Warming Shelter Ministry

Culpeper churches and ministries are working together again this year to provide a warm place to sleep and some hot meals for those without this winter season. The shelter ministry begins on November 1 and extends through the month of April.

We currently have approximately fifteen different churches representing Episcopals, Presbyterians, Lutherans, Baptists, Methodists and Non-Denominational backgrounds. This is a fantastic demonstration of unity within the Body of Christ.

City on a Hill Church will be hosting the shelter at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church Fellowship Hall in January and March this season. This ministry is such a blessing!

For more information on volunteering, contact me at 540-727-9587 (leave a message if no one picks up).

Don't Stop Learnin'

The 80's rock band Journey had a great song entitled Don't Stop Believin'. I love that song. Whenever I hear that song, I can't help but think of one of my mantras as a leader which is Don't Stop Learnin'.

I truly believe that we should never stop learning. When we stop learning, we may as well not get out of bed in the morning. It doesn't matter if we've been a Pastor for 50 years. Still, there is always something else to learn.

One of the most important ways to learn is through someone else's experiences. Today, I'm participating in the IMPART conference at Elevation Church in Charlotte, NC. Elevation Church was listed as one of the top ten fastest growing churches in the USA last year. In less than three years, this church has grown to over 5000 people. The Sr Pastor of this church, Steven Furtick, wants to impart the valuable lessons he's learned to others. What a great idea!

I spent my own money to come to this event because I believe the experiences this church has had in the last few years can be valuable to me as a pastor and valuable to City on a Hill Church. This is an investment for me and for COAHC. I'm excited to soak in every detail that's shared in order to glean the transferable concepts.

Keys to a Successful Church

So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, being built up; and going on in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it continued to increase.
Acts 9:31 NASB

Before coming to Culpeper, the Lord led me to this specific verse. The Lord showed me that this verse holds some important keys to successfully leading a church.

Peace - A successful church can't be wrapped up in dispute with itself or others.

Being Built Up - A successful church encourages with words and deeds of love and kindness.

Going on in the fear of the Lord - A successful church lives in obedience. Obedience reflects love and reverence for our Lord.

And in the comfort of the Holy Spirit - A successful church turns not to the world, but to the Holy Spirit for comfort in times of trouble.

Gettin' Excited

I did an interview this morning with the local newspaper. The interviewer was asking me questions about City on a Hill Church. She asked if our church was excited about moving into our new building next month. Of course, everyone is excited about the new facility.

I went on to say that it's not necessarily the new facility and our growth that is exciting everyone. It's the transformed lives that is the root cause of our excitement. Anytime you have a church where lives are being transformed by the power of God, excitement and momentum are sure to follow. That's what is exciting people at COAHC!

Lessons From Chuck

Chuck Swindoll has been a hero and mentor of mine from the beginning of my Christian walk. In fact, Insight for Living was the very first Christian radio broadcast I began listening to on a regular basis.

Chuck has been ministering for years from the pulpit, on the radio and through several books he's authored. I had the pleasure of going to Israel with him in May 2008. The experiences he's garnered through the years have been summarized in a recent speaking engagement at the Catalyst Conference. Take a few minutes and read the 10 Ministry Lessons (He's) Learned.

Enjoying Some Goodies

Last night, we opened our home to those in our church who wanted to spend time getting to know my family and I better and ask questions about City on a Hill Church. We had ice cream, apple pie, Rice Krispy treats, Cinnamon Apple Butter, cookies and hot tea. Boy! It was a smorgasbord of delectable goodies!

The company was even better! We had some fine folks come over and spend time with us in fellowship. We discussed everything from COAHC's vision to our position on spiritual gifts to how Carrie (my wife who was born and raised in California) likes the weather in Culpeper.

It's these kinds of opportunities that are important to me as pastor of COAHC. We need to create opportunities to get connected with one another. I see God doing such a marvelous work in our church body: growing people, stretching them outside comfort zones and raising up a united family that believes in seeking and saving the lost.

Busy, Busy, Busy

Lots of details are going on with our new building. It's just about cleaned up and ready for our renovations to begin. We have three Church Workdays planned next week:
Tuesday evening, 5-9pm
Wednesday evening, 5-9pm
Saturday, 9am-5pm (lunch will be provided)

It's amazing how God is providing in miraculous ways. We're getting incredible deals on a variety of different things that are needed to get the bldg ready. Thank you, Lord!

We're shooting for our first service to be early November and a Grand Opening event on November 15. That's the plan, so we'll see if things continue to go as planned.

