for God’s provision, presence and power for our church and for the individual journey of faith that God desires for each one of us individually. Below is a brief summary of fasting. You are encouraged to click here (“Your Personal Guide to Prayer and Fasting”) to read a more detailed explanation written by Bill Bright for Campus Crusade for Christ (be careful not to read just anyone’s account of this subject).
During this 21-day season of fasting, I am asking folks to consider setting aside 30 minutes a day for personal prayer and/or Bible reading. Specifically, if you desire to participate at a time when you know others will be praying as well, Pastor Terry has personally set aside 6:00 – 6:30 a.m. as a time when he will be praying from home.
The Bible describes three major types of fasting:

A Regular Fast - Traditionally, a regular fast means refraining from eating all food. Most people still drink water or juice during a regular fast. When Jesus fasted in the desert, the Bible says, "After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." This verse does not mention Jesus being thirsty.
A Partial Fast - This type of fast generally refers to omitting a specific meal from your diet or refraining from certain types of foods. Daniel 10:2-3 says, "At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over." In Daniel 1:12, they restricted their diet to vegetables and water: "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink."
A Full Fast - These fasts are complete - no food and no drink. Acts 9:9 describes when Paul went on a full fast for three days following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus: "For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything." Esther also called for this type of fast in Esther 4:15-16: "Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 'Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.'" It is recommended that this type of fast be done with extreme caution and not for extended periods of time.
Although not mentioned in the Bible, Christians today commit to fasting from other activities as well. Some give up entertainment such as TV or movies to concentrate on prayer. Others fast from sleep or another activity for a specified period of time.

Fighting the Blues

Terry Crigger — 2010-12-26T07:20:11-05:00

I received this letter a few years ago and thought now would be a good time to pass it on.

"Pastor, have you ever thought to prepare your people for the after-Christmas blues? I recall that one year during the severe economic crunch I was called on to officiate at two funerals. Both were suicides. Both took place between Christmas and New Year's. Each had a sad story of estrangement, unemployment, and illness behind it. They couldn't handle Christmas.

You see, Christmas begets attitudes before and after. I feel one way before and I feel one way after. The season of good cheer is promoted in reds and greens. Unfortunately, in some it leaves a trail of blue. Before Christmas the feeling of excitement and color is everywhere. Deacons smile at pastors. Preachers cease sniper fire from pulpit positions. Gift surprises are planned. The tempo increases. The whole world turns hopeful. There is incentive to be generous. No matter how many times you live through it, it is still exciting. Look at the houses and the yards with lights and tinsel.

But something happens the day after Christmas. Why didn't it last? The greens, the reds, the silver, and the gold turn to blue. Euphoria is gone. Nothing looks as bedraggled and boring as December 26th. The gifts you thought were exceptional are now closing out at huge discount prices. Christmas alone is not enough.

It takes more than Mary at the manger. It takes finding her later at the cross. The issue is not who came down the chimney. The issue is who came down from Heaven. It takes more than the shepherd guarding the sheep at night. It takes the soldiers herding the prisoner toward Golgotha. It takes more than evergreen and carnations and poinsettias. It takes spikes and thorns and dripping blood. It takes more than a sentimental picture of a cabin and snow. If Christmas could save us, we need not have the Cross. We must have more filled than our stocking. We must have more filled than our stomachs. The souls of men are what ache. They are lonely.

I would like to encourage the ministers to preach Christ as Christmas. Bring your people in adoration and worship to the Babe. Don't allow pantomime, plays and programs to push the pulpit away from center stage. Let the choirs sing, let the Sunday School children perform; let the creative geniuses of our people be utilized. But if they will avoid post-Christmas depression, you must introduce them to the Savior."

Operation Arrival

Terry Crigger — 2010-12-17T15:31:12-05:00

From Chuck Swindoll:

When the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son. At just the right moment, precisely as God had arranged, in keeping with a plan we might call “Operation Arrival,” enters the Messiah. Micah said it would be in Bethlehem, Judah. It was. But I thought Joseph and Mary were of Nazareth, in Galilee? They were. Aren’t those places miles apart? Yes. In those days they were days apart. Then, tell me, how did it happen?

Well, you see, that’s just a small part of the plan. Nevertheless amazing, especially when you consider Mary was almost to term in her pregnancy. Getting them down south in time required fairly good roads, unheard of prior to the Roman takeover. And they certainly needed to be forced to travel. Hence, a required census by Caesar Augustus which forced Joseph to register in the city of his family roots, Bethlehem. But before a Savior could be born, there had to be some natural means of common communication, a familiar tongue that would quickly spread the good news. No problem! That is, no problem now, thanks to Alexander the Great, the father of “Koine Greek.” That language was ripe and ready for the rapid spread of the gospel message through the pen of evangelists and apostles from then until now.

So thanks to good roads, a decision in Rome, and a bothersome census, it happened at just the right place and at just the right time. When an articulate language had a perfect verbal vehicle, a little baby that the world hardly noticed arrived. Rome was too busy building and conquering. Augustus thought he was hot stuff prancing about the palace demanding that census. Yet, in reality, he was little more than a piece of lint on a prophetic page. He was a pawn in the hand of the Commander-in-Chief of what we now call, “Operation Arrival” - the birth of the Messiah and Savior of the world!

Chuck Swindoll

A Christmas Message

Terry Crigger — 2010-12-09T22:28:17-05:00

Was the innkeeper a mean man,
little and uncaring
or just overworked,
the victim of thoughtless
and demanding people?

Was he really insensitive
to the needs
of the young man
and his obviously pregnant companion
or just so emotionally drained
that he had no resources left?

Was the barn a grudging afterthought
or a compassionate effort
to do what he could
under the circumstances?

We will probably never know.
And anyway the real question is not
the inn keeper's motives
but mine, ours.

Have we made room in our lives for Christ
or have we allowed
greed and materialism
to fill us so full of self that once more
there's no room for Him?

The Christsmas Gift

Terry Crigger — 2010-12-03T06:40:13-05:00

One of my favorite Christmas memories is of the three little guys who dressed up as wise men to do the Christmas story for their father. In they marched. The first little fellow said with much dignity, “I’ve brought you a gift of gold.” His younger brother was next, but for the life of him, he couldn’t remember frankincense and ended up saying, “I give you my sin.” The littlest guy was just as confused about myrrh. “I give you my mud,” he said with a cherubic smile.

If you’ve ever seen a Children’s Christmas program, you can appreciate the sheer magic of that moment. Every childish error is transformed, by the Spirit, into divine revelation. In response to the untarnished innocence, we lay down our carefully constructed defenses and become vulnerable to the age-old message of love and grace. Suddenly the Christmas story takes on new meaning.

Gold symbolizes our best, and when we hear the angels sing, when we see God made flesh lying in a manger, we can hardly give anything less. We give Him our best because He gave us His best. That’s the Christmas story in a sentence.

But there’s more. He wants our worst as well as our best, our faults and failures as well as our success. “I give you my sin.” The little fellow was wiser than the wise man because as precious as frankincense is, Jesus would rather we give Him our sins. In fact He died in order to get them. As you worship in the incarnate Son of God this holy season, trust Him enough to give Him your sins.

Finally, give Him your “mud” - that is yourself. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thy self.” This Christmas, give God the gift of yourself. “But drops of grief can ne’er repay the debt of love I owe. Here Lord, I give myself away, ‘Tis all that I can do.”

Faith before Feelings

Terry Crigger — 2010-11-12T07:25:17-05:00

God,

I keep wanting to invert the order.
Feelings before faith.
But, faith doesn't work that way, does it?
Oh, now and then you ambush us, you surprise us
with an unexpected awareness of Your presence.
But, by and large, it's faith before feelings,
motion before meaning, acts before reality.
I keep forgetting this.
My empty acts grow old or I begin to worship the act,
or make it the end,
to let the motions become the only meaning.
Help me to find a balance between the two;
that middle ground where motions have meaning,
but are not the ultimate meaning.
To act fully, freely, yet without worshiping the act.
To use the act and be used by the act
but always knowing that You are not the act.
That it is not the end but just a way which,
if followed long enough, will lead to You.