New Building

Today, we're signing a lease for a new facility for City on a Hill Church. Our current space has been wonderful, but God has grown us too large for it. Our new building will give us triple the space we have now! We're hoping to host our first service in mid-November.

Lots to do to get things ready! We're so thankful we have a God who loves and cares about every detail of our church. All the glory to our Father in heaven!

Games People Play

This weekend, we're kicking off a series entitled "Games People Play". This is a series that will confront the ways we “play with God” in order to live according to our ways instead of God’s ways. Luke 19:45-20:47 will be our primary text if you'd like to get a jump start on the message. As always, we'll post the audio file, PowerPoint presentation and outline notes on our website afterwards.

Please join us this Sunday @ 11am at City on a Hill Church, 405 Sperryville Pike. We'd love to see you there!

Understanding Leads to Love

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,
Philippians 1:9-10 NIV


As I was spending time in the Word this morning, this Scripture really jumped out at me. As I read it, I realized an important relationship between an understanding of Scripture and love. It's clearly evident that our ability to love is directly proportional to our knowledge and understanding of Scripture.

Paul's prayer for the Philippians is that their love increases. He describes the means by which that love increases: through knowledge and depth of insight. Of what, though? God's truth found in His Word is the answer. How do I know? I know that God's Truth found in His Word is the object of our knowledge and insight we need because of the consequence Paul mentions in verse 10. The consequence of an increasing knowledge and depth of insight is an increasing ability to discern what is best, purity and blamelessness. The only possible way to achieve these is through a deeper understanding of Scripture.

So there are many subsequent things that happen in our lives as a result of knowledge and deeper insight into the Bible: discernment, purity, blamelessness and an increased ability to love. That's the power of God's Word in our lives! Take time to read and study the Bible today.

Witness or Participant

Last night I sent an email out to our church. In it, I mentioned Jesus' first miracle: turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. There's something in this story that's very subtle, yet very important.

In this story, there are three groups of people: those who are encouraging Jesus to perform the miracle (his mother), those who are witnessing the miracle, and then there are those who get to participate in the miracle.

Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet."
They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.
John 2:8-9 NIV

The servants were probably tired and bored from their mundane work of waiting on the guests of the wedding. Jesus gives them a thrill of a lifetime. He chooses the lowly servants as the instruments by which His first miracle comes to pass. Jesus could have very easily done this miracle differently. Instead, he choose to allow the bored, hard-working servants to participate in this important story that would later be captured in Scripture. Jesus tells the servants to fill the jars with water and then draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.

I'm sure the servants knew the water had been changed. Wine looks different from water and it smells differently. As soon as the servants drew the wine from the jars to take it to the master, they knew something miraculous had happened. And they had been chosen to help out with this miracle behind the scenes. They were rewarded with the insight into the miracle prior to their master. What a privilege!t

When we're given the opportunity to serve in ministry either in an ongoing position or with a special opportunity, it's a special privilege that the Lord is giving to us to be a part of a miracle. So, the next time a ministry opportunity comes along, prayerfully consider being a participant of a miracle instead of just being a witness.

Knowing When to Rest

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
Luke 23:55-56 NIV


Jesus had just died and there was work to be done in order to prepare the body and tomb. Yet, the Sabbath was also a factor. What did the ladies do? They rested.

Was their act of rest inconsiderate at best, heretical at worst?

Many of us face the same difficult decision at times. There's ministry to be done - important ministry, ministry that can make a real difference. Yet the time for rest has also come. Which do we choose? Are we falling short of showing God's love if we choose to rest? Or are we disobedient if we ignore the opportunity to rest and minister to those in need.

He said to them, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
Matthew 12:11-12 NIV

Jesus addressed this very question when the religious leaders accused Him of disobeying the law. Jesus' response indicates clearly that ministry is important regardless of what day it's done. Scripture also clearly indicates the importance of rest and the Sabbath for us.

The reality of this seeming conflict is that it's important we find a balance in ministry and rest. The Sabbath isn't restricted to any particular day of the week for Christians. For many pastors, their Sabbath is on a Monday or on a Wednesday. The rest that God wants us to enjoy is a time when we can refuel our energy needed for the imporant ministry that God wants us to do by His power for His glory.

Find a regular time to rest each and every week, and you'll have more energy to do God's work!

Don't Miss the Opportunity to Make a Difference

Showing the love of Christ can make more of a difference than you realize.