Youngsters

Terry Crigger — 2010-10-02T10:54:17-04:00

God says, “I like youngsters. I want people to be like them. I don't like old people unless they are still children. I want only children in my Kingdom; this has been decreed from the beginning of time. Youngsters - twisted, humped, wrinkled, white-bearded - all kinds of youngsters, but youngsters. There is no changing it, it has been decided, there is room for no one else.

I like little children because my image has not yet been dulled in them. They have not botched my likeness, they are new, pure, without a blot, without a smear. So, when I gently lean over them, I recognize myself in them.

I like them because they are still growing, they are still improving. They are on the road; they are on their way. But with grown ups, there is nothing to expect anymore. They will no longer grow, no longer improve. They have come to a full stop.

It is disastrous - grownups thinking they have arrived. I like youngsters because they are still struggling, because they are still sinning. Not because they sin, you understand, but because they know that they sin, and they say so, and they try not to sin anymore. But I don't like grownups. They never harm anyone, they have nothing to reproach themselves for. I can't forgive them; I have nothing to forgive. It is a pity, it is indeed a pity, because it is not true.

But above all, I like youngsters because of the look in their eyes. In their eyes I can read their age. In my heaven, there will only be 5 year old eyes, for I know of nothing more beautiful than the pure eyes of a child. It is not surprising, for I live in children, and it is I who look out through their eyes.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Open, all of you, little old men! It is I, your God, the Eternal, risen from the dead, coming to bring back to life the child in you.
Hurry! Now is the time. I am ready to give you again the beautiful face of a child, the beautiful eyes of a child. For I love youngsters, and I want everyone to be like them.”

Worship @ Christ's Chapel

Terry Crigger — 2010-09-24T16:03:14-04:00

I will be the first to admit that I’m not grateful enough. I can get irritated over the silliest of things. A few bumps any given day can get me cranky, and before I know it the world doesn’t seem a very friendly or safe place. I confess that to illustrate that sometimes we take for granted the routines of our lives and don’t recognize them for the gifts from God that they are.

That exactly expresses how I feel about Mike and Misty Wilson and Kris and Kirsten Carey. These two couples are some of the finest people I have ever known. Mike and Misty came to Christ’s Chapel nearly 13 years ago at a time when I was still leading worship every Sunday. Slowly but surely the transition was set in place for Mike to begin the journey of molding together a new worship team that would lead our church to new heights. He has done an amazing job, and each weekend I am grateful for his leadership and commitment. How he does what he does while at the same time serving as a high school principal is beyond me. Our church is blessed beyond words to have Mike as our worship pastor and the team he’s assembled to lead us in worship is remarkable.

Over three years ago, God put the icing on the cake when he brought to us Kris and Kirsten Carey. They first stepped into the world of church922 as the worship pastors of our Saturday night service. Since then they have stepped into all of our hearts, and in just a few years their fingerprints are all over our church. There are many areas of our church life today that I know we would never be engaged in if Kris and Kirsten were not with us. I am so grateful for the anointing upon their lives and that we as a congregation have the weekly opportunity to interact with them.

One really wonderful aspect of having both families so engaged at our church is that they work so well together. In a church world of egos and insecurities, it’s a joy to watch folks with different backgrounds and gifts in worship training and experiences, work so well together and blend their efforts together for God’s glory and the spiritual growth of our congregation. This morning we will get to experience that gift up front and personal as our Saturday night and Sunday morning worship experience finds expression in both our services. I hope the experience is inspiring and encouraging for everyone. I also hope we all walk away a little more grateful for what God does each weekend in our midst. I know I will.

Everything Is Not As It Appears

Terry Crigger — 2010-09-16T20:54:47-04:00

My messages of late have been about genuineness. About things that are real and things that appear to be real but are not. We’ve discussed genuine faith, genuine love, genuine works and for the past several weeks, a genuine church. The following story is a humorous attempt that illustrates how things are not always the way they appear.

It seems a particular zoo found itself in a difficult situation. The main attraction to the zoo was their large number of gorillas. These gorillas were in separate, large fenced in areas and one of the favorite crowd-pleasing gorillas had died. The zoo officials were having difficulty getting a replacement and the crowds were beginning to get smaller and smaller. So in desperation, an advertisement was placed in the local newspaper for someone to work at the zoo. When a particular man responded to what he read he was told that he was perfect for the job but that he must put on a gorilla suit, be placed in a separate and safe open cage designed just for him and his job responsibilities were precise; he simply needed to act like a gorilla.

He accepted the position and at first he was a little hesitant but he observed how the gorillas in the other areas were acting so he grew in confidence and the crowds began to come back. In fact he was so good that he became one of the main attractions. Then one morning as he came to work he decided to climb one of the trees in his area and swing from one of the ropes. So back and forth he went over and over again and the crowds really loved it. But he got so good and so over confident that one day he swung so far that when he let go of the rope he landed in the large cage next to his where another gorilla lived.

At first he thought everything was going to be fine, all he needed to do was continue to act like a gorilla. Se he beat his chest and let out a huge gorilla like roar. And the other gorilla did the same. So he moved forward in the cage hoping to intimidate the other gorilla. And the other gorilla came even closer. So eventually they were nearly nose to nose and the man in the gorilla suit began to think of the utter foolishness of what he was doing, so he began to whimper a little and was about ready to scream out for help in his loud human voice when all of a sudden the other gorilla came real close and the man heard the words, “Shut up stupid or you’ll get us both fired!”

Special Brownies

Terry Crigger — 2010-09-09T15:02:45-04:00

A father of some teenage children had the family rule that they could not attend PG13 and R rated movies. His three teens wanted to see a particular popular movie rated PG13 that was playing at local theaters. They had spoken to friends to find out what was offensive in the movie. The three teens made a list of pros and cons about the movie to try to convince their dad that they should be allowed to see it. The con's were that it contained only 3 swear words, only a little bit of violence, and you actually did not "see" the couple in the movie having sex - it was just implied sex, off camera. The pros were that it was a popular movie - a real blockbuster. Everyone was seeing it. The movie contained a good story and plot, great adventure and suspense, and some fantastic special effects.

The father looked at the list and thought for a few minutes. He asked if he could have a day to think about it before making his decision. The next evening the father called his three teenagers into the living room. There on the coffee table, he had a plate of brownies. The father told his children he had thought about their request and had decided that if they would eat a brownie then he would let them go to the movie. But just like the movie, the brownies had pros and cons. The pros were that they were made with the finest chocolate and other good ingredients. The brownies were moist and fresh with wonderful chocolate frosting on top. The brownies had only one con. The father had included a little bit of a special ingredient. The brownies also contained just a little bit of dog poop.

But dad had mixed the dough well - they probably would not even be able to taste the dog poop as he had baked it at 350 degrees so any bacteria or germs from the dog poop had probably been destroyed. Therefore, if any of his children could stand to eat the brownies that included just a "little bit of poop" and not be affected by it, then he knew they would also be able to see the movie. Of course, none of the teens would eat the brownies. Now when his teenagers ask permission to do something he is opposed to, the father just asks, "Would you like me to whip up a batch of my special brownies?”

Genuine Church

Terry Crigger — 2010-08-19T12:13:34-04:00

“Lord,
All these messages about genuineness are beginning to scare me. Genuine faith and the practical insights of Pastor James clearly reveals to me that real faith impacts my attitudes and actions in ways I’d sometimes like to let run wild with little control and restraint. Genuine love as revealed by Simon Peter is a journey that demands that I pay attention to matters of morality and how I treat people. I’m well acquainted with the message of grace and I live each day so grateful your compassion and forgiveness are eternal gifts. But genuine love reminds me that you call me to a type of lifestyle that honors righteousness and demands my character is transformed by truth. Genuine works, as made clear by the Apostle Paul, are the ways in which I walk in the purposes that you prepared for me in eternity past. Works become my expression of gratitude as I live out my days on this earth and they provide a connection from this life into eternal life,

Now Lord, you have me studying and preaching on “A Genuine Church.” I look at your specific words to congregations and pastors in the past and I hear your eternal voice specifically to our church family and me. Genuineness I assume means a degree of transparency and honesty, with myself and with others. So here goes. I easily get distracted and even sometimes discouraged by the day-to-day pressures of church life. Folks I love get frustrated and out of sorts at times and they behave in the oddest of ways. Financial matters weigh heavily as we navigate blending the worlds of vision and blessing with the harsh realities of budgets and patience. And then there’s the daily grind that everyone seems to be going through that finds expression in so many ways. Has it always been like this, Lord? Is there really anything different about the times in which we live? I want to believe so but in my heart I know better. And even if it is different, your call to our congregation today is the same as it’s been to every church in every century. Simply put, genuine faith, love and works will find expression in very practical and recognizable ways.

Lord, may Christ’s Chapel be a genuine church that you look at with pleasure. Our study during the next few weeks will hopefully reveal your heart to us. It will also probably revel our hearts as well. I trust you with the journey. Amen.”

The Cross

Terry Crigger — 2010-08-13T13:16:10-04:00

Lord,

Your cross in not simply ugly, it’s beautiful! Not with the pseudo-prettiness of stained glass and neon, but beautiful, with the vibrance of life as seen through the reflected light of the empty tomb! Yes, it was not a disaster, it was a divine provision. You were not a helpless captive, but a willing sacrifice. You became obedient to death, to the death of the cross. You refused to be taunted into coming down because dying was the only way to destroy death, because coming back from the dead was the ultimate triumph. Your cross is paradoxical: both an end and a beginning, both a tragedy and a triumph, both death and life. Thank you, Lord, for using the ugly cross to forever disarm death. Thank you for coming out of the tomb and bringing all of us new and endless life.

Amen

Looking for Hands to Use

Terry Crigger — 2010-08-07T07:58:06-04:00

Imagine, if you can, an eighty year old man, a dark weatherbeaten sheepherder, standing barefooted by a burning bush in the middle of the desert, hiding his face in his hands like a modest maiden. That’s Moses in Exodus, chapter three. He’s barefooted because the voice out of the midst of the bush told him he was on holy ground, and bare feet were in order. Hiding his face was his own idea, and a good one, for what man among us dares to look the Almighty in the eye.

In moments like that, when it’s just you and God and nobody else, every selfish act, every disobedience, every failure returns with shameful clarity. And yet, God did not chasten Moses, did not chide him. Instead He called him, “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites out of Egypt.” (Exodus 3:10)

Moses responded, “…Who am I…?” (Exodus 3:11) Which was his way of saying, “Don’t you remember who I am? I’m a wanted man, a murderer. Forty years ago I tried and I failed. I’m flattered God, but you’ve got the wrong man. I’m not qualified.”

And Moses was right – as far as he went – but he missed the point. God’s call was not so much the confirmation of Moses gifts but a testimony of His faithfulness. His call is always a sovereign act, independent of our personal goodness. As Gene Bartlett puts it, “…’the audacity of preaching,’ is found in the awareness that the person who preaches is, himself part of the guilt and need to which he speaks.”

Maybe Alexander Irvine said it best in his novel “My Lady of the Chimney corner.” The “lady” goes to comfort a neighbor whose son had died and she says, “...God isn’t a printed book to be carried around by a man in fine clothes, not a cross dangling at the watch chain of a priest God takes a hand whenever He can find it, and just does what he likes with it. Sometimes He takes a bishop’s hand and lays it on a child’s head in benediction, and then He takes the hand of a doctor to relieve pain, the hand of a mother to guide a child, and sometimes He takes the hand of a poor servant like me to give comfort to a neighbor. But they’re all hands touched by His Spirit, and His Spirit is everywhere looking for hands to use.”

As I mentioned in last week’s sermon, “Christ has no hands but ours.”

Forgive Me

Terry Crigger — 2010-07-23T14:25:22-04:00

Dear God,

Over the past number of years, it has finally become apparent that You have been keeping me closer than I had thought. In my childish folly, I thought I could remove the pain of my youth by denying You my companionship. Yet I now see that You have been by my side all along. When I was drowning in despair, it was You who gave me a lifeline. When I was lost in the dark, it was You who gave me the light. When I hit the wall of doubt and did not know where to turn, it was You who opened the door. When I slipped on the shaky ground at the rim of hell, it was You who pulled me back.

In my wretched existence without You in my heart, I cursed and abused You. I looked away from Your light, and I was blinded by the myriad distractions of sin. I held my hands over my ears to avoid Your call, and I fell prey to the lies of evil. I slapped Your hand away in arrogance, and I took the fruit of sin and devoured it with smugness. I crossed the world to get away from You, but You were already there; yet I began to talk and act as if I did not recognize You.

Oh, forgive me, Father for I was wrong! I sinned against You and turned my back on Your will. I sought another path to Your door, and became lost along the way. I strayed so far, and now this lamb is tired, weak, cold and alone.

Father, I hear Your Servant, and He tells me my Master is nearby. My heart beats for joy, and I turn around. I am Your lamb, and I hear the Shepherd call my name. Yes, Jesus, I am here! I weep with tears of joy. I jump and bound into the embrace of my Lord and Savior. I am filled with the warmth of His goodness, and the radiance of His grace washes away the filth of my accumulated sins. Praise God, I am found and whole once again!! Hallelujah, I am found!

A Blue Collar Man

Terry Crigger — 2010-07-11T20:23:49-04:00

  “Jesus was a blue-collar man. He was born in a dung-infested sheep shed to peasant parents, and he grew up in his father’s carpenter shop.
     As a consequence, he talked the language of common men, understood the life they lived, their little hardships, the things they had to contend with day after day.
     He knew what it was like to struggle to make ends meet. He was old beyond his years, of necessity, for as the firstborn, he became the head of the family at an early age following his father’s untimely death.
     Life wasn’t easy, the days were long, the work hard, and he learned to get by on meager fare.
     On top of everything else, there was the prejudice – whispers about the legitimacy of his birth. He was a Jew is a Roman world, and a carpenter before it was recognized as a viable trade.
     Granted there was royalty in his family tree, way back – and long since forgotten, of no interest now, except to the genealogists.
     He was a blue-collar man, not a blue-blood. His hands were rough and calloused, familiar with hard work. He was a common man among common men. He lived where they lived…fishermen, tax collectors, shepherds, street vendors…and he loved them all, everyone, outcasts of all kinds…the untouchables…lepers, lunatics, Samaritans, street people, and women taken in adultery.
     He was concerned about the kinds of things that concern common people – children, paying taxes, bread and fish when you’re hungry, running out of wine at your daughter’s wedding.
     Other things too, that concern us all – like learning how to pray, not just words, but really communicating with God. And he talked a lot about loving each other, turning the other cheek, going the second mile.
     He loved kids and crowds, celebrations and solitude, miracles and quiet meals with old friends. He was a blue-collar man, and he calls us to be blue-collar people too.
     Not pseudo-intellectuals theorizing about human need. Not bleeding hearts trapped in sentimentality, but real, honest-to-goodness people, resolving human conflict, restoring shattered self-esteem, loving the loveless, and washing tired feet – even when there’s not one to watch.
     Jesus was a blue collar man.”

Independence Day

Terry Crigger — 2010-07-03T20:19:09-04:00

Even though Independence Day wasn’t celebrated in America until after the War of 1812, it remains the single most important holiday in American history. On July 4th, 1776, the United States claimed their Independence from England. Foreign laws and powers would govern America no longer! The country's first great leaders established their own democracy, a government by the people for the people. The concept of social equality and individual rights was in place. Once this happened, it didn’t take long for the rest of the world to take notice and soon stories of the ‘American Dream’ were spread across foreign lands.