In early August, I met David who lived in one of the neighborhoods that City on a Hill Church has adopted. David was in his 50's. He had spent most of his life living on the street in unthinkable conditions and indulging in all kinds of sin activities, including drugs.

At least one family in Warrenton looked past all of that and decided that they would do everything they could to show the practical love of Christ in David's life. After introducing him to the Bible and who Jesus is, they helped him find an apartment in Culpeper. And that's when I met him.

After inviting David to COAHC, he began to come and worship with us. We helped him with some of the material needs - eg, groceries, kitchen ware, etc. He was living in a bare apartment with no furniture. He was lonely, but he was getting his life pointed in the right direction.

Through this experience, David met friends who were kind to him. He was shown unconditional love and acceptance. And for the first time in his life, he said, "I've found a place to worship God in my own way, and I've found peace, love and joy." On many occassions, David would weep over what God had done for him and the love he was experiencing.

After knowing David for only a short period of time, I was told that he passed away in his apartment last week. He went peacefully. He went home to be with the Lord after receiving the two greatest gifts in his entire life: peace from a relationship with God through Jesus and authentic love offered by the body of Christ.

What a joy it is to know our sovereign God orchestrated the opportunity for David to experience His powerful love, peace and joy in his last days on earth. Now David is spending eternity with our Lord in heaven above. Hallelujah!

I'll be performing David's graveside service on Thursday, October 1 @ 1pm at Forest Grove Baptist Church in Viewtown (near Amissville). If you knew David, please join us to celebrate his life with Christ.

Maturity

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.

James 1:2-8 The Message


Last weekend, we wrapped up a series on suffering at City on a Hill Church. The passage above reminds me of the goal we should be focused on the midst of our trials: maturity. The Greek word is teleios. Imagine a full grown tree that is producing fruit in the right season. It has reached maturity and its full potential. That's the kind of maturity that God wants us working towards.

But we can't ever really get there, can we?

We're not really talking about perfection (ie, sinlessness). We're simply talking about getting to where God wants us to be with regard to fulfilling His purposes and plans for our lives. As followers of Christ, we always seem to be in some stage of this process. The trials and difficult circumstances we experience in life have a way of speeding up this process. We can also experience seasons when the process seems to go very slowly.

To God, our journey is just as important as the destination. Wisdom is what we should be asking for in our grief and suffering. God is our source of wisdom in the midst of the uncertainties. He's our lifeline when we find ourselves tossed around in the seas of turmoil. Our hearts need to turn to Him, and Him alone, in these difficult times so we can find refuge.

Twitter Updates

Had to remove the gadget that displays my Twitter updates. Apparently the gadget got hacked and was displaying someone else's updates that were a little on the vulgar side.

Will reinstall when the problem is fixed.

Family Ties

Yesterday, there was an article in the paper about a Culpeper family who recently competed in a tennis tournament together. The family has become well-known around our community as lovers of the game of tennis. When you see them in the grocery store or in the post office, it's natural to think of tennis.

Growing up, my family enjoyed something similar with the sport of long-distance running. Both my parents ran, my sister ran and I ran. During my Jr high, high school and college years, there were numerous newspaper articles that featured my family and the success we experienced in our sport. When you saw one of the Dameron's, it was natural for you to think of the sport of running.

In chapter 8 of the Gospel of John, Jesus has a conversation with the religious leaders about family ties. The Jews claimed their salvation based on their ancestry to Abraham. But Jesus took it a step further.

"Abraham is our father," they answered.
"If you were Abraham's children," said Jesus, "then you would do the things Abraham did. As it is, you are determined to kill me, a man who told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the things your own father does."
"We are not illegitimate children,
they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself."
John 8:39-41 NIV

Jesus emphasizes the connection between our ancestry and our behavior which reveals it. He's telling them that people should recognize them based on their actions and attitudes reflecting their parents' values. Jesus goes on to tell them that they are the children of the devil because they want to carry out their father's desire.

When we read this story, we need to consider whose children we are. We're not just children of our earthly parents, but we're also children of our Father in heaven.

Does my daily routine reflect my Father's transformational power?

Does my attitude reflect my Father's love and grace?

Do my behavior and words reflect my Father's righteousness and holiness?

We need to make sure that when people see us in the grocery store, the post office and everywhere we go, they know we're connected to God. May all the glory be to our eternal Father in heaven!

My Prayer

Lord, may I always pastor City on a Hill Church with a shepherd's heart. Please help me to understand the needs of my flock and care for them well. May I feed them with the spiritual nourishment they need each and every week. I pray that each person would be discipled well so that your plans and purposes come to fruition in our lives. Help me to comfort my flock, protect them and lead them to greener pasteurs.