The document that gave immigrants these rights after gaining access to the Unites States was the Declaration of Independence. This government declaration was established to insure and secure rights of individuals to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It also gave American citizens the right to alter or abolish their government and replace it, were it to become destructive, with one that insures their safety and happiness. What this document was to the rights of the American people, so was the Constitution to the legal framework of the United States. Established on September 17th, 1787, the Constitution, established justice, insured domestic tranquility, provided for the common defense, promoted general welfare, and secured the Blessings of Liberty to everyone and their posterity. These two documents together were the foundation of our nation.

It’s important to learn the history of your country. We must not forget the hardships those who came before us experienced in order to gain the freedoms we sometimes take for granted. So this weekend and tomorrow you should raise a flag, have a picnic, gather with friends and family, and when you hear the sound of fireworks as they light up the July night sky… remember your freedoms today are because of the men and women who were willing to give their lives in order for you to be free, great men and women of conviction that risked a great deal in the formative years of our nation, and a God that gives guidance and has watched over the United States all these many years.

Life is Short

Terry Crigger — 2010-06-27T16:28:44-04:00

It helps now and then to step back and take a long view. God's eternal Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is beyond our vision.

We accomplish in our lifetime only a fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work. Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us. No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection. No pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the Church's mission. No set of goals and objectives includes everything.

This is what we are about. We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water the seeds already planted knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities. We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing this.

This enables us to do something and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, and an opportunity for the Lord's grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders. We are ministers, not messiahs. We are building a future that will only be completely seen in eternity.

Father's Day

Terry Crigger — 2010-06-18T08:06:34-04:00

Father’s Day creates personal emotions that run the gamut from sadness to celebration, grief to gratitude. However, I choose this day to once again tell my dad’s story and find comfort in what I had and continue to embrace instead of focusing on what I’ve lost and miss each day.
Dad was born into a family of eight brothers and sisters. He was raised in Wytheville, Virginia. His mother died when he was 16 years old so responsibility came to him at an early age. The chores at home and the need to financially help the family by working at the local general store developed a strong work ethic in him.
As a young adult he began working at a company named Georgia Pacific and met his future wife in Cumberland, Kentucky. Space will not allow me to tell all the fun stories of their dating and early years together, but I love hearing them over and over.
Growing up, Dad was away from the house usually three nights a week as a salesman for Georgia Pacific. I still remember anticipating his phone call each evening, his arrival at home on Thursday nights and the occasional business trip I took with him during the summer.
When Dad got saved he was in his mid-40’s. He had always been an ethical man, but the Lord challenged him not to continue “business as usual” which, by this time, he had become fairly successful at. Leaving Georgia Pacific and eventually going into business for himself was not an easy move but one which proved to be the best.
I thank God for the gift of my dad and for all he invested into my life. Thank you…
…For all the memories of childhood and providing for our family.
…For developing in me a sense of confidence and a work ethic necessary to succeed.
…For loving my mom and remaining faithful to her for over 54 years.
…For showing me the inward strengths of integrity, character, compassion and humility.
…For requiring of me a college education and providing for it financially.
…For loving my wife, Cindy, and your grandchildren, who adore you.
…For living out your faith in Jesus Christ with discipline and obedience.
…For 100 things space will not allow me to mention and 100 more I simply will never know.
…For allowing me the honor to serve as your pastor for twenty years.

…For making heaven feel more like home now that you are there.

Personal Fulfillment

Terry Crigger — 2010-06-11T16:36:26-04:00

Noted Psychologist, William James, often said, “The only truly happy people I know are those who have found a cause to live for, which is greater than themselves. By the same token, the most unhappy people I know are those who have no better reason for living than the pursuit of pleasure or the quest for personal fulfillment."
History gives us several examples, but none is more graphic than a king named Solomon. He had everything – wealth, wisdom, worldwide recognition, and an ever-deepening weariness. Hear him as he laments the emptiness of life: “I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 1:14)
Describing his unbridled pursuit of pleasure, he confesses, “I denied myself nothing my eyes desire; I refused my heart no pleasure…but that also proved to be meaningless.” (Ecclesiastes 2:10, 11)
He’s the head of state, the King of Israel, a popular and effective leader who literally transforms his nation into a world power. His domestic programs made Israel the envy of all her neighbors. He undertook great projects and amassed enormous wealth, yet without experiencing personal fulfillment.
What a tragedy! An aging king, self-absorbed in the trappings of wealth and power, known worldwide for his wisdom and his achievements, recognized as the most powerful man on earth – yet desperately unhappy. In frustration he writes, “…I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All if it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 2:17)
Solomon’s life was empty and meaningless, in spite of all his achievements, because he lived only for himself; he had no higher goals than his own fulfillment.

Bikers' Church

Terry Crigger — 2010-06-06T17:18:41-04:00

I was on the church telephone with a missionary friend when all of a sudden the line went dead. A few seconds later the phone rang again and I quickly picked it up without saying the usual, "Hello, this is Pastor Terry" or "Hello, Christ's Chapel. May I help you?" Instead, I just said, "Hey!" assuming it was my missionary friend calling back. I was wrong. It was somebody I had never met or spoken with who had just prayed that God would let him speak to me. This was how Al Abrams and I began our friendship that is now in its fourth year and how I was first introduced to the world of bikers.

Pastor Al and Dana now oversee Bikers' Church, an ongoing ministry here at Christ's Chapel. Every Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m., area bikers and friends of this ministry meet to worship the Lord and discover God's purpose for life. Beginning yesterday, here on our church property, we've had a festival of sorts that's called "Bikers' Weekend Rally." To make sure we all have the opportunity to see what this ministry is about, there's an entire afternoon filled with games and activities for both adults and children. Tonight at 6:00 p.m. there is a concert as well.

Bikers' Church has now become part of the DNA of our congregation. I feel blessed to work so closely with Pastor Al and Dana and believe the Lord is going to continue to show favor to this ministry. This morning, Pastor Al is going to share the good news of what God is doing in his life personally and the overall Bikers' Church ministry. I ask you to bless this ministry in whatever way you can. Tell your biker friends about it and let's ask God to increase their influence into our community.

Memorial Day

Terry Crigger — 2010-05-27T21:10:35-04:00

Memorial Day for many is the beginning of summer vacation. It’s the first weekend of fun which most of us begin looking forward to sometime in late January when the temperature is falling and the snow is flying. And yet the history behind Memorial Day is much more significant and deserves a time of reflection. Why? Because on this day we remember and honor those who have served this country in the armed services and especially those who have given their lives in battle. Memorial Day is a day set aside to give thanks for, and to say thanks to, those who have served this nation and defended the rights and freedoms of our Constitution.

I’m 53 years old and have never really had to think seriously about being drafted. The Vietnam War was over early in my high school years and I was considered an old man by the time any other real conflicts developed. As a result, I may be somewhat guilty of taking my freedoms and “pursuit of happiness” for granted. And yet my love of the study of history and knowledge of present world developments quickly sober me and help me realize that being born in 1957 in America to a white, middle-class family has afforded me opportunities most of the world’s citizens will never experience.

I genuinely would like to say thank you to those of you either in our congregation or your loved ones, who by choice or through the draft, served this country and placed yourselves in a possible life threatening situation. I’ve never had to make that type of decision and I’m very grateful to live in a country where so many before my time, and even after my time, said “Yes” and served this country with dignity and honor.

Waiting

Terry Crigger — 2010-05-20T20:10:32-04:00

Isaiah 40:31 “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.”

Lord, It’s like a real miracle.
I feel so different now.
I came to You
with every nerve singing,
taunt as a bow string.
My emotions were
raw and bleeding
and I lashed out
at the slightest provocation.
I was angry
because it seemed
people were taking advantage of me,
just bleeding me dry.
I was hurt
because people were once again
misunderstanding my efforts
at love and gentleness.
I was lonely
and crying on the inside
because there was no one
to hear me and love me
in the moment of my need.
In desperation
I turned to You
trying to believe with the prophet of old
that waiting on You
would renew my strength.
It has!
Beholding Your greatness and grace
has put life back in focus.
My only fear now
is that I might forget
where I found this strength and sanity.
Remind me to come often
before life gets out of hand.
In the future let me come to You
not out of desperation
but out of love and devotion.
Amen.

Kentucky District Council

Terry Crigger — 2010-04-15T21:01:09-04:00

In the Christian community we have a tendency to be impressed with what we perceive as spiritual superstars. These folks pastor mega churches, have teaching ministries with huge followings and oversee mission endeavors that impact thousands. We put their pictures on magazine covers and buy their books with great anticipation.

Now please don't misunderstand me. These folks have probably worked very hard to be where they are and no doubt their success is directly connected to God's blessing upon their life and ministry. I just simply think we sometimes forget that the real hero's of the faith are the pastors and church leaders that serve small congregations all across this country.

The statistics are clear. Over 80% of the churches in the United States have an average weekend attendance of less than 200 people. And so, in my opinion, the ministers that provide pastoral oversight in these churches provide the backbone of Christianity in our nation. They will seldom have their pictures on magazine publications and few people even know their names outside the communities they live in. And yet, they faithfully surrender their lives for the cause of Christ and invest endless hours in preaching the gospel, serving their congregations and loving their communities.

That's why I'm so excited for our church to have the opportunity of hosting the 2010 Kentucky District Council. Assembly of God ministers like I just described from across our state are coming to Christ's Chapel this coming Monday - Wednesday for a time of spiritual renewal and much needed/deserved rest and fellowship. I want to receive them and bless them as the gifts from the Lord that they genuinely are and I need your help to make that happen.

I'm asking for three things. First of all, pray for them. Ask the Lord to bless them, their families, and our time together while they are here. Secondly, we still need some volunteers to assist in making this event happen. Let us know if you have a few hours during District Council to serve as a volunteer. And finally, please attend the evening services. We expect a decent crowd but we will have plenty of room for our Christ's Chapel family to join us in worship on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night. Child-care will be provided just like our regular weekend services. I hope to see you there!

The Journey of Repentance

Terry Crigger — 2010-03-25T20:28:42-04:00

“As they led Him away, they seized Simon Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed Him, including women who mourned and wailed for Him.”
Luke 23:26-27
The beam of lumber weighed only thirty pounds. Normally, a man who had earned a living as a carpenter would not find this too much of a load. But Jesus’ muscular body had been ripped from whips. He had suffered pain so great it sucked the breath from His lungs and left Him in physical shock. He had lost much blood and was on the verge of unconsciousness from thirst.
Falling and bearing the beatings silently, somehow He got to His feet one more time. It was as if something was driving Him to reach Golgotha.
Jesus drove Himself to His feet again and again because He had accepted the task that awaited Him at Golgotha. Much more than the thirty pounds of rough-hewn lumber on His back, He carried the great need forced upon Him by all the selfish desires and actions that separate all of us from God. His agony, exhaustion, and certain death were not payment for anything He had done wrong, but for what we have done wrong.
It is easy to weep when we see Jesus with the cross. But those are tears He does not want. He wants us to cry for our sins. He wants us to ask forgiveness.
This journey is called repentance as we daily turn from sin to the grace and calling of God.

Take Up Your Cross

Terry Crigger — 2010-03-18T20:25:04-04:00

“If any man has a mind to come my way, let him renounce self, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. He who tries to save his life will lose it; it is the man who loses his life for my sake, that will save it.” Luke 9:23-24

Lord,
Do you have to talk in riddles?
I mean this bit about a grain of wheat must fall to the ground and die or else it abides alone, or that line about a man losing his life in order to find it, are a little much. How do you expect to convert the world if you can’t make more sense than that?
Besides I thought You were the ultimate sacrifice.
Why do we have to die? How does abundant life fit into all of this?

My son,
I was the sacrifice for your sins. That work is finished, there’s nothing more you can do.
I bore my cross, lost my life, to save you from your sins.
When you take up your cross and follow me
it is to save yourself from emptiness, from meaninglessness.
The only life worth living is one which believes
in something enough to die for it!

Lord,
I get it. Your cross saves us from sin!
Our cross saves us from our selfish selves.
I’ve had moments like that,
moments when I lost myself in service to others,
and discovered an aliveness
no self-serving accomplishment can ever match.
Help me to live that way.
My cross bearing a way of life
rather than scattered moments in a selfish life.

Living Unafraid

Terry Crigger — 2010-03-12T20:30:38-05:00

Lord, it’s too late for you to be quiet, You have spoken too much; You have fought too much. You were not sensible, You know. You exaggerated; it was bound to happen. You called the better people a breed of vipers. You told them their hearts were black sepulchers with fine exteriors. You chose the decaying lepers, You spoke fearlessly with unacceptable strangers, You ate with notorious sinners, and You said streetwalkers would be the first in Paradise. You got on well with the poor, the bums, the crippled. You belittled the religious regulations. Your interpretation of the Law reduced it to one little commandment; To Love.

Now they are avenging themselves. They have taken steps against You. They have approached the authorities, and action will follow.

Lord, I know if I try to live a little like You, I shall be condemned. I am afraid. They are already singling me out. Some smile at me, others laugh, some are shocked, and several of my friends are about to drop me. I am afraid to stop. I am afraid to listen to men’s wisdom. It whispers; You must go forward little by little, everything can’t be taken literally, it’s better to come to terms with the adversary.

And yet, Lord, I know that You are right. Help me to fight. Help me to speak. Help me to live your Gospel to the end, to the folly of the Cross.

Emotional Extremes

Terry Crigger — 2010-03-05T08:29:49-05:00

Lord, the past several days have been busier than normal and certainly challenging. Well, perhaps not all that unusually busy but everything sure seems to be moving at an incredible pace. Maybe it's not the busyness that I feel, but the emotional and spiritual tug-of-war that pulls me from one extreme to another.

In a two-day period our church said good-bye to a few week old infant and an eighty-eight year old prayer warrior. Now, today, a dear friend my age and attendee in our early service has died of brain cancer. Tonight we get word that a mom and her new baby had a difficult delivery and that serious prayer is needed.

There is more, much more, but writing more would give details that are mostly confidential. There have been surgeries, with more scheduled in the next few days. A marriage crisis here and there, a misunderstanding among friends, and a challenging matter that requires my input. And Lord, did you know we have a little building project happening in our sanctuary and a much needed parking lot expansion that is delayed because of the weather?

It's not been all bad or difficult news. In fact, there are so many good things happening to rejoice about. Lord, why does it seem that our focus is pulled toward those things that bring struggle? Maybe it's because God's kingdom is always in motion and full of energy, both of which create what some have termed "life-friction." Is that what this is all about, Lord? I'm just feeling what it means to be alive, living as salt and light with other believers in a culture and world that is lost and searching.

Lord, in the midst of it all and above all else you've called our pastoral staff to "equip all the believers at Christ's Chapel" for the ministry (Ephesians 4). We certainly already have tremendous volunteers and I'm fully aware that our church as we know it would come to a grinding halt without them. Thank-you, Lord, for all those that give themselves so freely as servants to our church family. We need so many more. I trust that this Saturday's ministry training gives us a shot in the arm as our church grows and the ministry demands increase. This week is proof positive that we work as a team, serve as a team and succeed as a team. Lord, I ask you to strengthen, equip and enlarge that team by your power and grace. Amen.

Bad Days

Terry Crigger — 2010-02-25T18:34:42-05:00

Luke 23:34 – Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Bad days are the results of things that happen, and things that happen are the results of what people do. People who misunderstood. People who intended to hurt us. People who forgot or neglected to do something. People who betrayed or violated us. People whose injury done to us was either yesterday or yesteryear. People do things, and we find it difficult to believe what Jesus said about them that day – that they didn’t know what they were doing.