Lord, may I always pastor City on a Hill Church with boldness. May I never rely on gimmicks, programs or anyone else to accomplish your will in the life of our Church. May your will be revealed to me and may I lead in accordance regardless of what I think may happen. Help me to never be afraid of man's reaction. I pray that every service, every ministry and every outreach to the community will stretch our Church Body and grow us to be not only followers of Christ, but also more like Christ.

Lord, may City on a Hill Church be all that you want us to be. May we be a light to our community. May we be an example of Your love to our community. Help us to be where we are needed most. Help us to reach those who need to know You. Equip us, Lord, with every gift that is needed to accomplish Your will. May You be glorified through each and every life that is a part of City on a Hill Church.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Neighborhood Appreciation Celebration

Saturday evening will be a first for City on a Hill Church. We're hosting an outdoor service in honor of one of the neighborhood's we've adopted. It happens to be the neighborhood right behind our church.

Last weekend, we placed a flyer advertising the event on every door of the approximately 100 homes located in this neighborhood. We've gone around to local businesses in our community asking for donations, and our merchants have stepped up to the plate in a great way!

We'll have a Moon Bounce and a Cotton Candy machine for the kids, worship and the Gospel message offering hope for these folks. We'll top it all off with free giveaways of gift cards and coupons that were collected from our community's businesses.

The objective of the evening primarily rests in bringing souls into the Kingdom of Heaven. We want to let our neighborhood know that we love them, and more importantly, that God loves them. I'm so excited to see what God does!

The Importance of Looking Foolish

Did you know that God wants you to look foolish sometimes?

It's through these foolish appearances, that God is doing something great in and through us. Think about how foolish Noah looked building that ark in front of his neighbors and family. Can you imagine how much of a joke he became?

What about the young David? A shepherd tweener with a sling shot taking on not just a professional soldier, but a giant one at that! How many wise cracks did he overhear from his brothers and the other Jewish soldiers? Even Goliath taunted him to his face - right before David's stone killed him.

When we find ourselves in the midst of a difficult situation, God sometimes calls us to look foolish. It's at that precise moment, that we're faced with the question "Am I more concerned about what I want than with what God wants?" When we step forward with courage and understand the importance of looking foolish to the big picture of our lives, we find a whole new perspective on life.

Mark Batterson wrote a book a few years ago called "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day." The book focuses on a couple of verses found in 2 Samuel about a guy named Benaiah who jumped into a pit on a snowy day to kill a lion. Benaiah succeeded in killing the lion and became the commander in chief for Kings David and Solomon.

Imagine the courage it took for Benaiah to jump into that pit. Imagine how foolish he looked at first to anyone who may have been watching. We can't deny that there are fine lines separating courage, risk and looking foolish.

This weekend at City on a Hill Church, we're wrapping up a series on suffering. We're going to talk about "Attitudes in the Midst of Anguish." In this message, I'll share three important attitudes that we should have in the midst of our trials and tribulations. Courage is at the top of the list.

We'd love to see you there!

Missed Opportunities

Fear is powerful. It can keep us from responding to God's call on our lives. Just as importantly, fear, coupled with pride, can keep us from taking advantage of opportunities from which we can benefit.

This morning I met with a representative at Piedmont United Way to get educated about all the programs in Culpeper to help those who need a hand. I was truly amazed at all of the programs that are in place through government agencies, churches, ministries and other non-profit groups that are in place simply to help people. There is no justifiable reason for sincere people in our community to remain in need with all of these opportunities for assistance in place.

Of course, fear keeps people where they are... hungry, lonely and in need. It's fear of the unknown, fear of rejection that keeps them down and out. It's fear and pride together that can shackle a person to poverty with no hope of freedom.

The same is true in our lives as Christians. We see where God is calling us to, but we remain still out of fear and pride. What if I fail? What will other people think?

Honestly, there are too many "what ifs" in life to consider. We need to stop being afraid of the unknowns and walk by faith, not by sight. We need to stop worrying about what other people think because all of us need help from time to time. God wants us to use every available resource that we have to enjoy an abundant life, including assistance programs. We need to stop fearing failure in our lives because failure is inevitable. It's what we do with that failure - how we respond and learn from it - that's important.

Let's open our eyes and recognize the resources around us. Let's recognize them for what they are: opportunities for us to become who God wants us to be.