Yet His words are probably the most descriptive truth about all human sin, lovelessness, rebellion, hurt, hate, anger, violence, and the thousand other evils that overflow our fallen race. Even when sin is calculated, planned thoroughly, conceived carefully, and executed efficiently, no one really understands the depth or dimension of sin’s destructiveness or the degree of its horrible damage to people. In a very real sense, every sin is a sin of ignorance.

To learn the grace of forgiveness – to embrace the will to forgive anyone or everyone who seems to be ruining your life right now – you need to find a starting place and Jesus points you to it. “They don’t know what they’re doing.” But the fact of the matter is, that isn’t the way you feel. You tend to see things from the viewpoint of your experience, and when bad things happen, it appears that whoever did you wrong knew exactly what he was doing and didn’t really seem to care either.

It must have looked that way from the Cross, too, but Jesus teaches about the forgiveness: Forgiving those who assail you is the key to not being permanently victimized by them. Whatever the initial impact of any offense you experience by others, your will to refuse to react, carry a grudge, or seek to retaliate in kind secures the high ground.

Work and Friendship

Terry Crigger — 2010-02-21T15:21:49-05:00

Lord,
In my over three decades of serving you
I've discovered a few principles that have
helped to guide me in my faith. In some
seasons, these principles were gifts that simply
kept me forward moving in my faith journey
and at other times they enabled me to overcome
real discouragement. I learned them early and they
continue to be a helpful compass and companion.

What are these treasures, these eternal gifts to
me and anyone else that will embrace them? The
first is the gift of work; a task to embrace, a ministry
to offer myself to. Some may confuse this confession
with my current position as pastor. The truth is, however,
that I gave myself to this way of life for years before ever
walking in a calling or vocation. I've also observed a
similar internal joy that accompanies others that have
learned the lesson that God calls all believers to serve
within a local church.

The second treasure is the gift of friendship. No real
expectations required other than connection and time. I
know by nature I'm shy and withdrawn and will admit my
profession often requires me to push beyond my comfort
zone to nurture existing or build new relationships.
I'm grateful to know that friendship truly is a treasure
worth pursuing.

Thank-You, Lord, for giving me these gifts and providing me
a platform to example them before our church family. I trust
that many will find direction this weekend during the Summit
and discover afresh the joys of fulfilling ministry and lasting
friendship.

Leo Durocher’s Story…

Terry Crigger — 2010-02-12T08:11:59-05:00

“On June 2, 1940, a little girl was born to us. She cost us money from the moment she was born. As she grew from babyhood, she cost even more – her dresses and shoes were more expensive, and we had to have the doctor through all those childhood diseases. She was even more expensive during her school and teen years. She needed long dresses to go to parties. When she went to college we discovered along with other parents, that all college expenses were not listed in the catalogue. Then after graduation, she fell in love and married. She was married in a church wedding and that, too, cost a lot of money. Then, five months after her marriage, she suddenly sickened and within a week she was dead. She hasn’t cost us a penny since the day we walked away from the grave.
As long as the church is alive, she will cost money. And the more alive a church is, the more money she will cost. Only a dead church, like a dead child, is no longer expensive. Only a living church costs money. I’ve told you before about the difference between living churches and dead churches. Living churches have space problems – parking, nursery, classrooms, etc. Dead churches don’t have to worry about that – they’ve got lots of unused space. Living churches are always changing things. Dead churches don’t – they just stay the same. In living churches they struggle to learn and remember new names. In dead churches everybody knows everybody – nobody new has shown up for years. Living churches have a problem developing leaders. Dead churches don’t – they use the same ones over and over. Living churches spend much on missions. Dead churches keep it all at home. Living churches are filled with generous givers. Dead churches…”

Discipline

Terry Crigger — 2010-02-06T10:09:08-05:00

"Discipline is such a dirty word.
It creates pictures
of pain and self-denial.

Freedom on the other hand
makes me think of
birds soaring in joyous flight,
children running on the beach
without a care in the world.

Yet freedom WITHOUT discipline
is not freedom at all.
It's permissiveness which leads to
the bondage of self-indulgence.

The bird soaring in flight
is not 'free' from the laws of nature
but free to enjoy the disciplines
of flight based on those very laws.

We are not 'free' from the rhythm of life,
rather we are free through the rhythm of life
to experience life to the very fullest.

The disciplines of work and rest, worship and play,
are not a hair shirt to chafe us,
but a way of life which leads to perfect freedom:

Freedom from unbridled ambition;
Freedom from self-centered restlessness;
Freedom from spiritual deadness.
Freedom from guilt.
Discipline - freedom indeed."

Kids

Terry Crigger — 2010-01-28T13:54:07-05:00

“Lord, kids are so neat!
Sometimes they’re bundles of energy
gift wrapped in hand-me-downs.

Other times they’re pajamaed packages of sleepy sweetness.
Always they’re a miracle.

I love the way they chase butterflies,
and the attention they give to mud puddles and raindrops on a window.

I envy their freedom from clocks and calendars,
their immunity to pressure.

Oh, they have their moments,
skinned knees and nap time,
but they recover quickly.
They don’t nurse their disappointments
or make a career out of contrition.

Lord,
kids are so neat!
Let me be converted
and become as a little child.

Let me know again
the sheer joy of being alive, and
the pure pleasure
of living one day at a time,
fully savoring each solitary moment.

Free me from past disappointments
and the little hurts
I’ve so carefully kept.

Restore unto me a childlike anticipation for life.
A sense of wonder
which makes each day new
and my life truly abundant."

Liz Biddle
Pastoral Secretary
Christ's Chapel

Building Friends

Terry Crigger — 2010-01-15T07:28:09-05:00

Jesus
I’ve been thinking a lot about friends lately.
Everybody is talking about relationships, and really knowing each other,
But no one seems to do much about it.
Or everyone wants to have the same friend,
That person who is up in front of the crowd
Or the gal with the toothpaste smile and the winsome personality.

Hardly anyone seems willing to build relationships with ordinary people.
You know, the edgy housewife with the three pre-schoolers,
The overweight, under-confident teenager,
Or the quiet guy on the edge of the crowd.

Who was your friend, Lord?
I know you had a lot of acquaintances,
But who was your friend?
I mean the one person with whom you could let your hair down.
Where you didn’t have to watch every word or meet someone’s unending expectations.
You know,
Where did you go to get away,
But you couldn’t bear to be alone again?
Was Lazarus that special friend for you, Lord?
I think maybe he was.

I started to pray,
“Give me a friend like that,:
But I thought better of it.
Instead I pray,
“Let me be a friend like that.”
Amen

21 Days of Fasting

Terry Crigger — 2010-01-07T13:08:40-05:00

As we begin this new year of 2010 I am calling on the Christ’s Chapel family to consider participating in a 21-Day Fast beginning Monday, January 11th and concluding on Sunday, January 31st. Fasting combined with prayer is a very private experience and folks should consider what is best for them and specifically fits their schedule. Some will fast specific types of food or activities while others may fast a meal a day or perhaps a few meals each week. Some of course may extend their fast several days while others will choose not to participate at all. Either way, the entire congregation is asked to pray for God’s provision, presence and power for our church and for the individual journey of faith that God desires for each one of us individually. Below is a brief summary of fasting. You are encouraged to click here (“Your Personal Guide to Prayer and Fasting”) to read a more detailed explanation written by Bill Bright for Campus Crusade for Christ (be careful not to read just anyone’s account of this subject).
During this 21-day season of fasting, I am asking folks to consider setting aside 30 minutes a day for personal prayer and/or Bible reading. Specifically, if you desire to participate at a time when you know others will be praying as well, Pastor Terry has personally set aside 6:00 – 6:30 a.m. as a time when he will be praying from home.

The Bible describes three major types of fasting:

A Regular Fast - Traditionally, a regular fast means refraining from eating all food. Most people still drink water or juice during a regular fast. When Jesus fasted in the desert, the Bible says, "After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." This verse does not mention Jesus being thirsty.
A Partial Fast - This type of fast generally refers to omitting a specific meal from your diet or refraining from certain types of foods. Daniel 10:2-3 says, "At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over." In Daniel 1:12, they restricted their diet to vegetables and water: "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink."
A Full Fast - These fasts are complete - no food and no drink. Acts 9:9 describes when Paul went on a full fast for three days following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus: "For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything." Esther also called for this type of fast in Esther 4:15-16: "Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 'Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.'" It is recommended that this type of fast be done with extreme caution and not for extended periods of time.

Although not mentioned in the Bible, Christians today commit to fasting from other activities as well. Some give up entertainment such as TV or movies to concentrate on prayer. Others fast from sleep or another activity for a specified period of time.

Building Faith

Terry Crigger — 2010-01-02T14:09:51-05:00

Building Faith …

Our individual journey of faith is very personal with our own unique moments where God reveals His character and purpose. Regardless of what stage of life you’re in when faith begins, Christ’s Chapel is intentional in creating a pathway and journey blending discipleship information with personal involvement, thus providing the catalyst and environment for spiritual growth and maturity. Our goal is to connect the personal and public components of faith with genuineness and compassion.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” Isaiah 54:2

Christ’s Chapel Ministries

Adopt-A-Block
Bible Fellowships
Bible Quiz
Character Connects
Church 922
Coffee Bar
Community Groups
Counseling
Discipleship Training
Encounter Weekends
Fellowship Events/Conferences
First Look
Generations/Parents’ Summit
Hospitality
Life Study Groups
Life Support Groups
Local Evangelism
Master’s Commission
Meals on Wheels
Men’s Ministries
Missions
Multimedia
Music Ministry
National Girls’ Ministries
Next Step
New Beginnings
NKU Connection
Nursery
Nursing Home Ministry
Parents’ Night Out
Pizza with the Pastor
Pulse
Prayer Ministry
Resource Room
Royal Rangers
Service Ministries
Student Ministries
Technical/Lighting Detail
Treasure Island
Volunteer/Connection Weekends
Women’s Ministries
Young Adult Ministry
Young at Heart

Facing Anger

Terry Crigger — 2009-11-15T20:04:11-05:00

Lord,

I’ve had to deal with anger a lot over
    the years.
And I’ve used a variety of
    strategies—
I’ve suffered in silence and
    grown bitter.
I’ve lashed out in retaliation
    and lived to regret it.
I’ve tried to give in and
    ended up feeling used and
         trapped.
I’ve confronted in love, tough love, and grieved as I was
    misunderstood and feared.

Is there any good way of dealing with anger?
   Quickly, before it gets dug in,
    before it becomes a part of one’s psyche?
   Confession to God…forgiveness of the perpetrator?

Still, Lord, there must be a better way.
An attitude, a way of looking at things, which nips it in the bud.
For me, it means knowing when to give in…graciously…and
   knowing what things are mine to give.
For me, it means standing firm…up front…when the issue is
   non-negotiable.
I cannot hope it will “work itself out.”
I cannot need the approval of my colleagues so much that I am
   unable to take a stand.
When I postpone dealing with an issue I hurt everyone involved.
Anger hangs thick and heavy between us and by the time we deal
   with it, it has become a monster raging out of control.
Sanctify me, Lord.
Let me freely yield that which is mine to yield.
Show me,
   help me to know, what is Yours to guard
   and what is mine to give.

In Christ’s name, I pray.

“Amen”

Surviving the Extremes of Life

Terry Crigger — 2009-11-05T15:25:04-05:00

In those times when we yearn
   to have more in our lives,
   we should dwell on the things
   we already have. In doing so,
   we will often find that our lives
   are already full to overflowing.

The quote above is taken from the book entitled, The Ultimate Gift, written by Jim Stovall. In the same book there is a chapter on gratitude in which a story is told of a man during the years of the American Depression named Josh that never seemed to have a bad day even though life was extremely difficult. Josh’s secret is revealed this way …

“He explained to me that every morning before he got up, he would lie in bed – or wherever he had been sleeping – and visualize a golden tablet on which was written ten things in his life he was especially thankful for. He told me that his mother had done that all the days of her life, and that he had never missed a day since she shared the Golden List with him.”

This morning’s sermon is on the subject of genuine joy that Paul not only writes about in his letter called Philippians but experiences in the depth of his soul. The circumstances of his life were far from desirable as he was writing from a prison cell. And yet, the joy of his life seemed not to be connected to the outward details of his individual experience.

Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, says he used to believe that life was a series of peaks and valleys, ups and downs, high moments of joy followed by low seasons of discouragement. He now believes that life is more like the two sides of a track that run side by side concurrently. In our lives we have at the same time things we are grateful for and things we would change if we could. Simultaneously we experience life at it’s best and life at it’s worse. Perhaps those extremes are not always present but I do believe it is a better picture of reality for most of us.

So how do we survive the extremes of life? Paul writes in Philippians 4:4-7…

‘Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Somehow at the intersection of where life’s experiences and God’s presence and peace meet is the human choice of gratitude and rejoicing.   I want to live there always but especially during seasons of personal struggle.

The Samaritan Woman

Terry Crigger — 2009-08-20T16:13:54-04:00

Capable of more

Terry Crigger — 2009-08-16T18:27:45-04:00

Behind the scenes of an Arizona circus, Bob Biehl started chatting with a man who trains animals for Hollywood movies: “How is it that you can stake down a ten-ton elephant with the same size stake that you use for this little fellow?” I asked, pointing to a baby elephant who weighed three hundred pounds.

“’It’s easy…’the trainer said. ‘When they’re babies, we stake them down. They try to tug away from the stake maybe ten thousand times before they realize that they can’t possibly get away. At that point, their ‘elephant memory’ takes over and they remember for the rest of their lives that they can’t get away from the stake.’”

Humans are sometimes like elephants. When we are teenagers, some unthinking, insensitive, unwise person says, “He; not very good at planning,” or “She’s not a leader,” or “Their team will never make it,” and zap, that mental stake is driven into our minds. Often when we become mature adults, we are still held back by some inaccurate one-sentence ‘stake’ put in our minds when we were young.

Today you are an adult capable of much more than you realize. You are far more capable than you were even twelve months ago, and next year you will be able to do things you can’t imagine doing today.

Don’t let a little stake tell you anything else!

I am blessed to be part of a church filled with both experienced leaders and developing leaders. People who serve their Lord and this congregation help in making our church a good place to belong.

Forgiveness and Freedom

Terry Crigger — 2009-07-16T22:41:17-04:00

Lord,
All of us are a little like
the Samaritan woman at the well. We have sins and failure in our past,
a closet full of skeletons
which rattle from time to time, threatening to get
and spoil our good image.
For many of us it’s not just the skeletons either,
but real live boogie men.

For the most part,
we keep them tightly suppressed,
but from time to time they escape,
terrorizing our families,
and reducing us to guilt and confusion.
I hate and fear
the boogie man inside of me.
The egomaniac who talks too much.
The proud presumptuous me.
The critical, cutting me.
The carnal man, my feet of clay.
The pseudo-spiritual me.

The Samaritan woman found release
when You told her
everything she had done.
Does this mean blackmailing
boogie men cannot survive
in the light of Your
loving acceptance?
If it does, then tell me, tell us,
everything we’ve ever done.
Show us the futility of pretending
and protesting our innocence.
Give us the courage to own up,
and in this owning up,
let us find forgiveness and freedom.

Amen

Fellowship

Terry Crigger — 2009-06-13T07:51:44-04:00

Life is meant to be shared.

God intends for us to experience life together. The Bible calls this shared experience fellowship. Today, however, the word has lost most of its biblical meaning. “Fellowship” now usually refers to casual conversation, socializing, food, and fun. The question “Where do you fellowship?” means “Where do you attend church?” “Stay after for fellowship” usually means “Wait for refreshments.”

Real fellowship is so much more than just showing up at services. It is experiencing life together. It includes unselfish loving, honest sharing, practical serving, sacrificial giving, sympathetic comforting, and all the other “one another” commands found in the New Testament.

When it comes to fellowship, size matters: Smaller is better. You can worship with a crowd, but you can’t fellowship with one. Once a group becomes larger than about ten people, someone stops participating—usually the quietest person—and a few people will dominate the group.

Jesus ministered in the context of a small group of disciples. He could have chosen more, but he knew twelve is about the maximum size you can have in a small group if everyone is to participate.

The Body of Christ, like your own body, is really a collection of many small cells. The life of the Body of Christ, like your body, is contained in the cells. For this reason, every Christian needs to be involved in a small group within their church, whether it is a home fellowship group, a Sunday school class, a bible study, a worship group, or a ministry team. This is where real community takes place, not in the big gatherings. If you think of your church as a ship, the small groups are lifeboats attached to it.

- The Purpose-Driven Life

Connecting

Terry Crigger — 2009-06-05T22:24:16-04:00

You are called to belong, not just believe.

Even in the perfect, sinless environment of Eden, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone.” We are created for community, fashioned for fellowship, and formed for a family, and none of us can fulfill God’s purposed by ourselves.

The Bible knows nothing of solitary saints or spiritual hermits isolated from other believers and deprived of fellowship. The Bible says we are put together, joined together, built together, members together, heirs together, fitted together, and held together and will be caught up together. You’re not on your own anymore.

While your relationship to Christ is personal, God never intends it to be private. In God’s family you are connected to every other believer, and we will belong to each other for eternity. The Bible says, “In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”

Following Christ includes belonging, not just believing. We are members of his Body--the Church. C.S. Lewis noted that the word membership is of Christian origin, but the world has emptied it of its original meaning. Stores offer discounts to “members,” and advertisers use member names to create mailing lists. In churches, membership is often reduced to simply adding your name to a roll, with no requirements or expectations.

To Paul, being a “member” of the church meant being a vital organ of a living body, an indispensable, interconnected part of the Body of Christ. We need to recover and practice the biblical meaning of membership. The church is a body, not a building; an organism, not an organization.

Memorial Day

Terry Crigger — 2009-05-24T10:57:55-04:00

Memorial Day for many is the beginning of summer vacation. It’s the first weekend of fun which most of us begin looking forward to sometime in late January when the temperature is falling and the snow is flying. And yet the history behind Memorial Day is much more significant and deserves a time of reflection. Why? Because on this day we remember and honor those who have served this country in the armed services and especially those who have given their lives in battle. Memorial Day is a day set aside to give thanks for, and to say thanks to, those who have served this nation and defended the rights and freedoms of our Constitution.

I’m 52 years old and have never really had to think seriously about being drafted. The Vietnam War was over early in my high school years and I was considered an old man by the time any other real conflicts developed. As a result, I may be somewhat guilty of taking my freedoms and “pursuit of happiness” for granted. And yet my love of the study of history and knowledge of present world developments quickly sober me and help me realize that being born in 1957 in America to a white, middle-class family has afforded me opportunities most of the world’s citizens will never experience.

I genuinely would like to say thank you to those of you either in our congregation or your loved ones, who by choice or through the draft, served this country and placed yourselves in a possible life threatening situation. I’ve never had to make that type of decision and I’m very grateful to live in a country where so many before my time, and even after my time, said “Yes” and served this country with dignity and honor.

Provision-1.2 Million Dollars

Terry Crigger — 2009-05-15T16:47:13-04:00

Purchasing an initial 7 ½ acres, two building projects and financing 85% of the cost of Mercy Maternity Home and the nearly 2 acres that went with it began to add up. Although considerable monies had already been raised and paid toward these projects, the net result as of the fall of 2000 was a balance due of nearly $870,000.00. The interest alone each year was a sobering total and it seemed only prudent to reduce our indebtedness as soon as possible.

The stewardship campaign of 2000 was the first in our history and a considerable amount of money was pledged to be paid in the following three years. Each year we chipped away at the principal balance on our church facilities. It was exciting to see the genuine sacrifice and generosity from so many common folks who simply wanted to do something special for our church. As the concluding months approached in our third year, it was obvious our goal to pay off the church mortgage and Mercy Maternity Home mortgage was not going to happen. Although a little disappointed, reducing the church mortgage debt was still a major accomplishment and everyone knew it. The final Sunday of the campaign came and the nearly $20,000.00 given on that one day completely paid off the church debt. Praise the Lord!

Believe me when I tell you I was truly grateful, and so was our church family. Imagine, however, the feeling I got when someone emailed me the following week with one simple question, “How much is the total indebtedness at Mercy Maternity Home?” I quickly responded, “The total debt is $98,000.00.” The email response came in two days. It read, “You will receive two checks in the mail, one for $80,000.00 and the other for $18,000.00. Enjoy!” I held my breath for about a week but sure enough both checks arrived and our entire indebtedness was eliminated. All in all, when all of our properties are considered (13 acres, church facilities and 2 houses), over 1.2 million dollars in debt was paid off in about four years (1999 – 2003). Once again, it was an amazing testimony of the power of vision, unity, sacrifice and generosity.

Provision: Mercy Maternity Home

Terry Crigger — 2009-05-07T12:23:53-04:00

Vision sometimes stretches us beyond our limits and causes us to ask for grace from others and the benefit of the doubt from those you serve. Such was the case when we were given the opportunity to purchase our second home located on the church property. We had just completed our first stewardship campaign with the goal of eliminating our mortgage debt (for the church buildings and Mercy Maternity Home). The response had been very positive and we were on our way with our goal of getting completely out of debt at the end of the three year campaign. This would require spending discipline as well as generosity and sacrifice from our congregation. Then, from out of nowhere, came the opportunity to buy the home next to Mercy Maternity Home that we had eventually desired to use as a home for missionaries home on furlough or preparing to leave for the mission field. We felt this opportunity would come several years down the road but not just after our stewardship campaign began!

The cost of the home and three acres of land was $325,000.00. Our commitment to the congregation was that in the short-term we would take no additional financed indebtedness that incurred interest. The owners agreed to $25,000.00 in upfront cash (which we did not have) and a $100,000.00 annual payment for the next three years, no interest or finance charges. We had two $10,000.00 gifts in a matter of a week and the balance of $5,000.00 the next week. It was a major step of faith but our congregation approved to move forward.

The remarkable part of this journey is that over the next three years no special offerings were requested at church to make the $100,000.00 yearly payment, not one. Many designated gifts were given by individuals during that three year period that literally overlapped our stewardship campaign. These designated gifts were added to the transfer of mission funds and an occasional allotment from our general fund. In the end, no interest payment was made and the entire balance was paid off in the three year period. Today, in addition to the various missionary families that have used the home, much of the property from this purchase is now a baseball/soccer/football field used by local recreational teams and hundreds of children in our community.

From the Pastor

Terry Crigger — 2008-09-14T08:10:00-04:00

I want to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the unified focus and effort made as we’ve transitioned our services to once again prioritize Christian Education. This is very important for the overall spiritual health of our congregation. Discipleship is not an option and the journey of learning and implementing the principles of God’s Word is crucial for every believer. Our ABFs (Adult Bible Fellowships) offer two vital components for successful Christian living, genuine fellowship and a systematic study of the Bible. Thank you for a tremendous response last weekend. I believe this new schedule best serves our church both now and in the future. Again, thank you.

I also want to remind our congregation of the significant value that these next two weekends have for many within our church family. Encounter Weekends are designed to assist believers in their individual journey of faith. It’s amazing how just a few days away from the routine of life and a desire to get to know God better can impact our lives. We’ve had nearly 200 people in the past three years participate in these Encounter Weekends and I’m excited to hear the testimonies this afternoon and next weekend of what God did for the over 70 who are attending this year’s events.

There’s nothing really magical or super spiritual about ABFs and Encounter Weekends. In fact, on the surface they appear to be routine and quite ordinary. They are, however, attempts to be intentional and deliberate about our personal faith in Christ. They provide a platform for common folks to seek God and discover purpose and inspiration for their lives. I believe God is observant of that effort and meets us on the journey.